[Click eStock] "JYP Ent. to Continue Upward Trend in Performance"

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Hwajeong] Samsung Securities maintained its 'Buy' rating and target price of 44,000 KRW for JYP Ent. on the 18th, expecting the company's earnings to continue an upward trend.

Minha Choi, a researcher at Samsung Securities, analyzed, "Existing artists are delivering stable results based on a solid fandom (ITZY), and Stray Kids' album sales and recognition are increasing, so the earnings are expected to continue an upward trend."

Localization projects are being actively pursued. The 9-member girl group NiziU, composed entirely of Japanese members through the 'Nizi Project' aired in Japan last year, had a pre-debut at the end of June and officially debuted in December. Researcher Choi said, "As a local group born by applying K-pop's systematic producing system, they caused a sensational response in Japan," adding, "A Japan-localized boy group is currently working on a project aiming for debut by the end of next year, and a China boy group project will also be launched in 2022."

From the second quarter, active comebacks of artists are expected. Scheduled activities include NiziU's second Japanese single album release in April, Psy's collaboration with P Nation and the new boy group project SBS 'LOUD' airing in May, and full-group comebacks of ITZY, Stray Kids, and 2PM.

Researcher Choi said, "The lineup of new artists to be added through various domestic and international projects is solid, so securing future growth drivers will be smooth," and added, "NiziU's activities are expected this year, and localization projects are bearing fruit, so the influence of JYP Ent. artists in domestic and international markets will further expand."