SK Telecom (SKM) Q2 Earnings Down, Revenues Up Y/Y

Leading South Korean wireless communication service provider SK Telecom Co. Ltd. (NYSE:SKM) reported mixed financial results in the second quarter of 2016. Consolidated net income decreased a substantial 26.9% year over year to approximately $250 million. Quarterly earnings per ADS (American Depositary Share) were 37 cents.

Second quarter consolidated operating revenues increased a nominal 0.3% year over year to approximately $3,661 million mainly due to higher revenues from the company’s two subsidiaries, SK Planet and SK Broadband.

Segmental Revenues

Mobile service revenues were approximately $2,317.5 million, down 0.9% year over year. Interconnection revenues decreased 4% to $156.2 million while Other revenues were down 8.3% to $178.5 million.

Operating Income & Expenses

In the reported quarter, operating income was $349.2 million, down 1.3% year over year. Operating margin was 9.5% compared with 9.7% in the year-ago quarter. Operating expenses rose a mere 0.4% year over year to approximately $3,312 million. Quarterly EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) was $995.3 million, up 0.7% year over year. EBITDA margin was 27.2% compared with 27.1% in the year-ago quarter.

Subscriber, ARPU & Churn

In the reported quarter, subscriber count increased 3% year over year to 29.15 million with a net addition of 229,000 customers. The number of LTE subscribers reached 20.028 million at the end of second-quarter 2016 constituting over 68.7% of SK Telecom’s subscriber base.

Total average revenue per user (ARPU) decreased 1.3% year over year to approximately $37.31 in the second quarter while billing ARPU was down 1.1% year over year to $31.06. The quarterly churn rate was 1.5% compared with 1.4% in the year-ago quarter.

Liquidity

SK Telecom exited the second quarter of 2016 with approximately $1,702.2 million of cash and marketable securities on its balance sheet compared with $1,413.3 million at the end of 2015. Total debt, at the end of the reported quarter was $5,797.5 million compared with $6,183.9 million at the end of 2015.

Stocks to Consider

SK Telecom currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Some favourably-ranked stocks in the same industry are NTT DOCOMO Inc. (NYSE:DCM) , Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (NYSE:NTT) and KT Corp. (NYSE:KT) . All three stocks currently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).