Only three South Korean conglomerates posted an operating profit of over 1 trillion won ($970 million) in the second quarter of this year, data showed on Monday. It is the smallest number of firms to surpass the 1 trillion won mark during that time period in the past three years.

According to FnGuide, a corporate financial information provider, Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor and SK hynix were the three companies.

Samsung Electronics was the highest earner during the April-June period, among firms listed on the main exchange with 7.19 trillion won, followed by Hyundai Motor (2.09 trillion won) and SK hynix (1.08 trillion won).

The combined operating profit of the three firms stood at 10.36 trillion won, two-thirds of that recorded a year ago.

In 2012, four conglomerates ― Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, POSCO and Kia Motors ― reported more than 1 trillion won in the cited period.

(hnpark@heraldcorp.com)