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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.

Company profile comparison for AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and SK Telecom (SKM)
Profile ItemASTSSKM
NameAST SpaceMobile Inc.SK Telecom Co., Ltd. Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesSouth Korea
GICS SectorCommunication ServicesCommunication Services
GICS Industry GroupTelecommunication ServicesTelecommunication Services
GICS IndustryDiversified Telecommunication ServicesWireless Telecommunication Services
GICS Sub-IndustryAlternative CarriersWireless Telecommunication Services
Market Capitalization12.58 billion USD11.99 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateNovember 1, 2019June 27, 1996
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ASTS
SKM
GSPC
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AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) vs. SK Telecom (SKM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and SK Telecom (SKM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and SK Telecom (SKM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and SK Telecom (SKM)
MetricASTSSKM
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

ASTS
SKM
GSPC
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AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) vs. SK Telecom (SKM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and SK Telecom (SKM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

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.

Risk profile metrics for AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and SK Telecom (SKM)
MetricASTSSKM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)110.01%51.22%
Beta (5Y)2.870.86
Max Drawdown (5Y)-85.57%-36.04%
Avg. Volume (3M)13.50M1.45M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ASTS and SKM are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and SK Telecom (SKM)
MetricASTSSKM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.461.07
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.681.70

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
--
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AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) vs. SK Telecom (SKM): SKM does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; ASTS is benchmarked against the Telecommunication Services industry group.

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%
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AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) vs. SK Telecom (SKM): A comparison of their net margin against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

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%
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AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) vs. SK Telecom (SKM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and SK Telecom (SKM)
MetricASTSSKM
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.

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AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) vs. SK Telecom (SKM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

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.

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AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) vs. SK Telecom (SKM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and SK Telecom (SKM)
MetricASTSSKM
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
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AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) vs. SK Telecom (SKM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

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
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AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) vs. SK Telecom (SKM): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and SK Telecom (SKM)
MetricASTSSKM
Current Ratio (MRQ)13.051.20
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.250.43
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%
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AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) vs. SK Telecom (SKM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

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%
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AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) vs. SK Telecom (SKM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and SK Telecom (SKM)
MetricASTSSKM
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
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AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) vs. SK Telecom (SKM): ASTS does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; SKM is benchmarked against the Telecommunication Services industry group.

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
Loading chart…
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) vs. SK Telecom (SKM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

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
Loading chart…
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) vs. SK Telecom (SKM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and SK Telecom (SKM)
MetricASTSSKM
P/E Ratio (TTM)--23.84
P/S Ratio (TTM)109.120.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.121.03
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-14.30%--