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Verdict
Quantitative factor alignment verified for current market regime.
Quant Score
Rank
#538
Positioning
Market Dominance
Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services
Communication
$3.8B
Hyun-Mo Gu
KT Corporation provides integrated telecommunications and platform services in Korea and internationally. As of December 31, 2020, the company served approximately 22.3 million mobile subscribers and 8.8 million IPTV subscribers. The company was formerly known as Korea Telecom Corp. and changed its name to KT Corporation in March 2002.
Headcount
21.8K
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| Stock | Rating | Score▼ | Quality | Value | Momentum | P/E | EV/EBITDA | ROE | ROA | Gross Mgn | Op Mgn | Net Mgn | Rev Growth | Div Yield | D/E | Mkt Cap | AUDIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$UGP ULTRAPAR HOLDINGS INC | 79 | 90 | 95 | 87 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$TNK TEEKAY TANKERS LTD. | 78 | 94 | 97 | 82 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$DHT DHT Holdings, Inc. | 75 | 84 | 88 | 78 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$STNG Scorpio Tankers Inc. | 75 | 86 | 95 | 74 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$NAT NORDIC AMERICAN TANKERS Ltd | 75 | 82 | 88 | 87 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$AMX AMERICA MOVIL SAB DE CV/ | 74 | 86 | 81 | 68 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$PAC Pacific Airport Group | 73 | 94 | 80 | 78 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$GSL Global Ship Lease, Inc. | 73 | 82 | 94 | 81 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$TRMD TORM plc | 73 | 86 | 94 | 65 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$VIV TELEFONICA BRASIL S.A. | 73 | 82 | 90 | 78 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$KT KT CORP | 62 | 41 | 81 | 66 | 18.9x | 9.4x | 10.1% | 3.9% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1.5% | -12.2% | 0.0% | 65.0x | $3.8B | ||
| SECTOR BENCH | - | - | - | - | - | 16.9x | 6.1x | 11.9% | 3.2% | 52.6% | 14.8% | 7.7% | 4.2% | 1.4% | 1.3x | - | REF |
KT CORP (KT) receives a "Hold" rating with a composite score of 61.7/100. It ranks #538 out of 7,333 stocks in our coverage universe and carries a 3-star rating. Ratings are driven by a 6-factor quantitative model measuring quality, value, momentum, investment, stability, and short interest.
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HQ Base
KOREA,
Outperforming peers — winners tend to keep winning over 3-12 months
Trading at a discount to fundamentals — favorable entry valuation
Average quality profile
Low volatility — smoother ride and historically better risk-adjusted returns
Moderate investment profile
Mid-range overall rating
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Relative valuation derived from Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services sector benchmarks. Model weights: EV/EBITDA (40%), P/B (35%), P/S (25%). Re-calculated daily.
Projection based on user-defined inputs. Re-calculated daily against current market data.
Reverse DCF Framework — Mauboussin Methodology
Institutional-grade Reverse DCF analysis. This model identifies the growth hurdles embedded in current market prices. When implied growth is significantly lower than historical or projected rates, a margin of safety may exist. Re-audited daily.
No analyst ratings for KT.
View All Ratings| Factor | Global | Sector | Tilt |
|---|---|---|---|
| PROFITABILITY | 41 | 38 | +3NEUTRAL |
| MOMENTUM | 66 | 74 | -8DRAG |
| VALUATION | 81 | 86 | -5NEUTRAL |
| INVESTMENT | 60 | 92 | -32DRAG |
| STABILITY | 80 | 82 | -2NEUTRAL |
| SHORT INT | 57 | 65 | -8DRAG |
Global = full universe. Sector = relative to industry peers. Positive tilt indicates idiosyncratic strength.
ROIC 7.4% vs WACC 8.9% (spread -1.5%)
GM 2% vs sector 53%, OM 2% vs sector 15%
Capital turnover 3.93x
Rev growth -12%, 8yr history
Interest coverage 0.6x, Net debt/EBITDA 10.5x
Composite assessment of profitability, capital efficiency, and financial strength. Top-tier entities demonstrate sustainable cash flow generation and elite competitive moats.
Profit generated per dollar of shareholder equity
Efficiency of asset utilization
Pricing power and cost efficiency
Core business profitability
Bottom-line profitability
The Quality factor evaluates the persistence and magnitude of realized cash flows. Companies with scores >70 exhibit superior pricing power and structural financial resilience through diverse economic regimes.
Our uncertainty rating tracks the predictability of future cash flows and potential for permanent capital loss. Moderate visibility with standard industry cyclicality.
We rate KT CORP (KT) as a Hold with a composite score of 61.7/100 at a current price of $23.78. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling.
KT CORP holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 61.7/100 places it at rank #538 in our full universe.
The near-term outlook is constructive, with revenue growing at -12% and momentum in the 66th percentile confirming positive market sentiment. The combination of strong top-line growth and favorable price dynamics suggests the company is executing well on its growth strategy.
No Moat
Low
Standard
Undervalued
Value factor score of 81 suggests attractive pricing.
Positive momentum indicates institutional accumulation.
Stable competitive position in a defensive sector.
Vulnerability to macroeconomic shocks and interest rate volatility.
KT CORP represents a hold based on multi-factor quantitative performance.
Our model assigns KT CORP a Hold rating, with a composite score of 61.7/100 and 3 out of 5 stars. Ranked #538 of 7,333 stocks, KT presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to initiate new positions nor weak enough to warrant selling. Investors already holding may consider maintaining their position while monitoring for changes in the factor profile.
KT's quality score of 41/100 is below average, suggesting challenges with profitability or capital efficiency. The company reports a return on equity of 10.1% (sector avg: 11.9%), gross margins of 2.4% (sector avg: 52.6%), net margins of 1.5% (sector avg: 7.7%). Investors should examine whether management is actively addressing these weaknesses or if they reflect structural industry headwinds.
KT carries a solid value score of 81/100, pointing to an attractively priced stock relative to peers. Key valuation metrics include a P/E ratio of 18.90x, an EV/EBITDA of 9.36x, a P/B ratio of 1.08x. This score suggests reasonable compensation for the risks involved, with potential upside if the market recognizes the stock's underlying worth.
KT shows a solid investment score of 60/100, reflecting measured but productive capital allocation. Key growth metrics include revenue growth of -12.2% vs. a sector average of 4.2% and a return on assets of 3.9% (sector: 3.2%). This suggests the company is investing at an appropriate level to sustain growth without overextending its balance sheet.
KT demonstrates moderate momentum with a score of 66/100, suggesting a neutral price trend without strong directional conviction. Revenue growth stands at -12.2% year-over-year, while a beta of 0.40 reflects its sensitivity to broader market moves. Moderate momentum may indicate the stock is consolidating or transitioning between trends, warranting close monitoring of upcoming catalysts.
KT shows good financial stability with a score of 80/100. Key stability metrics include a beta of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 65.00x (sector avg: 1.3x). This suggests manageable leverage and moderate price volatility, making it appropriate for investors seeking a balance between growth potential and capital preservation.
The short interest score of 57/100 for KT suggests somewhat elevated bearish positioning by institutional traders. Specific risk factors include elevated leverage (D/E: 65.00x). With a $3.8B market cap (mid-cap), KT CORP may experience above-average volatility. Investors should consider whether the short thesis has merit or if it creates a potential short-squeeze opportunity.
KT CORP is a mid-cap company in the Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services sector, ranked #0 of 50 in its sector (100th percentile) and #538 of 7,333 overall (93rd percentile). Key comparisons include ROE of 10.1% trailing the 11.9% sector median and operating margins of 2.4% below the 14.8% sector average. This top-quartile standing reflects exceptional competitive strength relative to Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services peers.
While KT currently exhibits a HOLD profile, superior opportunities exist within the TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATIONS, ELECTRIC, GAS, AND SANITARY SERVICES sector. Our model identifies several "Strong Buy" candidates with higher quality scores and more attractive valuations among direct industry competitors.
View Top Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services Alpha →Quant Factor Profile
Upgrade catalyst
Quality (41) is the limiting factor — improvement here would lift the composite score most.
EV/EBITDA 53% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN
ROE 16% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
Gross Margin 95% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
Above 50MA
37.18%
Net New Highs
+51081
Goldman Sachs downgraded KT Corp from Buy to Neutral, citing expectations of stagnant revenue growth in its traditional telecom operations and subsidiaries, despite anticipated stronger performance in AI and new business segments.
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