AT&T shares edged higher in early Tuesday trading after the wireless carrier outlined its near-term aims for earnings and cashflow growth as it prepared to shed its DirecTV stake and focus on its 5G and fiber network expansion.
AT&T (T) , which shed its media assets in a $43 billion deal with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) in 2022, is making big investments in 5G wireless and fiber internet services as part of its ‘pure play’ telecoms strategy.
The Dallas-based group is looking to double its fiber network and expand its 5G network to 200 million homes, with 50 million fiber locations by 2029, and sees capital investments of around $22 billion over the next three years.
It also plans to defend its annual dividend, a payout now pegged at $1.11 per share, as part of its overall aim to return $40 billion to shareholders over the same time period.
AT&T also lifted the lower end of its 2024 profit forecast and now sees earnings in the region of $2.20 to $2.25 per share.
AT&T CEO John Stankey said the group will return around $40 billion to shareholders over the next three years.
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“Over the last four years, we’ve achieved durable and profitable subscriber growth, generated attractive returns on network investment, and strengthened our balance sheet,”
“We’re putting customers first to become the best connectivity provider in America. Our plan expands the country’s largest fiber network to more than 50 million total locations, modernizes our wireless network and rewards our shareholders,” said CEO John Stankey.
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“As we grow, we expect to return more than $40 billion to shareholders over the next three years through dividends and share repurchases,” he added. “With this bold strategy, we are entering a new era of sustained growth at AT&T.”
AT&T shares were marked 3.35% higher in premarket trading to indicate an opening bell price of $23.46 each, a move that would extend the stock’s 2024 gain to around 35%
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