IDT vs LUMN

For growth investors, IDT Corporation (IDT) is the stronger pick with 2.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 4% for Lumen Technologies, Inc. (LUMN). IDT Corporation (IDT) offers the better valuation at 17. 4x trailing P/E (13. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate IDT Corporation (IDT) a "Buy" — 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.

Over the past 5 years, IDT Corporation (IDT) delivered a total return of +117.

1%, compared to -16. 0% for Lumen Technologies, Inc. (LUMN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IDT returned +326. 2% versus LUMN's -32. 9%. 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), IDT Corporation (IDT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

68β versus Lumen Technologies, Inc. 's 2. 74β — meaning LUMN is approximately 304% more volatile than IDT relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), IDT Corporation (IDT) is pulling ahead at 2.

1% versus -5. 4% for Lumen Technologies, Inc. (LUMN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: IDT Corporation grew EPS 18. 5% year-over-year, compared to -30. 4% for Lumen Technologies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, IDT leads at -3. 4% 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.

IDT Corporation (IDT) is the more profitable company, earning 6.

2% net margin versus -14. 0% for Lumen Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 6. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IDT leads at 8. 2% versus -1. 5% for LUMN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IDT leads at 36. 2%, 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.

In this comparison, IDT (0.

4% yield) pays a dividend. LUMN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, IDT Corporation (IDT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

68), +326. 2% 10Y return). 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 (IDT: +326. 2%, LUMN: -32. 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.

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: IDT is a small-cap deep-value stock; LUMN is a small-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.