SK Telecom Reports Q4 Earnings with Downgrade
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 12 2025
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Should l Buy SKM?
SK Telecom's stock fell 5.78% as it crossed below the 5-day SMA amid broader market gains.
The company reported a Q4 GAAP EPS of KRW 1825.00, slightly below expectations, and a revenue decline of 4.7% year-over-year to KRW 17.1 trillion, attributed to weak market demand and price competition. Additionally, analysts downgraded the stock's rating due to these declining revenues and uncertainties regarding future growth, which may negatively impact investor confidence.
This earnings report highlights the challenges SK Telecom faces in a competitive landscape, despite its stable profitability over recent quarters, raising concerns about its future performance.
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Analyst Views on SKM
About SKM
SK Telecom Co Ltd is a Korea-based company primarily engaged in the provision of wireless communication services. The Company operates the business through three segments. The Wireless Communication Business segment provides mobile phones, wireless data, information communication business. The Wireline Communication Business segment offers telephones, high speed Internet, data and network rental services. The Other segment is involved in the product sales type data broadcasting channel use business and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
SK Telecom Reports Q4 Earnings Results
- Earnings Highlights: SK Telecom reported a Q4 GAAP EPS of KRW 1825.00, which, while slightly below market expectations, demonstrates the company's resilience in a competitive landscape.
- Revenue Decline: The company's Q4 revenue of KRW 17.1 trillion represents a 4.7% year-over-year decrease, reflecting weak market demand and the impact of intense price competition on performance.
- Rating Downgrade: Analysts have downgraded SK Telecom's rating due to declining revenues and uncertainties regarding future growth, which may negatively affect investor confidence.
- Historical Performance Review: Historical financial data for SK Telecom indicates that despite facing challenges, the company's profitability has remained relatively stable over the past few quarters, showcasing its long-term market potential.
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- AI Service Accessibility: By deploying A.X K1 through the A. (A-Dot) service, SKT intends to make advanced AI a utility for its 10 million subscribers, supporting the government's 'AI for Everyone' vision, with expected improvements in Liner's global search engine accuracy.
- Semiconductor Industry Testbed: Additionally, A.X K1 will act as a high-stakes testbed for South Korea's semiconductor industry, integrating the entire value chain from AI-specific semiconductors to end-user services, with commitments for real-world testing from over 20 major institutions.
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SK Telecom Launches 519B Parameter AI Model A.X K1 to Boost Korea's AI Ecosystem
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- Knowledge Transfer Capability: A.X K1 functions as a 'Teacher Model', enabling knowledge transfer to smaller models below 70B, which will drive innovation and enhance Korea's global competitiveness in AI.
- Nationwide AI Accessibility: The SKT consortium plans to offer A.X K1 through the A. (A-DoT) platform to over 10 million subscribers, promoting an 'AI for Everyone' framework that facilitates public access to AI services.
- Full-Stack AI Strategy: The SKT consortium's full-stack AI platform integrates expertise from eight organizations, aiming to enhance Korea's overall competitiveness in AI, with over 20 institutions already expressing intent to validate A.X K1 in real-world applications.
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SK Telecom Launches 519B Parameter AI Model A.X K1 to Boost Korea's Global AI Competitiveness
- AI Model Launch: SK Telecom's A.X K1, Korea's first hyperscale AI model with 519 billion parameters, marks a significant step in Korea's ambition to become one of the top three AI powers globally, following the U.S. and China.
- Knowledge Transfer Capability: As a 'Teacher Model', A.X K1 not only transfers knowledge to smaller models below 70 billion parameters but also drives innovation within Korea's AI ecosystem, enhancing its global competitiveness.
- AI for All Services: The SKT consortium plans to offer A.X K1 through A. (A-DoT) to over 10 million users, promoting the establishment of an 'AI for Everyone' framework that facilitates public access to AI technology.
- Full-Stack AI Ecosystem: The SKT consortium's full-stack AI platform, which includes AI semiconductors, data centers, and services, has attracted participation from over 20 institutions, expected to significantly enhance Korea's overall competitiveness in the AI sector.
See More
SK Telecom Reports Q4 Earnings Results
- Earnings Highlights: SK Telecom reported a Q4 GAAP EPS of KRW 1825.00, which, while slightly below market expectations, demonstrates the company's resilience in a competitive landscape.
- Revenue Decline: The company's Q4 revenue of KRW 17.1 trillion represents a 4.7% year-over-year decrease, reflecting weak market demand and the impact of intense price competition on performance.
- Rating Downgrade: Analysts have downgraded SK Telecom's rating due to declining revenues and uncertainties regarding future growth, which may negatively affect investor confidence.
- Historical Performance Review: Historical financial data for SK Telecom indicates that despite facing challenges, the company's profitability has remained relatively stable over the past few quarters, showcasing its long-term market potential.
See More
Benzinga Unveils Top Ten International Value Stocks for 2026
- Global Value Investment Opportunities: The Benzinga Value Ranking system identifies the top ten non-U.S. value stocks by integrating multiple valuation metrics, assisting investors in finding margin of safety and upside potential in a mispriced market.
- Valuation Dispersion Phenomenon: Outside the U.S., many profitable and asset-rich companies are overlooked, trading at single-digit earnings multiples, highlighting extreme valuation dispersion that presents potential investment opportunities.
- Risk Management Advantage: By focusing on the top decile of the Benzinga Value Ranking, investors can access the cheapest segment of the global market, thereby reducing risk as these stocks typically come with lower expectations.
- Long-Term Growth Potential: As we approach 2026, the Benzinga Value Ranking provides a systematic approach to uncover overlooked global stocks, which, while not guaranteed winners, offer limited downside risk and significant upside potential.
See More
SoftBank to Acquire DigitalBridge for $4 Billion, Expanding AI Infrastructure
- Acquisition Deal: SoftBank Group announced its agreement to acquire DigitalBridge Group for approximately $4 billion, aiming to accelerate the expansion of global AI infrastructure by integrating resources, thereby enhancing its competitive position in the rapidly growing AI market.
- Market Reaction: This acquisition is expected to strengthen SoftBank's portfolio in the AI sector, particularly in data center and cloud computing services, further boosting its market share globally.
- Strategic Significance: Through this transaction, SoftBank will not only leverage DigitalBridge's technological advantages but also optimize its AI infrastructure layout worldwide to meet the increasing market demand.
- Future Outlook: This move signifies SoftBank's ongoing commitment to investing in AI, which is anticipated to yield long-term revenue growth opportunities, especially against the backdrop of rising global demand for AI solutions.
See More
SK Telecom Launches A.X K1, South Korea's First Hyperscale AI Model with 519 Billion Parameters
- Domestic AI Breakthrough: SK Telecom's launch of A.X K1, South Korea's first hyperscale AI model with 519 billion parameters, signifies a major step in domestic AI innovation, aiming to reduce reliance on dominant technologies from China and the U.S.
- Full-Stack AI Environment: Serving as a foundational 'Teacher Model', A.X K1 not only provides knowledge for smaller models (sub-70B) but also aims to enhance the overall development of South Korea's AI ecosystem, elevating technological capabilities.
- AI Service Accessibility: By deploying A.X K1 through the A. (A-Dot) service, SKT intends to make advanced AI a utility for its 10 million subscribers, supporting the government's 'AI for Everyone' vision, with expected improvements in Liner's global search engine accuracy.
- Semiconductor Industry Testbed: Additionally, A.X K1 will act as a high-stakes testbed for South Korea's semiconductor industry, integrating the entire value chain from AI-specific semiconductors to end-user services, with commitments for real-world testing from over 20 major institutions.
See More
SK Telecom Launches 519B Parameter AI Model A.X K1 to Boost Korea's AI Ecosystem
- AI Model Launch: SK Telecom has unveiled A.X K1, Korea's first hyperscale AI model with 519 billion parameters, marking a significant step in Korea's ambition to become one of the top three AI nations globally.
- Knowledge Transfer Capability: A.X K1 functions as a 'Teacher Model', enabling knowledge transfer to smaller models below 70B, which will drive innovation and enhance Korea's global competitiveness in AI.
- Nationwide AI Accessibility: The SKT consortium plans to offer A.X K1 through the A. (A-DoT) platform to over 10 million subscribers, promoting an 'AI for Everyone' framework that facilitates public access to AI services.
- Full-Stack AI Strategy: The SKT consortium's full-stack AI platform integrates expertise from eight organizations, aiming to enhance Korea's overall competitiveness in AI, with over 20 institutions already expressing intent to validate A.X K1 in real-world applications.
See More
SK Telecom Launches 519B Parameter AI Model A.X K1 to Boost Korea's Global AI Competitiveness
- AI Model Launch: SK Telecom's A.X K1, Korea's first hyperscale AI model with 519 billion parameters, marks a significant step in Korea's ambition to become one of the top three AI powers globally, following the U.S. and China.
- Knowledge Transfer Capability: As a 'Teacher Model', A.X K1 not only transfers knowledge to smaller models below 70 billion parameters but also drives innovation within Korea's AI ecosystem, enhancing its global competitiveness.
- AI for All Services: The SKT consortium plans to offer A.X K1 through A. (A-DoT) to over 10 million users, promoting the establishment of an 'AI for Everyone' framework that facilitates public access to AI technology.
- Full-Stack AI Ecosystem: The SKT consortium's full-stack AI platform, which includes AI semiconductors, data centers, and services, has attracted participation from over 20 institutions, expected to significantly enhance Korea's overall competitiveness in the AI sector.
See More
