On Feb 7, we maintained our Neutral recommendation on AT&T Inc. (T). The company has strong growth prospects including robust subscriber additions, growing demand for mobile Internet, faster fiber deployment, admirable U-verse gain and a healthy balance sheet. These are partially clouded by a saturated wireless market, persistent losses in access lines, labor union issues and aggressive pricing plans of direct competitors.
Why Kept at Neutral?
We believe AT&T is experiencing strong momentum in both wireline and wireless businesses. Continued strength in smartphone and branded computing device sales are fueling growth in its wireless business. Wireline is also improving with continued growth in its U-verse and strategic services.
The company displays the industry-best Internet speeds and has a wide coverage of 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) services. The company has, currently, covered about 200 million with the services and expects to achieve the target of connecting 90% of 300 million people by 2013-end. Further, the carrier’s Mobile Share plan is gaining high popularity among people with nearly 10 million subscribers already under its belt. Management intends to launch new high-tier plans in the coming quarters.
AT&T is also looking at opportunities to improve its growth profile through a number of strategic initiatives. The company’s agreement with Verizon Wireless to acquire spectrum licenses is expected to boost its position substantially within the sector. Various lucrative alliances along with a well-designed investment program will likely raise the earnings and revenue levels in the near to medium term.
Nevertheless, the company faces a number of risk factors such as a competitive telecom environment, constant upgrades in technology, failure to succeed in spectrum auctions and a hefty iPhone subsidy.
For the second and third quarters of 2013, the Zacks Consensus Estimates for earnings are 71 cents and 67 cents per share, respectively. This reflects a respective year-over-year growth of 6.9% and 8.3%.
Other Stocks
Other telecom stocks that will likely perform impressively in the coming months are Shenandoah Telecommunications Co. (SHEN) – that has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). VimpelCom Ltd. (VIP) and Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) hold Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and are likely to outperform in the market.
SHENANDOAH TELE (SHEN): Free Stock Analysis Report
AT&T INC (T): Free Stock Analysis Report
VIMPELCOM LTD (VIP): Free Stock Analysis Report
VERIZON COMM (VZ): Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Get all Zacks Research Reports and be alerted to fast-breaking buy and sell opportunities every trading day.
Be the first to comment