(LEAD) Hyundai E&C Q3 net profit down 31.6 pct to 46.4 bln won

Hyundai Engineering & Construction's Q3 net profit dropped 31.6% year-on-year to 46.4 billion won despite a 114.2% rise in operating profit. Sales fell 20.3%, but order backlog grew 10.6% with new contracts including an AI data center in Pohang. The company aims to diversify into nuclear power, SMRs, renewable energy, and data centers to boost profitability.