Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare BCE Inc. (BCE) vs Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (VOD) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | VOD | 2.0% revenue growth vs BCE's -1.1% |
| Value | BCE | Lower P/E (10.2x vs 16.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | BCE | 25.9% net margin vs VOD's -4.1% |
| Stability / Safety | VOD | Lower D/E ratio (98.6% vs 220.7%) |
| Dividends | BCE | 11.0% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs VOD's 5.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | VOD | +80.1% vs BCE's +20.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | BCE | 8.1% ROA vs VOD's -2.2%, ROIC 7.6% vs -0.3% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
BCE is Canada's largest telecommunications and media company, providing wireless, wireline internet, TV, and media services nationwide. It generates revenue primarily from wireless services (~40% of total), wireline broadband and TV (~45%), and media advertising and content (~15%). The company's competitive advantage lies in its extensive national network infrastructure — including fiber and wireless spectrum — which creates high barriers to entry and supports its bundled service offerings.
Vodafone is a multinational telecommunications company providing mobile, fixed-line, and converged connectivity services across Europe and Africa. It generates revenue primarily from mobile services (~60% of service revenue), fixed broadband and TV, and its African mobile money platform M-Pesa — which has become a significant growth driver. The company's competitive advantage lies in its extensive European network infrastructure and its entrenched position in African markets where M-Pesa has created a powerful financial services ecosystem.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
BCE leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). VOD leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
VOD is the larger business by revenue, generating $74.2B annually — 3.0x BCE's $24.5B. BCE is the more profitable business, keeping 25.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to VOD's -4.1%. On growth, VOD holds the edge at +29.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | BCEBCE Inc. | VODVodafone Group Pu… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $24.5B | $74.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $10.6B | $21.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $6.3B | -$3.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $3.4B | $21.9B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +67.9% | +33.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +22.4% | +4.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +25.9% | -4.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.0% | +29.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +1.3% | +29.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.6% | -4.6% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, BCE's 6.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than VOD's 7.3x.
| Metric | BCEBCE Inc. | VODVodafone Group Pu… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $24.5B | $35.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $51.4B | $89.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 200.04x | -8.14x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 10.22x | 16.41x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.64x | 7.30x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.38x | 0.81x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.89x | 0.59x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.12x | 3.50x |
Profitability & Efficiency
BCE delivers a 27.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $28 in annual profit, vs $-5 for VOD. VOD carries lower financial leverage with a 0.99x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BCE's 2.21x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), VOD scores 5/9 vs BCE's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | BCEBCE Inc. | VODVodafone Group Pu… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +27.8% | -5.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +8.1% | -2.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.6% | -0.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.4% | -0.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.21x | 0.99x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $36.7B | $45.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.6B | $11.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $38.3B | $57.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.18x | -0.18x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in VOD five years ago would be worth $11,207 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,047 for BCE. Over the past 12 months, VOD leads with a +80.1% total return vs BCE's +20.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors VOD at 13.6% vs BCE's -8.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BCEBCE Inc. | VODVodafone Group Pu… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.2% | +15.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +20.9% | +80.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -23.8% | +46.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -9.5% | +12.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +18.7% | -12.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -8.7% | +13.6% |
Risk & Volatility
BCE is the less volatile stock with a -0.15 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than VOD's 0.36 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | BCEBCE Inc. | VODVodafone Group Pu… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.15x | 0.36x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $26.49 | $15.91 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $20.28 | $8.05 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.3% | +96.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 54.6 | 56.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.9M | 4.0M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BCE as "Hold" and VOD as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply -1.2% upside for BCE (target: $26) vs -24.6% for VOD (target: $12). For income investors, BCE offers the higher dividend yield at 11.00% vs VOD's 5.24%.
| Metric | BCEBCE Inc. | VODVodafone Group Pu… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $26.00 | $11.58 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 21 | 25 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +11.0% | +5.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.96 | $0.68 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.7% | +6.2% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCE Inc. (BCE) | 100 | 55.55 | -44.5% |
| Vodafone Group Publ… (VOD) | 100 | 85.89 | -14.1% |
Vodafone Group Publ… (VOD) returned +12% over 5 years vs BCE Inc. (BCE)'s -10%. A $10,000 investment in VOD 5 years ago would be worth $11,207 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCE Inc. (BCE) | $21.7B | $24.4B | +12.4% |
| Vodafone Group Publ… (VOD) | $52.0B | $37.4B | -27.9% |
Vodafone Group Public Limited Company's revenue grew from $52.0B (2016) to $37.4B (2025) — a -3.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCE Inc. (BCE) | 14.0% | 1.4% | -89.9% |
| Vodafone Group Publ… (VOD) | -9.8% | -11.1% | -13.4% |
Vodafone Group Public Limited Company's net margin went from -10% (2016) to -11% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCE Inc. (BCE) | 15 | 128.8 | +758.7% |
| Vodafone Group Publ… (VOD) | 12.1 | 20.2 | +66.9% |
BCE Inc. has traded in a 12x–129x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~200x. Vodafone Group Public Limited Company has traded in a 2x–20x P/E range over 4 years; current trailing P/E is ~-8x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCE Inc. (BCE) | 3.33 | 0.18 | -94.6% |
| Vodafone Group Publ… (VOD) | -1.9 | -1.6 | +15.8% |
Vodafone Group Public Limited Company's EPS grew from $-1.90 (2016) to $-1.60 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
BCE Inc. generated $3B FCF in 2024 (+135% vs 2021). Vodafone Group Public Limited Company generated $9B FCF in 2025 (+9% vs 2021).
BCE vs VOD: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BCE or VOD a better buy right now?
BCE Inc. (BCE) offers the better valuation at 200.0x trailing P/E (10.2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (VOD) a "Buy" — based on 25 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — BCE or VOD?
On forward P/E, BCE Inc. is actually cheaper at 10.2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BCE or VOD?
Over the past 5 years, Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (VOD) delivered a total return of +12.1%, compared to -9.5% for BCE Inc. (BCE). A $10,000 investment in VOD five years ago would be worth approximately $11K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BCE returned +18.7% versus VOD's -12.4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — BCE or VOD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), BCE Inc. (BCE) is the lower-risk stock at -0.15β versus Vodafone Group Public Limited Company's 0.36β — meaning VOD is approximately -335% more volatile than BCE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (VOD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 99% versus 2% for BCE Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — BCE or VOD?
BCE Inc. (BCE) is the more profitable company, earning 1.4% net margin versus -11.1% for Vodafone Group Public Limited Company — meaning it keeps 1.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BCE leads at 22.7% versus -1.1% for VOD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BCE leads at 68.4%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is BCE or VOD more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, BCE Inc. (BCE) trades at 10.2x forward P/E versus 16.4x for Vodafone Group Public Limited Company — 6.2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BCE: -1.2% to $26.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — BCE or VOD?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. BCE Inc. (BCE) offers the highest yield at 11.0%, versus 5.2% for Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (VOD).
08Is BCE or VOD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, BCE Inc. (BCE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.15), 11.0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BCE: +18.7%, VOD: -12.4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between BCE and VOD?
Both stocks operate in the Communication Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Net Margin > 15%
- Dividend Yield > 4.3%
- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Revenue Growth > 14%
- Gross Margin > 20%