AT&T stock gains support from stronger third-quarter growth outlook

Published on 11/03/2026 at 13:03 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

AT&T stock followed a stronger third quarter with a higher 2026 adjusted earnings outlook. Fiber and wireless additions remained robust.

AT&T strengthens its connectivity push

Third-quarter revenue increased 5.3 percent year over year to 32.3 billion US dollars.
Adjusted earnings per share rose to 0.65 US dollars from 0.54 US dollars a year earlier.
AT&T raised its 2026 adjusted earnings-per-share outlook to the 2.40 US dollar range.
The company added 769,000 advanced connectivity internet customers and 379,000 postpaid phone customers.

AT&T Inc., US00206R1023, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

AT&T Inc. delivered stronger operating momentum in the third quarter, but reported earnings were affected by a large impairment charge tied to its Mexico wireless business. The company released the figures on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, and raised its full-year adjusted earnings outlook.

AT&T stock traded at 19.13 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 13:00 CET on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Revenue growth reaches advanced connectivity

AT&T reported third-quarter revenue of 32.3 billion US dollars, up 5.3 percent from 30.7 billion US dollars a year earlier. Service revenue rose 3.8 percent, which the company described as its strongest growth in more than four years. Advanced Connectivity service revenue increased 6.1 percent to 23.9 billion US dollars.

Adjusted earnings per share climbed to 0.65 US dollars from 0.54 US dollars in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted EBITDA increased 5.4 percent to 12.5 billion US dollars, while free cash flow edged up to 5.0 billion US dollars from 4.9 billion US dollars. The figures and the outlook were published in AT&T's earnings release.

The reported GAAP figures were weighed down by a 2.6 billion US dollar non-cash impairment charge related to the planned sale of AT&T Mexico and employee separation charges. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations came to 0.13 US dollars, compared with 1.29 US dollars in the prior-year quarter, which benefited from a gain on the sale of the DIRECTV investment.

Customer additions support the outlook

AT&T added 769,000 advanced connectivity internet customers, including 442,000 fiber additions and 327,000 fixed wireless additions. Postpaid phone net additions reached 379,000, while postpaid phone churn was 0.92 percent. The company said it had reached more than 39 million consumer and business locations with fiber and remained on track to exceed 40 million locations by the end of 2026.

Management raised the 2026 adjusted earnings-per-share outlook to the 2.40 US dollar range from a previous range of 2.25 to 2.35 US dollars. AT&T also expects adjusted EBITDA growth in the upper portion of its 3 to 4 percent range and free cash flow of at least 18 billion US dollars for the year. The company kept its annualized common-stock dividend at 1.11 US dollars per share and plans to return more than 45 billion US dollars to shareholders from 2026 through 2028.

For investors, the quarter strengthens the case for AT&T's fiber and wireless growth strategy, while the Mexico transaction and the resulting balance-sheet burden remain important considerations. Total debt stood at 159.6 billion US dollars at September 30, and net debt was 149.8 billion US dollars after the EchoStar spectrum transaction.

Investors can follow the real-time quote of AT&T Inc. stock for the latest trading indication.