CTBB
Qwest Corp. NT
Telecommunications Services
Market Cap$19.00
5Y Perf.-17.9%
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Stock Comparison
CTBB vs LUMN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
LUMN
Lumen Technologies, Inc.
Telecommunications Services
Market Cap$8.71B
5Y Perf.-13.9%
CTBB vs LUMN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CTBB | LUMN |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications Services | Telecommunications Services |
| Market Cap | $19.00 | $8.71B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4.95B | $12.12B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.13B | $-1.74B |
| Gross Margin | 37.5% | 35.2% |
| Operating Margin | 31.0% | -2.6% |
| Total Debt | $1.99B | $17.71B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $26M | $1.00B |
CTBB vs LUMN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CTBB
LUMN
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qwest Corp. NT (CTBB) | 100 | 82.1 | -17.9% |
| Lumen Technologies,… (LUMN) | 100 | 86.1 | -13.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CTBB vs LUMN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CTBB and LUMN are tied at the top with 3 categories each — the right choice depends on your priorities. Lumen Technologies, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CTBB
Qwest Corp. NT
The Income Pick
CTBB carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.74
- 36.0% 10Y total return vs LUMN's -35.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.74, Low D/E 16.3%, current ratio 1.35x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
LUMN
Lumen Technologies, Inc.
The Growth Play
LUMN is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth -5.4%, EPS growth -30.4%, 3Y rev CAGR -10.8%
- -5.4% revenue growth vs CTBB's -6.9%
- 0.0% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | LUMN | -5.4% revenue growth vs CTBB's -6.9% |
| Quality / Margins | CTBB | 22.8% margin vs LUMN's -14.3% |
| Stability / Safety | CTBB | Beta 0.74 vs LUMN's 2.74 |
| Dividends | LUMN | 0.0% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | LUMN | +100.0% vs CTBB's +20.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CTBB | 6.3% ROA vs LUMN's -5.3%, ROIC 11.3% vs -0.8% |
CTBB vs LUMN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
CTBB vs LUMN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCTBBLAGGINGLUMN
LUMNLumen Technologies, I…
1leads
CTBBQwest Corp. NT
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs LUMNMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CTBB3/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CTBB3/3
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CTBB8/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LUMN4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
CTBB2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
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Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CTBB leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LUMN is the larger business by revenue, generating $12.1B annually — 2.4x CTBB's $5.0B. CTBB is the more profitable business, keeping 22.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LUMN's -14.3%. On growth, LUMN holds the edge at -8.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CTBBQwest Corp. NT | LUMNLumen Technologie… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.0B | $12.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.3B | $2.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.1B | -$1.7B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $261M | $5.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +37.5% | +35.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +31.0% | -2.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +22.8% | -14.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.3% | +44.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -14.8% | -8.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | 0.0% |
CTBB leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CTBB leads this category, winning 3 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, CTBB's 0.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LUMN's 9.9x.
| Metric | CTBBQwest Corp. NT | LUMNLumen Technologie… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $19 | $8.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.0B | $25.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | — | -4.83x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 0.70x | 9.91x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.00x | 0.70x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.00x | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 0.00x | 23.49x |
CTBB leads this category, winning 3 of 3 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CTBB leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CTBB delivers a 8.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $-79 for LUMN. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CTBB scores 7/9 vs LUMN's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CTBBQwest Corp. NT | LUMNLumen Technologie… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.7% | -79.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.3% | -5.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.3% | -0.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.9% | -0.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.16x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.0B | $16.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $26M | $1.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.0B | $17.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 33.08x | -1.12x |
CTBB leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LUMN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CTBB five years ago would be worth $10,656 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,119 for LUMN. Over the past 12 months, LUMN leads with a +100.0% total return vs CTBB's +20.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LUMN at 54.4% vs CTBB's 24.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CTBBQwest Corp. NT | LUMNLumen Technologie… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +0.4% | +10.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +20.7% | +100.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +94.9% | +267.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +6.6% | -28.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +36.0% | -35.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +24.9% | +54.4% |
LUMN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CTBB leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CTBB is the less volatile stock with a 0.74 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LUMN's 2.74 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CTBB currently trades 92.0% from its 52-week high vs LUMN's 70.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CTBBQwest Corp. NT | LUMNLumen Technologie… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.74x | 2.74x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $20.93 | $11.95 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $8.35 | $3.37 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +92.0% | +70.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 59.7 | 73.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 99K | 12.5M |
CTBB leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | CTBBQwest Corp. NT | LUMNLumen Technologie… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $7.08 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 28 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
CTBB leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). LUMN leads in 1 (Total Returns).
Best OverallQwest Corp. NT (CTBB)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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CTBB vs LUMN: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CTBB or LUMN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Lumen Technologies, Inc.
(LUMN) is the stronger pick with -5. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 9% for Qwest Corp. NT (CTBB). Analysts rate Lumen Technologies, Inc. (LUMN) a "Hold" — based on 28 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 is the better long-term investment — CTBB or LUMN?
Over the past 5 years, Qwest Corp.
NT (CTBB) delivered a total return of +6. 6%, compared to -28. 8% for Lumen Technologies, Inc. (LUMN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CTBB returned +36. 0% versus LUMN's -35. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — CTBB or LUMN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Qwest Corp.
NT (CTBB) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 74β versus Lumen Technologies, Inc. 's 2. 74β — meaning LUMN is approximately 272% more volatile than CTBB relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — CTBB or LUMN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Lumen Technologies, Inc.
(LUMN) is pulling ahead at -5. 4% versus -6. 9% for Qwest Corp. NT (CTBB). Over a 3-year CAGR, CTBB leads at -7. 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.
05Which has better profit margins — CTBB or LUMN?
Qwest Corp.
NT (CTBB) is the more profitable company, earning 27. 0% net margin versus -14. 0% for Lumen Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 27. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CTBB leads at 37. 2% versus -1. 5% for LUMN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CTBB leads at 73. 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — CTBB or LUMN?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
07Is CTBB or LUMN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Qwest Corp.
NT (CTBB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 74)). Lumen Technologies, Inc. (LUMN) carries a higher beta of 2. 74 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CTBB: +36. 0%, LUMN: -35. 7%), 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.
08What are the main differences between CTBB and LUMN?
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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