CHT vs PHI vs TEF vs SKM vs T

For growth investors, Chunghwa Telecom Co.

, Ltd. (CHT) is the stronger pick with 3. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 4% for SK Telecom Co. ,Ltd (SKM). AT&T Inc. (T) offers the better valuation at 8. 3x trailing P/E (10. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Telefónica, S. A. (TEF) a "Buy" — based on 20 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, AT&T Inc.

(T) is the cheapest at 8. 3x versus SK Telecom Co. ,Ltd at 54. 3x. On forward P/E, SK Telecom Co. ,Ltd is actually cheaper at 0. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. 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. 28x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, SK Telecom Co.

,Ltd (SKM) delivered a total return of +102. 1%, compared to +11. 3% for PLDT Inc. (PHI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SKM returned +247. 9% versus TEF's -16. 7%. 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), AT&T Inc.

(T) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 25β versus SK Telecom Co. ,Ltd's 0. 36β — meaning SKM is approximately -245% more volatile than T 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. 4% for SK Telecom Co. ,Ltd (SKM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AT&T Inc. grew EPS 104. 0% year-over-year, compared to -68. 0% for SK Telecom Co. ,Ltd. 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.

AT&T Inc.

(T) is the more profitable company, earning 17. 4% net margin versus -0. 1% for Telefónica, S. A. — meaning it keeps 17. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PHI leads at 24. 9% versus 5. 8% for TEF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — T leads at 79. 8%, 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. 28x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, SK Telecom Co. ,Ltd (SKM) trades at 0. 0x forward P/E versus 12. 5x for Telefónica, S. A. — 12. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Telefónica, S. A. (TEF) offers the highest yield at 8. 5%, versus 3. 0% for SK Telecom Co. ,Ltd (SKM).

For long-horizon retirement investors, AT&T Inc.

(T) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 25), 4. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (T: +41. 6%, PHI: +8. 2%), 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; TEF is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; SKM is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; T is a mid-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.