Core Viewpoint - The tech sector offers attractive dividend opportunities, with IBM and AT&T being prime examples of companies that have delivered solid dividends and impressive gains for investors over recent years [1]. Group 1: IBM - IBM's shares have more than doubled in the past three years due to a successful turnaround, driven by its focus on hybrid cloud computing and artificial intelligence [3]. - The company anticipates at least 5% growth in currency-adjusted revenue for 2025, alongside projected free cash flow of approximately $13.5 billion [3]. - IBM has secured $6 billion in generative AI-related bookings, leveraging its watsonx platform and consulting services to address enterprise needs [4]. - The latest dividend increase was minimal, raising the quarterly dividend to $1.68 per share, resulting in a yield of around 2.3% [5]. - With rising free cash flow, IBM's dividend is expected to consume less than half of its free cash flow in 2025, allowing for potential debt reduction and future dividend hikes [6]. Group 2: AT&T - AT&T's shares have surged about 110% since mid-2023, as investor sentiment has improved following previous challenges related to media acquisitions [7]. - The company is concentrating on expanding its 5G wireless and fiber networks, having recently reached its 30 millionth fiber location and planning to double this by 2030 [8]. - For 2025, AT&T projects a 3% growth in mobility service revenue and a mid-teens percentage increase in consumer fiber revenue, with free cash flow expected to exceed $16 billion [9]. - The current quarterly dividend stands at $0.2775 per share, yielding 3.8%, with approximately $8 billion allocated for dividends this year, representing about half of its free cash flow [10]. - AT&T has maintained its dividend payments since cutting them during the WarnerMedia spin-off, but plans to resume share repurchases and may consider a dividend increase soon [11].

AT&T (T) FY Conference Summary Company Overview - **Company**: AT&T Inc. (T) - **Date of Conference**: May 13, 2025 - **Speaker**: Jeff McElfresh, COO of AT&T Key Points Financial Guidance and Performance - AT&T provided multiyear guidance in December, targeting healthy EBITDA growth of over 3% and long-term cost savings of $3 billion by 2027 [5][6] - The company aims to reach 50 million fiber passings by 2029, with capital investments expected to be between $4.5 billion and $5 billion in Q2 2025 [5][6] - AT&T is on track to begin a share repurchase program in 2025, indicating confidence in financial health [7] Market Dynamics and Strategy - The telecom industry remains resilient, with high demand for services despite macroeconomic uncertainties [11] - AT&T's capital program is primarily labor-focused, mitigating near-term impacts from tariffs [12] - The company is focused on modernizing its wireless network and expanding fiber infrastructure, which is critical for capturing traffic and service revenues [15][19] Convergence Strategy - AT&T's core business model emphasizes building a network that aggregates the most traffic at the lowest cost [15] - The company is committed to a balanced investment strategy that includes subscriber growth and capital returns [7] - AT&T is on pace to achieve 50% fiber and converged penetration goals, with a focus on optimizing acquisition strategies [22][23] Customer-Centric Initiatives - The AT&T Guarantee is a commitment to customer service, focusing on network reliability, access to deals, and expected service quality [28][30] - This initiative aims to improve customer lifetime value (LTV), reduce churn, and enhance overall business performance [31][33] Wireless Market Insights - The wireless market is fully penetrated, leading to increased competition for customer loyalty [35] - AT&T is not focused on quarterly net add numbers but rather on long-term growth and share of wireless service revenues [38] Fiber Expansion and Business Wireline - AT&T is on track to build an additional 15 million locations by 2029, with a current pace of 3 million annually [40][46] - The company is transitioning from copper to fiber, with a focus on medium-sized and small businesses to drive growth in the Business Wireline segment [52][55] Operational Efficiency - AT&T's fiber deployment is significant, with the equivalent of building a fiber connection from New York City to Los Angeles every month [26] - The company is focused on improving operational efficiencies and customer service to enhance profitability [47][55] Additional Insights - AT&T's strategy includes leveraging both fiber and wireless networks to serve customer demand effectively [19][39] - The company is committed to maintaining a competitive edge through continuous investment in technology and infrastructure [15][19] This summary encapsulates the key insights and strategic directions discussed during the AT&T FY Conference, highlighting the company's focus on growth, customer service, and operational efficiency in a competitive telecom landscape.