AT&T (NYSE:T) Trading 2.4% Higher – What’s Next?

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) shares rose 2.4% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $26.03 and last traded at $26.03. 22,667,214 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 54% from the average session volume of 49,759,965 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.43.

More AT&T News

Here are the key news stories impacting AT&T this week:

• Positive Sentiment: AT&T’s operating margin reportedly reached a multiyear best as the company winds down its legacy copper network. The resulting operating leverage and lower copper-related costs could support cash flow and earnings growth. AT&T Stock’s Margin Hit A Multi-Year Best As Its Copper Network Winds Down
• Positive Sentiment: Recent bullish analysis views AT&T’s turnaround as sustainable, citing discounted valuation, robust cash generation, fiber expansion and growth in its Advanced Connectivity segment. Management’s projected EBITDA growth of 3%–4% in 2026, with faster growth expected later, provides a potential catalyst. AT&T Doesn’t Need Heroic Results To Offer Heroic Upside
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage indicates AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon may have avoided a competitive setback associated with satellite connectivity. A reduced near-term threat from satellite alternatives could ease concerns about wireless customer losses and pricing pressure. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon defeat a common foe
• Neutral Sentiment: AT&T is promoting free Turbo Live access at selected professional and college football season openers while introducing paid season passes. The initiative may strengthen customer engagement and brand visibility, but its immediate financial impact is uncertain. AT&T Kicks Off Football Season with Free Turbo Live and Introduces Season Passes
• Neutral Sentiment: AT&T will release third-quarter 2026 results before the market opens on October 21 and hold a conference call afterward. The announcement itself does not change fundamentals, but the report will be the next major catalyst for the stock. AT&T to Release Third-Quarter 2026 Earnings on Oct. 21
• Negative Sentiment: Although the copper-network transition is improving margins, AT&T still faces headwinds from declining legacy operations and concerns about service quality for rural customers. These issues could limit growth if fiber and wireless gains do not offset the older businesses’ deterioration.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on T. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $30.00 price objective on shares of AT&T in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Oppenheimer lowered shares of AT&T from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of AT&T from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Wall Street Zen raised AT&T from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, June 20th. Finally, Barclays decreased their price target on AT&T from $26.00 to $24.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $29.19.

AT&T Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.93. The company has a market capitalization of $178.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.62, a PEG ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.23. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $23.06 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $25.23.

AT&T (NYSE:T) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 22nd. The technology company reported $0.65 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.06. AT&T had a return on equity of 12.86% and a net margin of 16.94%.The business had revenue of $31.56 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $31.80 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.54 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 2.3% on a year-over-year basis. AT&T has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.250-2.350 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that AT&T Inc. will post 2.34 earnings per share for the current year.

AT&T Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, July 10th were given a $0.2775 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 10th. This represents a $1.11 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.3%. AT&T’s dividend payout ratio is 36.75%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AT&T

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. State Street Corp grew its position in shares of AT&T by 2.6% during the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 332,089,723 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $8,249,109,000 after acquiring an additional 8,314,678 shares during the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System raised its position in AT&T by 1,920.3% in the 2nd quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 221,126,798 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $4,577,325,000 after purchasing an additional 210,181,579 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its stake in AT&T by 4.6% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 125,191,700 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $3,629,307,000 after purchasing an additional 5,449,222 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new position in AT&T during the 4th quarter worth $2,181,977,000. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in AT&T by 3.5% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 75,323,574 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $1,559,198,000 after purchasing an additional 2,559,065 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.10% of the company’s stock.

AT&T Company Profile

AT&T Inc is a global telecommunications company that provides a broad range of communications and digital entertainment services. Its core activities include consumer and business wireless services, broadband and fiber internet, and network infrastructure. The company operates branded wireless services through AT&T Mobility and deploys fixed-line and fiber networks to deliver high-speed internet and related home services.

AT&T’s product and service portfolio spans mobile voice and data plans, smartphones and device sales, home internet (including fiber-to-the-home where available), and managed connectivity solutions for enterprise customers.