SKM vs. SPCX: SK Telecom vs. Space Exploration Stock Comparison
How do SK Telecom (SKM) and Space Exploration (SPCX) 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
SK Telecom (SKM) and Space Exploration (SPCX) both fall under the Telecommunication Services industry group, but SKM is classified in Wireless Telecommunication Services while SPCX is classified in Diversified Telecommunication Services.
SK Telecom (SKM) has been public since June 27, 1996, giving it decades of market history across multiple cycles, while Space Exploration (SPCX) listed only on June 12, 2026 and lacks comparable through-cycle data.
Space Exploration (SPCX) 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 | SKM | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | SK Telecom Co., Ltd. Sponsored ADR | Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | South Korea | United States |
| GICS Sector | Communication Services | Communication Services |
| GICS Industry Group | Telecommunication Services | Telecommunication Services |
| GICS Industry | Wireless Telecommunication Services | Diversified Telecommunication Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Wireless Telecommunication Services | Alternative Carriers |
| Market Capitalization | 11.99 billion USD | 1,823.53 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 27, 1996 | June 12, 2026 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | SKM | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 59.22% | -- |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 18.66% | -- |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 6.83% | -- |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Space Exploration (SPCX) carries a highly aggressive beta of 5.69, 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 | SKM | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 51.22% | 82.86% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.86 | 5.69 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -36.04% | -48.78% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.45M | 97.49M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Both SKM and SPCX need 1-year volatility and 1-year return to plot risk-return positioning.
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | SKM | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.07 | -- |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.70 | -- |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Neither SK Telecom (SKM) nor Space Exploration (SPCX) reports a ROE value for this period, so a direct comparison isn’t possible.
SKM
Telecommunication Services industry group
--
- Max
- 31.74%
- Q3
- 17.02%
- Median
- 7.32%
- Q1
- -5.16%
- Min
- -20.26%
- SKM
- --
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
--
- Max
- 31.74%
- Q3
- 17.02%
- Median
- 7.32%
- Q1
- -5.16%
- Min
- -20.26%
- SPCX
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Space Exploration (SPCX) reports a negative net margin of -8.61%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile SK Telecom (SKM) reports 7.50%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
-8.61%
- Max
- 30.45%
- Q3
- 11.78%
- Median
- 7.20%
- Q1
- -3.86%
- SPCX
- -8.61%
- Min
- -18.49%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Space Exploration (SPCX) at 27.58% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of SK Telecom (SKM) at 12.28%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
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%
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
27.58%
- Max
- 35.53%
- SPCX
- 27.58%
- Q3
- 22.79%
- Median
- 12.87%
- Q1
- 0.82%
- Min
- -29.20%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | SKM | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 7.50% | -8.61% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 12.28% | 27.58% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 64.61% | 56.76% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Space Exploration (SPCX) at 33.24% 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
SK Telecom (SKM) at -68.34% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Space Exploration (SPCX) at -25,600.00% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | SKM | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -4.69% | 33.24% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -0.40% | -- |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -68.34% | -25,600.00% |
| 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 Space Exploration (SPCX) at 3.08 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
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
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
3.08
- SPCX
- 3.08
- Max
- 2.85
- Q3
- 1.64
- Median
- 0.97
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.26
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both SK Telecom (SKM) at 0.43 and Space Exploration (SPCX) at 0.22 keep leverage in the lower quartile of their industries, with less balance-sheet debt relative to equity than most peers.
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
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
0.22
- Max
- 3.94
- Q3
- 2.11
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 0.65
- SPCX
- 0.22
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | SKM | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.20 | 3.08 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.43 | 0.22 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.90 | -4.31 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither SK Telecom (SKM) nor Space Exploration (SPCX) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
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%
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 6.10%
- Q3
- 2.63%
- SPCX
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Space Exploration (SPCX) 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.
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%
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 121.72%
- Q3
- 68.18%
- Median
- 4.06%
- SPCX
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | SKM | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 47.95% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on trailing earnings: SK Telecom (SKM) at 23.84 sits in the richer P/E ratio quartile, and Space Exploration (SPCX) at 583.78 is richer still, above its industry range.
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
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
583.78
- SPCX
- 583.78
- Max
- 30.40
- 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 Space Exploration (SPCX) at 56.91 prices above its industry range — a wide gap in sales valuation between them.
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
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
56.91
- SPCX
- 56.91
- Max
- 3.01
- Q3
- 1.73
- Median
- 0.81
- Q1
- 0.36
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
SK Telecom (SKM) at 1.03 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Space Exploration (SPCX) at 10.31 prices above its benchmark range — SPCX looks rich relative to book.
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
SPCX
Telecommunication Services industry group
10.31
- SPCX
- 10.31
- Max
- 8.10
- Q3
- 3.98
- Median
- 1.53
- Q1
- 0.65
- Min
- -2.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | SKM | SPCX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 23.84 | 583.78 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.00 | 56.91 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.03 | 10.31 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |