Preprint / Version 1

Why has VK's share price declined while revenue and user numbers grew? An analysis of external and internal factors, 2021–2026.

Authors

  • Kristina Naidenkina Gymnasium 9

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.4305

Keywords:

VK, shares, social network, VKCO, digital ecosystem, investments, reports

Abstract

In Russia, with the current market conditions, people wishing to invest in social media

companies have found it difficult to identify potential favorites. This research paper has analyzed

the company’s development history, financial indicators and challenges relating to VK from

December 2021 to August 2026. The company’s competitors and their strengths and

weaknesses were also examined in comparison with VK. During the research, it was found that

VK’s share price plummeted by 83.95 percent in four years and eight months, from 980

(December 2021) rubles to 160.95 (10.08.2026) rubles, with a minimum of 120.5 rubles

(17.07.2026), following the imposition of sanctions against the company, whilst VK’s revenue

grew from 97.8 billion rubles to 160, taking into account the complete absence of dividend

payments throughout the entire period. The results of the analysis show that the change in

share prices during the reporting period was due to the impact of external and internal factors on

the company.

References

Aksenova, D. D., & Bondaletov, V. V. (n.d.). Vkontakte social network – A means of mass

communication.

CyberLeninka. https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/stanovlenie-sotsialnoy-seti-vkontakte-v-rossii/vie

wer

Brand Analytics. (2025). Social media Russia spring 2025.

https://brandanalytics.ru/blog/social-media-russia-spring-2025

CNews. (2022, February 23). Glava VK popal pod amerikanskie sanktsii [Head of VK fell under

American

sanctions].https://www.cnews.ru/news/top/2022-02-23_glava_vk_popal_pod_amerikanskie

Double24.ru. (2026, June 10). Evolyutsiya VK za poslednie gody: Podrobnyy obzor sotsialnoy

seti [The evolution of VK in recent years: A detailed review of the social

network]. https://double24.ru/blog/675-evolyutsiya-vk-za-poslednie-gody-podrobnyj-obzor-sotsi

alnoj-seti/

Dzen.ru. (n.d.). O brendakh [About brands]. https://dzen.ru/about/brands

Elama.ru. (2026, April 3). Sotsialnye seti v Rossii [Social networks in

Russia]. https://elama.ru/blog/socialnye-seti-v-rossii/

Indeks.ru. (n.d.). Faktory, vliyayushchie na stoimost tsennykh bumag [Factors influencing the

value of

securities].https://www.indeks.ru/otvety-na-voprosy/faktory-vliyayushchie-na-stoimost-cennykh-

bumag.php

Interfax. (2025, June 26). VK raises 112 billion rubles in additional share

issuance. https://www.interfax.ru/business/1033173

Kommersant. (2026, August 26). VK shares have fallen to an all-time

low. https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/8908914

Molodtsov, I. N., Danilchenko, A. A., & Lyakh, V. V. (2025). Features of cost accounting of modern

media companies using the example of Netflix and VK. Issues of Media Business, 4(4),

S-5. https://doi.org/10.65324/imb001

Nanjing Marketing Group. (2025, September 10). WeChat user

demographics. https://nanjingmarketinggroup.com/blog/wechat-user-demographics

RBC. (n.d.). VK quote page. https://www.rbc.ru/quote/ticker/271957

RBC. (2026, July 29). [Article]. Telegram: its history, blocks and allegations against Pavel

Durov. https://www.rbc.ru/base/26/09/2025/689dbb5b9a79470149b672b4

RBC. (2026, July 1). The European Union has imposed sanctions on VK. [Article].

https://www.rbc.ru/politics/13/07/2026/6a54b48a9a79478311f8d6cd

Resourcera. (2026, March 17). Telegram

revenue. https://resourcera.com/data/social/telegram-revenue/

Resourcera. (2026, April 18). WeChat

statistics. https://resourcera.com/data/social/wechat-statistics/

Sberbank. (n.d.). Ot chego zavisit tsena aktsii [What determines the share price].

https://www.sberbank.ru/ru/person/investments/edu/courses/aktsii/ot-chego-zavisit-tsena-aktsii

Sinch. (2025, November 7). Most popular messaging apps by

country. https://sinch.com/blog/most-popular-messaging-apps-by-country/

Smart-Lab. (n.d.). VKCO: MSFO: Debt [VKCO: IFRS:

Debt]. https://smart-lab.ru/q/VKCO/MSFO/debt/

Smart-Lab. (n.d.). VKCO: MSFO: Debt/EBITDA [VKCO: IFRS:

Debt/EBITDA]. https://smart-lab.ru/q/VKCO/MSFO/debt_ebitda/

Smart-Lab. (n.d.). VKCO: MSFO: P/E [VKCO: IFRS:

P/E]. https://smart-lab.ru/q/VKCO/MSFO/p_e/

Sostav.ru. (2026, April 30). Gosudarstvo vydelilo na razvitie servisov VK bolee 43 mlrd rublei [The

state allocated more than 43 billion rubles for the development of VK

services]. https://www.sostav.ru/publication/gosudarstvo-vydelilo-na-razvitie-servisov-vk-bolee-

-mlrd-rublej-83510.html

Tang, Y. M., Chau, K. Y., Hong, L., Ip, Y. K., & Yan, W. (2021). Financial innovation in digital

payment with WeChat towards electronic business success. Journal of Theoretical and Applied

Electronic Commerce Research, 16(5), 1844–1861. https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16050103

Upravlyaem.ru. (2025, July 12). Ot chego zavisyat tseny na aktsii [What share prices depend

on].https://www.upravlyaem.ru/blog/investments/ot-chego-zavisyat-tseny-na-aktsii/

VK. (n.d.-a). About. https://vk.ru/about

VK. (n.d.-b). For investors. https://vk.company/ru/investors/

VK. (n.d.-c). Investor information. https://vk.company/ru/investors/info/12036/

VK. (n.d.-d). Results: Presentations and

webcasts. https://vk.company/ru/investors/results/#presentationsAndWebcasts

VK. (n.d.-e). Shares. https://vk.company/ru/investors/shares/

Wise. (2024, March 22). What is WeChat? https://wise.com/us/blog/what-is-wechat

Zhang, Y. (2023). From Weixin to WeChat: Analysing the expansion strategies of a Chinese

social media platform. In P. Bouquillion, C. Ithurbide, & T. Mattelart (Eds.), Digital platforms and

the Global South (pp. 109–127). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003391746-6

Downloads

Posted

2026-10-24

Categories