World Tour to Begin After New Album Release on March 20
Securities Analysts Project 622% Increase in Operating Profit by 2026
The group BTS will make a full comeback and resume activities as a complete group on March 20. This new album release comes approximately three years and nine months after their anthology album 'Proof' in June 2022, drawing intense anticipation from their global fandom, ARMY. There are also expectations that this will serve as a momentum for an increase in HYBE's stock price.
On January 1, their agency Big Hit Music announced, "BTS will release a new album and embark on a large-scale world tour." To mark the New Year, the members delivered handwritten messages directly to fans, heightening expectations. RM wrote, "I have been waiting more earnestly than anyone," Jin said, "Thank you so much for waiting for us," Suga shared, "Let's have fun together again this year. I love you," J-Hope stated, "Finally, what we imagined has become reality!", Jimin wrote, "The year we meet has finally come," V said, "In 2026, we will make even more and better memories, so please look forward to it!", and Jungkook wrote, "I miss you! Please take care of us this year as well."
This letter is a gift for fans who have maintained a Weverse membership over the past three years, and for ARMYs who did not receive the physical letter, the same message will be available on Weverse at the end of January.
The securities industry expects BTS's full-group comeback to act as a momentum for HYBE's stock price increase. Hwang Ji-won, a researcher at iM Investment & Securities, analyzed, "With BTS's full return, HYBE's estimated operating profit for 2026 is projected at 514.9 billion won, a 622% increase compared to the previous year," adding, "The operating margin is also expected to recover to the 10% range." He further stated, "If the world tour begins, we can expect an audience of about 3.5 to 4 million, an increased proportion of concerts in North America and Europe, and a rise in average ticket prices due to deferred demand."
Researcher Hwang also predicted, "After the new album release in March, the world tour is expected to start in April, and if we combine growth in the MD (merchandise) sector, album and digital music sales, documentary, VOD, live concert films, and online live streaming, there is ample possibility for further upward revision of performance."
Choi Minha and Kang Younghoon, researchers at Samsung Securities, commented, "BTS's new album and world tour increase the possibility of setting a new record for the largest audience ever for a K-pop artist," presenting their outlook based on the size and influence of the global fandom.
BTS's comeback is also expected to have a positive impact on revenue growth for the fan-exclusive platform Weverse. Researcher Hwang noted, "In the third quarter of last year, Weverse's MAU (monthly active users) increased by 20% year-on-year to 11.6 million, and the platform turned a profit on a cumulative basis in the third quarter of this year," adding, "Next year, the expansion of BTS-related content and digital sales will further strengthen the platform's profitability."
In addition to BTS, HYBE continues global activities with groups such as Seventeen, Tomorrow X Together, and Enhypen, and is consistently pursuing overseas market expansion for newer artists. Researcher Hwang assessed, "Considering the full-scale monetization of both domestic and international artists, it is possible to continue increasing holdings at the current stock price level, and I recommend HYBE as the top pick within the sector."
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