Telecommunications Services
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5 / 10Stock Comparison
CMCSA vs CHTR vs T vs VZ vs TMUS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Telecommunications Services
Telecommunications Services
Telecommunications Services
Telecommunications Services
CMCSA vs CHTR vs T vs VZ vs TMUS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications Services | Telecommunications Services | Telecommunications Services | Telecommunications Services | Telecommunications Services |
| Market Cap | $95.62B | $20.29B | $176.40B | $198.61B | $210.16B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $125.28B | $54.64B | $126.52B | $138.19B | $90.53B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $18.60B | $5.13B | $21.41B | $17.17B | $10.54B |
| Gross Margin | 61.7% | 43.3% | 79.7% | 55.7% | 54.3% |
| Operating Margin | 15.3% | 24.1% | 19.4% | 21.2% | 20.4% |
| Forward P/E | 7.4x | 3.8x | 10.9x | 9.5x | 18.5x |
| Total Debt | $110.44B | $97.12B | $173.99B | $200.59B | $122.27B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $9.48B | $477M | $18.23B | $19.05B | $5.60B |
CMCSA vs CHTR vs T vs VZ vs TMUS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) | 100 | 66.3 | -33.7% |
| Charter Communicati… (CHTR) | 100 | 29.5 | -70.5% |
| AT&T Inc. (T) | 100 | 108.5 | +8.5% |
| Verizon Communicati… (VZ) | 100 | 82.1 | -17.9% |
| T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) | 100 | 194.1 | +94.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CMCSA vs CHTR vs T vs VZ vs TMUS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
CMCSA carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 18 yrs, beta 0.21, yield 5.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.21, current ratio 0.88x
- Beta 0.21, yield 5.1%, current ratio 0.88x
- Beta 0.21 vs CHTR's 0.33, lower leverage
CHTR is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if valuation efficiency is your priority.
- PEG 0.20 vs TMUS's 0.62
- Lower P/E (3.8x vs 18.5x), PEG 0.20 vs 0.62
T ranks third and is worth considering specifically for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 2.7%, EPS growth 104.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 1.3%
- 16.9% margin vs CHTR's 9.4%
VZ is the clearest fit if your priority is momentum.
- +13.6% vs CHTR's -60.4%
TMUS is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 407.2% 10Y total return vs T's 41.9%
- 8.5% revenue growth vs CHTR's -0.6%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 8.5% revenue growth vs CHTR's -0.6% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (3.8x vs 18.5x), PEG 0.20 vs 0.62 | |
| Quality / Margins | 16.9% margin vs CHTR's 9.4% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.21 vs CHTR's 0.33, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 5.1% yield, 18-year raise streak, vs VZ's 5.8%, (1 stock pays no dividend) | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +13.6% vs CHTR's -60.4% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 6.9% ROA vs CHTR's 3.3%, ROIC 8.2% vs 8.6% |
CMCSA vs CHTR vs T vs VZ vs TMUS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
CMCSA vs CHTR vs T vs VZ vs TMUS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 5 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
CHTR leads in 2 of 6 categories
CMCSA leads 0 • T leads 0 • VZ leads 0 • TMUS leads 0 • 4 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — CHTR and T each lead in 2 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
VZ is the larger business by revenue, generating $138.2B annually — 2.5x CHTR's $54.6B. T is the more profitable business, keeping 16.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CHTR's 9.4%. On growth, TMUS holds the edge at +10.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $125.3B | $54.6B | $126.5B | $138.2B | $90.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $35.4B | $20.9B | $45.1B | $47.6B | $29.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $18.6B | $5.1B | $21.4B | $17.2B | $10.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $18.1B | $4.0B | $10.6B | $19.8B | $10.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +61.7% | +43.3% | +79.7% | +55.7% | +54.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.3% | +24.1% | +19.4% | +21.2% | +20.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +14.8% | +9.4% | +16.9% | +12.4% | +11.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.5% | +7.4% | +8.4% | +14.3% | +11.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.3% | -1.0% | +2.9% | +2.0% | +10.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -32.6% | +8.9% | -11.5% | -53.4% | -12.0% |
Valuation Metrics
CHTR leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 4.4x trailing earnings, CHTR trades at a 78% valuation discount to TMUS's 20.0x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), CHTR offers better value at 0.24x vs TMUS's 0.67x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $95.6B | $20.3B | $176.4B | $198.6B | $210.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $196.6B | $116.9B | $332.2B | $380.2B | $326.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 4.87x | 4.43x | 8.31x | 11.60x | 19.98x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.44x | 3.80x | 10.93x | 9.52x | 18.45x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.26x | 0.24x | — | — | 0.67x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.33x | 5.31x | 7.37x | 7.99x | 10.13x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.77x | 0.37x | 1.40x | 1.44x | 2.38x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.98x | 1.08x | 1.41x | 1.88x | 3.71x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 4.37x | 4.59x | 9.07x | 9.87x | 20.32x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CHTR leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CHTR delivers a 25.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $25 in annual profit, vs $16 for VZ. CMCSA carries lower financial leverage with a 1.13x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CHTR's 4.73x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CMCSA scores 7/9 vs VZ's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +19.5% | +25.2% | +16.8% | +16.4% | +17.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.9% | +3.3% | +5.1% | +4.4% | +4.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.2% | +8.6% | +6.7% | +8.0% | +8.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.9% | +9.6% | +6.8% | +8.8% | +9.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.13x | 4.73x | 1.35x | 1.90x | 2.07x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $101.0B | $96.6B | $155.8B | $181.5B | $116.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $9.5B | $477M | $18.2B | $19.0B | $5.6B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $110.4B | $97.1B | $174.0B | $200.6B | $122.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.84x | 2.48x | 4.97x | 4.39x | 5.33x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — T and VZ and TMUS each lead in 2 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in TMUS five years ago would be worth $14,546 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,311 for CHTR. Over the past 12 months, VZ leads with a +13.6% total return vs CHTR's -60.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors T at 18.6% vs CHTR's -23.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -8.9% | -23.4% | +5.1% | +19.7% | -2.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -19.9% | -60.4% | -6.2% | +13.6% | -21.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -26.4% | -54.3% | +67.0% | +45.9% | +40.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -45.2% | -76.9% | +29.9% | +2.8% | +45.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +15.4% | -24.9% | +41.9% | +41.6% | +407.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -9.7% | -23.0% | +18.6% | +13.4% | +12.0% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — VZ and TMUS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
TMUS is the less volatile stock with a -0.28 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CHTR's 0.33 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. VZ currently trades 91.1% from its 52-week high vs CHTR's 36.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.21x | 0.33x | -0.26x | -0.11x | -0.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $36.66 | $437.06 | $29.79 | $51.68 | $261.56 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $25.75 | $156.00 | $22.95 | $10.60 | $181.36 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +71.6% | +36.7% | +84.8% | +91.1% | +74.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 37.8 | 28.2 | 38.9 | 49.3 | 45.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 28.4M | 2.3M | 33.7M | 24.3M | 5.6M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — CMCSA and VZ each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: CMCSA as "Buy", CHTR as "Buy", T as "Hold", VZ as "Hold", TMUS as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 73.1% upside for CHTR (target: $277) vs 9.5% for VZ (target: $52). For income investors, VZ offers the higher dividend yield at 5.76% vs TMUS's 1.88%.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Hold | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $31.87 | $277.40 | $29.42 | $51.56 | $254.08 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 60 | 55 | 62 | 60 | 54 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +5.1% | — | +4.5% | +5.8% | +1.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 18 | — | 2 | 11 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.35 | — | $1.14 | $2.71 | $3.64 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +7.5% | +25.3% | +2.6% | 0.0% | +4.7% |
CHTR leads in 2 of 6 categories — strongest in Valuation Metrics and Profitability & Efficiency. 4 categories are tied.
CMCSA vs CHTR vs T vs VZ vs TMUS: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CMCSA or CHTR or T or VZ or TMUS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, T-Mobile US, Inc.
(TMUS) is the stronger pick with 8. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 6% for Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR). Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR) offers the better valuation at 4. 4x trailing P/E (3. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) a "Buy" — based on 60 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 — CMCSA or CHTR or T or VZ or TMUS?
On trailing P/E, Charter Communications, Inc.
(CHTR) is the cheapest at 4. 4x versus T-Mobile US, Inc. at 20. 0x. On forward P/E, Charter Communications, Inc. is actually cheaper at 3. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Charter Communications, Inc. wins at 0. 20x versus T-Mobile US, Inc. 's 0. 62x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CMCSA or CHTR or T or VZ or TMUS?
Over the past 5 years, T-Mobile US, Inc.
(TMUS) delivered a total return of +45. 5%, compared to -76. 9% for Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TMUS returned +407. 2% versus CHTR's -24. 9%. 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 — CMCSA or CHTR or T or VZ or TMUS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), T-Mobile US, Inc.
(TMUS) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 28β versus Charter Communications, Inc. 's 0. 33β — meaning CHTR is approximately -218% more volatile than TMUS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 113% versus 5% for Charter Communications, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CMCSA or CHTR or T or VZ or TMUS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), T-Mobile US, Inc.
(TMUS) is pulling ahead at 8. 5% versus -0. 6% for Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AT&T Inc. grew EPS 104. 0% year-over-year, compared to -2. 2% for Verizon Communications Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, TMUS leads at 3. 5% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — CMCSA or CHTR or T or VZ or TMUS?
AT&T Inc.
(T) is the more profitable company, earning 17. 4% net margin versus 9. 1% for Charter Communications, Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CHTR leads at 24. 3% versus 16. 7% for CMCSA. 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.
07Is CMCSA or CHTR or T or VZ or TMUS more undervalued right now?
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, Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 20x versus T-Mobile US, Inc. 's 0. 62x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR) trades at 3. 8x forward P/E versus 18. 5x for T-Mobile US, Inc. — 14. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CHTR: 73. 1% to $277. 40.
08Which pays a better dividend — CMCSA or CHTR or T or VZ or TMUS?
In this comparison, VZ (5.
8% yield), CMCSA (5. 1% yield), T (4. 5% yield), TMUS (1. 9% yield) pay a dividend. CHTR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is CMCSA or CHTR or T or VZ or TMUS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, T-Mobile US, Inc.
(TMUS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 28), 1. 9% yield, +407. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (TMUS: +407. 2%, CHTR: -24. 9%), 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.
10What are the main differences between CMCSA and CHTR and T and VZ and TMUS?
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: CMCSA is a mid-cap deep-value stock; CHTR is a mid-cap deep-value stock; T is a mid-cap deep-value stock; VZ is a mid-cap deep-value stock; TMUS is a large-cap quality compounder stock. CMCSA, T, VZ, TMUS pay a dividend while CHTR does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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 > 10%
- Dividend Yield > 1.8%
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