ASTS vs. SKM: AST SpaceMobile vs. SK Telecom Stock Comparison
How do AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and SK Telecom (SKM) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and SK Telecom (SKM) both fall under the Telecommunication Services industry group, but ASTS is classified in Diversified Telecommunication Services while SKM is classified in Wireless Telecommunication Services.
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) trades as ordinary local shares, while SK Telecom (SKM) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | ASTS | SKM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | AST SpaceMobile Inc. | SK Telecom Co., Ltd. Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | South Korea |
| GICS Sector | Communication Services | Communication Services |
| GICS Industry Group | Telecommunication Services | Telecommunication Services |
| GICS Industry | Diversified Telecommunication Services | Wireless Telecommunication Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Alternative Carriers | Wireless Telecommunication Services |
| Market Capitalization | 12.58 billion USD | 11.99 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 1, 2019 | June 27, 1996 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ASTS | SKM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -46.41% | 59.22% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 107.84% | 18.66% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 24.33% | 6.83% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.87, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas SK Telecom (SKM) is closer to market-like at 0.86 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
| Metric | ASTS | SKM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 110.01% | 51.22% |
| Beta (5Y) | 2.87 | 0.86 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -85.57% | -36.04% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 13.50M | 1.45M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ASTS | SKM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.46 | 1.07 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.68 | 1.70 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
SK Telecom (SKM) has no ROE value reported for this period; AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) reports a negative figure of -45.62%, which needs context because negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity.
ASTS
Telecommunication Services industry group
-45.62%
- Max
- 31.74%
- Q3
- 17.02%
- Median
- 7.32%
- Q1
- -5.16%
- Min
- -20.26%
- ASTS
- -45.62%
SKM
Telecommunication Services industry group
--
- Max
- 31.74%
- Q3
- 17.02%
- Median
- 7.32%
- Q1
- -5.16%
- Min
- -20.26%
- SKM
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Both AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) at 0.00% and SK Telecom (SKM) at 7.50% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
ASTS
Telecommunication Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 30.45%
- Q3
- 11.78%
- Median
- 7.20%
- ASTS
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -3.86%
- Min
- -18.49%
SKM
Telecommunication Services industry group
7.50%
- Max
- 30.45%
- Q3
- 11.78%
- SKM
- 7.50%
- Median
- 7.20%
- Q1
- -3.86%
- Min
- -18.49%
Operating Margin (TTM)
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) reports a negative operating margin of -544.63%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile SK Telecom (SKM) reports 12.28%, ranking against industry peers normally.
ASTS
Telecommunication Services industry group
-544.63%
- Max
- 35.53%
- Q3
- 22.79%
- Median
- 12.87%
- Q1
- 0.82%
- Min
- -29.20%
- ASTS
- -544.63%
SKM
Telecommunication Services industry group
12.28%
- Max
- 35.53%
- Q3
- 22.79%
- Median
- 12.87%
- SKM
- 12.28%
- Q1
- 0.82%
- Min
- -29.20%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ASTS | SKM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -45.62% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | -7.64% | -- |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 0.00% | 7.50% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -544.63% | 12.28% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 38.91% | 64.61% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) at 1,505.21% delivers above-range revenue growth, while SK Telecom (SKM) at -4.69% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in revenue momentum.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: SK Telecom (SKM) reports EPS growth of -68.34%, ranked against its industry; AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ASTS | SKM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 1,505.21% | -4.69% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 72.46% | -0.40% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | -68.34% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -23.75% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
SK Telecom (SKM) at 1.20 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) at 13.05 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
ASTS
Telecommunication Services industry group
13.05
- ASTS
- 13.05
- Max
- 2.85
- Q3
- 1.64
- Median
- 0.97
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.26
SKM
Telecommunication Services industry group
1.20
- Max
- 2.85
- Q3
- 1.64
- SKM
- 1.20
- Median
- 0.97
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.26
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
SK Telecom (SKM) at 0.43 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) at 1.25 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
ASTS
Telecommunication Services industry group
1.25
- Max
- 3.94
- Q3
- 2.11
- Median
- 1.32
- ASTS
- 1.25
- Q1
- 0.65
- Min
- 0.00
SKM
Telecommunication Services industry group
0.43
- Max
- 3.94
- Q3
- 2.11
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 0.65
- SKM
- 0.43
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ASTS | SKM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 13.05 | 1.20 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.25 | 0.43 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | 0.90 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) nor SK Telecom (SKM) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
ASTS
Telecommunication Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 6.10%
- Q3
- 2.63%
- ASTS
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SKM
Telecommunication Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 6.10%
- Q3
- 2.63%
- SKM
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile SK Telecom (SKM) reports a payout of 47.95%, ranking against industry peers normally.
ASTS
Telecommunication Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 121.72%
- Q3
- 68.18%
- Median
- 4.06%
- ASTS
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SKM
Telecommunication Services industry group
47.95%
- Max
- 121.72%
- Q3
- 68.18%
- SKM
- 47.95%
- Median
- 4.06%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ASTS | SKM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 47.95% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: SK Telecom (SKM) trades at 23.84 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) has no P/E ratio this period.
ASTS
Telecommunication Services industry group
--
- Max
- 30.40
- Q3
- 23.75
- Median
- 13.30
- Q1
- 8.65
- Min
- 2.50
- ASTS
- --
SKM
Telecommunication Services industry group
23.84
- Max
- 30.40
- SKM
- 23.84
- Q3
- 23.75
- Median
- 13.30
- Q1
- 8.65
- Min
- 2.50
P/S Ratio (TTM)
SK Telecom (SKM) at 0.00 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) at 109.12 prices above its industry range — a wide gap in sales valuation between them.
ASTS
Telecommunication Services industry group
109.12
- ASTS
- 109.12
- Max
- 3.01
- Q3
- 1.73
- Median
- 0.81
- Q1
- 0.36
- Min
- 0.00
SKM
Telecommunication Services industry group
0.00
- Max
- 3.01
- Q3
- 1.73
- Median
- 0.81
- Q1
- 0.36
- SKM
- 0.00
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
SK Telecom (SKM) at 1.03 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) at 5.12 carries an above-peer premium to book — ASTS is pricier on assets.
ASTS
Telecommunication Services industry group
5.12
- Max
- 8.10
- ASTS
- 5.12
- Q3
- 3.98
- Median
- 1.53
- Q1
- 0.65
- Min
- -2.39
SKM
Telecommunication Services industry group
1.03
- Max
- 8.10
- Q3
- 3.98
- Median
- 1.53
- SKM
- 1.03
- Q1
- 0.65
- Min
- -2.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ASTS | SKM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | -- | 23.84 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 109.12 | 0.00 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.12 | 1.03 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -14.30% | -- |