HYBE posts record quarterly revenue and operating profit in Q3 as BTS' 'ARIRANG' tour drives growth
HYBE reported preliminary third-quarter consolidated revenue of 1.5257 trillion won and operating profit of 188.5 billion won in a regulatory filing on November 3, both the highest in its history.
HYBE had the biggest quarter in its history. The company reported preliminary third-quarter revenue of 1.5257 trillion won, more than double the same period last year, and operating profit of 188.5 billion won, up from a loss a year earlier. Both figures beat the records it had set just one quarter before.
Concerts led the growth. HYBE said BTS drew up to about 70,000 fans per show in Europe and the U.S., and that tours by ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM, &TEAM, BOYNEXTDOOR, TWS, ILLIT, KATSEYE and CORTIS also added to revenue. Yonhap reports that with 3.674 trillion won earned through September, HYBE is close to becoming the first Korean music agency to pass 4 trillion won in a year.
Confirmed
- In a regulatory filing on November 3 (KST), HYBE reported preliminary Q3 consolidated revenue of 1.5257 trillion won, up 109.8% year on year, and operating profit of 188.5 billion won, compared with an operating loss of 42.2 billion won a year earlier. Net profit was 11.3 billion won.
- HYBE said both revenue and operating profit were its highest quarterly figures ever, beating the previous records of 1.45 trillion won and 170.9 billion won set in Q2 2026, when BTS' 'ARIRANG' world tour began.
- Concert revenue reached a quarterly record of 726.8 billion won; merchandise and licensing brought in 334.6 billion won, and albums and music 282.8 billion won.
- HYBE said BTS will continue touring through the first half of next year.
Reported by other outlets
- Yonhap reports cumulative revenue through Q3 was 3.674 trillion won, putting HYBE close to becoming the first Korean music agency to pass 4 trillion won in annual revenue, and that operating profit beat the market consensus of 166 billion won (Yonhap Infomax) by 13.6%.
- Yonhap reports that, according to HYBE, about one million fans visited merchandise sales sites over 45 days in 12 cities on BTS' North American tour, buying about two million items.
Analysis
2FC NEWSROOM analysis: With concert revenue now almost half of the total, HYBE's results depend heavily on BTS staying on the road. How well its other artists perform will matter more once the 'ARIRANG' tour ends next year.