Market Overview - The U.S. stock market opened with slight declines across major indices, including S&P 500 (-0.04%), Russell 2000 (-0.11%), Dow (-0.14%), and Nasdaq (-0.18%) [2] Earnings Reports - Intuitive Surgical reported strong earnings, leading to a significant increase in its stock price by 17.76%. Other notable gainers include Vertiv (+7.1%) and Hilton (+3.1%) [3] - Pegasystems saw a rise of 12.5%, while Capital One and Haliburton increased by 4.12% and 2.77%, respectively, benefiting from positive earnings sentiment from the previous day [3] - Conversely, Texas Instruments experienced a sharp decline of 7.9% following weaker after-hours results, alongside other laggards like Manhattan Associates (-7.9%), Netflix (-7.4%), and Newmont (-4.77%) [4] - Mattel's stock fell by 5.5% after missing earnings expectations and reporting a decline in North American sales [4] Upcoming Earnings - Major earnings reports expected later today include Tesla, SAP, and IBM, which will be released after the market closes [8] Economic Indicators - The 10-Year Treasury yield decreased by 1.9 points to 3.944%, while the Continuous Gold Contract fell by 1.76% to $4,036.80 [6]

on CNBC interview is the company CEO John Stany. John, always good to have you. Um, stocks down a bit off the lows, but still down about 2.6%.Perhaps some concern about churn and generally a more competitive pricing environment. Is that the case or how would you describe the pricing environment right now for wireless services. >> Good morning, David.Good to be with you. Um, I think that's an element of it. I, you know, certainly step back and look at the results.They were really strong for the quarter, espe ...

Core Insights - The company reported strong quarterly results, particularly in the broadband segment, adding over 550,000 new internet subscribers, the best performance in eight years [2] - There is some concern regarding churn and a competitive pricing environment, but the company remains confident in its position and strategy [1][4] - The company is focused on selling converged services, which are expected to reduce churn and increase customer lifetime value despite some pressure on average revenue per user (ARPU) [3][5] Industry Dynamics - The industry is experiencing uncertainty due to leadership changes at other companies, which may impact competitiveness and margins [3][4] - The company is not worried about its market position and believes it has a strong portfolio of assets, including recent acquisitions of fiber footprint and spectrum [5] - The competitive landscape is evolving, with expectations of more aggressive pricing strategies from competitors like Verizon and T-Mobile [1][6]

Core Insights - AT&T's stock dropped over 2.8%, closing at $25.31 [1] - The company's Q3 revenue was $30.7 billion, falling short of market expectations of $30.87 billion [1] - Earnings per share were $0.54, which was roughly in line with expectations [1] - AT&T added 405,000 monthly postpaid wireless subscribers, exceeding the market forecast of 334,100 [1]

Core Insights - AT&T reported its highest broadband user additions in over eight years during the third quarter [1] Summary by Category Company Performance - The company has seen significant returns from its substantial investments in fiber and 5G technologies [1]

About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenues grew by 1.6% year over year, with adjusted EBITDA increasing by 2.4% and adjusted EBITDA margins expanding by 30 basis points [11] - Adjusted EPS was $0.54, consistent with the prior year, while free cash flow was $4.9 billion compared to $4.6 billion a year ago [11] - Capital investment decreased by $200 million year over year to $5.3 billion, with a $400 million contribution to the employee pension plan impacting free cash flow [11][12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Mobility service revenue grew by 2.3% year over year, contributing to EBITDA growth of 2.2% [13] - Consumer wireline revenues increased by 4.1%, driven by a 16.8% growth in fiber revenue, with consumer wireline EBITDA growing over 15% [17] - Business wireline revenues declined by 7.8% year over year, while fiber and advanced connectivity service revenues grew by 6% [19][20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Over 550,000 new subscribers were added to AT&T's advanced broadband services, marking the highest total broadband net adds in over eight years [4] - The convergence rate of fiber customers who also subscribe to mobility services reached 41.5%, up 180 basis points from a year ago [18] - The company passed more than 31 million locations with fiber and expects to reach over 60 million by the end of 2030 [4][5] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to become the best advanced communications provider in America, focusing on convergence and expanding its advanced connectivity portfolio through acquisitions [7][10] - Planned acquisitions of spectrum licenses from EchoStar and fiber assets from Lumen are expected to enhance the company's connectivity capabilities [9][10] - The strategy includes transitioning away from legacy copper infrastructure and investing in AI-ready connectivity [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving full-year financial guidance, with expectations for service revenue growth in the low single-digit range and adjusted EBITDA growth of 3% or better [21] - The competitive environment remains challenging, but the company believes its focus on converged customer relationships will drive profitability and reduce churn [56][59] - Management anticipates continued pressure on ARPU due to targeting underpenetrated segments, but expects overall service revenue growth [60][61] Other Important Information - The company returned $3.5 billion to shareholders, including nearly $1.5 billion in stock repurchases, and ended the quarter with over $20 billion in cash [20][21] - The company expects to achieve full-year free cash flow in the low to mid-$16 billion range, with capital investments projected at $22 to $22.5 billion [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Concerns about broadband competition and DSL base decline - Management reassured that they have a strong product and scalable build engine, allowing them to effectively compete against new entrants [28][30][32] Question: Market segmentation between fiber and fixed wireless - The company is focused on ensuring that marketing efforts are targeted and that customers are directed to the appropriate service based on geography [42][44] Question: Positioning in a competitive wireless market - Management believes they are well-positioned to compete and will adjust strategies as necessary to maintain market share [54][56] Question: Long-term organic growth and M&A strategy - Management emphasized a focus on organic growth and internal efficiencies rather than pursuing additional acquisitions at this time [68][69] Question: Confidence in Lumen and EchoStar transactions - Management expressed confidence in the expected benefits from the Lumen and EchoStar transactions, with no unexpected issues arising during planning [78][80]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenues grew by 1.6% year over year, while adjusted EBITDA increased by 2.4%, leading to a 30 basis point expansion in adjusted EBITDA margins [11] - Adjusted EPS remained consistent at $0.54, and free cash flow for the quarter was $4.9 billion, up from $4.6 billion a year ago [11] - Capital investment decreased by $200 million year over year to $5.3 billion, with a $400 million contribution to the employee pension plan impacting free cash flow [11][12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Mobility service revenue grew by 2.3% year over year, contributing to a 2.2% increase in EBITDA [13] - Consumer wireline revenues increased by 4.1%, driven by a 16.8% growth in fiber revenue, with consumer wireline EBITDA growing over 15% [17] - Business wireline revenues declined by 7.8% year over year, while fiber and advanced connectivity service revenues grew by 6% [19][20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company passed over 31 million locations with fiber and aims to reach over 60 million by the end of 2030 [4] - AT&T Fiber subscribers exceeded 10 million, with a significant increase in broadband net adds, marking the highest total in eight years [5][18] - The convergence rate of fiber customers who also subscribe to mobility services reached 41.5%, up 180 basis points from the previous year [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to become the best advanced communications provider in America, focusing on convergence and expanding its advanced connectivity portfolio through acquisitions [7][10] - Planned acquisitions of spectrum licenses from EchoStar and fiber assets from Lumen are expected to enhance the company's connectivity capabilities [9][10] - The strategy includes transitioning away from legacy copper infrastructure to invest in AI-ready connectivity [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving full-year financial guidance, with expectations for service revenue growth in the low single-digit range and adjusted EBITDA growth of 3% or better [21][22] - The competitive environment remains challenging, but the company believes its focus on converged customer relationships will drive profitability and reduce churn [56][60] - Management anticipates continued pressure on ARPU due to targeting underpenetrated segments, but expects overall service revenue growth [54][61] Other Important Information - The company returned $3.5 billion to shareholders, including nearly $1.5 billion in stock repurchases, maintaining a target of $4 billion for the year [20] - The company ended the quarter with a net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 2.59x, reflecting strong cash generation [20] - The company expects to provide an update on its long-term financial outlook early next year, following the completion of key acquisitions [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Concerns about broadband competition and DSL base decline - Management reassured that they have a strong product and scalable build engine, allowing them to effectively compete against new entrants [28][30][32] Question: Market segmentation between fiber and fixed wireless - Management emphasized targeted marketing strategies to ensure efficient segmentation and avoid overlap between fiber and fixed wireless customers [42][44] Question: Positioning in a competitive wireless market - Management expressed confidence in their ability to navigate competitive pressures and focus on converged customer strategies to enhance profitability [55][59] Question: Long-term outlook on M&A and succession planning - Management indicated a focus on organic growth and internal operations, with no immediate plans for further acquisitions [68][70] Question: Confidence in Lumen and EchoStar acquisitions - Management confirmed confidence in the strategic value of the Lumen and EchoStar assets, expecting them to enhance organic growth and profitability [78][80]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenues grew by 1.6% year over year, while adjusted EBITDA increased by 2.4%, leading to a 30 basis point expansion in adjusted EBITDA margins [10] - Adjusted EPS remained consistent at $0.54, excluding certain gains and costs [10] - Free cash flow for the third quarter was $4.9 billion, up from $4.6 billion a year ago [10] - Capital investment decreased by $200 million year over year to $5.3 billion [10] - Net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio improved slightly to 2.59 times from 2.64 times in the previous quarter [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Mobility service revenue grew by 2.3% year over year, contributing to a 2.2% increase in EBITDA [11] - The company added 405,000 postpaid phone net adds, slightly up from the previous year [12] - Consumer wireline revenues increased by 4.1%, driven by a 16.8% growth in fiber revenue [16] - Consumer wireline EBITDA grew over 15%, with margins expanding by 350 basis points year over year [16] - AT&T Fiber customer base reached over 10 million, with 288,000 new Fiber customers added in the third quarter [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The convergence rate of fiber customers who also subscribe to mobility services reached 41.5%, up 180 basis points from a year ago [17] - Business wireline revenues declined by 7.8% year over year, while EBITDA decreased by about 13% [18] - Fiber and advanced connectivity service revenues grew by 6% year over year, accelerating from 3.5% growth in the second quarter [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to become the best advanced communications provider in America and lead in retail connectivity service revenue by the end of the decade [6] - Planned acquisitions of spectrum licenses from EchoStar and fiber assets from Lumen are expected to enhance the connectivity portfolio [6][8] - The company is transitioning away from legacy copper infrastructure to invest in AI-ready connectivity [8] - The focus is on organic growth and improving operational efficiency without the need for further acquisitions [64] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving full-year guidance, with service revenue growth expected in the low single-digit range and adjusted EBITDA growth of 3% or better [20][21] - The competitive environment remains challenging, but the company is well-positioned to manage through it by focusing on converged customer relationships [56] - Management anticipates continued pressure on ARPU due to targeting underpenetrated segments, but overall service revenue growth is expected to remain strong [58] Other Important Information - The company returned $3.5 billion to shareholders, including nearly $1.5 billion in stock repurchases [19] - The company expects to achieve full-year free cash flow in the low to mid-$16 billion range, with capital investments projected at $22 to $22.5 billion [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Concerns about fiber expansion and competition - Management reassured that they have a strong build strategy and are confident in their ability to penetrate markets effectively, despite competition [28][29][31] Question: Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) market segmentation - Management highlighted a targeted marketing approach to ensure efficient segmentation between fiber and fixed wireless offerings [42][44] Question: Future promotional activity and ARPU pressure - Management indicated that they are well-positioned for competitive markets and expect to manage ARPU pressure through a focus on converged services [56][58] Question: Confidence in Lumen and EchoStar acquisitions - Management expressed confidence in the accretion from these acquisitions, noting that they are on track with their conservative modeling [70][73]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenues grew by 1.6% year over year, adjusted EBITDA increased by 2.4%, and adjusted EBITDA margins expanded by 30 basis points [12] - Adjusted EPS was $0.54, consistent with the prior year, while free cash flow was $4.9 billion compared to $4.6 billion a year ago [12][26] - Capital investment decreased to $5.3 billion, down $200 million year over year [13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Mobility service revenue grew by 2.3% year over year, contributing to EBITDA growth of 2.2% [14] - Consumer Wireline revenues increased by 4.1%, driven by a 16.8% growth in fiber revenue, with Consumer Wireline EBITDA growing over 15% [19] - Business Wireline revenues declined by 7.8% year over year, while EBITDA decreased by about 13% [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Over 400,000 postpaid phone net adds were recorded, slightly ahead of the previous year's performance [3] - AT&T Fiber subscribers surpassed 10 million, with the company achieving its highest total broadband net adds in over eight years [5][21] - The convergence rate of fiber customers who also subscribe to mobility services reached 41.5%, up 180 basis points from a year ago [21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to become the best advanced communications provider in America and lead the industry in retail connectivity service revenue by the end of the decade [7] - Planned acquisitions of spectrum licenses from EchoStar and fiber assets from Lumen are expected to enhance the advanced connectivity portfolio [7][9] - The company is focused on transitioning away from legacy infrastructure and investing in AI-ready connectivity [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving full-year financial guidance, with expectations for service revenue growth in the low single-digit range and adjusted EBITDA growth of 3% or better [26] - The competitive environment remains challenging, but the company believes its focus on converged customer relationships will drive profitability and reduce churn [61][65] - Management is optimistic about the impact of upcoming acquisitions on organic growth and profitability [28][90] Other Important Information - The company returned $3.5 billion to shareholders, including nearly $1.5 billion in stock repurchases [23] - The company ended the quarter with over $20 billion in cash, positioning it well for capital returns and pending acquisitions [24] - The company expects to achieve full-year free cash flow in the low to mid-$16 billion range [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Concerns about fiber expansion and competition - Management expressed confidence in their ability to build effectively and penetrate markets, stating that they have a scalable build engine and can manage capital allocation strategically [31][35] Question: Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) market segmentation - Management highlighted the importance of targeted marketing and operational support to ensure effective segmentation between fiber and fixed wireless offerings [43][46] Question: Impact of competitive activity on wireless margins - Management believes they are well-positioned for a competitive market and will continue to focus on converged customers to drive profitability [60][62] Question: Confidence in Lumen and EchoStar acquisitions - Management reiterated confidence in the strategic value of the Lumen and EchoStar assets, expecting them to enhance organic growth and profitability [81][84]