U.S. wireless company AT&T (T 0.53%) tarnished its reputation with ill-fated and expensive acquisitions beginning in 2014 that haunted the stock for roughly a decade.
Eventually, AT&T had to face the music. To its credit, AT&T made difficult decisions, including selling its media assets and slashing its dividend, to help pay down a massive debt load.
Today, AT&T stock is in a much better place. But is it time yet to fully buy into AT&T’s turnaround?
Image source: AT&T.
AT&T has made strides in business fundamentals
Sometimes, a picture can say a thousand words. Below, you’ll see just how much AT&T’s debt has come down since peaking in early 2022.
Now, there’s still work ahead. That said, AT&T’s credit has recovered to investment-grade, with a BBB rating from S&P Global.
T Total Long Term Debt (Quarterly) data by YCharts
Additionally, AT&T’s dividend is back in a strong financial position, with a payout ratio that is only about half of AT&T’s estimated 2026 earnings. That leaves room for management to increase the dividend, which already yields 4.4%.
AT&T’s focus on connectivity is paying dividends
Few people will mistake AT&T for a growth stock, but the company posted strong results in the first quarter of 2026.
AT&T continues to add postpaid phones in a mature U.S. wireless landscape, with 294,000 net additions. That’s lower than the 324,000 added a year ago, but it comes on the back of three consecutive quarters of at least 400,000 additions.
The wireless business, combined with home internet services, forms AT&T’s advanced connectivity segment, which is effectively driving growth. The segment’s revenue grew by 3.6% year over year in the first quarter, while EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) grew by 5.6%.
Ultimately, AT&T’s attempt to become a media company failed, arguably because it detracted from its core phone and internet businesses. Now that AT&T has refocused on what it does best, the business is thriving.
Today’s Change
(-0.53%) $-0.14
Current Price
$25.13
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$175B
Day’s Range
$25.11 – $25.39
52wk Range
$22.95 – $29.79
Volume
1.3M
Avg Vol
40M
Gross Margin
43.08%
Dividend Yield
4.41%
Should investors buy this turnaround today?
To be short, yes. AT&T is a strong buy today, and here’s why.
Today, AT&T’s stock trades at less than 11 times its estimated 2026 earnings. However, management expects earnings per share to grow at a double-digit annualized rate through 2028. Wall Street analysts agree; estimates call for 11% to 12% annualized growth over the next three to five years.
That makes AT&T’s valuation very inexpensive for the growth likely to come. On top of that, investors get that sweet 4.4% dividend, and the anticipated growth almost ensures it will continue rising.
Put it all together, and AT&T is an excellent dividend stock that retirees or other income-focused investors can count on, and even expect some solid growth from moving forward.
