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Today's Exclusive News This Country's Stock Market Was the World's Top Performer in 2025Reported by Leo Miller. Originally Published: 1/28/2026. 
What You Need to Know - U.S. stocks have dominated global returns over the past 20 years, far outpacing developed and emerging markets overall.
- That trend flipped in 2025, when international benchmarks delivered much stronger gains than the S&P 500.
- South Korea led the global leaderboard, powered by AI-linked memory chip winners and reform-driven momentum heading into 2026.
Over long periods, U.S. stocks have been among the best performers in global equity markets. In the 20 years ended Jan. 26, 2026, the S&P 500 delivered a total return of more than 650%. The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA: EFA) and the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA: EEM) track international stock-market performance. EFA focuses on developed markets, while EEM targets emerging markets. Over the same 20-year period, these ETFs returned less than 200%.
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Click here to get your free copy + up to $10,000 in free silver while supplies last. However, the United States underperformed in 2025. The S&P 500's 17.7% total return lagged EFA and EEM, which gained 31.5% and 34%, respectively. Among international markets, one country outpaced them all — a U.S. ally that is a key player in the artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem and whose largest companies enjoyed huge gains. Samsung and SK Hynix Lead South Korea’s Rally In 2025, South Korea was the world's best-performing stock market. The iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (NYSEARCA: EWY), which tracks more than 80 South Korean stocks, returned about 95% for the year. JPMorgan notes that, in U.S. dollar terms, the South Korean market gained nearly 101%. South Korea's market is highly concentrated, a trait that contributed to its strong 2025 performance. Samsung Electronics (OTCMKTS: SSNLF) and SK Hynix make up 26.5% and 18.4% of EWY's weighting, respectively — together almost 45% of the fund. Shares of these companies rose sharply in 2025: Samsung returned roughly 130%, while SK Hynix surged about 278%. Their gains were driven largely by their roles as two of the three dominant players in the memory-chip market, alongside U.S. rival Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU), which returned about 240%. With AI systems demanding advanced memory chips and supply tight, memory-chip prices climbed in 2025. Analysts expect further price increases in 2026. That outlook has pushed investors into the three companies, as higher prices boost revenue, margins and profits. Value Up Reforms Look to Mitigate “Korean Discount” Reforms to South Korea's corporate-governance framework also helped the rally. The market has long suffered from the so-called "Korean Discount," where Korean stocks trade at lower valuation multiples than peers in other regions — a gap driven in part by weak protection for minority shareholders. Chaebols — large family-controlled conglomerates that dominate much of the economy — have historically limited outside shareholder influence and made it difficult to assess true corporate value. They often prioritize family control over maximizing shareholder value. South Korean policymakers are attempting to address these issues through the "Value Up" program. Reforms include extending the fiduciary duty of independent directors from the "Company" to the "Company and Shareholders," enabling minority owners to challenge decisions that do not serve their interests. Memory Stocks and Value Up Could Lead to More Upside in 2026 Looking ahead, many analysts remain bullish on South Korean equities. Goldman Sachs projects the Korean market will return about 23% in 2026, in dollar terms. Samsung and SK Hynix together hold roughly 80% of the global market for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, positioning them as major beneficiaries if shortages persist. That said, their rapid run-up raises questions about how much further gains can continue. Morgan Stanley also sees South Korea as early in its Value Up reforms. The firm highlights tax reform, treasury-share cancellations and consistent government follow-through as steps that could build investor confidence. Should deeper reforms occur, Value Up could drive further gains — although Morgan Stanley warns that South Korea's tax policy remains "notoriously difficult to predict." The EWY ETF is the simplest way for U.S. investors to gain exposure to the South Korean market, but returns will be affected by currency movements between the U.S. dollar and the South Korean won.
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