AT&T offers a big-time dividend. The company's free cash flow is improving, enabling it to repay debt.
It's a confusing moment in time for the world of telecommunications. After spending much of the 21st century experiencing rapid growth, many telecom-focused markets are facing sustained periods of saturation.
Another consumer has sued AT&T, alleging that a retail store employee stole nude images off of her phone when she was upgrading her device. The case mirrors at least six others brought against the wireless provider in the past for similar allegations.
AT&T saw strong subscriber additions across its wireless and broadband businesses. Meanwhile, the company continues to generate prolific free cash flow and improve its balance sheet.
We had previously given AT&T a buy rating. Q2-2024 results showed growth in postpaid phone subscribers, Fiber subscribers, and impressive free cash flow. Despite those positives, we are now moving to a Hold rating and go over why.
T's Q2 earnings report show plenty of profit catalysts to support a buy thesis. The top ones include CAPEX stabilization, the growth of its fiber network, and the many synergistic opportunities between fiber and its other segments. Subsequently, I expect margin and free cash flow to expand, debt to reduce, and dividend coverage to improve.
AT&T released earnings recently and the financial performance was middling, but the dividend is well covered and offers a healthy premium over the risk free rate. Comparing the stock to 10-Year Treasury Notes we see that the dividend yield of AT&T is 6.10% compared to the risk free rate of 4.2%. Analyzing the dividend sustainability we see that the company has sufficient cash flow to cover obligations and investments, with a low payout ratio of 59%.
AT&T's Q2 2024 earnings met EPS expectations but slightly missed on revenue, leading to a positive trajectory for the stock. AT&T is making progress in strengthening its balance sheet, increasing free cash flow, and rewarding shareholders with stock appreciation. Despite past missteps, AT&T's focus on core business and debt reduction could lead to significant growth potential, including share buybacks and dividend increases.
The market reaction to seasonally better cash flow may indicate low market expectations. The stock downside risk still appears to be fully priced in. The market struggles to agree with management on cash flow patterns, even though the pattern is now similar to the pattern at Verizon.
OAKLAND, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 25, 2024 / Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is investigating a massive data breach affecting tens of millions of AT&T customers. The exposed data includes phone numbers and records of calls and texts for nearly all AT&T customers between May 1, 2022 and October 31, 2022, as well as similar data for a smaller number of customers from January 2, 2023.
AT&T reported decent Q2 results, driven by growth in the fiber broadband segment. The broadband segment saw growth in fiber subscribers, revenues, and ARPU. AT&T's free cash flow is growing and supported the dividend. Net debt reductions are ongoing.
A string of subpar second-quarter earnings reports is hurting the stock market. The technology-laden Nasdaq index fell 3% (more than 500 points) after the initial financial results from mega-cap tech companies disappointed.