Seoul, Feb 7, 2026, 05:04 KST — The session has ended.
- SK Telecom dropped 10.7% to 69,200 won on Friday. Volume spiked after the company released its updated disclosures along with FY2025 results.
- The carrier reported a steep profit decline for 2025, blaming higher expenses linked to both a cybersecurity incident and ongoing restructuring.
- Monday arrives with investors zeroing in on dividend cues, fresh analyst ratings, and the kickoff of a treasury share transfer window tied to stock options.
SK Telecom Co., Ltd took a sharp hit Friday, dropping 10.71% to finish at 69,200 won. Shares bounced between 67,600 and 73,700 won through the session, with close to 3 million changing hands, market data showed. 1
The move again drew attention to the earnings hit SK Telecom suffered from last year’s cyberattack, right as it’s pitching investors on a refreshed narrative featuring data centers and AI. In a U.S. regulatory filing, the company posted 2025 operating revenue of 17.0992 trillion won, operating income at 1.0732 trillion won, and period profit totaling 375.1 billion won. SK Telecom flagged these numbers as provisional, cautioning they might shift after audit. 2
SK Telecom is eyeing 2026 as the turning point for profits, betting on its “AI Transformation” (AX) strategy and ramping up its AI Data Center (AIDC) play. AIDC revenue jumped 34.9% in 2025, hitting 519.9 billion won. Fourth-quarter numbers showed 5G subscribers are back in positive territory. “We will make every effort to improve our financial performance,” CFO Park Jong-seok said. 3
On the earnings call, executives flagged direct costs tied to the cybersecurity breach — like USIM replacements, the subscriber identity module cards that link devices to the network — plus one-time restructuring charges. The company won’t pay out a quarterly dividend for the fourth quarter, and instead set 2025’s dividend per share at 1,661 won, factoring in dividends already distributed. Final figures will be determined after the March shareholder meeting. Park added the company has to work on rebuilding “trust” with customers. 4
SK Telecom, aside from posting its results, revealed it will offload 195,245 treasury shares at 56,860 won apiece to fulfill executive stock options awarded in 2022. The window for transferring these shares is set from Feb. 12, 2026, through March 25, 2027. According to the company, the move shouldn’t cause much dilution—only a small batch of shares are confirmed for delivery at this point. 5
No support came from the broader market. South Korea’s KOSPI slid 1.4% Friday as tech names dragged Asian stocks lower. eToro analyst Zavier Wong said the “broader narrative is one of de-risking,” flagging softer risk appetite for high-growth stocks. 6
The cyberattack continues to shadow SK Telecom, lingering as both a reputational and financial headache. In April 2025, the company revealed that customer data had been compromised and responded by promising free USIM swaps for its entire 23 million user base—a step that sent shares sliding. 7
Analyst sentiment remains split. According to Investing.com, 26 analysts rate the stock a “buy,” though the average 12-month price target sits at just 67,965 won. Several firms have been tweaking their recommendations following the latest results: Macquarie cut its rating to hold, while Citi bumped its call up to hold. 8
Investors are keeping KT and LG Uplus, SK Telecom’s local rivals, on the radar for hints that subscriber momentum might continue—without igniting a fresh round of price cutting. Eyes are also on AIDC: higher utilisation rates and new capacity are expected to push growth, but telecom churn and pressure on security spending could weigh on results.
Still, the trade has pitfalls. New details about penalties, customer payouts, or a spike in security and marketing spend could weigh on shares—AI data center growth or not. Big capital investment, if profits remain underwhelming, may crimp cash returns in the short run.
Monday’s session in Seoul picks up after Friday’s decline, with investors eyeing any signs of continued selling and fresh updates on dividends and progress with the AIDC pipeline. The next earnings report is slated for May 12, 2026, per Investing.com’s calendar. 9
