Morgan Stanley has identified selective opportunities within South Korea's telecommunications industry, stressing that company-level execution on cost controls and investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure will determine which names outperform in a mature market. Analysts point to an improving earnings backdrop but caution that the sector faces headwinds, including potential adjustments to dividend policies and lingering cybersecurity effects.
LG Uplus Corp (032640.KS)
Morgan Stanley assigns an Overweight rating to LG Uplus with a 19,000 won price target. The bank's base case assumes the company can lift operating margins to roughly 10% over the medium term, backed by performance in consumer wireless and enterprise segments. Management initiatives aimed at improving profitability and a planned reduction in headcount in 2025 are expected to set the stage for an earnings recovery in 2026. Valuation metrics cited by Morgan Stanley show the stock trading at about 11 times 2026 estimated price-to-earnings and roughly 3.5 times enterprise value-to-EBITDA. The firm also highlights more than a 5% total shareholder return, and anticipates that earnings growth combined with more active share buybacks will boost returns to investors.
KT Corp (030200.KS)
KT is rated Equal-weight with a 70,000 won price target. After notable share price gains earlier this year, Morgan Stanley views current valuation as reflecting fundamentals, with KT trading at around 13 times 2026 estimated price-to-earnings and offering a roughly 5% total shareholder return ratio. The analysts advise investors to await clearer signals from new management on strategic priorities and potential catalysts. Under the firm's base case, parent company operating margins are expected to rise to 9-10%, while return on invested capital could reach about 9% ahead of a 6G rollout projected around 2030.
SK Telecom Co Ltd (017670.KS)
Morgan Stanley assigns an Equal-weight rating to SK Telecom and sets a 75,000 won price target. The analysts flag a risk that annual dividends could be reset lower in 2026, tied to subscriber losses following a cybersecurity breach. With new leadership installed, the bank recommends investors wait for management to lay out strategic priorities and a long-term shareholder return policy. Despite the near-term caution, Morgan Stanley retains a positive view on longer-term AI infrastructure initiatives, such as data center projects supported by SK Group.
Sector view
The firm sees room for selective upside driven by tighter cost management, capital allocation choices like buybacks, and investment in AI-related infrastructure, which could lift profitability metrics across the sector. At the same time, analysts note uncertainty around dividend policies and cybersecurity impacts that could weigh on near-term investor returns.
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