Coupang (NYSE:CPNG) Shares Gap Down Following Weak Earnings

Key Points

• EPS miss and stock plunge: Coupang reported EPS of ($0.15) versus a ($0.09) consensus and its shares gapped down—opening at $18.20 from $20.76 and falling about 13.4%—while revenue slightly beat at $8.50B (+7.5% YoY).
• Analyst downgrades and muted outlook: Multiple firms trimmed ratings and price targets (Deutsche Bank, Mizuho, Nomura, etc.), leaving a consensus "Hold" and a $26.92 average price target that could cap near‑term upside.
• Significant insider buy: Director Neil Mehta purchased 3,000,000 shares at about $18.68 (~$56M), increasing his stake and signaling insider conviction amid the sell‑off.

Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG - Get Free Report)'s stock price gapped down prior to trading on Wednesday after the company announced weaker than expected quarterly earnings. The stock had previously closed at $20.76, but opened at $18.20. Coupang shares last traded at $18.2910, with a volume of 11,362,635 shares traded.

The company reported ($0.15) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.09) by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $8.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.48 billion. Coupang had a net margin of 0.60% and a return on equity of 4.52%. The business's revenue was up 7.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.06 EPS.

Coupang News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Coupang this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 loss was much smaller than some street estimates (reported GAAP loss $0.15 vs. a Zacks consensus loss of $0.59), which can be interpreted as better‑than‑feared results. Coupang Inc. (CPNG) Reports Q1 Loss, Lags Revenue Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Revenue modestly beat consensus ($8.50B vs. $8.48B) and rose 7.5% year‑over‑year, showing continued top‑line growth. Company press materials provide the details. Coupang Announces Results for First Quarter 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: Full earnings call transcript is available for investors who want management commentary on margin dynamics, capital allocation and fulfillment investments. Review the call for guidance/forward commentary. Coupang Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyses breaking down key metrics versus estimates are available (useful for digging into GMV, take rates, and operating expense trends). Compared to Estimates, Coupang (CPNG) Q1 Earnings: A Look at Key Metrics
• Negative Sentiment: Citigroup downgraded CPNG from Buy to Neutral and set a $22.20 price target, which could cap upside and weigh on momentum despite the slight revenue beat. Citi Downgrade Report
• Negative Sentiment: Some consensus figures show an EPS miss (company reported ($0.15) vs. a consensus of ($0.09)), which markets may view as mixed execution or margin pressure. Coupang Earnings Summary

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CPNG has been the topic of a number of research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut Coupang from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $23.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Wednesday. Mizuho decreased their price objective on Coupang from $32.00 to $25.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 27th. Nomura decreased their price objective on Coupang from $22.00 to $20.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 2nd. Wall Street Zen cut Coupang from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a report on Saturday, March 14th. Finally, UBS Group set a $25.00 price objective on Coupang in a report on Thursday, February 19th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $26.92.

Insider Activity

In other Coupang news, Director Neil Mehta bought 3,000,000 shares of Coupang stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 12th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $18.68 per share, with a total value of $56,040,000.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director owned 52,978,114 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $989,631,169.52. This represents a 6.00% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders purchased 7,350,104 shares of company stock worth $136,566,051 over the last 90 days. 12.78% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Coupang

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in CPNG. Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Coupang during the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Reflection Asset Management purchased a new position in shares of Coupang during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Orion Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Coupang during the third quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Webster Bank N. A. increased its stake in shares of Coupang by 325.8% during the first quarter. Webster Bank N. A. now owns 1,699 shares of the company's stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 1,300 shares during the period. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp increased its stake in shares of Coupang by 1,250.0% during the third quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 1,080 shares of the company's stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 1,000 shares during the period. 83.72% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Coupang Stock Down 13.4%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.87 billion, a PE ratio of 151.15 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $19.58 and a 200-day moving average price of $22.82.

About Coupang

Coupang, listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker CPNG, is a South Korean e-commerce company headquartered in Seoul. Founded in 2010 by Bom Kim, the company grew rapidly by combining an online marketplace with a large direct-retail business model. Coupang completed a primary listing in the United States in 2021, and it has become one of South Korea's leading online retailers by focusing on convenience, speed and a wide product assortment across consumer categories.

The company operates a vertically integrated e-commerce platform that includes a customer-facing marketplace and an extensive logistics and fulfillment network.

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