Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) vs Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) vs AT&T Inc. (T) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | TMUS | 8.5% revenue growth vs VZ's 2.5% |
| Value | VZ | Lower P/E (10.2x vs 20.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | T | 17.4% net margin vs TMUS's 12.4% |
| Stability / Safety | VZ | Beta 0.10 vs TMUS's 0.19, lower leverage |
| Dividends | VZ | 5.4% yield, 10-year raise streak, vs TMUS's 1.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | VZ | +22.7% vs TMUS's -17.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | T | 5.2% ROA vs VZ's 4.3%, ROIC 7.0% vs 8.0% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
T-Mobile US is a major wireless telecommunications carrier providing mobile voice, messaging, and data services to consumers and businesses. It generates revenue primarily from postpaid and prepaid service plans—roughly 80% of total revenue—with the remainder coming from device sales and equipment installment plans. The company's key competitive advantage is its extensive 5G network—the largest in the U.S.—which it built through strategic spectrum acquisitions and the Sprint merger.
Verizon is a telecommunications giant providing wireless and wireline connectivity services to consumers and businesses across the United States. It generates revenue primarily from wireless service plans (~70% of total revenue) and equipment sales, supplemented by Fios broadband, video, and business solutions. The company's key advantage is its extensive nationwide network infrastructure—particularly its 5G leadership—which creates high switching costs for customers and barriers to entry for competitors.
AT&T is a major telecommunications company providing wireless, broadband, and enterprise connectivity services across the United States and Latin America. It generates revenue primarily from wireless services (~60% of total), broadband internet, and business solutions including cloud and security services. The company's competitive advantage lies in its extensive nationwide wireless network infrastructure and fiber footprint, which create significant switching costs for customers and high barriers to entry for competitors.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 3 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
VZ leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Risk & Volatility). T leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
VZ is the larger business by revenue, generating $138.5B annually — 1.6x TMUS's $88.3B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 17.4% (T) to 12.4% (TMUS). On growth, TMUS holds the edge at +11.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | TMUST-Mobile US, Inc. | VZVerizon Communica… | TAT&T Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $88.3B | $138.5B | $125.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $31.8B | $47.8B | $45.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $11.0B | $17.2B | $21.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $10.5B | $23.1B | $19.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +43.1% | +55.6% | +79.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +20.7% | +21.2% | +19.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.4% | +12.4% | +17.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +11.9% | +16.7% | +15.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.3% | +1.5% | +3.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -26.6% | +50.0% | -7.1% |
Valuation Metrics
At 9.2x trailing earnings, T trades at a 59% valuation discount to TMUS's 22.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, T's 7.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than TMUS's 11.1x.
| Metric | TMUST-Mobile US, Inc. | VZVerizon Communica… | TAT&T Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $240.3B | $211.4B | $196.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $351.9B | $393.0B | $332.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 22.33x | 12.35x | 9.21x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 20.77x | 10.22x | 12.26x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.75x | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.07x | 8.25x | 7.39x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.72x | 1.53x | 1.56x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.15x | 2.01x | 1.59x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 23.23x | 10.51x | 10.08x |
Profitability & Efficiency
TMUS delivers a 18.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $19 in annual profit, vs $16 for VZ. T carries lower financial leverage with a 1.23x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to TMUS's 1.98x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), TMUS scores 7/9 vs VZ's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | TMUST-Mobile US, Inc. | VZVerizon Communica… | TAT&T Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +18.6% | +16.3% | +17.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.0% | +4.3% | +5.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.0% | +8.0% | +7.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.6% | +8.8% | +6.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.98x | 1.90x | 1.23x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $111.6B | $181.5B | $136.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $5.6B | $19.0B | $18.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $117.2B | $200.6B | $155.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 4.37x | 3.55x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in TMUS five years ago would be worth $18,229 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,437 for VZ. Over the past 12 months, VZ leads with a +22.7% total return vs TMUS's -17.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors T at 18.3% vs VZ's 14.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | TMUST-Mobile US, Inc. | VZVerizon Communica… | TAT&T Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +9.3% | +25.4% | +15.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -17.8% | +22.7% | +6.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +58.4% | +49.9% | +65.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +82.3% | +14.4% | +62.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +507.1% | +48.3% | +59.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +16.6% | +14.5% | +18.3% |
Risk & Volatility
VZ is the less volatile stock with a 0.10 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than TMUS's 0.19 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. VZ currently trades 99.3% from its 52-week high vs TMUS's 78.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | TMUST-Mobile US, Inc. | VZVerizon Communica… | TAT&T Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.19x | 0.10x | 0.12x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $276.49 | $50.48 | $29.79 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $181.36 | $10.60 | $22.95 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +78.5% | +99.3% | +94.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 56.7 | 66.9 | 55.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.1M | 28.1M | 36.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: TMUS as "Buy", VZ as "Hold", T as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 18.6% upside for TMUS (target: $257) vs -1.6% for VZ (target: $49). For income investors, VZ offers the higher dividend yield at 5.41% vs TMUS's 1.68%.
| Metric | TMUST-Mobile US, Inc. | VZVerizon Communica… | TAT&T Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $257.42 | $49.36 | $29.12 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 53 | 60 | 61 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.7% | +5.4% | +4.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 10 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.64 | $2.71 | $1.14 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.2% | 0.0% | +2.3% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) | 100 | 209.01 | +109.0% |
| Verizon Communicati… (VZ) | 100 | 77.83 | -22.2% |
| AT&T Inc. (T) | 100 | 93.73 | -6.3% |
T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) returned +82% over 5 years vs Verizon Communicati… (VZ)'s +14%. A $10,000 investment in TMUS 5 years ago would be worth $18,229 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) | $37.5B | $88.3B | +135.6% |
| Verizon Communicati… (VZ) | $126.0B | $138.2B | +9.7% |
| AT&T Inc. (T) | $163.8B | $125.6B | -23.3% |
T-Mobile US, Inc.'s revenue grew from $37.5B (2016) to $88.3B (2025) — a 10.0% CAGR. Verizon Communications Inc.'s revenue grew from $126.0B (2016) to $138.2B (2025) — a 1.0% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) | 3.9% | 12.4% | +219.6% |
| Verizon Communicati… (VZ) | 10.4% | 12.4% | +19.3% |
| AT&T Inc. (T) | 7.9% | 17.4% | +119.9% |
T-Mobile US, Inc.'s net margin went from 4% (2016) to 12% (2025). Verizon Communications Inc.'s net margin went from 10% (2016) to 12% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) | 12.2 | 20.9 | +71.3% |
| Verizon Communicati… (VZ) | 7.2 | 10 | +38.9% |
| AT&T Inc. (T) | 6.2 | 8.2 | +32.3% |
T-Mobile US, Inc. has traded in a 12x–68x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~22x. Verizon Communications Inc. has traded in a 7x–15x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~12x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) | 1.69 | 9.72 | +475.1% |
| Verizon Communicati… (VZ) | 3.21 | 4.06 | +26.5% |
| AT&T Inc. (T) | 2.1 | 3.04 | +44.8% |
T-Mobile US, Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.69 (2016) to $9.72 (2025) — a 21% CAGR. Verizon Communications Inc.'s EPS grew from $3.21 (2016) to $4.06 (2025) — a 3% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
T-Mobile US, Inc. generated $10B FCF in 2025 (+233% vs 2021). Verizon Communications Inc. generated $20B FCF in 2025 (+173% vs 2021).
TMUS vs VZ vs T: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is TMUS or VZ or T a better buy right now?
AT&T Inc. (T) offers the better valuation at 9.2x trailing P/E (12.3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) a "Buy" — based on 53 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 — TMUS or VZ or T?
On trailing P/E, AT&T Inc. (T) is the cheapest at 9.2x versus T-Mobile US, Inc. at 22.3x. On forward P/E, Verizon Communications Inc. is actually cheaper at 10.2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — TMUS or VZ or T?
Over the past 5 years, T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) delivered a total return of +82.3%, compared to +14.4% for Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ). A $10,000 investment in TMUS five years ago would be worth approximately $18K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TMUS returned +507.1% versus VZ's +48.3%. 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 — TMUS or VZ or T?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) is the lower-risk stock at 0.10β versus T-Mobile US, Inc.'s 0.19β — meaning TMUS is approximately 95% more volatile than VZ relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AT&T Inc. (T) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 123% versus 198% for T-Mobile US, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — TMUS or VZ or T?
AT&T Inc. (T) is the more profitable company, earning 17.4% net margin versus 12.4% for Verizon Communications Inc. — meaning it keeps 17.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VZ leads at 21.2% versus 19.2% for T. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — T leads at 79.8%, 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.
06Is TMUS or VZ or T more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) trades at 10.2x forward P/E versus 20.8x for T-Mobile US, Inc. — 10.5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TMUS: 18.6% to $257.42.
07Which pays a better dividend — TMUS or VZ or T?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) offers the highest yield at 5.4%, versus 1.7% for T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS).
08Is TMUS or VZ or T better for a retirement portfolio?
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 0.19), 1.7% yield, +507.1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (TMUS: +507.1%, T: +59.8%), 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.
09What are the main differences between TMUS and VZ and T?
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: TMUS is a large-cap quality compounder stock; VZ is a large-cap deep-value stock; T is a mid-cap deep-value 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.
- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Net Margin > 7%
- Dividend Yield > 2.1%
- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Net Margin > 10%
- Dividend Yield > 1.6%