Liberty Global (NASDAQ:LILAK – Get Free Report) and PLDT (NYSE:PHI – Get Free Report) are both communication services companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, risk, valuation, dividends, profitability, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.
Earnings and Valuation
This table compares Liberty Global and PLDT”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Liberty Global | $4.44 billion | 0.37 | -$611.20 million | ($0.49) | -17.22 |
| PLDT | $220.89 billion | 0.02 | $498.72 million | $2.22 | 7.87 |
Volatility & Risk
Liberty Global has a beta of 0.71, meaning that its stock price is 29% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, PLDT has a beta of 0.56, meaning that its stock price is 44% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Liberty Global and PLDT, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Liberty Global | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.67 |
| PLDT | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2.00 |
Liberty Global presently has a consensus price target of $9.00, indicating a potential upside of 6.64%. Given Liberty Global’s higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Liberty Global is more favorable than PLDT.
Institutional & Insider Ownership
53.0% of Liberty Global shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 2.3% of PLDT shares are owned by institutional investors. 9.7% of Liberty Global shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.7% of PLDT shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Profitability
This table compares Liberty Global and PLDT’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Liberty Global | -2.20% | -8.50% | -0.82% |
| PLDT | 12.81% | 26.76% | 5.36% |
Summary
PLDT beats Liberty Global on 8 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Liberty Global
Liberty Latin America Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides fixed, mobile, and subsea telecommunications services. The company operates through C&W Caribbean, C&W Panama, Liberty Networks, Liberty Puerto Rico, and Liberty Costa Rico segments. It offers communications and entertainment services, including video, broadband internet, fixed-line, telephony, and mobiles services to residential and business customers; and business products and services that include enterprise-grade connectivity, data center, hosting, and managed solutions, as well as information technology solutions for small and medium enterprises, international companies, and governmental agencies. The company also operates a sub-sea and terrestrial fiber optic cable network that connects approximately 40 markets. It provides its services under the brands of C&W, Liberty Costa Rica, Liberty Communications, BTC, Flow, and Mas Móvil. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.
About PLDT
PLDT Inc. provides telecommunications and digital services in the Philippines. The company operates through three segments: Wireless, Fixed Line, and Others. It offers cellular mobile, Internet broadband distribution, operations support, software development, and satellite information and messaging services; and sells Wi-Fi access equipment. The company also provides fixed line telecommunications services; business infrastructure and solutions; intelligent data processing and implementation, and data analytics insight generation services; and information and communications infrastructure for Internet-based services, e-commerce, customer relationship management, and information technology (IT) related services. In addition, it offers managed IT outsourcing, Internet-based purchasing, IT consulting and professional, and bills printing and other related value-added services; distributes Filipino channels and content services; and provides full-services customer rewards and loyalty programs. Further, the company engages in the sale of mobile handsets, broadband data routers, tablets, and accessories; and cross-border digital platforms. Additionally, it provides gaming support services; mobile internet and broadband, and data services; content provider and develops mobile application; IT solution; data and network; domestic leased lines; alternative messaging solutions, such as over-the-top services, social media, and messenger application; inbound roaming and other services; mobile prepaid and postpaid services; and fixed wireless broadband services. The company was formerly known as Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company and changed its name to PLDT Inc. in July 2016. PLDT Inc. was incorporated in 1928 and is headquartered in Makati City, the Philippines.
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