KT Corporation (KT) Key Metrics
KT key metrics, 2016–2025
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 · South Korean wonKT returns How much profit the business earns on the capital it uses.
KT financial health Debt, liquidity and how easily interest is covered.
KT efficiency & capital use Working capital cycle and where the cash goes.
KT returns on capital
Net income (ROE, ROA) or after-tax operating income (ROIC) divided by the average of the opening and closing balance.
KT debt vs cash
Debt includes short- and long-term borrowings and, where reported, lease liabilities.
KT cash returned to shareholders
KT key metrics in South Korean won
2016–2025| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns & profitability | ||||||||||
| Return on equity (ROE) | 10.1% | 2.8% | 5.7% | 7.2% | 8.4% | 4.8% | 4.9% | 5.1% | 3.9% | 6.7% |
| Return on invested capital (ROIC) | 8.2% | 2.7% | 5.1% | 5.6% | 6.0% | 3.9% | 4.1% | 4.8% | 4.5% | 6.0% |
| Return on assets (ROA) | 4.0% | 1.1% | 2.4% | 3.2% | 3.8% | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2.1% | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| Return on tangible assets | 4.2% | 1.1% | 2.5% | 3.3% | 4.0% | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.2% | 1.7% | 2.7% |
| Free cash flow margin | 4.8% | 8.2% | 5.1% | −1.5% | 5.3% | 4.2% | −0.2% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 6.8% |
| Income quality (OCF / net income) | 2.91 | 11.02 | 5.54 | 2.85 | 4.10 | 6.76 | 5.80 | 6.21 | 8.40 | 6.40 |
| Financial health | ||||||||||
| Total debt | ₩12.21T | ₩11.62T | ₩11.39T | ₩10.86T | ₩9.26T | ₩8.11T | ₩7.85T | ₩6.68T | ₩6.80T | ₩8.12T |
| Cash & short-term investments | ₩5.02T | ₩4.89T | ₩4.27T | ₩3.77T | ₩4.21T | ₩3.84T | ₩3.07T | ₩3.71T | ₩2.95T | ₩3.62T |
| Net debt | ₩7.19T | ₩6.72T | ₩7.13T | ₩7.09T | ₩5.06T | ₩4.28T | ₩4.77T | ₩2.96T | ₩3.85T | ₩4.50T |
| Debt / equity | 0.69 | 0.71 | 0.68 | 0.59 | 0.56 | 0.52 | 0.59 | 0.50 | 0.57 | 0.71 |
| Debt / assets | 0.28 | 0.28 | 0.27 | 0.27 | 0.25 | 0.24 | 0.23 | 0.21 | 0.22 | 0.27 |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 1.07 | 1.38 | 1.29 | 1.20 | 0.86 | 0.86 | 0.96 | 0.63 | 0.84 | 0.91 |
| Current ratio | 1.20 | 1.03 | 1.10 | 1.19 | 1.18 | 1.21 | 1.17 | 1.27 | 1.02 | 1.02 |
| Quick ratio | 1.16 | 0.96 | 1.03 | 1.12 | 1.13 | 1.16 | 1.11 | 1.19 | 0.97 | 0.98 |
| Interest coverage | 7.1 | — | — | 6.1 | 6.5 | 3.9 | — | 3.7 | 3.5 | 4.1 |
| Working capital | ₩2.28T | ₩378.38B | ₩1.35T | ₩1.98T | ₩1.79T | ₩1.96T | ₩1.71T | ₩2.52T | ₩201.65B | ₩177.09B |
| Invested capital | ₩24.84T | ₩22.99T | ₩23.85T | ₩25.51T | ₩21.63T | ₩19.83T | ₩18.13T | ₩16.22T | ₩15.87T | ₩15.94T |
| Tangible asset value | ₩17.90T | ₩16.18T | ₩16.00T | ₩15.28T | ₩13.12T | ₩13.39T | ₩12.07T | ₩11.37T | ₩10.76T | ₩9.77T |
| Net current asset value | −₩9.51T | −₩9.66T | −₩9.65T | −₩9.88T | −₩8.73T | −₩6.96T | −₩7.29T | −₩5.59T | −₩6.97T | −₩8.15T |
| Capital allocation | ||||||||||
| Dividends paid | ₩585.64B | ₩872.35B | ₩526.83B | ₩476.80B | ₩350.33B | ₩310.57B | ₩305.16B | ₩298.63B | ₩243.14B | ₩184.10B |
| Share buybacks (net) | ₩253.39B | ₩59.22B | ₩300.09B | ₩942.0M | ₩193.63B | ₩114.68B | ₩122.92B | ₩24.41B | ₩0 | ₩0 |
| Dividend payout ratio | 34.1% | 189.7% | 53.0% | 37.8% | 25.8% | 44.3% | 47.3% | 46.3% | 52.7% | 24.7% |
| Dividends + buybacks / free cash flow | 61.5% | 43.2% | 62.1% | — | 41.5% | 41.9% | — | 32.2% | 29.6% | 11.9% |
| Capex / revenue | 12.9% | 11.0% | 15.9% | 15.6% | 17.1% | 15.5% | 15.4% | 13.0% | 13.1% | 14.1% |
| Capex / operating cash flow | 72.8% | 57.4% | 75.8% | 110.8% | 76.4% | 78.6% | 101.5% | 75.0% | 78.8% | 67.5% |
| Capex / depreciation | 0.93 | 0.74 | 1.08 | 1.07 | 1.17 | 1.02 | 1.03 | 0.89 | 0.89 | 0.94 |
| Stock-based compensation / revenue | — | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% | −0.6% | 2.8% | 0.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| R&D / revenue | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.7% |
| SG&A / revenue | 26.8% | 31.4% | 27.8% | 28.4% | 27.8% | 28.2% | 27.3% | 27.9% | 27.9% | 27.5% |
| Efficiency | ||||||||||
| Days sales outstanding | 77.7 | 92.3 | 92.1 | 79.7 | 73.3 | 81.4 | 86.5 | 93.8 | 89.7 | 81.8 |
| Days of inventory on hand | 24.4 | 37.6 | 32.4 | 22.9 | 19.1 | 22.1 | 23.6 | 21.9 | 16.4 | 18.3 |
| Days payables outstanding | 39.2 | 45.6 | 46.7 | 50.4 | 50.5 | 46.9 | 44.4 | 50.7 | 51.7 | 51.2 |
| Cash conversion cycle (days) | 62.8 | 84.4 | 77.8 | 52.2 | 41.9 | 56.6 | 65.7 | 65.0 | 54.5 | 48.9 |
| Receivables turnover | 4.70 | 3.96 | 3.96 | 4.58 | 4.98 | 4.49 | 4.22 | 3.89 | 4.07 | 4.46 |
| Payables turnover | 9.30 | 8.01 | 7.81 | 7.25 | 7.23 | 7.78 | 8.22 | 7.19 | 7.06 | 7.13 |
| Inventory turnover | 14.95 | 9.70 | 11.27 | 15.92 | 19.14 | 16.52 | 15.47 | 16.63 | 22.27 | 19.94 |
| Asset turnover | 0.67 | 0.62 | 0.63 | 0.66 | 0.70 | 0.71 | 0.75 | 0.74 | 0.76 | 0.76 |
| Average receivables | ₩6.01T | ₩6.67T | ₩6.64T | ₩5.60T | ₩5.00T | ₩5.37T | ₩5.84T | ₩5.97T | ₩5.72T | ₩5.11T |
| Average payables | ₩1.09T | ₩1.17T | ₩1.22T | ₩1.34T | ₩1.39T | ₩1.26T | ₩1.26T | ₩1.33T | ₩1.33T | ₩1.26T |
| Average inventory | ₩679.64B | ₩965.58B | ₩848.60B | ₩611.67B | ₩524.39B | ₩592.63B | ₩668.73B | ₩576.20B | ₩421.71B | ₩451.58B |
| Intangibles / total assets | 3.6% | 4.4% | 5.9% | 7.6% | 9.3% | 6.4% | 8.2% | 10.6% | 8.9% | 9.9% |
Computed from KT's annual financial statements (latest annual report filed April 29, 2026) and the closing share price on each fiscal year-end, adjusted for stock splits. Figures in South Korean won; data from EODHD. Averages use the opening and closing balance of each year.
KT valuation and financial ratios
KT earned a return on equity of 10.1% and a return on invested capital of 8.2% in fiscal 2025. It ended the year with ₩12.21 trillion of debt and ₩5.02 trillion in cash and short-term investments, net debt of ₩7.19 trillion. It returned ₩839.0 billion to shareholders: ₩585.6 billion in dividends and ₩253.4 billion in share buybacks, 62% of free cash flow.
See the KT income statement, the KT chart for price history, or the KT stock overview for the latest quote and news.
KT key metrics FAQ
What is KT's return on equity?
KT's return on equity (ROE) was 10.1% in fiscal 2025: net income of ₩1.72 trillion on average shareholders' equity of ₩16.96 trillion.
What is KT's ROIC?
KT's return on invested capital was 8.2% in fiscal 2025, using after-tax operating income divided by average debt plus equity minus cash.
How much debt does KT have?
KT had total debt of ₩12.21 trillion at the end of fiscal 2025, a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69 and ₩7.19 trillion of net debt (1.07 times EBITDA).
Does KT buy back its shares?
Yes. KT spent ₩253.4 billion on net share repurchases in fiscal 2025.
What is KT's current ratio?
KT's current ratio was 1.20 at the end of fiscal 2025: current assets were 1.20 times current liabilities.