AT&T Plans to Return $45 Billion to Shareholders. Is the Stock a Buy for 2026?

Core Viewpoint - AT&T is positioned to return $45 billion to investors between 2026 and 2028, following a significant dividend cut and a focus on debt reduction after the WarnerMedia spinoff [1][3][4]. Financial Performance - AT&T cut its dividend by nearly 50% in 2022 to strengthen its balance sheet, resulting in a lower total debt and reduced leverage over four years [3]. - In 2025, AT&T returned $12 billion through dividends and stock buybacks, with plans to increase this to $45 billion over the next three years [4]. Stock Valuation - Following the announcement of the $45 billion return plan, AT&T's stock price increased by 15% in five days, indicating a potential shift in investor sentiment [5]. - Current valuation metrics show that AT&T's price-to-sales and price-to-book-value ratios are above their five-year averages, suggesting the stock may be considered expensive [6]. Investment Appeal - The current 4% dividend yield is attractive, but the lack of dividend growth may deter dividend investors, as similar yields are available from companies with a history of dividend increases [8]. - Growth investors may find AT&T less appealing, as the company is not primarily a growth story despite plans for investment in fiber optic cables [9].