Showing posts with label Dividend Harvesting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dividend Harvesting. Show all posts

Monday, July 27, 2026

TEL Stock Study, Post 4: TEL Valuation — Fairly Valued, Pero Wala Pang Margin of Safety

HomeBoard Lot WarriorMicro HarvestingMicro Harvesting 2.0 › MH Application Series › TEL Stock Study › TEL Valuation

TEL Stock Study Post 4 banner showing PLDT fair value, dividend valuation, FCFF, sensitivity analysis, and Margin of Safety.
TEL valuation after integrating business fundamentals, daily-chart structure, dividend sustainability, normalized cash flow, and sensitivity analysis.

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Matapos suriin ang fundamentals at daily chart ng TEL, mas malinaw na ngayon kung bakit hindi sapat ang isang valuation formula lamang.

The business remains cash-generative and dividend-capable, while the chart shows a credible recovery. But at the current price location, TEL appears close to fair value—not yet sufficiently discounted for aggressive accumulation.

Originally published: July 27, 2026 · Last updated: July 27, 2026

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Nilalaman

Ang Punto ng Usapan

Ang TEL ay isa sa pinakamalaking carryover positions ng ating Micro Harvesting portfolio.

Hawak natin ang:

  • 200 anchor shares
  • Average net cost of ₱1,277.4743 per share
  • Capital allocation of ₱330,000
  • Deployment of approximately 77%

Kasama na sa average cost ang estimated 0.2950% purchase costs.

Dahil malaki ang capital exposure at mahalaga ang TEL sa dividend-harvesting side ng portfolio, hindi sapat ang simpleng tanong na:

Tumataas ba o bumababa ang presyo?

Mas mahalagang itanong:

Magkano ang reasonable value ng TEL, at sa anong presyo tayo may sapat na allowance for error?

Noong una nating ginawa ang valuation, stand-alone exercise pa ito. Ngayon, nakumpleto na rin natin ang initial Fundamental Analysis at Technical Analysis.

Mas buo na ang larawan.

Fundamentally, TEL remains a mature and highly cash-generative telecom infrastructure company. Revenue, service income, and EBITDA remain resilient. Capex has declined from the peak investment cycle, and the regular dividend still appears supportable.

Pero mabigat ang debt.

Technically, the stock has recovered above a rising SMA-50 and maintains bullish MACD momentum. Pero price remains in the EMA-200 decision zone, volume is below average, and the TMA Gate Score of 6 gives only a Technical Test Probe—not full BUY/ADD permission.

Ibig sabihin, hindi tayo dapat tumingin sa valuation na parang hiwalay sa business quality at chart location.

The fair value must make sense in all three dimensions:

  • negosyo;
  • presyo;
  • at portfolio role.

Ang Dating Paniniwala

Dati, madaling isipin na sapat nang tingnan ang dividend yield ng TEL.

May logic naman iyon.

Kung dividend harvester ang papel nito sa portfolio, natural na itanong:

Magkano ang annual dividend, at anong yield ang makukuha natin sa kasalukuyang presyo?

Simple iyon. Madaling maintindihan. At directly connected sa cash na natatanggap ng shareholder.

Pero hindi sapat.

Una, hindi lahat ng historical dividends ay sustainable. Nagkaroon ng special dividends noong 2022 at 2023, pero hindi natin puwedeng gawing permanenteng assumption ang nonrecurring distributions.

Ikalawa, malaking bahagi ng TEL cash flow ang kailangang ibalik sa network through capital expenditures.

Telecom infrastructure requires continuous spending on:

  • fiber;
  • mobile capacity;
  • network resilience;
  • international connectivity;
  • cloud infrastructure;
  • cybersecurity;
  • at data centers.

Ikatlo, mataas ang leverage.

A company may produce substantial EBITDA and still leave less value for common shareholders after debt, interest, taxes, and capex are considered.

At ikaapat, valuation models are highly sensitive to assumptions.

A small change in:

  • discount rate;
  • terminal growth;
  • required dividend yield;
  • or normalized capex

can materially change the estimated fair value.

Kaya hindi puwedeng kumuha lamang ng isang number, bawasan ng 5%, at tawagin agad iyong Margin of Safety.

Sensitivity analysis must come first.

Ang Binagong Pananaw

Matapos ang Fundamental Analysis at Technical Analysis, mas malinaw na kung paano natin dapat i-value ang TEL.

Fundamentally, the business remains qualified for its role as a Low Volatility Dividend Harvester.

PLDT’s consolidated revenues increased from approximately ₱181.00 billion in 2020 to ₱218.39 billion in 2025, while service revenues rose to approximately ₱212.19 billion. EBITDA reached about ₱111.23 billion, while telco core income remained near ₱33.93 billion.

Q1 2026 revenues reached ₱56.51 billion, up 2% year on year. EBITDA increased to ₱28.29 billion, while telco core income declined slightly to ₱8.58 billion.

That combination tells us:

  • the operating engine is still strong;
  • the dividend base remains largely intact;
  • but earnings growth is not accelerating rapidly.

PLDT also maintains a regular dividend policy of approximately 60% of telco core earnings per share, subject to capex, investment requirements, cash, and gearing levels.

Technically, TEL is not in a weak downtrend anymore.

As of July 27, 2026 at 12:00 PM:

  • price was around ₱1,230;
  • the rising SMA-50 was approximately ₱1,168;
  • the EMA-200 ribbon was approximately ₱1,231 to ₱1,256;
  • MACD was above signal and zero;
  • RSI stood near 59;
  • and volume was only about 76% of its 50-day average.

The TMA Gate Score was: 6

Mechanical decision: TECHNICAL TEST PROBE

So the chart is constructive—but unfinished.

This leads us to a more disciplined valuation question:

Is the current price merely technically improving, or is it also economically discounted?

The answer, based on our sensitivity-tested valuation, is:

TEL is close to fair value, but not yet at our preferred Margin of Safety.

Paano Ito Umaandar

Sustainable dividend muna

We separated regular dividends from special dividends.

TEL’s regular dividend per share increased broadly from:

  • ₱77 in 2020
  • ₱82 in 2021
  • ₱89 in 2022
  • ₱94 in 2023
  • ₱96 in 2024
  • around ₱95 in 2025

The special dividends paid in 2022 and 2023 were excluded from the sustainable dividend base.

Using Q1 2026 telco core income of approximately ₱8.578 billion and annualizing it mechanically:

₱8.578B × 4 = ₱34.312B

Dividing this by approximately 216.06 million common shares gives annualized telco core EPS of around:

₱158.81

Applying the 60% regular dividend policy:

₱158.81 × 60% = ₱95.29

Our base sustainable dividend is therefore:

₱95.29 per share annually

This is close to the regular dividend paid in 2025, so the estimate is not aggressive.

Two-Stage Dividend Discount Model

For the DDM base case, we used:

  • Sustainable DPS: ₱95.29
  • Explicit dividend growth: 2%
  • Five-year explicit forecast period
  • Cost of equity: approximately 13.34%
  • Terminal growth: 3%

The cost of equity is relatively high because TEL combines Philippine equity-market risk with substantial financial leverage.

The resulting two-stage DDM value was:

₱911 per share

This is the most conservative of the three valuation lenses.

The DDM tells us that TEL’s dividend is attractive as current income, but slow long-term dividend growth limits intrinsic value when the required equity return is above 13%.

In plain language:

A good dividend does not automatically mean a high fair value when investors demand a high return.

Dividend-yield valuation

Because TEL is primarily held as a Low Volatility Dividend Harvester, we also valued it based on required dividend yield.

Using sustainable DPS of ₱95.29:

At an 8.5% required yield:

₱95.29 / 8.5% ≈ ₱1,121

At a 7.5% required yield:

₱95.29 / 7.5% ≈ ₱1,270

At a 6.5% required yield:

₱95.29 / 6.5% ≈ ₱1,466

Our base dividend-yield value is:

₱1,270 per share

This model is the most directly aligned with TEL’s role in the MH portfolio.

But it also depends heavily on the yield demanded by the market.

If interest rates rise or investors demand more compensation for risk, the implied price falls even if the dividend remains unchanged.

Normalized cash FCFF

We did not use reported EBITDA as though it were free cash flow.

PLDT itself notes that EBITDA excludes:

  • depreciation and amortization;
  • financing costs;
  • taxes;
  • capital expenditures;
  • debt repayments;
  • and other major cash uses.

For the FCFF analysis, we focused on:

Operating Cash Flow − Cash Capex

Reported capex declined from approximately:

  • ₱96.81 billion in 2022
  • ₱85.08 billion in 2023
  • ₱78.25 billion in 2024
  • ₱60.34 billion in 2025

That decline is important.

The Fundamental Analysis showed that PLDT appears to be moving away from peak capex, although it remains a structurally capital-intensive business.

We used the following sustainable cash-capex scenarios:

  • Conservative: ₱65 billion
  • Base: ₱60 billion
  • Optimistic: ₱55 billion

Using the trailing cash-flow bridge through Q1 2026, our normalized cash FCFF base was approximately:

₱37.83 billion

With a calculated WACC of approximately 8.45%, rounded to 8.4%, the base FCFF equity value was:

₱2,022 per share

This is much higher than the DDM result.

The reason is straightforward.

The FCFF model values the whole operating business before deciding how much cash is currently distributed as dividends.

But this higher result must be treated cautiously because TEL carries substantial net debt and because much of the FCFF value comes from terminal assumptions.

Why the FCFF value cannot stand alone

The Fundamental Analysis identified debt as TEL’s largest structural weakness.

Net debt increased to approximately ₱284.69 billion in 2025.

That debt matters because:

  • it absorbs part of enterprise value;
  • it creates interest and refinancing risk;
  • it constrains dividend flexibility;
  • and it increases sensitivity to discount-rate assumptions.

So even if the operating business appears highly valuable under FCFF, common shareholders do not own that enterprise value free and clear.

The debt holders have a prior economic claim.

That is why we gave FCFF only a 20% weight in the final triangulation.

Sensitivity Analysis Before Margin of Safety

This was the important correction to our original process.

A single-point valuation is not enough.

Before applying a 5% Margin of Safety, we tested how the valuation moves when the key assumptions change.

DDM sensitivity

We varied:

  • Cost of equity from 12.0% to 14.5%
  • Terminal growth from 1.0% to 5.0%

The resulting DDM range was approximately:

₱741 to ₱1,258

The base case remained:

₱911

The range shows that the DDM is particularly sensitive to the spread between the required equity return and terminal dividend growth.

Dividend-yield sensitivity

We varied:

  • Sustainable DPS from approximately ₱88.59 to ₱101.87
  • Required yield from 6.5% to 9.5%

The resulting range was approximately:

₱933 to ₱1,567

The base case remained:

₱1,270

This model confirms that TEL’s fair value is highly dependent on what yield investors require from a mature, leveraged telecom company.

FCFF sensitivity

We varied:

  • WACC from 7.5% to 9.5%
  • Terminal growth from 1.0% to 5.0%

The FCFF model produced the widest range.

This was expected.

A large portion of the FCFF result comes from terminal value. When WACC moves closer to terminal growth, the estimated value can rise dramatically.

The sensitivity analysis therefore warned us against using the optimistic FCFF result as a public target price.

Conservative, Base, and Optimistic Scenarios

After testing the three models individually, we built consolidated valuation scenarios.

We used these MH-specific weights:

  • Two-Stage DDM: 50%
  • Dividend-Yield Valuation: 30%
  • Normalized Cash FCFF: 20%

The higher combined weight on dividend-based methods reflects TEL’s actual portfolio role.

Conservative Scenario

  • DDM: approximately ₱741
  • Dividend-yield value: approximately ₱1,042
  • FCFF: approximately ₱946

Weighted value:

₱873 per share

This represents a stressed environment with:

  • higher discount rates;
  • lower growth;
  • lower normalized dividend;
  • and weaker cash-flow valuation.

Base Scenario

  • DDM: approximately ₱911
  • Dividend-yield value: approximately ₱1,270
  • FCFF: approximately ₱2,022

Weighted value:

₱1,241 per share

This is the central scenario supported by our current operating, dividend, and cash-flow assumptions.

Optimistic Scenario

  • DDM: approximately ₱1,139
  • Dividend-yield value: approximately ₱1,567
  • FCFF: approximately ₱3,656

Weighted value:

₱1,771 per share

This upper scenario is useful as a boundary, but not as a target price.

The high result depends on favorable WACC and terminal-growth assumptions, particularly in FCFF.

Ang Fair Value na Gagamitin Natin

The sensitivity-tested base weighted value was:

₱1,241.35

For a clean public figure, we round this to:

TEL Estimated Fair Value: ₱1,240 per share gross

This is the gross quoted-price equivalent.

After estimated 0.3950% selling costs:

₱1,240 × (1 − 0.00395) = ₱1,235.10

Therefore:

  • Gross estimated fair value: ₱1,240
  • Net realizable fair value: approximately ₱1,235

The 5% Margin of Safety

Only after sensitivity analysis did we apply the Margin of Safety.

Using the rounded gross fair value:

₱1,240 × 95% = ₱1,178

After estimated 0.3950% selling costs:

₱1,178 × (1−0.00395) = ₱1,173.35

Our working valuation framework is therefore:

  • Gross fair value: ₱1,240
  • Net realizable fair value: ₱1,235
  • 5% MOS gross price: ₱1,178
  • 5% MOS net value: ₱1,173

The ₱1,178 level is not an automatic buy signal.

It is the price at which a 5% valuation discount begins to appear.

Technical permission is still required.

Pag-uugnay sa Daily Chart

The technical chart gives us a useful set of market reference levels:

  • Current price: around ₱1,230
  • EMA-200 ribbon: approximately ₱1,231–₱1,256
  • Bollinger middle band: approximately ₱1,192
  • SMA-50: approximately ₱1,168
  • Upper Bollinger Band: approximately ₱1,277
  • Gross break-even against net cost: approximately ₱1,283

The valuation levels are:

  • Fair value: ₱1,240
  • 5% MOS: ₱1,178

These line up in an interesting way.

Around ₱1,230–₱1,240

This is both:

  • the current price area;
  • the lower EMA-200 decision zone;
  • and the base fair-value area.

So TEL is not clearly expensive.

But it is also not deeply discounted.

At this level, any purchase would be mainly a technical test probe, not a Margin of Safety purchase.

Around ₱1,192

This is near the Bollinger middle band and inside the lower refill architecture.

A pullback here would create a larger valuation discount and could offer better technical support—provided the recovery structure remains intact.

Around ₱1,178

This is the 5% Margin of Safety price.

It also lies close to the rising SMA-50 around ₱1,168.

That creates the best current convergence between:

  • valuation;
  • medium-term technical support;
  • and lower refill-layer location.

Still, the chart must be rescored if price reaches the zone.

A price may become cheaper because it is approaching support—or because the thesis is breaking.

The number alone cannot tell us which one.

Pag-uugnay sa SDA Refill Ladder

The current TEL ladder is:

  • Layer 1: ₱1,259 and above — 200 anchor shares
  • Layer 2: ₱1,240–₱1,258
  • Layer 3: ₱1,220–₱1,239
  • Layer 4: ₱1,201–₱1,219
  • Layer 5: ₱1,182–₱1,200

The ladder aligns reasonably well with the valuation framework.

Layer 2

Layer 2 overlaps the fair-value area and EMA-200 ribbon.

This is not a cheap zone.

It is a technical confirmation zone.

Layer 3

Layer 3 offers a small discount to fair value.

This is where TEL was trading during the July 27 chart review.

A small probe is permitted by the TMA Score of 6, but there is no full Margin of Safety.

Layer 4

Layer 4 provides a wider discount but may also indicate rejection from the EMA-200 ribbon.

A new TMA score would be required.

Layer 5

Layer 5 sits just above the ₱1,178 MOS level.

This is the refill zone most closely aligned with both valuation and technical support.

But even here:

Layers provide the map—not the trigger.

Paano Ito Kumpara sa Ating Position?

Our average net cost is:

₱1,277.4743

Because this is already net of purchase costs, it should be compared with net realizable selling proceeds.

To recover the average net cost after estimated 0.3950% selling costs, the gross break-even price is approximately:

₱1,277.4743 × (1−0.00395) ≈ ₱1,282.54

Our major reference points are therefore:

  • Conservative valuation: approximately ₱873
  • 5% MOS price: approximately ₱1,178
  • Base fair value: approximately ₱1,240
  • Net average cost: ₱1,277.4743
  • Gross break-even price: approximately ₱1,283

Our average cost remains above the current base fair-value estimate.

That means the existing position does not presently enjoy a valuation Margin of Safety based on acquisition cost.

But price appreciation is not the only source of value.

At normalized sustainable DPS of approximately ₱95.29:

200 × ₱95.29 = ₱19,058 annual gross dividend capacity

Relative to the total net acquisition cost:

₱19,058 / (200 × ₱1,277.4743) ≈ 7.46%

This remains the strongest part of the existing-position thesis.

Pangwakas na Kaisipan

After completing the initial Fundamental Analysis and Technical Analysis, the TEL valuation is now easier to interpret.

Fundamentally:

  • revenue and EBITDA remain resilient;
  • dividend capacity remains supportable;
  • capex has declined from its peak;
  • but debt remains heavy.

Technically:

  • the medium-term recovery is credible;
  • momentum is bullish;
  • but the EMA-200 ribbon has not yet been fully reclaimed;
  • and volume confirmation remains weak.

Valuation tells us:

  • TEL is close to fair value around ₱1,240;
  • the preferred 5% Margin of Safety price is around ₱1,178;
  • and our existing average cost remains above both.

Therefore, the current MH conclusion is:

TEL remains fundamentally qualified as a Low Volatility Dividend Harvester and technically qualified for a small test probe—but not yet sufficiently discounted for aggressive accumulation.

The 200 anchor shares already give us participation.

We do not need to chase the recovery near fair value.

A future addition should be earned by one of two developments:

  • a stronger technical confirmation above the EMA-200 ribbon;
  • or a deeper pullback toward the ₱1,178 Margin of Safety level.

And even then, permission remains optional.

The valuation does not tell us to buy.

It tells us where the economics become more favorable.

The technical chart does not tell us what the company is worth.

It tells us whether the market is ready to cooperate.

The portfolio rules decide whether we should act at all.

That is the fuller TEL valuation story:

Fairly valued, fundamentally serviceable, technically improving—but not yet cheap enough to remove the need for patience.


Shariah Compliance Advisory (Updated Nov 26, 2025)

The PSE has confirmed that its Shariah screening program is currently paused, with no new lists to be released until their internal review is completed. Although news outlets reported quarterly updates up to mid-2025, these later lists are no longer accessible on the PSE website.

For now, the PSE’s Shariah-Compliant Securities page and all past lists have been removed from the public website. The December 24, 2024 list is the last official version in Micro Stock Trader’s possession, downloaded before the page was taken down, although other investors may still hold later copies such as the reported July 4, 2025 release.

All halal-focused strategies under Micro Stock Trader will use a conservative, self-screened approach until official guidance resumes, in shā’ Allāh.

Ang post na ito ay bahagi ng aming personal learning journey sa securities analysis at portfolio governance. Ang mga konseptong may kaugnayan sa interest-based instruments, conventional bonds, preferred shares, o iba pang financial arrangements ay binabanggit lamang bilang bahagi ng academic coverage ng module at hindi bilang rekomendasyon o endorsement.

Disclaimer

This post is for educational and documentation purposes only. It is not investment advice. Perform your own due diligence and consult qualified financial professionals before making investment decisions. All strategies, frameworks, and examples described here reflect the personal methodologies of Micro Stock Trader and are not guarantees of future performance.


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TEL Stock Study, Post 2: TEL Fundamental Analysis — Matatag ang Cash Engine, Pero Mabigat ang Leverage

HomeBoard Lot WarriorMicro HarvestingMicro Harvesting 2.0 › MH Application Series › TEL Stock Study › TEL Fundamental Analysis

TEL Stock Study Post 2 banner showing PLDT revenue, EBITDA, capex, debt, dividends, and business fundamentals.
TEL fundamental analysis through revenue quality, cash generation, capital intensity, leverage, and dividend sustainability.

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👉 Start Here | CSSC Learning Series | MH Application Series | MH Operator Journal

TEL remains one of the strongest dividend engines in our Micro Harvesting portfolio, but a high dividend alone does not make a stock fundamentally strong.

In this post, we examine whether PLDT’s earnings, operating cash flow, capex direction, debt load, and business mix can continue supporting the role we assigned to TEL as a Low Volatility Dividend Harvester.

Originally published: July 27, 2026 · Last updated: July 27, 2026

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Nilalaman

Ang Punto ng Fundamental Analysis

Hindi natin ginagawa ang fundamental analysis para lamang masabi kung maganda o pangit ang isang kumpanya.

Sa Micro Harvesting, mas practical ang tanong:

Kaya ba ng negosyo na suportahan ang role na ibinigay natin dito sa portfolio?

Para sa TEL, ang role ay malinaw.

Hindi natin ito pangunahing hinahawakan bilang mabilis na rotation stock. Itinuturing natin itong Low Volatility Dividend Harvester at recovery anchor—isang malaking position na inaasahang magbigay ng regular cash dividends habang hinihintay ang price recovery at valuation repair.

Kaya ang fundamental analysis natin ay nakatuon sa limang bagay:

  • revenue durability;
  • operating cash generation;
  • dividend capacity;
  • capital-expenditure requirements;
  • at leverage.

Hindi sapat na mataas ang dividend. Kailangan itong suportado ng matatag na operating business at tunay na cash flow.

Ano ang Negosyo ng PLDT?

Ang PLDT Group ay hindi na simpleng landline company.

Ang negosyo nito ay nakasentro sa tatlong major segments:

  • Wireless
  • Fixed Line
  • Others

Sa Wireless side, kabilang ang mobile services, fixed wireless broadband, at related services.

Sa Fixed Line side, kasama ang home broadband, enterprise data, voice, data centers, cloud, cybersecurity, managed IT, at iba pang digital services.

Sa Others, kabilang ang investments sa digital platforms at financial technology, tulad ng Maya-related interests at iba pang technology ventures.

PLDT also operates through subsidiaries and platforms such as Smart, ePLDT, VITRO, and PLDT Global. ePLDT provides cloud, cybersecurity, data, and artificial-intelligence solutions, while VITRO operates carrier-neutral data centers, including the AI-ready hyperscale facility in Santa Rosa.

This diversified structure is an important fundamental strength.

Ang TEL ay hindi lamang nakaasa sa prepaid mobile load o traditional voice revenues. Ang cash engine nito increasingly depends on mobile data, fiber broadband, enterprise connectivity, data centers, cloud, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure.

Ang Revenue Trend

PLDT’s consolidated revenues increased steadily from:

  • ₱181.00 billion in 2020
  • ₱192.19 billion in 2021
  • ₱204.36 billion in 2022
  • ₱210.95 billion in 2023
  • ₱216.83 billion in 2024
  • ₱218.39 billion in 2025

This is not explosive growth, but it is persistent.

From 2020 to 2025, revenues increased by roughly 21%. The pattern suggests that PLDT is already a mature company, but not a stagnant one. Its growth profile is gradual and infrastructure-driven rather than hypergrowth.

Service revenues also increased from ₱173.63 billion in 2020 to ₱212.19 billion in 2025.

For a Low Volatility Dividend Harvester, this is generally favorable.

Hindi kailangan ng TEL ang napakabilis na revenue growth. Ang kailangan nito ay:

  • stable or gradually rising revenues;
  • high recurring service income;
  • at sufficient cash generation to fund both capex and dividends.

Sa Q1 2026, consolidated revenues reached ₱56.51 billion, up around 2% from ₱55.28 billion in Q1 2025.

So far, the latest quarter did not indicate a collapse in the top line. Growth remained modest but positive.

EBITDA at Operating Strength

EBITDA is one of PLDT’s principal operating-performance measures.

The historical trend shows:

  • ₱88.78 billion in 2020
  • ₱96.18 billion in 2021
  • ₱100.59 billion in 2022
  • ₱104.30 billion in 2023
  • ₱108.52 billion in 2024
  • ₱111.23 billion in 2025

This is a much cleaner operating trend than reported net income.

From 2020 to 2025, EBITDA increased by approximately 25%. The EBITDA margin remained near the low-50% range, reflecting the high fixed-cost but strongly cash-generative nature of the telecom business.

Q1 2026 EBITDA reached ₱28.29 billion, up around 2% year on year, while EBITDA margin remained at 52%.

This is one of the strongest parts of the TEL fundamental case.

The business continues to produce substantial operating cash earnings even while revenues grow slowly.

Pero may mahalagang warning.

EBITDA is not free cash flow.

PLDT itself notes that EBITDA excludes depreciation, financing costs, taxes, and capital expenditures. Because telecom is highly capital-intensive, hindi natin puwedeng gamitin ang EBITDA na parang cash available na agad sa shareholders.

So EBITDA tells us that the engine is running.

It does not yet tell us how much cash remains after keeping the network alive.

Net Income, Core Income, at Telco Core Income

PLDT reports several earnings measures:

  • reported net income;
  • core income;
  • telco core income.

Reported net income can be affected by one-off or nonrecurring items such as:

  • tower-sale gains;
  • accelerated depreciation;
  • foreign-exchange movements;
  • derivative gains or losses;
  • impairments;
  • and other accounting adjustments.

This was particularly visible in 2022, when reported net income dropped to ₱10.74 billion, even though EBITDA and telco core income remained comparatively strong.

Reported net income later recovered to:

  • ₱26.82 billion in 2023
  • ₱32.56 billion in 2024
  • ₱30.22 billion in 2025

By comparison, telco core income moved more steadily:

  • ₱28.09 billion in 2020
  • ₱30.35 billion in 2021
  • ₱33.30 billion in 2022
  • ₱34.34 billion in 2023
  • ₱35.14 billion in 2024
  • ₱33.93 billion in 2025

This is why telco core income matters to us.

PLDT uses telco core income as one of the bases for determining dividend payouts. It adjusts reported earnings for nonrecurring items and certain non-telco effects, including Maya-related results and asset-sale gains.

From an MH dividend perspective, telco core income is more relevant than headline net income.

But it should not be treated as a substitute for actual cash flow. It is still a management-adjusted earnings measure.

Ang Papel ng Wireless at Fixed Line

The PLDT Group’s operating structure shows an important transition.

Wireless remains a major revenue contributor, but Fixed Line has become increasingly important because it includes:

  • home broadband;
  • enterprise data;
  • cloud;
  • data-center services;
  • cybersecurity;
  • and managed digital solutions.

In 2024, Wireless generated approximately ₱105.73 billion in revenues, including ₱97.78 billion in service revenues. Mobile service revenues increased by 2% to ₱96.25 billion.

However, the segment contribution to core earnings shows that Fixed Line has become a major economic driver.

In 2024, the Fixed Line segment accounted for a much larger amount of segment core income than Wireless before intersegment eliminations.

This is fundamentally important.

The PLDT story is no longer merely:

Smart versus competing mobile networks.

It increasingly includes:

fiber broadband, enterprise connectivity, cloud, AI infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data centers.

That diversification reduces dependence on one revenue stream—but it also requires ongoing investment.

Broadband, Mobile, at Subscriber Trends

Subscriber numbers need careful interpretation.

PLDT’s reported mobile subscribers declined from more than 72 million in 2020 to around 57.8 million in 2023, before recovering to around 59.0 million in 2024 and 59.9 million in 2025.

The decline partly reflects structural and regulatory changes, including SIM registration and market cleanup, rather than simply economic collapse.

More important is the movement in broadband.

Fixed-line broadband subscribers increased from approximately:

  • 2.27 million in 2020
  • 2.97 million in 2021
  • 3.25 million in 2022
  • 3.27 million in 2023
  • 3.43 million in 2024
  • 3.79 million in 2025

This suggests that the structural demand for fiber and home broadband remains intact.

The fixed-line voice subscriber base has gradually declined, but that is expected in a world moving toward mobile and internet-based communication.

The more relevant question is whether higher-value data revenues can replace legacy voice.

So far, the answer appears to be yes—but at a mature growth rate rather than an explosive one.

Capex Normalization

Capex is one of the most important fundamental variables for PLDT.

Reported capital expenditures rose sharply during the network-investment cycle:

  • ₱71.90 billion in 2020
  • ₱88.98 billion in 2021
  • ₱96.81 billion in 2022

Then capex began to decline:

  • ₱85.08 billion in 2023
  • ₱78.25 billion in 2024
  • ₱60.34 billion in 2025

This is a potentially favorable transition.

The network has already absorbed several years of heavy investment in:

  • fiber;
  • LTE and 5G;
  • transport capacity;
  • international connectivity;
  • data centers;
  • cybersecurity;
  • and enterprise infrastructure.

If capex normalizes without damaging service quality or competitiveness, more operating cash flow can become available for:

  • dividends;
  • debt reduction;
  • or selective growth investments.

Pero hindi natin dapat sabihing tapos na ang capex.

Telecom assets require continuous maintenance and upgrading. Data usage grows, technology changes, and network resilience requires recurring investment.

The proper conclusion is:

PLDT appears to be moving away from peak capex, but not into a low-capex business model.

This distinction matters.

Cash Flow at Dividend Sustainability

For dividend harvesting, cash flow is more important than accounting earnings.

PLDT’s operating cash flow improved materially in 2025. Based on our cash-flow normalization, net cash from operating activities reached approximately ₱98.74 billion, while cash paid for property and equipment plus capitalized interest was around ₱62.86 billion.

This left a simple cash-flow proxy of approximately ₱35.87 billion before financing and other adjustments.

Using the trailing period through March 2026, our normalized operating-cash-flow-less-cash-capex estimate was approximately ₱37.83 billion.

That amount is relevant because the annual regular dividend requirement at approximately ₱95 per share is roughly ₱20.5 billion for 216.06 million shares.

The relationship suggests that the regular dividend remains supportable under the current cash-generation and capex profile—provided that:

  • operating cash flow remains stable;
  • capex does not surge back toward peak levels;
  • and debt servicing remains manageable.

PLDT’s regular dividends were broadly stable in recent years, while special dividends in 2022 and 2023 were linked to nonrecurring events and should not be treated as permanent. The 2025 annual dividend was around ₱94–₱95 per share, close to our normalized sustainable estimate.

This supports TEL’s dividend-harvester role.

But the dividend is not risk-free.

It competes with capex and debt for the same cash.

Ang Mabigat na Bahagi: Debt at Leverage

The biggest fundamental weakness is leverage.

Net debt increased from:

  • ₱181.65 billion in 2020
  • ₱228.66 billion in 2021
  • ₱225.67 billion in 2022
  • ₱239.76 billion in 2023
  • ₱273.03 billion in 2024
  • ₱284.69 billion in 2025

Over the same period, nominal short- and long-term debt reached approximately ₱296.94 billion by end-2025.

This means the company’s operating strength is accompanied by a heavy financing burden.

Financing costs also increased. In 2024, financing costs were approximately ₱15.5 billion, versus ₱13.8 billion in 2023 and ₱11.8 billion in 2022.

The consequence is clear:

Higher interest expense can absorb part of the benefit from EBITDA growth and capex normalization.

From an MH perspective, debt matters in three ways.

First, it reduces the equity value attributable to shareholders.

Second, it limits flexibility in dividends and capital allocation.

Third, it makes TEL sensitive to interest rates, refinancing conditions, and peso weakness.

Leverage does not automatically invalidate the TEL thesis. Telecom businesses often carry substantial debt because they operate long-lived infrastructure assets.

But TEL cannot be treated like a debt-light consumer company.

Ang Emerging Growth Engines

The most interesting part of the long-term fundamental story lies outside traditional telecom.

VITRO and data centers

VITRO operates a nationwide carrier-neutral data-center network and launched an AI-ready hyperscale data center in Santa Rosa.

This gives PLDT exposure to:

  • cloud migration;
  • artificial intelligence workloads;
  • enterprise digitization;
  • data localization;
  • and hyperscale demand.

ePLDT, cloud, and cybersecurity

ePLDT provides cloud, cybersecurity, data, and AI solutions to enterprise and public-sector clients. It also operates a sovereign-cloud offering designed to keep sensitive data within Philippine jurisdiction.

These businesses may have stronger structural growth than traditional voice or SMS.

Maya

Maya remains a source of optionality.

PLDT’s investment interest in Maya’s holding company stood at 37.66% at end-2025. Maya reported revenue growth from ₱8.55 billion in 2023 to ₱14.09 billion in 2024 and ₱17.58 billion in 2025, while moving from large losses to a reported gain in 2025.

This is not yet the central reason for holding TEL.

But it may become a source of future value if profitability proves sustainable.

Fundamental Strengths

The strongest parts of the TEL fundamental case are:

Durable recurring revenues.
Service revenues have continued to rise despite the maturity of the telecom market.

High and stable EBITDA generation.
EBITDA exceeded ₱111 billion in 2025 and remained near a 52% margin in Q1 2026.

Growing fixed-broadband base.
Fiber and broadband subscribers continued expanding.

Capex normalization.
Reported capex declined materially from the 2022 peak.

Dividend-supporting telco core income.
Telco core income has remained broadly stable above ₱33 billion in recent years.

Emerging digital infrastructure.
Data centers, cloud, cybersecurity, AI infrastructure, and Maya provide additional optionality.

Fundamental Risks

The main weaknesses and risks are:

High leverage.
Net debt continued to rise and reached approximately ₱284.69 billion in 2025.

Increasing financing costs.
Higher interest expense can offset operating improvements.

Mature revenue growth.
PLDT is growing, but slowly.

Capital intensity.
Even after normalization, capex remains substantial.

Competitive pressure.
Mobile, broadband, enterprise, and digital infrastructure remain highly competitive.

Dividend dependence on multiple conditions.
The payout depends not only on earnings, but also on capex, liquidity, debt, and management policy.

Sensitivity to regulation and technology.
Telecom companies operate under regulatory oversight and must continuously adapt to new technology.

Ang MH Fundamental Verdict

Based on the available financial statements through Q1 2026, TEL remains fundamentally qualified for its role as a Low Volatility Dividend Harvester.

The reasons are:

  • recurring service revenues;
  • stable EBITDA;
  • resilient telco core income;
  • improving cash conversion;
  • declining capex from peak levels;
  • and a regular dividend that appears supportable under the current operating profile.

But this qualification is not unconditional.

TEL’s high debt and financing burden prevent us from treating it as a low-risk stock in the absolute sense.

The correct classification is closer to:

A mature, cash-generative, dividend-paying infrastructure company with improving capex economics—but with material leverage that must remain under continuous governance.

For MH, that means:

  • dividends remain the primary harvest;
  • rotation is secondary;
  • additions should require valuation and technical permission;
  • and capital allocation should remain disciplined because the existing position is already large.

Fundamentally, TEL passes.

But it passes with a debt warning.

Pangwakas na Kaisipan

The TEL fundamentals tell a balanced story.

The business is not deteriorating.

Revenue and EBITDA remain resilient. Broadband continues to grow. Capex has declined from the peak investment cycle. Telco core income remains strong enough to support regular dividends. Digital infrastructure businesses provide future optionality.

But the company also carries significant debt, rising financing costs, and continuing capital requirements.

So the fundamental conclusion is not:

TEL is unquestionably cheap and safe.

The better conclusion is:

TEL remains a strong operating and dividend platform, but its value to common shareholders depends on continued cash-flow discipline, capex normalization, and control of leverage.

This is why fundamental analysis cannot stand alone.

The next step is technical analysis.

Fundamentals tell us whether TEL deserves a place in the portfolio.

Technical analysis will help determine whether the present price location gives us permission to act.


Shariah Compliance Advisory (Updated Nov 26, 2025)

The PSE has confirmed that its Shariah screening program is currently paused, with no new lists to be released until their internal review is completed. Although news outlets reported quarterly updates up to mid-2025, these later lists are no longer accessible on the PSE website.

For now, the PSE’s Shariah-Compliant Securities page and all past lists have been removed from the public website. The December 24, 2024 list is the last official version in Micro Stock Trader’s possession, downloaded before the page was taken down, although other investors may still hold later copies such as the reported July 4, 2025 release.

All halal-focused strategies under Micro Stock Trader will use a conservative, self-screened approach until official guidance resumes, in shā’ Allāh.

Ang post na ito ay bahagi ng aming personal learning journey sa securities analysis at portfolio governance. Ang mga konseptong may kaugnayan sa interest-based instruments, conventional bonds, preferred shares, o iba pang financial arrangements ay binabanggit lamang bilang bahagi ng academic coverage ng module at hindi bilang rekomendasyon o endorsement.

Disclaimer

This post is for educational and documentation purposes only. It is not investment advice. Perform your own due diligence and consult qualified financial professionals before making investment decisions. All strategies, frameworks, and examples described here reflect the personal methodologies of Micro Stock Trader and are not guarantees of future performance.


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GAWLOO: Ang Lugawang May Sarap ng Southeast Asia — Gawa ng Batangueñong Galing Abroad

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