AT&T

AT&T's dividend is backed by a bigger cash cushion after its post-spinoff reset halved payout obligations, leaving more free cash flow after capex compared with Verizon. Verizon yields more but has higher payout as a share of free cash flow and is focused on delevering from 2.5x toward 2.25x net debt-to-EBITDA, while AT&T's leverage will rise toward 3.2x after the EchoStar deal before returning to target over several years. Operationally AT&T shows stronger subscriber adds and faster EPS growth guidance, making its payout the safer choice for income-focused investors; Verizon remains preferable only for those who prioritize a higher current yield and a long raise streak. » More on finance.yahoo.com

AT&T called the second quarter a turning point, reporting accelerated growth in service revenues, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS, and 432,000 net postpaid additions. The company confirmed its 2026 guidance, targets double-digit EPS growth over the next three years, and plans to expand its fiber network to more than 60 million locations. Integration of the acquired Lumen consumer business with 4.5 million locations is still ongoing and, according to the company, offers significant convergence potential; penetration in the Lumen areas is around 25%. AT&T emphasizes disciplined pricing and subsidy policies, targeted use of Fixed Wireless, and plans $18 billion in shareholder returns in 2026 (about $45 billion over three years). » More on de.investing.com

AT&T announced at the Goldman Sachs conference that it aims for double-digit average annual earnings-per-share growth through 2028 via fiber rollout, wireless and customer convergence. The convergence rate is about 45% and the company has identified $6 billion in legacy cost savings from decommissioning the copper network and simplifying infrastructure. AT&T targets net debt of roughly 2.5 times adjusted EBITDA and plans to protect the dividend, invest in growth and repurchase shares as needed. Acquisitions such as Lumen fiber assets and EchoStar spectrum are intended to boost market expansion and fixed wireless access; AI applications are expected to further drive demand for bandwidth and cloud access. » More on de.investing.com