SK Telecom Co., Ltd. (NYSE:SKM) Given Average Recommendation of “Reduce” by Analysts

SK Telecom Co., Ltd. (NYSE:SKM) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of “Reduce” from the seven research firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have given a hold recommendation and one has given a buy recommendation to the company.

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on SKM. Wall Street Zen raised SK Telecom from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, July 4th. Zacks Research downgraded SK Telecom from a “strong-buy” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded SK Telecom from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. HSBC raised SK Telecom from a “reduce” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 7th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised SK Telecom from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a report on Thursday, August 13th.

SK Telecom News Summary

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 Trading Up 0.0%

Shares of NYSE:SKM opened at $39.35 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $34.30 and its 200 day moving average price is $34.45. The company has a market cap of $15.10 billion, a PE ratio of 31.48 and a beta of 0.64. SK Telecom has a fifty-two week low of $19.66 and a fifty-two week high of $47.18.

SK Telecom (NYSE:SKM) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.22. The firm had revenue of $2.81 billion during 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%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that SK Telecom will post 2.21 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of SKM. Nykredit A S acquired a new position 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 valued at $12,448,000 after purchasing an additional 405,863 shares during the period. ABN Amro Investment Solutions lifted its holdings in shares of SK Telecom by 136.8% in 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. boosted its position in shares of SK Telecom by 80,378.7% in the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 328,353 shares of the Wireless communications provider’s stock worth $6,741,000 after buying an additional 327,945 shares during the period. Finally, Calamos Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in SK Telecom during the 1st quarter worth about $9,065,000.

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.