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AT&T Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 7 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose 3.6%: Revenues were $33.5 billion, up 3.6%, on higher Mobility, Consumer Wireline and Mexico revenues, partly offset by Business Wireline. Full-year revenues were $125.6 billion, up 2.7%. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS reached $2.12: Full-year adjusted EPS was $2.12, versus $1.95; diluted EPS was $3.04, lifted by a $5.6 billion gain on the sale of the DIRECTV investment. Source
  • Mobility EBITDA rose 3.1%: Mobility EBITDA was $9.2 billion, up 3.1%, and Mobility operating income rose 4.5% to $6.4 billion. Source
  • Business Wireline revenue fell 7.5%: Business Wireline revenue was $4.2 billion, down 7.5%; operating loss narrowed to $(163) million; EBITDA was $1.1 billion, down 6.7%. Source
  • Operating expenses rose on Mobility volumes: Fourth-quarter operating expenses were $27.7 billion, versus $27.0 billion, mainly from equipment, advertising, selling and bad debt costs tied to Mobility sales. Source
  • Free cash flow rose to $4.2 billion: Free cash flow excluding DIRECTV was $4.2 billion, versus $4.0 billion; full-year free cash flow was $16.6 billion, versus $15.3 billion. Source
  • EchoStar spectrum purchase for $23 billion: AT&T agreed to buy about 30 MHz of 3.45 GHz mid-band and 20 MHz of 600 MHz low-band spectrum from EchoStar for about $23 billion in cash, financed with cash and borrowings.

“With new investments in spectrum and fiber, we’re set to win more customers in more categories and geographies across the U.S.”

John Stankey, AT&T Chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA growth Source2026; 20283% to 4% in 2026; 5% or better in 2028
Adjusted EPS Source2026; 3-year CAGR through 2028$2.25 to $2.35 in 2026; double-digit 3-year CAGR through 2028New
Free cash flow Source2026, 2027, 2028$18 billion+ in 2026, $19 billion+ in 2027, $21 billion+ in 2028Kept
Capital investment SourceAnnually, 2026-2028$23 billion to $24 billion annuallyKept
Service revenue growth SourceAnnually, 2026-2028low-single-digit rangeKept
Advanced Connectivity service revenue growth Source20265%+New
Advanced Connectivity EBITDA growth Source20266%+New
Legacy service revenue Source2026decline 20%+New
Share repurchases Source2026approximately $8 billionNew
Capital returns to shareholders Source2026-2028$45 billion+New
Annualized common dividend Source2026-2028$1.11 per shareKept
Net debt to adjusted EBITDA SourceAfter transactions; end of 2026approximately 3.2x; approximately 3x by end of 2026
Cash taxes and pension contribution Source2026cash taxes $1.0 billion to $1.5 billion; pension about $350 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Improved growth in Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EPS and higher free cash flow now set as a horizon through 2028. Source
  • New: Operating segments to be revised from the first quarter of 2026 to Advanced Connectivity, Legacy and Latin America. Source
  • New: Lumen fiber business to be reported as held-for-sale and discontinued operations from closing. Source
  • New: A subsequent $10 billion share repurchase authorization approved by the Board is to start after the current one. Source
  • New: EchoStar spectrum acquisition now described as expected to close in early 2026; the prior release said the first half of 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose 3.6%: Revenues were $33.5 billion, up 3.6%, on higher Mobility, Consumer Wireline and Mexico revenues, partly offset by Business Wireline. Full-year revenues were $125.6 billion, up 2.7%. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS reached $2.12: Full-year adjusted EPS was $2.12, versus $1.95; diluted EPS was $3.04, lifted by a $5.6 billion gain on the sale of the DIRECTV investment. Source
  • Fourth-quarter adjusted EPS rose: Fourth-quarter adjusted EPS was $0.52, against $0.43 a year earlier; diluted EPS was $0.53, against $0.56. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EBITDA grew: Full-year adjusted EBITDA was $46.4 billion, up from $44.8 billion; fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA was $11.2 billion, versus $10.8 billion. Source

Segments and business units

  • Communications segment revenue rose: Communications segment revenues were $32.1 billion, with operating income of $6.8 billion and an operating margin of 21.1%, versus 19.9% a year earlier. Source
  • Mobility EBITDA rose 3.1%: Mobility EBITDA was $9.2 billion, up 3.1%, and Mobility operating income rose 4.5% to $6.4 billion. Source
  • Business Wireline revenue fell 7.5%: Business Wireline revenue was $4.2 billion, down 7.5%; operating loss narrowed to $(163) million; EBITDA was $1.1 billion, down 6.7%. Source
  • Consumer Wireline earnings improved: Consumer Wireline revenue was $3.6 billion; operating income was $538 million, versus $276 million; EBITDA was $1.4 billion, up 12.5%. Source
  • Latin America revenue up 20.6%: Latin America revenue was $1.3 billion, helped by favorable foreign exchange; operating income was $34 million, versus $21 million; full-year operating income grew by more than $100 million. Source

“Backed by the best assets in the industry, we are accelerating our strategy to deliver improved growth, the best customer experience and enhanced returns for shareholders over the next three years.”

John Stankey, AT&T Chairman and CEO

Products and customers

  • Advanced home internet additions topped half million: Advanced home internet net additions combined from AT&T Fiber and Internet Air exceeded half a million for the second consecutive quarter. Source
  • Convergence rate rose fastest annually: Convergence rate reached 42%, with 42% of AT&T Fiber households also choosing AT&T for wireless; the company described this as the fastest annual increase. Source
  • Customer satisfaction ranked first: In converged-service areas, AT&T ranked first on customer satisfaction with consumers and small businesses for both wireless and internet. Source
  • Consumer fiber revenue grew 13.6%: Consumer Wireline fiber revenue was $2.2 billion for the quarter, up 13.6%; full-year fiber revenue was $8.6 billion, up 17.0%. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Operating expenses rose on Mobility volumes: Fourth-quarter operating expenses were $27.7 billion, versus $27.0 billion, mainly from equipment, advertising, selling and bad debt costs tied to Mobility sales. Source
  • Restructuring charges increased: Restructuring charges were higher; transformation initiatives and lower content licensing fees partly offset the increase in costs. Source
  • Depreciation fell on legacy assets: Lower depreciation from fully depreciated legacy assets was partly offset by fiber investment and network upgrades. Source
  • Mobility operating margin eased: Mobility operating income margin was 26.3%, down 20 basis points; EBITDA service margin was 54.0%, up 30 basis points. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow was $11.3 billion: Full-year cash from operating activities was $40.3 billion, versus $38.8 billion a year ago. Source
  • Pension and legal payments weighed on cash: A $750 million voluntary pension contribution and cash payments for apportioned legal settlements weighed on quarterly operating cash flow, with lower DIRECTV distributions. Source
  • Free cash flow rose to $4.2 billion: Free cash flow excluding DIRECTV was $4.2 billion, versus $4.0 billion; full-year free cash flow was $16.6 billion, versus $15.3 billion. Source
  • Net debt at year-end: Total debt was $136.1 billion and net debt was $117.4 billion at year-end, after netting cash and equivalents of $18.2 billion. Source
  • Share repurchases completed in 2025: The company repurchased about $4.3 billion of common shares in 2025 under the 2024 authorization. Source
  • Tax savings to fund growth: Incremental tax savings are to fund working capital and growth initiatives, according to management. Source

Transactions and portfolio changes

  • Lumen fiber assets priced at $5.75 billion: In May 2025 AT&T agreed to acquire substantially all of Lumen’s Mass Markets fiber internet business for $5.75 billion in cash, subject to adjustments.
  • Fiber assets to sit in subsidiary: Acquired Lumen fiber network assets will sit in a wholly owned subsidiary, which the company plans to partly sell to an equity co-investor. Source
  • EchoStar spectrum purchase for $23 billion: AT&T agreed to buy about 30 MHz of 3.45 GHz mid-band and 20 MHz of 600 MHz low-band spectrum from EchoStar for about $23 billion in cash, financed with cash and borrowings.

Coming up, as management said on 28 January 2026

  • Equity partner for Lumen fiber unit: The company expects to find an equity partner and close the sale of partial ownership within about 6-12 months after the Lumen closing.
  • Completing current buyback authorization: Management expects to finish repurchases under the current $10 billion authorization before the end of 2026. Source
  • Steady buybacks through 2028: The company plans a consistent pace of share repurchases through 2028, subject to further Board authorization. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Postpaid phone net adds Source421,000
Postpaid phone churn Source0.98%
Postpaid phone ARPU Source$56.57
Prepaid churn Source2.89%
AT&T Fiber net adds Source283,000
AT&T Internet Air net adds Source221,000
Broadband net adds Source210,000
Broadband ARPU Source$70.89
Capital expenditures Source$6.8 billion
Capital investment Source$7.1 billion

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Approval from California regulators could delay the copper decommissioning beyond 2029. Source
  • Financial: A non-cash mark-to-market benefit plan gain or loss, driven by interest rates and investment returns, is expected to be a significant item. Source
  • Financial: The acquisitions are expected to be modestly dilutive to adjusted EPS in 2026-2027 and accretive from 2028. Source
  • Demand: Business Wireline revenue is being pressured by continued declines in legacy and other transitional services. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The company reports that it met or exceeded all 2025 consolidated financial guidance. Source
  • Not stated: The Lumen transaction was described in the prior release as now expected to close in early 2026.
  • Not stated: Net leverage is expected to return to the 2.5x target range within about three years after the acquisitions close. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release planned $4 billion of repurchases in 2025 under the 2024 authorization; the current release reports about $4.3 billion repurchased.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.