HYBE Posts Record $1.08b Q3 Thanks to BTS Boost
BTS continues to be very good business for HYBE, which reported record Q3 revenue of KRW 1.53t ($1.08b) for the period ending Sept. 30, a 109.8% year-over-year increase propelled by the group’s ARIRANG world tour.
HYBE honchos Bang Si-Hyuk and Isaac Lee are also celebrating operating profit reaching a quarterly high, at KRW 188.5b ($133m), compared with an operating loss of KRW 42.2b ($31.4m) a year earlier.
For the first nine months of 2026, HYBE has generated KRW 3.67t ($2.73b) in revenue—already more than it’s earned in any full calendar year to date.
Concerts did the heavy lifting, generating KRW 726.8b ($512m), up nearly 200% year over year. BTS averaged approximately 70k fans per show during the European and North American legs of the tour, while other HYBE acts KATSEYE, ILLIT, ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM, CORTIS, &TEAM, BOYNEXTDOOR and TWS all posted substantial box office numbers.
Merchandise and licensing also set a quarterly record, bringing in KRW 334.6b ($236m), a 98.7% year-over-year increase. BTS tour merchandise sold at North American dates contributed KRW 107b ($75m), with approximately 2m items purchased at 31 shows in 12 cities. Recorded-music revenue rose 49% to KRW 282.8b ($199m). Streaming accounted for roughly 30% of the category.
HYBE’s net profit, however, came in at just KRW 11.3b ($8m), down sharply from the previous quarter, largely because of foreign-exchange valuation losses on the company’s overseas cash holdings. Operating margin was 12.4%.
Looking ahead, the company said BTS will continue touring through the first half of 2027 as it works on new music and other projects. HYBE also pointed to its broader “multi-home, multi-genre” strategy with acts like KATSEYE, which is in the middle of a North American arena tour and will headline Lollapalooza India in January.