KB Securities’ Major Shareholding in NewJeansOn: What Happened on the Day?

On July 16, 2025, KB Securities reported a major shareholding of 5.21% in NewJeansOn. This stake was acquired through the purchase of newly listed shares and convertible bonds on July 9, with the stated purpose being simple investment. However, contrary to expectations, the stock price, which stood at 13,430 KRW just before the report, dropped to 12,710 KRW immediately after, surprising the market.

NewJeansOn’s Struggles: An Analysis of 2024 Fundamental Performance

Even before KB Securities’ announcement, NewJeansOn’s financial performance had been weak. The 2024 audited financial statements revealed a significant decline in operating and net income, despite an increase in revenue.

  • Soaring Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) Expenses: An increase in SG&A expenses to approximately 23.3 billion KRW severely impacted profitability. While potential reasons include changes in sales strategy or increased operational costs, specific causal factors require further investigation.
  • Rising Financial Costs: The impact of a high-interest-rate environment led to a rise in financial costs by approximately 1.9 billion KRW, adding to the company’s burden.
  • Adverse Macroeconomic Factors: The appreciation of the KRW/USD exchange rate and the rise in crude oil prices likely contributed to increased costs and reduced profitability for NewJeansOn, a company reliant on imported raw materials.
  • Limited Impact of Business Restructuring: While business restructuring efforts, such as the liquidation of NewJeansOn Global Co., Ltd., were undertaken, their impact on current financial performance was limited.
  • Deteriorating Profitability Ratios: The net profit margin plummeted to 3.09%, and the operating profit margin also dropped sharply to 2.36%. The Return on Equity (ROE) remained very low at 2.10%. The reduction in the debt-to-equity ratio was due to the conversion of preferred shares and is not directly linked to profitability improvements.

Analyzing the Link Between Stock Price and Macroeconomic Indicators

The post-announcement stock price decline is believed to be a stronger reflection of market concerns about NewJeansOn’s poor 2024 performance rather than the KB Securities report itself. During the reporting period, fluctuations in the KRW/USD exchange rate (between 1,356 and 1,387 KRW) and crude oil prices (between $60 and $74) could have negatively impacted NewJeansOn’s profitability, but it is difficult to pinpoint these as direct causes for the stock drop. Furthermore, the rise in US Treasury yields and benchmark interest rates in the US and Europe likely contributed to the increase in financial costs.

NewJeansOn’s Future: What Should Investors Do?

While KB Securities’ major shareholding announcement might have had a short-term negative impact on the stock price, its overall influence is expected to be limited. The fundamental reason for the stock price decline lies in NewJeansOn’s weakened fundamentals. KB Securities’ declaration of a simple investment purpose could be a positive factor, but without the company presenting a credible strategy for profitability improvement, a stock price recovery is unlikely.

Therefore, investors should pay close attention to the following:

  • Demand for Detailed Analysis: A detailed analysis of the specific reasons behind the increase in SG&A expenses and financial costs is crucial.
  • Profitability Improvement Strategy: Investors must carefully scrutinize any concrete strategies and execution plans for profitability improvement that NewJeansOn may present.
  • Macroeconomic Impact Assessment: Analyzing the correlation between raw material price fluctuations and NewJeansOn’s profitability is also important.
  • Long-Term Perspective: A long-term evaluation of the impact of the liquidation of NewJeansOn Global Co., Ltd., along with a comprehensive analysis of stock price movements in conjunction with financial statements, is necessary.

In conclusion, while KB Securities’ shareholding might be a short-term event, NewJeansOn’s sustained stock price growth hinges on the company’s fundamental improvements. To regain market trust, NewJeansOn must establish and transparently disclose clear and concrete strategies for profitability enhancement.