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AT&T Surges 46.8% in a Year: Should T Stock Be in Your Portfolio?
ZACKSยท 2025-08-04 17:21
Core Insights - AT&T, Inc. has achieved a stock gain of 46.8% over the past year, outperforming the Wireless National industry growth of 24% and the S&P 500's growth of 20.9% [1][8] - The company has outperformed competitors such as Verizon and T-Mobile, which gained 7.6% and 27.3% respectively during the same period [2][8] Key Growth Drivers - The Communication segment is experiencing strong subscriber momentum and growth in postpaid average revenue per user, with net fiber additions of 243,000 and 203,000 subscribers added in the second quarter [3] - AT&T's fiber broadband network has expanded to 30 million locations, with a goal of reaching 60 million by 2030, supported by the acquisition of Lumen's fiber connectivity business [3] - The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is expected to catalyze AT&T's fiber densification process, projecting $12.3 billion in revenues from the broadband business by 2025, indicating a 9.8% year-over-year growth [3] Portfolio Optimization - The company is divesting non-core assets, including a 70% stake in DIRECTV, to focus on its primary growth engines: 5G and fiber broadband services [4][8] Technological Advancements - AT&T has deployed a third-party RAN automation application in its live network, enhancing optimization and fostering an open multi-vendor ecosystem [5] - The collaboration with AST SpaceMobile has led to successful voice and text communications using AT&T's network, expanding coverage in remote areas [6][9] Competitive Landscape - AT&T faces significant competition from Comcast, Verizon, and T-Mobile, with T-Mobile adding 495,000 postpaid phone net customers in the second quarter [10][11] - Verizon's acquisition of Frontier Communications is expected to strengthen its fiber Internet business, posing challenges to AT&T's growth initiatives [11] Revenue Challenges - The Business Wireline segment is experiencing a decline in net sales due to lower demand for legacy services, with projected revenues of $17.91 billion by 2025, indicating a 4.8% year-over-year decline [12] Estimate Revisions - Earnings estimates for 2025 have increased by 0.49% to $2.04, while estimates for 2026 remain unchanged at $2.24 [14] Valuation Metrics - AT&T's shares are trading at a price/earnings ratio of 12.83, which is lower than the industry average of 13.27 but above its historical mean of 11.32 [16] Overall Business Outlook - The company benefits from solid customer engagement in the wireless sector and a resilient business model, with strategic collaborations expected to support long-term growth [18] - However, intensifying competition and macroeconomic challenges are concerns for future margins [19]