NH Investment keeps Buy rating for SK Telecom stock at KRW 125,000 target
Published on 10/13/2026 at 03:44 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- NH Investment maintained a Buy rating and KRW 125,000 target for SK Telecom on October 12, 2026.
- The broker projected third-quarter revenue of KRW 4.37 trillion and operating profit of KRW 541.9 billion.
- Meritz Securities projected KRW 534.7 billion in third-quarter operating profit and kept a KRW 111,500 target.
- The last Lang & Schwarz quote was EUR 29.90 on October 12, 2026, during after-hours trading.
SK Telecom (ISIN US78440P3064) kept a Buy rating and a KRW 125,000 target from NH Investment on October 12, 2026, according to Edaily. The note projected third-quarter revenue of KRW 4.37 trillion, up 10.00 percent year over year, and operating profit of KRW 541.9 billion, up 1,018.70 percent, above consensus of KRW 523.9 billion.
AI data centers carry the thesis
NH Investment sees SK Telecom's planned AI infrastructure as the central growth argument. The broker valued 5 GW of data center capacity expected by 2029 at KRW 59 trillion, while describing wireless revenue growth as constrained by rising 5G penetration, Edaily reported on October 12, 2026.
The operating model therefore depends on a shift from mature mobile services toward enterprise infrastructure. NH Investment also said the AI Factory developed with NVIDIA could be commercialized in 2028, adding a dated milestone to the data center thesis, according to Edaily.
Profit recovery has a low base
The earnings rebound is measured against the cost burden from the prior year's cyber breach. The Korea Times reported on October 12, 2026, that SK Telecom's third-quarter operating profit was projected at KRW 523.9 billion versus KRW 48.4 billion a year earlier, a 981.50 percent increase. Revenue was projected at KRW 4.45 trillion, up 11.87 percent.
What does the target imply?
Meritz Securities kept a Buy rating and a KRW 111,500 target on October 12, 2026. Its forecast put third-quarter operating profit at KRW 534.7 billion, up 1,004.00 percent year over year and in line with consensus of KRW 523.9 billion, according to Chosun. Against the KRW 84,100 prior trading-day close cited in that report, the target stood 32.58 percent higher.
Three milestones shape the story
On September 30, 2026, Hana Securities maintained a KRW 140,000 target and Buy view, as The Asia Business Daily reported. On October 12, 2026, Meritz Securities kept its KRW 111,500 target and projected KRW 534.7 billion in third-quarter operating profit, according to Chosun. Later on October 12, 2026, NH Investment maintained its KRW 125,000 target and projected KRW 541.9 billion in operating profit, according to Edaily.
NYSE ADR stays dated
SK Telecom stock was last at EUR 29.90 at Lang & Schwarz on October 12, 2026 at 10:57 p.m. CEST during after-hours trading. The further course of trading is shown by the continuously updated real-time quote of SK Telecom stock.
SK Telecom key facts
- Company: SK Telecom Co., Ltd.
- ISIN: US78440P3064
- WKN: A3DAF4
- Ticker: SKM
- Primary exchange: NYSE
- Last price Lang & Schwarz as of October 12, 2026, 10:57 p.m. CEST: EUR 29.90
- Market capitalization: USD 12.8 billion as of October 12, 2026
- Sector / Industry: Communication Services / Telecommunications Services
Market context: Market report S&P 500.
