AT&T Inc. (T): history, ownership, mission, how it works & makes money

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AT&T Inc. (T) Information


A Brief History of AT&T Inc.

Company Overview

As of September 30, 2024, AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) operates as a leading telecommunications company, providing a wide range of services including mobile and fixed-line telephony, broadband, and digital television. The company has undergone significant transformations and restructuring over the years to adapt to the rapidly changing telecommunications landscape.

Financial Performance

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, AT&T reported a net income of $6,715 million, down from $12,057 million during the same period in 2023. The operating revenue for the first nine months of 2024 was $30,213 million, compared to $23,010 million for the same period in 2023, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 31%.

Financial Metrics 2024 (9 months) 2023 (9 months)
Net Income (millions) $6,715 $12,057
Operating Revenue (millions) $30,213 $23,010
Total Debt (millions) $129,012 $137,331
Cash and Cash Equivalents (millions) $2,586 $6,722
Dividends Paid (millions) $6,171 $6,116

Debt Profile

As of September 30, 2024, AT&T's total debt stood at $129,012 million, with a weighted average interest rate of approximately 4.2%. The company has significant long-term debt obligations, including $2,637 million maturing within one year.

Operational Highlights

During the third quarter of 2024, AT&T recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $4,422 million related to its Business Wireline reporting unit, reflecting the impact of declining legacy services. The company continues to invest heavily in its network infrastructure, with capital expenditures totaling $13,420 million for the first nine months of 2024, slightly up from $13,252 million in the previous year.

Customer Base and Service Offerings

As of September 30, 2024, AT&T reported approximately 13,972 thousand total broadband connections, a marginal increase from 13,887 thousand in 2023. The company also reported 9,024 thousand fiber broadband connections, reflecting a growth of 12.3% year over year.

Service Metrics 2024 2023
Total Broadband Connections (thousands) 13,972 13,887
Fiber Broadband Connections (thousands) 9,024 8,034
Retail Consumer Voice Connections (thousands) 3,102 3,772
Broadband Revenue (millions) $8,301 $7,755

Market Position and Strategic Initiatives

AT&T has continued to focus on expanding its 5G network and enhancing customer experiences. The company is actively engaged in spectrum acquisitions to support its telecommunications services, with $153 million spent on spectrum acquisitions in the first nine months of 2024.

Stock Performance

As of September 30, 2024, AT&T's stock was trading at approximately $21.63, reflecting the company's ongoing efforts to stabilize its financial performance amidst competitive pressures.



A Who Owns AT&T Inc. (T)

Major Shareholders

As of 2024, AT&T Inc. (T) has a diverse ownership structure. The largest institutional shareholders include:

Shareholder Shares Owned (in millions) Percentage Ownership
The Vanguard Group, Inc. 610 8.01%
BlackRock, Inc. 570 7.45%
State Street Corporation 450 5.85%
Wellington Management Group LLP 300 3.90%
Geode Capital Management, LLC 250 3.25%

Insider Ownership

Insider ownership at AT&T Inc. is also notable, with key executives and board members holding significant shares:

Name Position Shares Owned (in millions)
John Stankey CEO 1.5
Pascal Desroches CFO 0.8
William M. Kennard Chairman 0.5
Other Executives Various 1.2

Stock Performance and Dividends

As of September 30, 2024, AT&T's stock price is approximately $21.63. The company has a consistent dividend payout, with dividends declared at $0.8325 per share for 2024, totaling $6.171 billion for the first nine months of the year.

Financial Overview

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, AT&T reported:

Financial Metric Amount ($ in millions)
Total Revenue 90,038
Operating Income 13,723
Net Income 7,845
Total Assets 393,719
Total Liabilities 277,437

Debt Structure

As of September 30, 2024, AT&T reported long-term debt of $126.375 billion, with a weighted average interest rate of approximately 6.0% for outstanding borrowings.

Stock Repurchase Program

AT&T has a share repurchase authorization of up to 300 million shares, with approximately 144 million shares remaining for repurchase as of September 30, 2024.

Market Capitalization

The market capitalization of AT&T Inc. is approximately $161 billion as of the latest trading session in September 2024.

Conclusion on Ownership Structure

AT&T Inc. has a robust ownership structure characterized by significant institutional investment, insider ownership, and a strong market presence, underpinned by its financial performance and strategic initiatives.



AT&T Inc. (T) Mission Statement

Current Mission Statement

AT&T Inc. is committed to connecting people with their world, everywhere they live, work, and play. We are dedicated to delivering the best customer experience by providing innovative solutions that enhance communication, entertainment, and connectivity. Our mission reflects our dedication to technology, service, and corporate responsibility, aiming to empower our customers and communities.

Financial Overview

As of September 30, 2024, AT&T reported a total revenue of $90,038 million for the nine months ending that date. The breakdown is as follows:

Segment Revenue (in millions) Operating Income (in millions) Operating Margin (%)
Mobility $62,126 $20,190 32.5
Business Wireline $14,274 $123 0.9
Consumer Wireline $10,113 $593 5.9
Latin America $3,188 $19 0.6
Total $90,038 $20,925 23.2

Key Performance Metrics

For the third quarter of 2024, AT&T reported the following key performance metrics:

Metric Value
Postpaid Phone Net Additions 403,000
Total Mobility Subscribers 116,066,000
Postpaid Churn Rate 0.93%
Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) $48.81

Operational Efficiency

AT&T has made strides in operational efficiency, as demonstrated by the following metrics for the nine months ended September 30, 2024:

Operational Metric Amount
Cash Provided by Operating Activities $26,875 million
Cash Used in Investing Activities ($12,127 million)
Total Debt $129,012 million
Cash and Cash Equivalents $2,586 million

Customer Connections

As of September 30, 2024, the following customer connections were reported:

Type of Connection Number of Connections (in thousands)
Total Broadband Connections 13,972
Fiber Broadband Connections 9,024
Total Retail Consumer Voice Connections 3,102

Market Position

As of the end of Q3 2024, AT&T continues to be a leading provider in the telecommunications sector, focusing on expanding its fiber footprint and enhancing wireless services. The company aims to maintain competitive pricing while improving customer satisfaction through innovative solutions.

Corporate Social Responsibility

AT&T emphasizes corporate responsibility through initiatives aimed at improving the communities it serves, including investments in education, sustainability, and digital inclusion.



How AT&T Inc. (T) Works

Company Overview

AT&T Inc. operates as a diversified telecommunications and media company. Its segments include Mobility, Business Wireline, Consumer Wireline, and Latin America.

Financial Performance

As of September 30, 2024, AT&T reported the following financial data:

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change (%) 9M 2024 9M 2023 Change (%)
Operating Revenues $30,213 million $30,350 million (0.5) $90,038 million $90,406 million (0.4)
Operating Income $2,116 million $5,782 million (63.4) $13,723 million $18,190 million (24.6)
Net Income $145 million $3,826 million (96.2) $7,845 million $13,041 million (39.8)
Earnings Per Share (EPS) $(0.03) $0.48 (106.3) $0.93 $1.67 (44.3)

Revenue Breakdown by Segment

For the third quarter of 2024, AT&T's revenue by segment was as follows:

Segment Operating Revenues (Q3 2024) Operating Revenues (Q3 2023) Change (%)
Mobility $21,052 million $20,692 million 1.7
Business Wireline $4,606 million $5,221 million (11.8)
Consumer Wireline $3,416 million $3,331 million 2.6
Latin America $1,022 million $992 million 3.0

Subscriber Metrics

As of September 30, 2024, AT&T's subscriber metrics included:

Category Subscribers (in 000s) Change (%)
Total Mobility Subscribers 116,066 2.8
Postpaid Subscribers 88,384 2.3
Prepaid Subscribers 19,200 (1.0)
Mexico Wireless Subscribers 22,911 5.3

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses for the third quarter of 2024 were as follows:

Expense Type Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change (%)
Operations and Support $23,010 million $19,863 million 15.8
Depreciation and Amortization $5,087 million $4,705 million 8.1
Total Operating Expenses $28,097 million $24,568 million 14.4

Debt and Cash Flow

As of September 30, 2024, AT&T's financial position included:

Metric Amount
Total Debt $129,012 million
Cash and Cash Equivalents $2,586 million
Cash Provided by Operating Activities (9M 2024) $26,875 million

Dividend Information

In the first nine months of 2024, AT&T declared dividends on common stock totaling:

Metric Amount per Share Total Dividends Paid (9M 2024)
Common Stock Dividends $0.8325 $6,171 million


How AT&T Inc. (T) Makes Money

Revenue Segmentation

AT&T generates revenue through various segments, primarily divided into Communications and Latin America. The following table summarizes the operating revenues for AT&T's segments as of September 30, 2024:

Segment Operating Revenues (Q3 2024) Operating Revenues (Q3 2023) Change (%)
Mobility $21,052 million $20,692 million 1.7%
Business Wireline $4,606 million $5,221 million (11.8%)
Consumer Wireline $3,416 million $3,331 million 2.6%
Latin America $1,022 million $992 million 3.0%
Corporate and Other $117 million $114 million 2.6%
Total $30,213 million $30,350 million (0.5%)

Mobility Segment

The Mobility segment is the largest contributor to AT&T's revenue, primarily from wireless services. In Q3 2024, Mobility generated $21,052 million in operating revenues, reflecting a 1.7% increase from the previous year. Key metrics for this segment include:

  • Wireless service revenue: $16,539 million
  • Equipment revenue: $4,513 million
  • Postpaid subscribers: 88,384,000 (up 2.3% YoY)
  • Total mobility subscribers: 116,066,000 (up 2.8% YoY)

Business Wireline Segment

AT&T's Business Wireline segment focuses on providing services to business customers, including advanced Ethernet-based fiber services. In Q3 2024, this segment generated $4,606 million in operating revenue, a decline of 11.8% from the previous year:

  • Service revenue: $4,417 million
  • Equipment revenue: $189 million

The decline is attributed to decreasing demand for legacy voice and data services.

Consumer Wireline Segment

The Consumer Wireline segment provides broadband and voice services. It reported operating revenues of $3,416 million in Q3 2024, reflecting a 2.6% increase from Q3 2023:

  • Broadband revenue: $2,838 million
  • Legacy voice and data revenue: $307 million
  • Total broadband connections: 15,344,000
  • Fiber broadband connections: 9,024,000 (up 12.3% YoY)

Latin America Segment

In the Latin America segment, AT&T reported operating revenues of $1,022 million in Q3 2024, a 3.0% increase compared to Q3 2023. Key highlights include:

  • Service revenue: $645 million
  • Equipment revenue: $377 million
  • Total Mexico wireless subscribers: 22,911,000 (up 5.3% YoY)

Financial Overview

For the first nine months of 2024, AT&T reported total operating revenues of $90,038 million, slightly decreasing by 0.4% from $90,406 million in the same period of 2023. Here are the total operating revenues by segment:

Segment Operating Revenues (9M 2024) Operating Revenues (9M 2023) Change (%)
Mobility $62,126 million $61,589 million 0.9%
Business Wireline $14,274 million $15,831 million (9.8%)
Consumer Wireline $10,113 million $9,821 million 3.0%
Latin America $3,188 million $2,842 million 12.2%
Total $90,038 million $90,406 million (0.4%)

Operating Income and Expenses

In Q3 2024, AT&T reported total operating income of $2,116 million, a significant decrease of 63.4% from $5,782 million in Q3 2023. The total operating expenses for Q3 2024 were $28,097 million, compared to $24,568 million in Q3 2023:

  • Operations and support expenses: $23,010 million
  • Depreciation and amortization: $5,087 million

For the first nine months of 2024, total operating income was $13,723 million, down from $18,190 million in the same period of 2023, reflecting ongoing investments and operational challenges.

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Article updated on 8 Nov 2024

Resources:

  • AT&T Inc. (T) Financial Statements – Access the full quarterly financial statements for Q3 2024 to get an in-depth view of AT&T Inc. (T)' financial performance, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
  • SEC Filings – View AT&T Inc. (T)' latest filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for regulatory reports, annual and quarterly filings, and other essential disclosures.