1. KT Q1 2025 Earnings: A Shocking Result

KT reported Q1 2025 revenue of 47.728 trillion KRW, operating profit of 4.687 trillion KRW, and net income of 3.58 trillion KRW. These figures represent a decrease of -34%, -46%, and -47%, respectively, compared to market expectations.

2. Reasons Behind the Underperformance

Several factors contributed to this earnings shock:

  • • Economic slowdown leading to weakened consumer sentiment
  • • Increased marketing costs due to intensified competition in the telecommunications market
  • • Preemptive investments to secure future growth engines such as 5G and AI

3. What Does the Future Hold for KT?

While downward pressure on the stock price is expected in the short term, KT still possesses solid fundamentals and future growth drivers.

  • • Stable ICT business centered around 5G and Giga Internet
  • • Expansion of financial services based on ‘Paybooc’
  • • Investment in future growth engines like AICT, cloud, and data centers

4. What Should Investors Do?

Short-term investors should adopt a conservative approach, while long-term investors should monitor KT’s competitiveness securing strategy and performance improvements. Pay close attention to the following:

  • • Specific analysis of the causes of underperformance and solutions
  • • Strategies for securing competitive advantage and profit improvement plans
  • • Response to changes in the macroeconomic environment