AT&T Inc. (T)
AT&T is a massive American telecommunications giant that provides mobile phone services, high-speed internet, and fibre-optic connections to millions.
Is AT&T Inc. a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: AT&T is a massive American telecommunications giant that provides mobile phone services, high-speed internet, and fibre-optic connections to millions.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Dominance in the fibre market drives long-term revenue.
Technological shifts make current infrastructure obsolete.
What does AT&T Inc. do?
AT&T makes its money by charging customers monthly fees for mobile plans and home internet access. It is a utility-like business that acts as the backbone for digital communication across the United States. Much hinges on how they handle their sizeable debt while still funding the expensive infrastructure needed to keep their 5G and fibre networks competitive.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on value and income, and weakest on growth.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 4.8% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 2% over the year
- ✓Very profitable - turns about 17% of sales into profit
- ·Low P/E of 8 vs last year's earnings
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 18%)
- Value screens high (81/100)
- Income screens high (75/100)
- Provides an essential service that people rely on daily
- Generates significant cash flow to support dividend payments
- Low price-to-earnings ratio suggests it is not priced for high-growth hype
- Growth screens low (26/100)
- Rising interest rates make servicing their large debt more expensive
- Heavy spending requirements for 5G and fibre network upgrades
- Potential for customers to switch to cheaper or more agile rivals
What do AT&T Inc.'s numbers mean?
How much money does AT&T Inc. make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does AT&T Inc. pay a dividend?
Yes - AT&T Inc. currently pays a dividend of about 4.8% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does AT&T Inc. report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
AT&T Inc. is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-21 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-22 | $0.59 | $0.65 | Beat +10% |
| 2026-04-22 | $0.55 | $0.57 | Beat +3% |
| 2026-01-28 | $0.47 | $0.52 | Beat +12% |
| 2025-10-22 | $0.54 | $0.54 | In line |
| 2025-07-23 | $0.53 | $0.54 | Beat +2% |
| 2025-04-23 | $0.51 | $0.51 | In line |
Across the last 6 quarters here, AT&T Inc. came in ahead of what analysts expected 4 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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Verizon Communications Inc.What are the scenarios for AT&T Inc.?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of AT&T Inc.?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Provides an essential service that people rely on daily
- Generates significant cash flow to support dividend payments
- Low price-to-earnings ratio suggests it is not priced for high-growth hype
- Carries a heavy load of debt from past acquisitions
- Operates in a very competitive market with limited room for price hikes
- Earnings growth has been negative recently
- Rising interest rates make servicing their large debt more expensive
- Heavy spending requirements for 5G and fibre network upgrades
- Potential for customers to switch to cheaper or more agile rivals
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A sudden, significant reduction in total company debt
- A major shift in the telecommunications industry that makes mobile data obsolete
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.