TMUS vs AAPL vs QCOM vs SWKS

For growth investors, QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) is the stronger pick with 13.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 2% for Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS). T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) offers the better valuation at 20. 0x trailing P/E (18. 5x 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 20. 0x versus QUALCOMM Incorporated at 40. 4x. On forward P/E, Skyworks Solutions, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. 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 QUALCOMM Incorporated's 9. 06x — 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 +124. 4%, compared to -55. 5% for Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAPL returned +1174% versus SWKS's +31. 2%. 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 QUALCOMM Incorporated's 1. 55β — meaning QCOM is approximately -654% more volatile than TMUS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 2% for T-Mobile US, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) is pulling ahead at 13.

7% versus -2. 2% for Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Apple Inc. grew EPS 22. 7% year-over-year, compared to -44. 2% for QUALCOMM Incorporated. 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 11. 7% for Skyworks Solutions, 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 12. 2% for SWKS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — QCOM leads at 55. 4%, 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 QUALCOMM Incorporated's 9. 06x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS) trades at 13. 8x forward P/E versus 33. 8x for Apple Inc. — 20. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TMUS: 30. 8% to $254. 08.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS) offers the highest yield at 4. 3%, 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, +407. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (TMUS: +407. 2%, SWKS: +31. 2%), 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) and QCOM (Technology) and SWKS (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: TMUS is a large-cap quality compounder stock; AAPL is a mega-cap quality compounder stock; QCOM is a large-cap quality compounder stock; SWKS is a small-cap income-oriented stock. TMUS, QCOM, SWKS pay 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.