SK Telecom (NYSE:SKM) Stock Rating Lowered by Zacks Research

SK Telecom (NYSE:SKM) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Zacks Research from a “strong-buy” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday,Zacks.com reports.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of SK Telecom from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of SK Telecom from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 13th. HSBC upgraded shares of SK Telecom from a “reduce” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 7th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded SK Telecom from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, July 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, SK Telecom has a consensus rating of “Reduce”.

SK Telecom Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:SKM opened at $39.35 on Thursday. SK Telecom has a fifty-two week low of $19.66 and a fifty-two week high of $47.18. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $34.30 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $34.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.18. The firm has a market cap of $15.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.48 and a beta of 0.64.

SK Telecom (NYSE:SKM) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.22. The business had revenue of $2.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.96 billion. SK Telecom had a net margin of 4.23% and a return on equity of 5.59%. On average, analysts expect that SK Telecom will post 2.21 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On SK Telecom

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of SKM. Nykredit A S purchased a new stake in SK Telecom in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $14,475,000. Millennium Management LLC raised its stake in SK Telecom by 202.4% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 606,347 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock worth $12,448,000 after acquiring an additional 405,863 shares during the period. ABN Amro Investment Solutions lifted its holdings in SK Telecom by 136.8% during the first quarter. ABN Amro Investment Solutions now owns 568,343 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock valued at $16,647,000 after purchasing an additional 328,300 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in SK Telecom by 80,378.7% during the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 328,353 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock valued at $6,741,000 after purchasing an additional 327,945 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Calamos Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of SK Telecom in the first quarter worth approximately $9,065,000.

More SK Telecom News

Here are the key news stories impacting SK Telecom this week:

• Positive Sentiment: AI data-center spin-off attracts ₩3.08 trillion: SK Telecom is creating SK Horizon, a dedicated AI data-center infrastructure company, and plans to raise approximately ₩3.08 trillion through a partial sale and capital injection backed by KKR and IMM. The transaction provides funding and external validation for SKM’s AI growth strategy while allowing the new unit to pursue focused investment. SK Telecom to Raise ₩3.08 Trillion via Partial Sale and Capital Injection into New Data Center Unit SK Horizon
• Positive Sentiment: Infrastructure strategy gains investor focus: Coverage describes SK Horizon as a potential new AI growth engine and highlights the roughly $2.2 billion data-center deal. Separating the infrastructure business may improve decision-making, attract specialist capital and clarify the value of SK Telecom’s data-center operations. SK Telecom’s SK Horizon Spinoff: A New AI Growth Engine for SKM?
• Positive Sentiment: Cybersecurity AI partnership: SK Telecom is working with Upstage and AhnLab on an AI model for cybersecurity, supporting its broader effort to build AI-related products and services beyond traditional wireless communications. SK Telecom teams up with Upstage, AhnLab on AI model for cybersecurity
• Neutral Sentiment: Independent directors to receive treasury shares: SK Telecom plans to grant treasury shares to independent directors as bonus compensation. The move may align directors with shareholders, although investors could scrutinize the size and terms of the awards as part of governance and capital-allocation discussions. SK Telecom to Grant Treasury Shares to Independent Directors as Bonus Compensation
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst stance remains cautious: SKM has received a consensus “Hold” rating, suggesting analysts see a balanced risk-reward profile while the company executes its AI and data-center transformation. SK Telecom Receives Consensus Rating of Hold

SK Telecom Company Profile

SK Telecom Co, Ltd. (NYSE:SKM) is South Korea’s largest wireless carrier, offering a comprehensive range of mobile telecommunications services. The company operates 5G, 4G LTE and IoT networks, providing voice, data and messaging solutions to consumers and businesses. Beyond traditional wireless services, SK Telecom delivers fixed-line broadband, digital content platforms, cloud computing and cybersecurity offerings designed to support enterprise digital transformation and the growing demand for high-speed connectivity.

Established in 1984 as Korea Mobile Telecommunications Services, SK Telecom pioneered cellular service commercialization in South Korea and has continually expanded into new technology areas.