Is Verizon a better buy than T-Mobile? [telecom]

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Better Buy: Verizon Communications Inc. vs. T-Mobile US Inc

The battle between stalwart and up-start is closer than you might think.

By Brian Stoffel

Back in 2011, T-Mobile (NASDAQ:TMUS) seemed like a fading player in the wireless subscription business. The duopoly of Verizon (NYSE:VZ) and AT&T (NYSE:T) owned 65% of the market, while T-Mobile came in a distant fourth place, with just 11% of the market.

Times, however, have changed. Revitalized by CEO John Legere's "Uncarrier" plan that has expanded to include a wide number of initiatives, the company has grown to capture almost 17% of the market. While Verizon remains the top dog, with 35% of wireless subscriptions nationwide, such a drastic improvement leads to a simple question: Is T-Mobile's stock a better buy at today's prices?