SKM vs. TIGO: SK Telecom vs. Millicom International Cellular Stock Comparison
How do SK Telecom (SKM) and Millicom International Cellular (TIGO) 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 Millicom International Cellular (TIGO) are both classified in the Wireless Telecommunication Services sub-industry within the broader Wireless Telecommunication Services industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
Millicom International Cellular (TIGO) 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 | TIGO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | SK Telecom Co., Ltd. Sponsored ADR | Millicom International Cellular S.A. |
| Country/Region | South Korea | Luxembourg |
| GICS Sector | Communication Services | Communication Services |
| GICS Industry Group | Telecommunication Services | Telecommunication Services |
| GICS Industry | Wireless Telecommunication Services | Wireless Telecommunication Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Wireless Telecommunication Services | Wireless Telecommunication Services |
| Market Capitalization | 11.99 billion USD | 13.96 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 27, 1996 | January 9, 2019 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | SKM | TIGO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 59.22% | 88.87% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 18.66% | 85.47% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 6.83% | 23.36% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | SKM | TIGO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 51.22% | 41.65% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.86 | 0.96 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -36.04% | -71.26% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.45M | 924.74K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | SKM | TIGO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.07 | 2.03 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.70 | 3.02 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Millicom International Cellular (TIGO) earns 19.54% 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
- --
TIGO
Telecommunication Services industry group
19.54%
- Max
- 31.74%
- TIGO
- 19.54%
- Q3
- 17.02%
- Median
- 7.32%
- Q1
- -5.16%
- Min
- -20.26%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both SK Telecom (SKM) at 7.50% and Millicom International Cellular (TIGO) at 7.01% 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%
TIGO
Telecommunication Services industry group
7.01%
- Max
- 30.45%
- Q3
- 11.78%
- Median
- 7.20%
- TIGO
- 7.01%
- Q1
- -3.86%
- Min
- -18.49%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Millicom International Cellular (TIGO) at 26.63% 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%
TIGO
Telecommunication Services industry group
26.63%
- Max
- 35.53%
- TIGO
- 26.63%
- Q3
- 22.79%
- Median
- 12.87%
- Q1
- 0.82%
- Min
- -29.20%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | SKM | TIGO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 19.54% |
| ROA (TTM) | -- | 6.70% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 7.50% | 7.01% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 12.28% | 26.63% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 64.61% | 76.25% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both SK Telecom (SKM) at -4.69% and Millicom International Cellular (TIGO) at 0.26% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.
EPS Growth
Millicom International Cellular (TIGO) at 438.36% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than SK Telecom (SKM) at -68.34%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | SKM | TIGO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -4.69% | 0.26% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -0.40% | 1.14% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -68.34% | 438.36% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -23.75% | 83.60% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
SK Telecom (SKM) at 1.20 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Millicom International Cellular (TIGO) at 0.56 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for TIGO.
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
TIGO
Telecommunication Services industry group
0.56
- Max
- 2.85
- Q3
- 1.64
- Median
- 0.97
- Q1
- 0.78
- TIGO
- 0.56
- Min
- 0.26
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
SK Telecom (SKM) at 0.43 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while Millicom International Cellular (TIGO) at 5.29 is above its industry debt-to-equity ratio range.
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
TIGO
Telecommunication Services industry group
5.29
- TIGO
- 5.29
- Max
- 3.94
- Q3
- 2.11
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 0.65
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | SKM | TIGO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.20 | 0.56 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.43 | 5.29 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.90 | 3.15 |
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 Millicom International Cellular (TIGO) reports a yield of 3.79%, 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%
TIGO
Telecommunication Services industry group
3.79%
- Max
- 6.10%
- TIGO
- 3.79%
- Q3
- 2.63%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
SK Telecom (SKM) at 47.95% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Millicom International Cellular (TIGO) at 88.91% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
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%
TIGO
Telecommunication Services industry group
88.91%
- Max
- 121.72%
- TIGO
- 88.91%
- Q3
- 68.18%
- Median
- 4.06%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | SKM | TIGO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 3.79% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 47.95% | 88.91% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both SK Telecom (SKM) at 23.84 and Millicom International Cellular (TIGO) at 24.70 sit in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, so investors are paying more for TTM earnings than they pay for typical peers.
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
TIGO
Telecommunication Services industry group
24.70
- Max
- 30.40
- TIGO
- 24.70
- 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 Millicom International Cellular (TIGO) at 1.72 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
TIGO
Telecommunication Services industry group
1.72
- Max
- 3.01
- Q3
- 1.73
- TIGO
- 1.72
- Median
- 0.81
- Q1
- 0.36
- 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 Millicom International Cellular (TIGO) at 6.24 carries an above-peer premium to book — TIGO is pricier on assets.
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
TIGO
Telecommunication Services industry group
6.24
- Max
- 8.10
- TIGO
- 6.24
- Q3
- 3.98
- Median
- 1.53
- Q1
- 0.65
- Min
- -2.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | SKM | TIGO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 23.84 | 24.70 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.00 | 1.72 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.03 | 6.24 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | 14.20% |