Why Is PLDT Inc. (PHI) Stock Down -7.90% Today?
Key Takeaways
- PLDT Inc. (PHI) shares fell roughly 7.90% in Thursday's session, sliding from a prior close of $19.37 to about $17.84.
- The decline was compounded by the stock trading ex-dividend, with a $0.7515 per share payout that mechanically reduced the share price.
- Renewed concerns over a financial-reporting controls issue — including the withdrawal of audit opinions on the company's 2025 U.S. filing — pressured sentiment.
- An earlier JPMorgan downgrade and a lowered TD Cowen price target continued to weigh on investor confidence.
- Broader Philippine telecom headwinds, including peso weakness and currency risk on dollar-denominated debt, added to the bearish tone.
- Traders are now watching the company's accounting review outcome and its planned VITRO data-center REIT IPO as potential catalysts.
Opening Summary
PHI, the New York-listed American depositary receipt of PLDT Inc., the largest integrated telecommunications and digital services provider in the Philippines, fell sharply on Thursday. The stock dropped approximately 7.90%, from a previous close of $19.37 to roughly $17.84, marking one of its steepest single-session declines in recent months and pushing the shares toward the lower end of their 52-week range.
Markets attributed the move to a combination of factors rather than a single headline: the stock began trading ex-dividend on the day, while lingering concerns over financial-reporting controls and broader competitive and macroeconomic pressures in the Philippine telecom sector reinforced the sell-off.
Ex-Dividend Trading Weighs on the Share Price
A portion of Thursday's decline reflects a mechanical adjustment rather than a change in the company's fundamentals. PHI began trading ex-dividend, meaning buyers of the shares are no longer entitled to the company's recently declared $0.7515 per share distribution. Because a dividend payout removes cash from the company's balance sheet, a stock typically opens lower by roughly the amount of the dividend on its ex-dividend date. In this case, that payout alone accounted for a meaningful slice of the session's drop.
Accounting-Controls Concerns Resurface
Beyond the dividend adjustment, investors continued to digest the fallout from a recently disclosed financial-reporting controls issue. PLDT has launched an independent review through its audit committee and brought in outside accounting experts after identifying errors tied to the non-cash accounting of financial hedges used to manage currency and interest-rate exposure. While the company has stated that the corrections are not expected to materially affect net income, earnings per share, cash flows, or core metrics such as EBITDA, the withdrawal of audit opinions on its 2025 U.S. filing has unsettled shareholders and raised questions about governance and internal controls.
Analyst Sentiment and Competitive Pressures
The selling pressure has also been reinforced by a more cautious stance from Wall Street. JPMorgan downgraded PHI to "neutral" earlier in August, while TD Cowen lowered its price target on the shares. Combined, these actions reflect a broadly "hold" consensus among analysts and a lack of near-term catalysts to offset concerns.
At the same time, the Philippine telecom landscape has grown more competitive. Investors have weighed the potential entry of new foreign telecom operators into the market, alongside currency risk flagged on PLDT's dollar-denominated debt amid peso weakness. These structural worries have overshadowed otherwise solid operating performance and the company's landmark plan to spin off its VITRO data-center unit into the Philippines' first data-center REIT IPO.
Market Context and Trading Activity
The decline came on elevated trading activity, with volume running above the stock's typical daily average as sellers repositioned following the ex-dividend adjustment. The move pushed PHI below its 50-day moving average and kept the shares well beneath the 200-day average, underscoring the bearish technical backdrop. The slide diverged from broader U.S. equity benchmarks, indicating that company-specific and sector-level factors — rather than a broad market rotation — drove the weakness. The stock now sits just above the lower bound of its 52-week range of roughly $17.05 to $24.51.
What Comes Next for PHI
Looking ahead, investors will monitor the outcome of PLDT's independent accounting review and any additional remedial steps the company takes to strengthen its financial-reporting controls. The planned VITRO data-center REIT IPO remains a potential re-rating catalyst, as it could unlock value in the company's infrastructure assets. Upcoming quarterly results and updates on the competitive landscape in the Philippine telecom market will also be closely watched, as will currency movements given the company's dollar-denominated debt exposure. Risks include further peso depreciation, intensifying competition, and any additional findings from the ongoing financial review.
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PHI in downward trend: 10-day moving average crossed below 50-day moving average on September 01, 2026
The 10-day moving average for PHI crossed bearishly below the 50-day moving average on September 01, 2026. This indicates that the trend has shifted lower and could be considered a sell signal. In 11 of 16 past instances when the 10-day crossed below the 50-day, the stock continued to move higher over the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 69%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bearish Trend Analysis
The Momentum Indicator moved below the 0 level on September 16, 2026. You may want to consider selling the stock, shorting the stock, or exploring put options on PHI as a result. In 42 of 79 cases where the Momentum Indicator fell below 0, the stock fell further within the subsequent month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 53%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence Histogram (MACD) for PHI turned negative on September 17, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to turn lower in the coming weeks. Traders may want to sell the stock or buy put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 47 similar instances when the indicator turned negative. In 31 of the 47 cases the stock turned lower in the days that followed. This puts the odds of success at 66%.
PHI moved below its 50-day moving average on August 27, 2026 date and that indicates a change from an upward trend to a downward trend.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where PHI declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 59%.
The Aroon Indicator for PHI entered a downward trend on September 10, 2026. This could indicate a strong downward move is ahead for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options.
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Stochastic Oscillator is in the oversold zone. Keep an eye out for a move up in the foreseeable future.
Following a +2.78% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where PHI advanced for three days, in 172 of 277 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 62%.
PHI may jump back above the lower band and head toward the middle band. Traders may consider buying the stock or exploring call options.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 4 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is seriously undervalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (1.805) is normal, around the industry mean (10.721). P/E Ratio (8.725) is within average values for comparable stocks, (33.272). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (2.700) is also within normal values, averaging (7.755). PHI has a moderately high Dividend Yield (0.086) as compared to the industry average of (0.026). P/S Ratio (1.103) is also within normal values, averaging (5.777).
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 27 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to outstanding earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 41 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 56 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating steady price growth. PHI’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 85 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating that the returns do not compensate for the risks. PHI’s unstable profits reported over time resulted in significant Drawdowns within these last five years. A stable profit reduces stock drawdown and volatility. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 82, placing this stock worse than average.
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General Information
a provider of local, long distance, international and cellular telephone services
Industry MajorTelecommunications
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