Xin Lang Ke Ji·2025-11-26 08:17Core Viewpoint - AT&T and Verizon are struggling to find new growth opportunities as their performance stagnates, with their combined market capitalization halved since early 2020, while the S&P 500 has risen significantly [1][2][4]. Group 1: Market Position and Performance - In the early 1980s, AT&T was a leading technology giant with a 5.5% market share in the S&P 500, but now AT&T and Verizon together account for less than 0.7% [2]. - Their combined market capitalization is approximately $250 billion, which is about half of what it was in early 2020 [2]. - Verizon's revenue from mobile and broadband services grew only 1% year-over-year in Q2, while AT&T reported a 2.4% increase [4]. Group 2: Challenges and Competition - The companies face challenges from rising interest rates and liabilities related to outdated lead-covered cables, but many issues stem from their own decisions [4]. - The telecommunications market is saturated, making growth difficult, especially with significant debt burdens [4]. - T-Mobile's merger with Sprint has created a strong competitor offering lower prices, and DISH Network's partnership with Amazon is set to provide mobile services at competitive rates [5]. Group 3: Strategic Decisions - AT&T's past investments, including a $200 billion foray into the media sector, have not yielded expected results and have left the company with a net debt of $130 billion [5]. - Verizon has been more conservative in spending but invested $53 billion in 5G spectrum, which has not yet provided returns as the initial hype has subsided [5]. - Both companies are attempting to protect profit margins by raising prices and cutting costs, including closing retail locations [6]. Group 4: Future Directions - There are limited options for AT&T and Verizon, including protecting profit margins and potentially divesting fixed-line networks to focus on faster-growing wireless broadband [6]. - The trend of bundling services between cable and telecom companies is increasing, which may enhance customer retention and long-term profitability [6].