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SK Telecom (SKM) Stock Analysis

This is a peer-relative look at SK Telecom (SKM): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Telecommunication Services peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

SK Telecom (SKM) trades as an ADR rather than ordinary local shares — read it with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile fields for SK Telecom (SKM)
Profile ItemSKM
NameSK Telecom Co., Ltd. Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionSouth Korea
GICS SectorCommunication Services
GICS Industry GroupTelecommunication Services
GICS IndustryWireless Telecommunication Services
GICS Sub-IndustryWireless Telecommunication Services
Market Capitalization11.99 billion USD
CurrencyUSD
ExchangeNYSE
Listing DateJune 27, 1996
Security TypeADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SKM
GSPC
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for SK Telecom (SKM) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for SK Telecom (SKM) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

SK Telecom (SKM) metric values compared with Telecommunication Services industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: SKMIndustry group median
Total Return (1Y)59.22%-0.39%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.66%16.26%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.83%2.38%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

SKM
GSPC
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for SK Telecom (SKM) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

SK Telecom (SKM) metric values compared with Telecommunication Services industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: SKMIndustry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)51.22%41.04%
Beta (5Y)0.860.68
Max Drawdown (5Y)-36.04%-57.78%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. SKM is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

SK Telecom (SKM) metric values compared with Telecommunication Services industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: SKMIndustry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.07-0.17
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.70-0.24

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

No usable ROE is available for SK Telecom (SKM) this period, so the shareholder-equity return read is skipped.

SKM

Telecommunication Services industry group

--

Group distribution
Max
31.74%
Q3
17.02%
Median
7.32%
Q1
-5.16%
Min
-20.26%
SKM
--
Largest peers
AMX
20.98%
TMUS
19.35%
VZ
15.79%
T
11.61%
CHT
11.37%
SKM
--
SPCX
--
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SK Telecom (SKM) doesn’t report ROE this period; the box shows the Telecommunication Services group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

SK Telecom (SKM) keeps 7.50% of revenue as net profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal net margin range. Its full cost stack is taking a typical share of sales for the industry.

SKM

Telecommunication Services industry group

7.50%

Group distribution
Max
30.45%
Q3
11.78%
SKM
7.50%
Median
7.20%
Q1
-3.86%
Min
-18.49%
Largest peers
CHT
16.61%
TMUS
12.05%
VZ
11.78%
T
10.19%
AMX
9.36%
SKM
7.50%
SPCX
-8.61%
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Where SK Telecom (SKM) stands on net margin within its Telecommunication Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

SK Telecom (SKM) turns 12.28% of revenue into operating profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal operating margin range. Its core cost structure looks typical for the industry.

SKM

Telecommunication Services industry group

12.28%

Group distribution
Max
35.53%
Q3
22.79%
Median
12.87%
SKM
12.28%
Q1
0.82%
Min
-29.20%
Largest peers
SPCX
27.58%
VZ
25.11%
TMUS
24.75%
T
24.65%
AMX
22.79%
CHT
22.75%
SKM
12.28%
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Where SK Telecom (SKM) stands on operating margin within its Telecommunication Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

SK Telecom (SKM) metric values compared with Telecommunication Services industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: SKMIndustry group median
ROE (TTM)--7.32%
ROA (TTM)--3.12%
Net Margin (TTM)7.50%7.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)12.28%12.87%
Gross Margin (TTM)64.61%59.09%

Growth

Revenue Growth

SK Telecom (SKM) grew revenue -4.69%, in the lower peer quartile. The top line is expanding more slowly than at most peers, which can reflect softer demand, lost share, or weaker pricing.

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SK Telecom (SKM): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Telecommunication Services industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

SK Telecom (SKM) grew earnings per share -68.34%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Bottom-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

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SK Telecom (SKM): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Telecommunication Services industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

SK Telecom (SKM) metric values compared with Telecommunication Services industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: SKMIndustry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)-4.69%5.16%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.40%3.41%
EPS Growth (YoY)-68.34%-1.93%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-23.75%16.50%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

SK Telecom (SKM) has current ratio of 1.20, in the healthier middle range for its industry. The short-term asset cushion looks balanced relative to peers rather than stretched thin.

SKM

Telecommunication Services industry group

1.20

Group distribution
Max
2.85
Q3
1.64
SKM
1.20
Median
0.97
Q1
0.78
Min
0.26
Largest peers
SPCX
3.08
CHT
1.36
SKM
1.20
TMUS
0.91
T
0.87
AMX
0.75
VZ
0.63
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Where SK Telecom (SKM) stands on current ratio within its Telecommunication Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

SK Telecom (SKM) has debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, in the lower-leverage quartile for its industry. Borrowing is modest relative to equity compared with most peers, which can leave more flexibility through a cycle.

SKM

Telecommunication Services industry group

0.43

Group distribution
Max
3.94
Q3
2.11
Median
1.32
Q1
0.65
SKM
0.43
Min
0.00
Largest peers
TMUS
2.11
VZ
1.82
AMX
1.50
T
1.45
SKM
0.43
SPCX
0.22
CHT
0.07
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Where SK Telecom (SKM) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Telecommunication Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

SK Telecom (SKM) metric values compared with Telecommunication Services industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: SKMIndustry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.200.97
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.431.32
Net Debt / EBITDA0.903.56

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

SK Telecom (SKM) pays no dividend, leaving dividend yield at 0.00% this period. Shareholders may still receive value through reinvestment or buybacks, but there is no dividend income to compare here.

SKM

Telecommunication Services industry group

0.00%

Group distribution
Max
6.10%
Q3
2.63%
SKM
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Largest peers
VZ
6.10%
T
5.09%
TMUS
2.63%
AMX
2.15%
SKM
0.00%
SPCX
0.00%
CHT
0.00%
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Where SK Telecom (SKM) stands on dividend yield within its Telecommunication Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

SK Telecom (SKM) has payout ratio of 47.95%, within the industry’s typical payout band. The dividend shares profits with investors while leaving earnings coverage that looks normal for the peer group.

SKM

Telecommunication Services industry group

47.95%

Group distribution
Max
121.72%
Q3
68.18%
SKM
47.95%
Median
4.06%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Largest peers
VZ
71.75%
T
59.36%
SKM
47.95%
TMUS
39.34%
AMX
36.38%
SPCX
0.00%
CHT
0.00%
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Where SK Telecom (SKM) stands on payout ratio within its Telecommunication Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

SK Telecom (SKM) metric values compared with Telecommunication Services industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: SKMIndustry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)47.95%4.06%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

SK Telecom (SKM) trades at P/E ratio of 23.84, in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for its industry. That premium needs support from growth, durable earnings, or stronger business quality.

SKM

Telecommunication Services industry group

23.84

Group distribution
Max
30.40
SKM
23.84
Q3
23.75
Median
13.30
Q1
8.65
Min
2.50
Largest peers
SPCX
583.78
CHT
30.40
SKM
23.84
TMUS
15.62
AMX
14.95
VZ
11.66
T
11.57
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Where SK Telecom (SKM) stands on P/E ratio within its Telecommunication Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

SK Telecom (SKM) trades at 0.00 on P/S ratio, in the lower sales-valuation quartile for its industry. That points to a cheaper revenue stream than most peers, with margin quality still doing the heavy lifting.

SKM

Telecommunication Services industry group

0.00

Group distribution
Max
3.01
Q3
1.73
Median
0.81
Q1
0.36
SKM
0.00
Min
0.00
Largest peers
SPCX
56.91
TMUS
1.83
VZ
1.36
T
1.13
CHT
0.15
AMX
0.08
SKM
0.00
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Where SK Telecom (SKM) stands on P/S ratio within its Telecommunication Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

SK Telecom (SKM) trades at 1.03 on P/B ratio, roughly in line with the industry’s normal price-to-book range. Its balance sheet is not being priced at a clear discount or premium versus peers.

SKM

Telecommunication Services industry group

1.03

Group distribution
Max
8.10
Q3
3.98
Median
1.53
SKM
1.03
Q1
0.65
Min
-2.39
Largest peers
CHT
13.30
SPCX
10.31
AMX
3.57
TMUS
3.06
VZ
1.79
T
1.37
SKM
1.03
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Where SK Telecom (SKM) stands on P/B ratio within its Telecommunication Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

SK Telecom (SKM) metric values compared with Telecommunication Services industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: SKMIndustry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.8413.30
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.000.81
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.031.53
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)--10.87%