Core Viewpoint - KT Corporation's shares have declined approximately 13.5% over the past three months, underperforming the Zacks Wireless Non-US Markets growth of 10.6, despite strong underlying fundamentals and a strategic pivot towards Artificial Intelligence and Information and Communications Technology (AICT) [1][10]. Financial Performance - In Q2 2025, KT reported a revenue increase of 13.5% year over year, reaching KRW 7,427.4 billion, while operating profit more than doubled to KRW 1,014.8 billion, driven by robust performance in traditional telecom and AI initiatives [6][10]. - The AI IT business revenues grew by 13.8% year over year, and revenues from KT Cloud increased by 23%, reflecting strong data center momentum and project wins [11]. Strategic Transformation - KT is transitioning from a traditional telecom company to an AICT firm, integrating IT and AI with telecommunications to offer unique services [7]. - The company is developing a comprehensive AI lineup anchored by its proprietary Mi:dm2.0 large language model, with early contract wins from government and public sector entities [8]. - KT has partnered with Microsoft to enhance its AI capabilities, integrating an AI agent into Genie TV and planning to introduce a tailored AI model for Korea in the second half of 2025 [9]. Shareholder Returns - KT has a stable dividend policy and a KRW 1 trillion share buyback plan, with KRW 250 billion already completed, indicating strong confidence in future cash flow [13]. - The dividend for Q2 was raised by 20% year over year to KRW 600 per share, enhancing the appeal of KT shares to investors [13]. Valuation and Market Position - KT's stock is trading at a price/book multiple of 0.72X, significantly lower than the industry average of 2.22X, indicating a potential undervaluation [18]. - Compared to peers, KT's stock performance has lagged, with SK Telecom down 6.1% and América Móvil gaining 23.3% over the same period [20]. Long-term Outlook - Despite recent stock declines, KT's solid financial performance, AICT transformation, and expanding partnerships position it for sustained long-term growth [21]. - The company's disciplined expense management and aggressive share buyback program are additional positives for potential investors [21].

Core Insights - KT Corporation is transitioning from a traditional telecom company to an Artificial Intelligence and Information and Communications Technology (AICT) firm, integrating IT and AI with telecom capabilities to enhance customer value [1][11] AICT Strategy - KT is developing a comprehensive AI lineup centered around its proprietary Mi:dm2.0 large language model (LLM), which supports AI platform projects for both enterprise and public sectors, with initial contracts secured from Gyeonggi provincial government and Korea Water Resources Corporation [2] - The company has partnered with Microsoft to integrate an AI agent powered by Azure OpenAI into Genie TV, and plans to launch a Korea-specific AI model using ChatGPT in the second half of 2025 [3] - KT is investing KRW 1 trillion over five years to bolster its cybersecurity efforts as part of its digital transformation [3] Financial Performance - In Q2 2025, KT reported a 13.5% year-over-year increase in revenues to KRW 7,427.4 billion, with operating profit more than doubling to KRW 1,014.8 billion, driven by strong performance in telecom and AI-driven sectors [4][11] - AI IT business revenue grew by 13.8% year-over-year, while KT Cloud revenues surged by 23%, attributed to increased data center activity and successful DBO project wins [4][11] Market Position and Competitors - KT's shift towards AICT positions it to capitalize on emerging opportunities in AI infrastructure, cloud computing, and enterprise digital transformation [5] - Competitors like SK Telecom and Telefónica are also pursuing aggressive AI strategies, with SK Telecom implementing AI Pyramid 2.0 and Telefónica advancing its Autonomous Network Journey [6][7][8] Stock Performance and Valuation - KT's stock has decreased by 7.4% over the past month, contrasting with a 0.2% decline in the Zacks Wireless Non-US market [12] - The stock is currently trading at a price/book multiple of 0.73X, significantly lower than the industry average of 2.22X, indicating a substantial discount [16]

Core Viewpoint - KT Corp. has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) due to an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][2]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Movement - The Zacks rating system is based on changes in earnings estimates, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [3][5]. - Institutional investors utilize earnings estimates to determine the fair value of stocks, leading to buying or selling actions that affect stock prices [3]. Business Improvement Indicators - The increase in earnings estimates for KT Corp. indicates an improvement in the company's underlying business, which is expected to positively influence its stock price [4][9]. - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, KT Corp. is projected to earn $2.80 per share, with a 5.3% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [7]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [6][8]. - KT Corp.'s upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 places it in the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks, indicating a strong potential for near-term price appreciation [9].

Group 1 - U.S. stock futures are higher, with Dow futures gaining approximately 0.2% [1] - Lovesac Co reported a quarterly loss of 45 cents per share, which was better than the analyst consensus estimate of 71 cents loss per share [1] - Lovesac's quarterly sales reached $160.530 million, exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of $160.229 million [1] Group 2 - Lovesac reduced its FY2026 GAAP EPS guidance from a range of $0.80-$1.36 to $0.52-$1.05 [2] - Lovesac shares fell 13% to $18.05 in pre-market trading following the guidance cut [2] Group 3 - Avidity Biosciences, Inc. experienced a 20.1% decline to $37.08 after announcing a $500 million common stock offering [4] - Veritone, Inc. dropped 18.7% to $2.96 due to the pricing of a $25 million public offering [4] - Lesaka Technologies Inc saw a 15.8% decrease to $3.98 following its fourth-quarter results [4] - Murano Global Investments Plc fell 14.8% to $3.50 after a previous 18% drop [4] - QMMM Holdings Ltd decreased 13.2% to $95.01 after a 47% decline on Wednesday [4] - CI&T Inc. fell 9.8% to $4.53 after a 3% decline on Wednesday [4] - Enovix Corp dropped 7.1% to $8.50 after announcing a $300 million convertible notes offering [4] - KT Corp fell 4% to $18.95 in pre-market trading [4]

Core Viewpoint - KT Corporation (KT) is rated as a Buy due to improved competitive positioning in its mobile business and effective monetization of non-core assets [1]. Group 1: Company Overview - KT Corporation is highlighted as a key player in the mobile business sector, with a strengthened competitive position [1]. - The company is part of a research service focused on value investing in Asia, particularly targeting stocks with significant discrepancies between market price and intrinsic value [1]. Group 2: Investment Strategy - The investment strategy emphasizes deep value balance sheet bargains, such as net cash stocks and low price-to-book (P/B) stocks, as well as wide moat stocks that represent high-quality businesses [1]. - The research service provides monthly updates and watch lists for value investors seeking opportunities in the Hong Kong market [1].

Financial Performance - KT Corporation reported operating revenue of W7,427,337 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2025, representing a 13.4% increase from W6,546,399 million in the same period of 2024[20]. - The operating profit for the six-month period ended June 30, 2025, was W1,703,589 million, up 70.1% from W1,000,486 million in the prior year[20]. - Profit for the period attributable to owners of the controlling company increased to W1,227,780 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2025, compared to W768,555 million in 2024, marking a 59.8% growth[20]. - Profit for the three-month period ended June 30, 2025, increased to W733,282 million, up 78.5% from W410,541 million in 2024[22]. - Profit for the six-month period ended June 30, 2025, reached W1,300,081 million, a 61.7% increase compared to W803,544 million in 2024[22]. - Total comprehensive income for the three-month period ended June 30, 2025, was W859,543 million, representing a 64.0% increase from W523,478 million in 2024[22]. - Total comprehensive income for the six-month period ended June 30, 2025, amounted to W1,433,328 million, up 33.7% from W1,072,816 million in 2024[22]. Assets and Liabilities - Total assets as of June 30, 2025, amounted to W42,193,327 million, a slight increase from W41,879,957 million at the end of 2024[17]. - Current liabilities decreased to W12,123,497 million as of June 30, 2025, down from W13,874,734 million at the end of 2024, reflecting a 12.6% reduction[18]. - The company’s total liabilities decreased to W23,316,209 million as of June 30, 2025, from W23,883,408 million at the end of 2024, a decline of 2.4%[18]. - The total equity attributable to owners of the controlling company rose to W17,123,836 million as of June 30, 2025, compared to W16,210,702 million at the end of 2024, indicating a 5.6% increase[18]. - The balance of total equity as of June 30, 2025, was W18,877,118 million, an increase from W17,996,549 million as of June 30, 2024[25]. Cash Flow and Investments - Cash generated from operations decreased to W2,793,143 million in 2025 from W3,428,623 million in 2024, representing a decline of approximately 18.5%[26]. - Net cash inflow from operating activities fell to W2,686,288 million in 2025, down from W3,236,326 million in 2024, a decrease of about 17.0%[26]. - Net cash outflow from investing activities increased significantly to W(2,417,684) million in 2025 compared to W(1,168,040) million in 2024, indicating a rise of approximately 106.8%[27]. - Proceeds from borrowings rose to W3,651,239 million in 2025, up from W2,060,181 million in 2024, an increase of about 77.2%[27]. - Dividends paid decreased to W288,392 million in 2025 from W626,429 million in 2024, a reduction of approximately 54.9%[27]. Segment Performance - The ICT segment generated operating revenues of W9,454,830 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2025, up from W9,243,124 million in 2024, a growth of 2.3%[150]. - The Finance segment reported operating revenues of W1,663,572 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2025, compared to W1,780,963 million in 2024, a decrease of 6.6%[150]. Shareholder Returns - A quarterly dividend of W600 per share was declared, totaling W144,658 million, with a dividend yield of 1.1%[178]. - Dividends paid by the controlling company totaled W482,970 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2024[24]. Financial Instruments and Valuation - The company reported finance income of W476,230 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2025, compared to W468,632 million in the same period of 2024, reflecting a 1.4% increase[20]. - The company reported a significant increase in cash due to consolidation scope change, rising to W126,968 million in 2025 from W9,847 million in 2024[26]. - The total financial assets as of June 30, 2025, were valued at W15,982,983 million, compared to W15,315,773 million as of December 31, 2024[166]. - The total financial liabilities as of June 30, 2025, were W18,782,468 million, slightly down from W18,809,013 million as of December 31, 2024[166]. Legal and Regulatory Matters - The Group is currently a defendant in 165 lawsuits with a total claimed amount of KRW 155,918 million as of June 30, 2025, an increase from KRW 141,941 million at the end of 2024[117].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Operating revenue increased by 13.5% year over year, reaching KRW 7,427.4 billion [6] - Operating profit rose by 105.4% year over year, amounting to KRW 1,014.8 billion, supported by balanced growth in the telco business and one-time gains from real estate sales [6] - Net income increased by 78.6% year over year to KRW 733.3 billion, driven by higher operating profit [6] - EBITDA grew by 36.3% year over year, reporting KRW 1,990.7 billion [6] - Operating expenses increased by 5.9% year over year, totaling KRW 6,412.6 billion [7] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Wireless revenue increased by 0.9% year on year, reporting KRW 1,781.7 billion, with 5G subscribers accounting for 79.5% of total handset subscribers [8] - Fixed line broadband revenue grew by 2.1% year over year, reaching KRW 631.4 billion, driven by Giga Internet subscriber growth [9] - B2B service revenue posted a 4.5% year on year growth, supported by telecom and AI/IT services [10] - AIIT business revenues saw a significant increase of 13.8% year over year [10] - KT Cloud revenue grew by 23% year on year, driven by increased data center usage [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that the 5G penetration rate is above 80%, indicating a mature market [20] - The handset replacement cycle has lengthened, affecting market dynamics [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - KT is focused on transforming into an AICT company and enhancing corporate value through strategic initiatives [3][12] - The company plans to complete a share buyback of KRW 250 billion and has increased its dividend by 20% year over year [4] - KT is actively pursuing large-scale AI projects and collaborations, including partnerships with Microsoft and Palantir [16][17] - The company aims to leverage AI capabilities to enhance operational efficiency and service offerings [18] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustaining solid service revenue growth into the second half of the year, despite a significant one-time gain in Q2 [24] - There are concerns about potential increases in commissions and selling-related expenses, but these are linked to earnings performance [25] - The company is committed to maintaining a shareholder-friendly dividend policy and plans additional share buybacks [27] Other Important Information - KT plans to invest KRW 1 trillion in information security over five years to enhance customer safety [5] - The company is developing a Korean-tailored AI model powered by ChatGPT for its services [5] Q&A Session Summary Question: AI business direction and M&P market outlook - Management highlighted three strategies for AI: partnerships with global tech firms, a multi-model strategy, and leveraging AI for operational efficiency [16][17] - Regarding the M&P market, management noted that while competition may heat up with new handset launches, it is not expected to be long-lasting due to high 5G penetration and longer handset replacement cycles [20] Question: Outlook for the second half and updates on the value plan - Management expects to continue good momentum into the second half, driven by solid service revenue and improved cost management [24] - The dividend decision is based on 50% of adjusted net profit, and management is confident in meeting market expectations for shareholder returns [26][27]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Operating revenue increased by 13.5% year over year, reaching KRW 7,427.4 billion [6] - Operating profit rose by 105.4% year over year, amounting to KRW 1,014.8 billion, supported by balanced growth in the telco business and one-time gains from real estate sales [6] - Net income increased by 78.6% year over year to KRW 733.3 billion, driven by higher operating profit [6] - EBITDA grew by 36.3% year over year, reporting KRW 1,990.7 billion [6] - Operating expenses rose by 5.9% year over year, totaling KRW 6,412.6 billion [7] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Wireless revenue increased by 0.9% year on year, reporting KRW 1,781.7 billion, with 79.5% of total handset subscribers being 5G subscribers [8] - Fixed line broadband revenue grew by 2.1% year over year, reaching KRW 631.4 billion, driven by Giga Internet subscriber growth [9] - B2B service revenue posted a 4.5% year over year growth, supported by telecom and AI/IT services [11] - AIIT business revenues saw a significant increase of 13.8% year over year [11] - KT Cloud revenue grew by 23% year over year, driven by increased data center usage [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that the 5G penetration rate is above 80%, indicating a mature market [21] - The company observed no overheating of competition in the market following the launch of new flagship handsets, although future competition may arise with new iPhone releases [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on transforming into an AICT company and enhancing corporate value through strategic initiatives [4][13] - A multi-model strategy is being implemented, including partnerships with global tech firms like Microsoft and Palantir to enhance competitiveness in AI services [17] - The company plans to invest KRW 1 trillion in information security over five years to improve customer safety in telecom services [5] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustaining solid service revenue growth into the second half of the year, despite a significant one-off gain from real estate in Q2 [25] - Concerns were raised about potential increases in commissions and selling-related expenses, but these are linked to earnings performance [26] - The company is committed to maintaining a shareholder-friendly dividend policy, with a declared dividend of KRW 600 per share, a 20% increase year over year [4][27] Other Important Information - The company plans to complete a share buyback of KRW 250 billion and has outlined a future buyback plan totaling KRW 750 billion over the next three years [4][28] Q&A Session Summary Question: Future direction of AI business and impact of handset subsidy repeal - Management highlighted three main strategies for AI: partnerships with global tech firms, a multi-model strategy for AI service development, and leveraging AI capabilities for operational efficiency [17][19] - Regarding the M and P market, management noted that while competition may heat up with new handset launches, it is not expected to be long-lasting due to high 5G penetration and longer handset replacement cycles [20][21] Question: Outlook for the second half of the year and updates on the value plan - Management expressed optimism for continued strong performance in the second half, driven by solid service revenue and improved cost management [25] - The company confirmed its commitment to a shareholder-friendly dividend policy and plans for additional share buybacks as part of its value enhancement program [27][28]

KT 2Q25 Earnings Release Disclaimer This presentation has been prepared by KT Corp.(the "Company") in accordance with K-IFRS. This presentation contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. This presentation is being presented solely for your information and is subject to change without notice. No presentation or warranty, expressed or implied, is made and no reliance should be placed on the accuracy, actuality, fairness, or completeness of the information ...

Core Viewpoint - KT Corp. has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][2]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Impact - The Zacks rating system is based on changes in earnings estimates, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [3][5]. - Institutional investors often adjust their valuations based on earnings estimates, leading to significant stock price movements when estimates are revised [3]. Business Improvement Indicators - The upgrade in KT Corp.'s rating suggests an improvement in its underlying business, which should encourage investors to drive the stock price higher [4]. - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, KT Corp. is expected to earn $2.76 per share, with a 6.2% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [7]. Zacks Rank System Overview - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with a strong historical performance, particularly for Zacks Rank 1 stocks, which have averaged a +25% annual return since 1988 [6]. - The upgrade of KT Corp. to a Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, indicating a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [9].