TMUS vs AAPL

For growth investors, T-Mobile US, Inc.

(TMUS) is the stronger pick with 8. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL). T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) offers the better valuation at 19. 9x trailing P/E (18. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) a "Buy" — based on 54 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, T-Mobile US, Inc.

(TMUS) is the cheapest at 19. 9x versus Apple Inc. at 38. 5x. On forward P/E, T-Mobile US, Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: T-Mobile US, Inc. wins at 0. 62x versus Apple Inc. 's 1. 89x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc.

(AAPL) delivered a total return of +125. 3%, compared to +45. 0% for T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAPL returned +1175% versus TMUS's +409. 8%. 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), T-Mobile US, Inc.

(TMUS) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 28β versus Apple Inc. 's 0. 99β — meaning AAPL is approximately -452% more volatile than TMUS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Apple Inc. (AAPL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 152% versus 2% for T-Mobile US, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), T-Mobile US, Inc.

(TMUS) is pulling ahead at 8. 5% versus 6. 4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Apple Inc. grew EPS 22. 7% year-over-year, compared to 0. 6% for T-Mobile US, 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.

Apple Inc.

(AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26. 9% net margin versus 12. 4% for T-Mobile US, Inc. — meaning it keeps 26. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AAPL leads at 32. 0% versus 21. 2% for TMUS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TMUS leads at 47. 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, T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 62x versus Apple Inc. 's 1. 89x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) trades at 18. 4x forward P/E versus 33. 8x for Apple Inc. — 15. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TMUS: 31. 5% to $254. 08.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) offers the highest yield at 1. 9%, versus 0. 4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).

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, +409. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (TMUS: +409. 8%, AAPL: +1175%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (TMUS (Communication Services) and AAPL (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

TMUS pays a dividend while AAPL 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.