AT&T Stock Is Back to Multiyear Highs. Time to Buy?

Core Viewpoint - AT&T's stock is experiencing a positive outlook, trading at its highest levels since 2019, following a challenging period marked by a dividend cut in 2022 after 35 consecutive years of increases [1][5]. Company Focus and Strategy - AT&T has shifted its focus exclusively to wireless and fiber services, correcting previous costly mistakes from acquisitions like DirecTV and Time Warner, which were sold at significant losses [2][3]. - In Q1, AT&T reported 324,000 postpaid wireless net additions and 261,000 net additions in its fiber business, indicating a successful strategy [3]. Financial Performance - In Q1, AT&T generated nearly $31 billion in revenue, reflecting a modest 2$4.4 billion, marking a 26% annual increase [4]. - The company faced rising costs and expenses, but 1.4 billion in equity from net income of affiliates contributed positively to its profits [4]. Dividend and Cash Flow - AT&T currently offers a dividend of 1.11 per share annually, resulting in a dividend yield of 4.1%, significantly higher than the S&P 500's average of 1.4% [5][10]. - The dividend cost the company $2.1 billion in Q1, but with over$3.1 billion in free cash flow, AT&T has sufficient cash for dividends and other purposes [5]. Debt Management - AT&T holds a total debt of $126 billion, which is substantial compared to its$120 billion in book value, but has made progress by paying off over $7 billion in debt over the last year [6]. Stock Performance - Over the past year, AT&T's stock has increased by nearly 75%, reaching levels close to its highest since the pandemic began, and remains relatively inexpensive with a P/E ratio of 19 [7]. - The stock has outperformed T-Mobile, which trades at 27 times earnings, while AT&T's dividend yield of 4.1% is significantly higher than T-Mobile's 1.2% [8][10]. Investment Considerations - Given its recent performance, both income and growth investors have reasons to consider AT&T stock, especially due to its high dividend yield and low P/E ratio [11][12]. - Despite being a mature company, the combination of a strong dividend and attractive valuation may present profitable opportunities for investors [12].