CHT vs TLK vs SKM vs PHI vs VIV

For growth investors, Telefônica Brasil S.

A. (VIV) is the stronger pick with 7. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 4% for SK Telecom Co. ,Ltd (SKM). 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 Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (TLK) a "Hold" — based on 2 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 SK Telecom Co. ,Ltd at 51. 5x. On forward P/E, Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk 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: SK Telecom Co. ,Ltd wins at 0. 00x versus Telefônica Brasil S. A. 's 1. 03x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Telefônica Brasil S.

A. (VIV) delivered a total return of +108. 8%, compared to -1. 5% for Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (TLK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SKM returned +239. 9% versus TLK's -4. 4%. 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 Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk's 0. 77β — meaning TLK is approximately 299% 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), Telefônica Brasil S.

A. (VIV) is pulling ahead at 7. 2% versus -3. 4% for SK Telecom Co. ,Ltd (SKM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Telefônica Brasil S. A. grew EPS 11. 6% year-over-year, compared to -68. 0% for SK Telecom Co. ,Ltd. Over a 3-year CAGR, VIV leads at 8. 2% 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 2. 4% for SK Telecom Co. ,Ltd — meaning it keeps 16. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TLK leads at 28. 7% versus 6. 3% for SKM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TLK leads at 67. 9%, 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, SK Telecom Co. ,Ltd (SKM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 00x versus Telefônica Brasil S. A. 's 1. 03x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (TLK) trades at 0. 0x forward P/E versus 2. 8x for Telefônica Brasil S. A. — 2. 8x 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 2. 0% for Telefônica Brasil S. A. (VIV).

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%, TLK: -4. 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.

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; TLK is a mid-cap deep-value stock; SKM is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; PHI is a small-cap deep-value stock; VIV is a mid-cap quality compounder 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.