PLDT Inc. stock holds high dividend appeal as investors eye GF Value gap

Published on 09/17/2026 at 18:25 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

PLDT Inc. stock offers an 8.44 percent dividend yield as of September 17, 2026, with GuruFocus estimating a 13.6 percent undervaluation versus GF Value. The shares trade around USD 17.97, below a GF Value of USD 20.79 for income-focused investors.

PHI, US7185861059, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

PLDT Inc. stock (ISIN US7185861059) continues to attract income-focused investors thanks to its high dividend yield and a valuation gap versus intrinsic value metrics as of September 17, 2026. According to GuruFocus on September 17, 2026, PLDT Inc. offers a dividend yield of 8.44 percent with the stock trading at USD 17.97, while its GF Value stands at USD 20.79, implying the shares are modestly undervalued by about 13.6 percent.

Dividend yield near a 10-year high

As GuruFocus reports, PLDT Inc. offers a dividend yield of 8.44 percent, which is approaching its 10-year peak and is supported by a payout ratio of 60 percent and a three-year dividend growth rate of 2.2 percent. The same overview notes that the company carries a GF Score of 76 out of 100, with profitability rated 8 out of 10 and valuation at 10 out of 10, while financial strength is a weaker 3 out of 10, indicating that the high yield is balanced by some balance-sheet risk.

According to GuruFocus, PHI shares trade at a trailing price-earnings ratio of 8.51, which is below the company’s five-year median P/E of 11.73, underscoring that the present valuation is at a discount to its historical multiples. The GF Value of USD 20.79 versus the current share price of USD 17.97 means the stock trades roughly 13.6 percent below the platform’s estimate of intrinsic value, a quantified gap that many dividend investors interpret as a margin of safety.

Fundamental profile and AI-driven operations

For a closer look at operations, PLDT Inc. remains a leading digital services provider in the Philippines and is investing in automation to support growth. As InsiderMonkey reported on September 11, 2026, PLDT has scaled its use of the UiPath automation platform to keep pace with surging demand from 5G rollout, broadband growth and satellite connectivity, illustrating how the company is using AI and automation tools to support customer service and network operations. This technology push is meant to help sustain margins and service quality as traffic volumes increase.

From a fundamental perspective, the GuruFocus overview characterizes PLDT’s growth metrics at 5 out of 10 and momentum at 6 out of 10, which suggests moderate growth and average price momentum relative to peers according to GuruFocus. Combined with the high dividend yield and discounted P/E ratio, the profile points to a stock that is more about steady income than rapid expansion, even as PLDT invests in digital infrastructure and automation.

Valuation gap and investor perspective

For investors, the quantified valuation gap is central. With the GF Value at USD 20.79 versus a share price of USD 17.97 on September 17, 2026, the implied 13.6 percent undervaluation reflects a situation in which the market price does not fully match GuruFocus’s assessment of intrinsic value based on earnings, growth and dividend inputs. The trailing P/E of 8.51 against a five-year median of 11.73, as stated by GuruFocus, further quantifies that discount: the current multiple is about 27 percent lower than the five-year median, underlining the cautious market view.

Income-focused investors often look for a combination of yield and valuation support, and the 8.44 percent dividend yield near its 10-year high provides a strong income stream according to GuruFocus. At the same time, the financial strength score of 3 out of 10 indicates that leverage or other balance-sheet factors remain a risk point that investors must weigh against the attractive payout.

Stock price level and market context

As of September 17, 2026, PLDT Inc.’s American depositary shares under the PHI ticker on the New York Stock Exchange trade at around USD 17.97, based on the valuation context described by GuruFocus. With this price sitting below the GF Value of USD 20.79, the shares trade at a level roughly 13.6 percent under the derived intrinsic value and well below the five-year median P/E yardstick, setting up a trade-off between valuation support and the company’s balance-sheet constraints.