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Is AT&T Stock a Buy?
TAT&T(T) The Motley Fool·2025-04-02 08:20

Core Viewpoint - AT&T is viewed as a stable investment option in an unstable market, with a significant stock rally of 60% over the past year compared to a 6% rise in the S&P 500 [1] Group 1: Company Restructuring and Financial Performance - AT&T divested from low-margin and unprofitable media assets like DirecTV and Time Warner, allowing it to focus on its core 5G wireless and fiber broadband businesses while reducing debt [2] - In 2023, AT&T added 1.7 million net postpaid phone subscribers and 1.1 million net fiber subscribers, with free cash flow (FCF) increasing by 19% to 16.8billion,covering16.8 billion, covering 8.1 billion in dividends [3] - For 2024, AT&T expects to add 1.7 million net postpaid phone subscribers and 1 million net fiber subscribers, with FCF growing 5% to 17.6billion,comfortablycovering17.6 billion, comfortably covering 8.2 billion in dividends [3] Group 2: Market Position and Future Outlook - AT&T is considered a safe haven stock amid inflation and high interest rates, with a current dividend yield of 3.9% [4] - For 2025, AT&T anticipates mobility service revenue growth at the higher end of 2% to 3%, consumer fiber broadband revenue growth in the mid-teens, and consolidated service revenue growth in low single digits [5] - The company expects to generate over 16billioninfreecashflowandadjustedEPSbetween16 billion in free cash flow and adjusted EPS between 1.97 to 2.07,withadjustedEBITDAprojectedtogrowbyatleast32.07, with adjusted EBITDA projected to grow by at least 3% [6] Group 3: Debt Management and Valuation - AT&T plans to reduce its net-debt-to-adjusted-EBITDA ratio from 2.7 at the end of 2024 to 2.5 in the first half of 2025 while increasing investments in wireless and fiber networks [7] - Analysts project AT&T's revenue and adjusted EBITDA to grow at compound annual rates of 1.5% and 3.2% from 2024 to 2027, with an enterprise value of 314.7 billion [8] - AT&T is trading at 6.9 times this year's adjusted EBITDA, which is competitive compared to Verizon's 6.5 times, despite Verizon offering a higher dividend yield of 6% [8] Group 4: Investment Consideration - AT&T is seen as a worthy investment due to its insulation from tariffs, attractive dividends, and low valuations, making it a safe option for income generation [9]