SK Telecom (017670) Q2 2026 earnings summary

Executive summary

• Consolidated revenue reached KRW 4,359.1 billion in Q2 2026, up 0.5% year-over-year, with operating income of KRW 566 billion, up 67.3% year-over-year and 5.3% quarter-over-quarter, and net income of KRW 466 billion, driven by profitability-focused management, lower USIM replacement costs, and robust AI data center performance.

• Dividend per share for Q2 2026 was KRW 830, with a policy to return over 50% of adjusted net profit to shareholders for FY2024–2026.

• Growth was supported by business restructuring, strategic focus on customer value in telecommunications, and expansion in AI infrastructure and data centers.

Financial highlights

• Consolidated revenue for Q2 2026 was KRW 4,359.1 billion (+0.5% YoY), with operating income at KRW 566 billion (+67.3% YoY, +5.3% QoQ), and net income at KRW 466 billion (+459.8% YoY).

• EBITDA increased 17.0% year-over-year to KRW 1,442.3 billion, with an EBITDA margin of 33.1%.

• CapEx for Q2 2026 was KRW 487 billion, down 23.3% year-over-year but up 256.7% sequentially.

• Dividend per share for Q2 2026 was KRW 830, with a dividend yield of 1.4%.

Outlook and guidance

• Continued focus on balancing growth investment in AI data centers (AIDC) and AI businesses with financial soundness and stable shareholder returns.

• SK Hyper established to lead phased expansion of AI data center capacity, targeting 5 GW by 2029, with further expansion planned.

• Submarine cable infrastructure expansion ongoing, with new routes connecting Asia and North America to support AI and cloud growth.