AT&T (NYSE:T) Trading 2.4% Higher – Here’s What Happened

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T)’s share price was up 2.4% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $26.03 and last traded at $26.03. 22,667,214 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 54% from the average session volume of 49,759,965 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.43.

Key AT&T News

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of AT&T from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $30.00 target price on shares of AT&T in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of AT&T from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $29.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Weiss Ratings raised shares of AT&T from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of AT&T from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $29.19.

AT&T Stock Performance

The firm has a fifty day moving average of $23.15 and a 200-day moving average of $25.23. 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 has a market cap of $178.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.62, a PEG ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 0.23.

AT&T (NYSE:T) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 22nd. The technology company reported $0.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $31.56 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $31.80 billion. AT&T had a net margin of 16.94% and a return on equity of 12.86%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.54 EPS. AT&T has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.250-2.350 EPS. Research analysts predict that AT&T Inc. will post 2.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AT&T Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 3rd. Shareholders 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 yield of 4.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 10th. AT&T’s payout ratio is currently 36.75%.

Institutional Trading of AT&T

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Amundi boosted its position in shares of AT&T by 1.5% in the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 36,679,519 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $759,266,000 after purchasing an additional 527,044 shares during the last quarter. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al acquired a new stake in shares of AT&T during the second quarter worth $63,985,000. California State Teachers Retirement System increased its holdings in AT&T by 1,920.3% in the second quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 221,126,798 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $4,577,325,000 after purchasing an additional 210,181,579 shares during the last quarter. Kintra Wealth LLC increased its holdings in AT&T by 22.6% in the second quarter. Kintra Wealth LLC now owns 35,892 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $743,000 after purchasing an additional 6,617 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Widmann Financial Services Inc. lifted its stake in AT&T by 1.0% in the second quarter. Widmann Financial Services Inc. now owns 70,035 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $1,450,000 after buying an additional 712 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 57.10% of the company’s stock.

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.