CHT vs PHI

For growth investors, Chunghwa Telecom Co.

, Ltd. (CHT) is the stronger pick with 3. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 0% for PLDT Inc. (PHI). PLDT Inc. (PHI) offers the better valuation at 8. 7x trailing P/E (0. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate PLDT Inc. (PHI) a "Hold" — based on 4 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.

On trailing P/E, PLDT Inc.

(PHI) is the cheapest at 8. 7x versus Chunghwa Telecom Co. , Ltd. at 27. 2x. On forward P/E, PLDT Inc. is actually cheaper at 0. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: PLDT Inc. wins at 0. 03x versus Chunghwa Telecom Co. , Ltd. 's 0. 27x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Chunghwa Telecom Co.

, Ltd. (CHT) delivered a total return of +20. 6%, compared to +11. 6% for PLDT Inc. (PHI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CHT returned +63. 1% versus PHI's +7. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Chunghwa Telecom Co.

, Ltd. (CHT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 19β versus PLDT Inc. 's 0. 21β — meaning PHI is approximately 10% more volatile than CHT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Chunghwa Telecom Co. , Ltd. (CHT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 9% versus 3% for PLDT Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Chunghwa Telecom Co.

, Ltd. (CHT) is pulling ahead at 3. 3% versus 3. 0% for PLDT Inc. (PHI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Chunghwa Telecom Co. , Ltd. grew EPS 4. 2% year-over-year, compared to -5. 1% for PLDT Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CHT leads at 3. 1% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Chunghwa Telecom Co.

, Ltd. (CHT) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 4% net margin versus 13. 7% for PLDT Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PHI leads at 24. 9% versus 20. 6% for CHT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PHI leads at 59. 6%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, PLDT Inc. (PHI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 03x versus Chunghwa Telecom Co. , Ltd. 's 0. 27x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, PLDT Inc. (PHI) trades at 0. 1x forward P/E versus 0. 8x for Chunghwa Telecom Co. , Ltd. — 0. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

PLDT Inc. (PHI) offers the highest yield at 7. 9%, versus 3. 7% for Chunghwa Telecom Co. , Ltd. (CHT).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Chunghwa Telecom Co.

, Ltd. (CHT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 19), 3. 7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CHT: +63. 1%, PHI: +7. 8%), 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.

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.

In terms of investment character: CHT is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; PHI is a small-cap deep-value stock. 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.