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SKM vs. TU: SK Telecom vs. TELUS Stock Comparison

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

TELUS (TU) 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 TELUS (TU)
Profile ItemSKMTU
NameSK Telecom Co., Ltd. Sponsored ADRTELUS Corporation
Country/RegionSouth KoreaCanada
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 USD14.48 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 27, 1996June 11, 1996
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SKM
TU
GSPC
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. TELUS (TU), 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 TELUS (TU). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for SK Telecom (SKM) and TELUS (TU)
MetricSKMTU
Total Return (1Y)59.22%-35.23%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.66%-14.45%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.83%-12.69%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for SK Telecom (SKM) and TELUS (TU)
MetricSKMTU
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)51.22%26.11%
Beta (5Y)0.860.62
Max Drawdown (5Y)-36.04%-63.49%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.45M6.39M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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SKM and TU 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 TELUS (TU)
MetricSKMTU
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.07-1.51
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.70-1.88

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

SK Telecom (SKM) has no ROE value reported for this period; TELUS (TU) reports a negative figure of -6.39%, which needs context because negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity.

SKM

Telecommunication Services industry group

--

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

TU

Telecommunication Services industry group

-6.39%

Max
31.74%
Q3
17.02%
Median
7.32%
Q1
-5.16%
TU
-6.39%
Min
-20.26%
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. TELUS (TU): SKM does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; TU is benchmarked against the Telecommunication Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

TELUS (TU) reports a negative net margin of -4.55%, 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%

TU

Telecommunication Services industry group

-4.55%

Max
30.45%
Q3
11.78%
Median
7.20%
Q1
-3.86%
TU
-4.55%
Min
-18.49%
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. TELUS (TU): A comparison of their net margin against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both SK Telecom (SKM) at 12.28% and TELUS (TU) at 15.08% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

TU

Telecommunication Services industry group

15.08%

Max
35.53%
Q3
22.79%
TU
15.08%
Median
12.87%
Q1
0.82%
Min
-29.20%
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. TELUS (TU): A comparison of their operating margin against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for SK Telecom (SKM) and TELUS (TU)
MetricSKMTU
ROE (TTM)---6.39%
ROA (TTM)--3.41%
Net Margin (TTM)7.50%-4.55%
Operating Margin (TTM)12.28%15.08%
Gross Margin (TTM)64.61%35.63%

Growth

Revenue Growth

TELUS (TU) at 1.03% 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. TELUS (TU): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both SK Telecom (SKM) at -68.34% and TELUS (TU) at 7.46% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. TELUS (TU): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for SK Telecom (SKM) and TELUS (TU)
MetricSKMTU
Revenue Growth (YoY)-4.69%1.03%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.40%3.61%
EPS Growth (YoY)-68.34%7.46%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-23.75%-14.45%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

SK Telecom (SKM) at 1.20 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while TELUS (TU) at 0.67 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for TU.

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

TU

Telecommunication Services industry group

0.67

Max
2.85
Q3
1.64
Median
0.97
Q1
0.78
TU
0.67
Min
0.26
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. TELUS (TU): 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 quartile, while TELUS (TU) at 2.24 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

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

TU

Telecommunication Services industry group

2.24

Max
3.94
TU
2.24
Q3
2.11
Median
1.32
Q1
0.65
Min
0.00
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. TELUS (TU): 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 TELUS (TU)
MetricSKMTU
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.200.67
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.432.24
Net Debt / EBITDA0.906.07

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither SK Telecom (SKM) nor TELUS (TU) 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%

TU

Telecommunication Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

TELUS (TU) reports payout ratio above 100% at 282.95%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile SK Telecom (SKM) reports 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%

TU

Telecommunication Services industry group

282.95%

TU
282.95%
Max
121.72%
Q3
68.18%
Median
4.06%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. TELUS (TU): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for SK Telecom (SKM) and TELUS (TU)
MetricSKMTU
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)47.95%282.95%

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 TELUS (TU) has no P/E ratio this period.

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

TU

Telecommunication Services industry group

--

Max
30.40
Q3
23.75
Median
13.30
Q1
8.65
Min
2.50
TU
--
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. TELUS (TU): TU 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 TELUS (TU) at 0.72 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

TU

Telecommunication Services industry group

0.72

Max
3.01
Q3
1.73
Median
0.81
TU
0.72
Q1
0.36
Min
0.00
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SK Telecom (SKM) vs. TELUS (TU): 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 TELUS (TU) at 1.26 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

TU

Telecommunication Services industry group

1.26

Max
8.10
Q3
3.98
Median
1.53
TU
1.26
Q1
0.65
Min
-2.39
Loading chart…
SK Telecom (SKM) vs. TELUS (TU): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for SK Telecom (SKM) and TELUS (TU)
MetricSKMTU
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.84--
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.000.72
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.031.26
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)--16.54%