CMCSA
Comcast Corporation
Telecommunications Services
Market Cap$96.42B
5Y Perf.-33.2%
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Stock Comparison
CMCSA vs VZ
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
VZ
Verizon Communications Inc.
Telecommunications Services
Market Cap$199.66B
5Y Perf.-17.5%
CMCSA vs VZ — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CMCSA | VZ |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications Services | Telecommunications Services |
| Market Cap | $96.42B | $199.66B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $125.28B | $138.19B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $18.60B | $17.17B |
| Gross Margin | 61.7% | 55.7% |
| Operating Margin | 15.3% | 21.2% |
| Forward P/E | 7.5x | 9.6x |
| Total Debt | $110.44B | $200.59B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $9.48B | $19.05B |
CMCSA vs VZ — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CMCSA
VZ
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) | 100 | 66.8 | -33.2% |
| Verizon Communicati… (VZ) | 100 | 82.5 | -17.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CMCSA vs VZ
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CMCSA leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Verizon Communications Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CMCSA
Comcast Corporation
The Growth Play
CMCSA carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth -0.0%, EPS growth 30.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 0.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.21, current ratio 0.88x
- Lower P/E (7.5x vs 9.6x)
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
VZ
Verizon Communications Inc.
The Income Pick
VZ is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 11 yrs, beta -0.11, yield 5.7%
- 42.8% 10Y total return vs CMCSA's 16.8%
- Beta -0.11, yield 5.7%, current ratio 0.91x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | VZ | 2.5% revenue growth vs CMCSA's -0.0% |
| Value | CMCSA | Lower P/E (7.5x vs 9.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | CMCSA | 14.8% margin vs VZ's 12.4% |
| Stability / Safety | CMCSA | Lower D/E ratio (113.4% vs 189.7%) |
| Dividends | CMCSA | 5.1% yield, 18-year raise streak, vs VZ's 5.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | VZ | +15.1% vs CMCSA's -19.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CMCSA | 6.9% ROA vs VZ's 4.4%, ROIC 8.2% vs 8.0% |
CMCSA vs VZ — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
CMCSA vs VZ — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCMCSALAGGINGVZ
VZVerizon Communication…
2leads
CMCSAComcast Corporation
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs VZMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CMCSA5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CMCSA6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CMCSA9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
VZ6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
VZ2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CMCSA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
VZ and CMCSA operate at a comparable scale, with $138.2B and $125.3B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 14.8% (CMCSA) to 12.4% (VZ). On growth, CMCSA holds the edge at +5.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CMCSAComcast Corporati… | VZVerizon Communica… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $125.3B | $138.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $35.4B | $47.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $18.6B | $17.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $18.1B | $19.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +61.7% | +55.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.3% | +21.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +14.8% | +12.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.5% | +14.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.3% | +2.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -32.6% | -53.4% |
CMCSA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CMCSA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 4.9x trailing earnings, CMCSA trades at a 58% valuation discount to VZ's 11.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CMCSA's 5.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than VZ's 8.0x.
| Metric | CMCSAComcast Corporati… | VZVerizon Communica… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $96.4B | $199.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $197.4B | $381.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 4.91x | 11.66x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.50x | 9.57x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.26x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.35x | 8.01x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.78x | 1.44x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.99x | 1.89x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 4.40x | 9.92x |
CMCSA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CMCSA leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CMCSA delivers a 19.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $20 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 VZ's 1.90x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CMCSA scores 7/9 vs VZ's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CMCSAComcast Corporati… | VZVerizon Communica… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +19.5% | +16.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.9% | +4.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.2% | +8.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.9% | +8.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.13x | 1.90x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $101.0B | $181.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $9.5B | $19.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $110.4B | $200.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.84x | 4.39x |
CMCSA leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
VZ leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in VZ five years ago would be worth $10,325 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,686 for CMCSA. Over the past 12 months, VZ leads with a +15.1% total return vs CMCSA's -19.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors VZ at 13.6% vs CMCSA's -9.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CMCSAComcast Corporati… | VZVerizon Communica… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -8.2% | +20.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -19.4% | +15.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -25.6% | +46.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -43.1% | +3.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +16.8% | +42.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -9.4% | +13.6% |
VZ leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
VZ leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
VZ is the less volatile stock with a -0.11 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CMCSA's 0.21 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. VZ currently trades 91.6% from its 52-week high vs CMCSA's 72.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CMCSAComcast Corporati… | VZVerizon Communica… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.21x | -0.11x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $36.66 | $51.68 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $25.75 | $10.60 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +72.2% | +91.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.0 | 50.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 28.4M | 24.5M |
VZ leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — CMCSA and VZ each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CMCSA as "Buy" and VZ as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 20.4% upside for CMCSA (target: $32) vs 8.9% for VZ (target: $52). For income investors, VZ offers the higher dividend yield at 5.73% vs CMCSA's 5.09%.
| Metric | CMCSAComcast Corporati… | VZVerizon Communica… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $31.87 | $51.56 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 60 | 60 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +5.1% | +5.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 18 | 11 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.35 | $2.71 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +7.4% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — CMCSA and VZ each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
CMCSA leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). VZ leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Best OverallComcast Corporation (CMCSA)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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CMCSA vs VZ: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CMCSA or VZ a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Verizon Communications Inc.
(VZ) is the stronger pick with 2. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 0% for Comcast Corporation (CMCSA). Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) offers the better valuation at 4. 9x trailing P/E (7. 5x 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 VZ?
On trailing P/E, Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) is the cheapest at 4.
9x versus Verizon Communications Inc. at 11. 7x. On forward P/E, Comcast Corporation is actually cheaper at 7. 5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CMCSA or VZ?
Over the past 5 years, Verizon Communications Inc.
(VZ) delivered a total return of +3. 2%, compared to -43. 1% for Comcast Corporation (CMCSA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VZ returned +42. 8% versus CMCSA's +16. 8%. 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 VZ?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Verizon Communications Inc.
(VZ) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 11β versus Comcast Corporation's 0. 21β — meaning CMCSA is approximately -297% more volatile than VZ relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 113% versus 190% for Verizon Communications Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CMCSA or VZ?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Verizon Communications Inc.
(VZ) is pulling ahead at 2. 5% versus -0. 0% for Comcast Corporation (CMCSA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Comcast Corporation grew EPS 30. 2% year-over-year, compared to -2. 2% for Verizon Communications Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CMCSA leads at 0. 6% 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 VZ?
Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) is the more profitable company, earning 16.
0% net margin versus 12. 4% for Verizon Communications Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VZ leads at 21. 2% versus 16. 7% for CMCSA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CMCSA leads at 60. 1%, 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 VZ more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) trades at 7.
5x forward P/E versus 9. 6x for Verizon Communications Inc. — 2. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CMCSA: 20. 4% to $31. 87.
08Which pays a better dividend — CMCSA or VZ?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) offers the highest yield at 5. 7%, versus 5. 1% for Comcast Corporation (CMCSA).
09Is CMCSA or VZ better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Verizon Communications Inc.
(VZ) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 11), 5. 7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (VZ: +42. 8%, CMCSA: +16. 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.
10What are the main differences between CMCSA and VZ?
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.
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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Revenue Growth>
%
(CMCSA: 5.3% · VZ: 2.0%)Net Margin>
%
(CMCSA: 14.8% · VZ: 12.4%)P/E Ratio<
x
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