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SKM vs. T: SK Telecom vs. AT&T Stock Comparison

How do SK Telecom (SKM) and AT&T (T) 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 AT&T (T) both fall under the Telecommunication Services industry group, but SKM is classified in Wireless Telecommunication Services while T is classified in Diversified Telecommunication Services.

AT&T (T) 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 SK Telecom (SKM) and AT&T (T)
Profile ItemSKMT
NameSK Telecom Co., Ltd. Sponsored ADRAT&T Inc.
Country/RegionSouth KoreaUnited States
GICS SectorCommunication ServicesCommunication Services
GICS Industry GroupTelecommunication ServicesTelecommunication Services
GICS IndustryWireless Telecommunication ServicesDiversified Telecommunication Services
GICS Sub-IndustryWireless Telecommunication ServicesIntegrated Telecommunication Services
Market Capitalization11.99 billion USD145.71 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 27, 1996November 21, 1983
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SKM
T
GSPC
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. AT&T (T), 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 SK Telecom (SKM) and AT&T (T). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for SK Telecom (SKM) and AT&T (T). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for SK Telecom (SKM) and AT&T (T)
MetricSKMT
Total Return (1Y)59.22%-8.35%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.66%17.33%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.83%9.18%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

SKM
T
GSPC
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. AT&T (T), 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 SK Telecom (SKM) and AT&T (T). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for SK Telecom (SKM) and AT&T (T)
MetricSKMT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)51.22%28.75%
Beta (5Y)0.860.27
Max Drawdown (5Y)-36.04%-32.01%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.45M42.07M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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SKM and T 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 SK Telecom (SKM) and AT&T (T)
MetricSKMT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.07-0.44
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.70-0.57

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: AT&T (T) earns 11.61% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; SK Telecom (SKM) has no ROE this period.

SKM

Telecommunication Services industry group

--

Max
31.74%
Q3
17.02%
Median
7.32%
Q1
-5.16%
Min
-20.26%
SKM
--

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

11.61%

Max
31.74%
Q3
17.02%
T
11.61%
Median
7.32%
Q1
-5.16%
Min
-20.26%
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. AT&T (T): SKM does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; T is benchmarked against the Telecommunication Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both SK Telecom (SKM) at 7.50% and AT&T (T) at 10.19% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

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%

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

10.19%

Max
30.45%
Q3
11.78%
T
10.19%
Median
7.20%
Q1
-3.86%
Min
-18.49%
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. AT&T (T): A comparison of their net margin against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

AT&T (T) at 24.65% 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%

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

24.65%

Max
35.53%
T
24.65%
Q3
22.79%
Median
12.87%
Q1
0.82%
Min
-29.20%
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. AT&T (T): A comparison of their operating margin against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for SK Telecom (SKM) and AT&T (T)
MetricSKMT
ROE (TTM)--11.61%
ROA (TTM)--4.19%
Net Margin (TTM)7.50%10.19%
Operating Margin (TTM)12.28%24.65%
Gross Margin (TTM)64.61%59.74%

Growth

Revenue Growth

AT&T (T) at 2.71% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while SK Telecom (SKM) at -4.69% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. AT&T (T): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

AT&T (T) at 104.03% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while SK Telecom (SKM) at -68.34% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for T.

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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. AT&T (T): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for SK Telecom (SKM) and AT&T (T)
MetricSKMT
Revenue Growth (YoY)-4.69%2.71%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.40%1.34%
EPS Growth (YoY)-68.34%104.03%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-23.75%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both SK Telecom (SKM) at 1.20 and AT&T (T) at 0.87 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity 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

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

0.87

Max
2.85
Q3
1.64
Median
0.97
T
0.87
Q1
0.78
Min
0.26
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. AT&T (T): 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 AT&T (T) at 1.45 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

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

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

1.45

Max
3.94
Q3
2.11
T
1.45
Median
1.32
Q1
0.65
Min
0.00
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. AT&T (T): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for SK Telecom (SKM) and AT&T (T)
MetricSKMT
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.200.87
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.431.45
Net Debt / EBITDA0.903.70

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

SK Telecom (SKM) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile AT&T (T) reports a yield of 5.09%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

5.09%

Max
6.10%
T
5.09%
Q3
2.63%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. AT&T (T): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both SK Telecom (SKM) at 47.95% and AT&T (T) at 59.36% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

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%

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

59.36%

Max
121.72%
Q3
68.18%
T
59.36%
Median
4.06%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. AT&T (T): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for SK Telecom (SKM) and AT&T (T)
MetricSKMT
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%5.09%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)47.95%59.36%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

AT&T (T) at 11.57 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while SK Telecom (SKM) at 23.84 sits in the richer quartile — SKM needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

11.57

Max
30.40
Q3
23.75
Median
13.30
T
11.57
Q1
8.65
Min
2.50
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. AT&T (T): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

SK Telecom (SKM) at 0.00 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while AT&T (T) at 1.13 prices around its industry’s middle — SKM costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

1.13

Max
3.01
Q3
1.73
T
1.13
Median
0.81
Q1
0.36
Min
0.00
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. AT&T (T): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both SK Telecom (SKM) at 1.03 and AT&T (T) at 1.37 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

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

T

Telecommunication Services industry group

1.37

Max
8.10
Q3
3.98
Median
1.53
T
1.37
Q1
0.65
Min
-2.39
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. AT&T (T): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for SK Telecom (SKM) and AT&T (T)
MetricSKMT
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.8411.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.001.13
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.031.37
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)--8.21%