AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) Receives Average Rating of "Moderate Buy" from Analysts

Key Points

• Analysts have a “Moderate Buy” consensus on AT&T, with 11 buy, one strong-buy, six hold and one sell rating among 19 brokerages. The average 12-month price target is $29.19 versus a recent share price of $26.03.
• AT&T exceeded quarterly EPS expectations, reporting $0.65 compared with the $0.59 consensus, while revenue rose 2.3% year over year to $31.56 billion. Management’s 2026 EPS guidance is $2.25–$2.35.
• The company continues to offer a quarterly dividend of $0.2775 per share, equivalent to a 4.3% annualized yield. Investors are also watching potential profitability improvements from winding down the copper network, fiber expansion and growth in advanced connectivity.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T - Get Free Report) has earned a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the nineteen brokerages that are covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have given a hold recommendation, eleven have given a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $29.1875.

T has been the topic of several analyst reports. Wolfe Research raised shares of AT&T from a "peer perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $29.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Argus cut their price objective on shares of AT&T from $33.00 to $30.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of AT&T from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of AT&T from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $25.00 price target on shares of AT&T in a research note on Monday, July 13th.

Key Stories Impacting AT&T

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

• Positive Sentiment: AT&T’s operating margin reportedly reached a multi-year high as the company winds down its copper network. Lower legacy-network costs and operating leverage could improve profitability and support cash generation. AT&T Stock's Margin Hit A Multi-Year Best As Its Copper Network Winds Down
• Positive Sentiment: Recent bullish investment analysis argues that AT&T’s turnaround has further upside, citing its discounted valuation, robust cash flows, fiber expansion, and growth in its Advanced Connectivity segment. Management’s target for 2026 EBITDA growth of 3%–4%, accelerating to more than 5% annually from 2028, strengthens the long-term case. AT&T Doesn't Need Heroic Results To Offer Heroic Upside
• Positive Sentiment: AT&T’s investment and partnership with Hark could position its network as an infrastructure provider for AI-native, always-connected consumer devices. The opportunity is early-stage but offers potential exposure to new connectivity demand beyond smartphones. Investors Reacting to AT&T Backing Hark’s AI-Native Device Ecosystem
• Neutral Sentiment: AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon are described as overcoming a shared competitive or regulatory challenge involving satellite-based connectivity. The development may ease concerns about satellite disruption, but the article provides limited detail on its direct financial impact. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Defeat a Common Foe
• 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 it gives investors a near-term catalyst to assess subscriber trends, fiber growth, margins, and guidance. AT&T to Release Third-Quarter 2026 Earnings on Oct. 21
• Neutral Sentiment: AT&T is promoting free Turbo Live access at select football season openers and selling season passes. The campaign could support brand engagement and customer acquisition, but its immediate financial contribution is likely limited. AT&T Kicks Off Football Season with Free Turbo Live

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in T. IFM Investors Pty Ltd raised its stake in shares of AT&T by 5.3% in the 1st quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd now owns 1,488,172 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $43,142,000 after purchasing an additional 74,684 shares in the last quarter. Parr Mcknight Wealth Management Group LLC bought a new position in shares of AT&T during the first quarter worth about $2,901,000. World Investment Advisors grew its stake in AT&T by 85.0% in the fourth quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 338,942 shares of the technology company's stock worth $8,419,000 after purchasing an additional 155,728 shares in the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC grew its stake in AT&T by 3.7% in the fourth quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 1,668,862 shares of the technology company's stock worth $41,449,000 after purchasing an additional 59,279 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ING Groep NV increased its holdings in AT&T by 120.3% in the fourth quarter. ING Groep NV now owns 2,050,310 shares of the technology company's stock valued at $50,930,000 after buying an additional 1,119,731 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.10% of the company's stock.

AT&T Price Performance

AT&T stock opened at $26.03 on Monday. AT&T has a 52 week low of $19.89 and a 52 week high of $29.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $178.37 billion, a PE ratio of 8.62, a P/E/G ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 0.23. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $23.15 and its 200 day simple moving average is $25.22.

AT&T (NYSE:T - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 22nd. The technology company reported $0.65 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.59 by $0.06. AT&T had a net margin of 16.94% and a return on equity of 12.86%. The business had revenue of $31.56 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $31.80 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.54 EPS. The company's 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. On average, equities research analysts predict that AT&T will post 2.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AT&T Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 10th were issued a dividend of $0.2775 per share. This represents a $1.11 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.3%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 10th. AT&T's dividend payout ratio is presently 36.75%.

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.

Continue following MarketBeat

Add MarketBeat as your preferred source on Google to see our latest stories in your feed.

Add As Preferred Source