CHT vs VIV vs TEF vs SKM

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). Telefônica Brasil S. A. (VIV) offers the better valuation at 22. 5x trailing P/E (2. 8x 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, Telefônica Brasil S.

A. (VIV) is the cheapest at 22. 5x versus SK Telecom Co. ,Ltd at 51. 5x. 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: 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 +20. 6% for Chunghwa Telecom Co. , Ltd. (CHT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SKM returned +239. 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), Telefónica, S.

A. (TEF) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 16β versus Telefônica Brasil S. A. 's 0. 53β — meaning VIV is approximately 234% more volatile than TEF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Chunghwa Telecom Co. , Ltd. (CHT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 9% versus 198% for Telefónica, S. A. — 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: Telefónica, S. A. grew EPS 71. 8% 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 -0. 1% for Telefónica, S. A. — meaning it keeps 16. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CHT leads at 20. 6% versus 5. 8% for TEF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TEF leads at 69. 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, 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, 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 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%, VIV: +81. 5%), 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; VIV is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; TEF is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; SKM is a mid-cap income-oriented 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.