SKM vs. VZ: SK Telecom vs. Verizon Communications Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Verizon Communications (VZ) 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 Verizon Communications (VZ)
Profile Item	SKM	VZ
Name	SK Telecom Co., Ltd. Sponsored ADR	Verizon Communications Inc.
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	Integrated Telecommunication Services
Market Capitalization	11.99 billion USD	189.37 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	June 27, 1996	November 21, 1983
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SKM

GSPC

SK Telecom (SKM) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ), 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 Verizon Communications (VZ). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for SK Telecom (SKM) and Verizon Communications (VZ)
Metric	SKM	VZ
Total Return (1Y)	59.22%	23.25%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	18.66%	16.45%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	6.83%	4.04%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

SKM

GSPC

SK Telecom (SKM) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ), 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 Verizon Communications (VZ). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for SK Telecom (SKM) and Verizon Communications (VZ)
Metric	SKM	VZ
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	51.22%	27.06%
Beta (5Y)	0.86	0.26
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-36.04%	-38.38%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.45M	23.13M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

SKM and VZ 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 Verizon Communications (VZ)
Metric	SKM	VZ
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.07	0.70
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.70	1.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Verizon Communications (VZ) earns 15.79% 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: --

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

15.79%

Max: 31.74%
Q3: 17.02%
VZ: 15.79%
Median: 7.32%
Q1: -5.16%
Min: -20.26%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Both SK Telecom (SKM) at 7.50% and Verizon Communications (VZ) at 11.78% 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%

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

11.78%

Max: 30.45%
VZ: 11.78%
Q3: 11.78%
Median: 7.20%
Q1: -3.86%
Min: -18.49%

SK Telecom (SKM) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): A comparison of their net margin against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Verizon Communications (VZ) at 25.11% 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%

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

25.11%

Max: 35.53%
VZ: 25.11%
Q3: 22.79%
Median: 12.87%
Q1: 0.82%
Min: -29.20%

SK Telecom (SKM) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): A comparison of their operating margin against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for SK Telecom (SKM) and Verizon Communications (VZ)
Metric	SKM	VZ
ROE (TTM)	--	15.79%
ROA (TTM)	--	5.06%
Net Margin (TTM)	7.50%	11.78%
Operating Margin (TTM)	12.28%	25.11%
Gross Margin (TTM)	64.61%	59.78%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Verizon Communications (VZ) at 2.52% 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.

SK Telecom (SKM) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both SK Telecom (SKM) at -68.34% and Verizon Communications (VZ) at -1.93% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

SK Telecom (SKM) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for SK Telecom (SKM) and Verizon Communications (VZ)
Metric	SKM	VZ
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-4.69%	2.52%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-0.40%	0.33%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-68.34%	-1.93%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-23.75%	-7.08%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

SK Telecom (SKM) at 1.20 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Verizon Communications (VZ) at 0.63 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for VZ.

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

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

0.63

Max: 2.85
Q3: 1.64
Median: 0.97
Q1: 0.78
VZ: 0.63
Min: 0.26

SK Telecom (SKM) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): 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 Verizon Communications (VZ) at 1.82 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

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

1.82

Max: 3.94
Q3: 2.11
VZ: 1.82
Median: 1.32
Q1: 0.65
Min: 0.00

SK Telecom (SKM) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): 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 Verizon Communications (VZ)
Metric	SKM	VZ
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.20	0.63
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.43	1.82
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.90	3.66

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 Verizon Communications (VZ) reports a yield of 6.10%, 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%

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

6.10%

VZ: 6.10%
Max: 6.10%
Q3: 2.63%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

SK Telecom (SKM) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

SK Telecom (SKM) at 47.95% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Verizon Communications (VZ) at 71.75% 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%

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

71.75%

Max: 121.72%
VZ: 71.75%
Q3: 68.18%
Median: 4.06%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

SK Telecom (SKM) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for SK Telecom (SKM) and Verizon Communications (VZ)
Metric	SKM	VZ
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	6.10%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	47.95%	71.75%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Verizon Communications (VZ) at 11.66 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

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

11.66

Max: 30.40
Q3: 23.75
Median: 13.30
VZ: 11.66
Q1: 8.65
Min: 2.50

SK Telecom (SKM) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): 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 Verizon Communications (VZ) at 1.36 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

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

1.36

Max: 3.01
Q3: 1.73
VZ: 1.36
Median: 0.81
Q1: 0.36
Min: 0.00

SK Telecom (SKM) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): 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 Verizon Communications (VZ) at 1.79 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

VZ

Telecommunication Services industry group

1.79

Max: 8.10
Q3: 3.98
VZ: 1.79
Median: 1.53
Q1: 0.65
Min: -2.39

SK Telecom (SKM) vs. Verizon Communications (VZ): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Telecommunication Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for SK Telecom (SKM) and Verizon Communications (VZ)
Metric	SKM	VZ
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.84	11.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.00	1.36
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.03	1.79
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	--	8.45%