AT&T: Still Dirt Cheap While Boasting A High Dividend Yield (Rating Upgrade) (NYSE:T)

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) investors have done incredibly well since T bottomed out in July 2023 (remember the days when fears of lead-sheathed cables dominated?). Panic sellers bailed out in droves, unduly worried about potential multi-billion liabilities. However, dip-buyers returned with a vengeance, picking up the pieces from these sellers at T’s long-term lows. T’s buying momentum has improved significantly since then, even though I decided to lower my rating to a Hold in mid-January 2024. I cautioned investors that T needed a well-deserved break after its surge. T’s relative underperformance to the S&P 500 (SPX) (SPY) suggests buying momentum has waned. Despite that, T looks ready to power ahead again, potentially achieving a decisive breakout.

AT&T posted its fourth-quarter earnings release at the end of January 2024, justifying the confidence of dip-buyers who remain invested. AT&T’s cost-cutting initiatives have reaped rewards, surpassing its guidance by delivering nearly $16.8B in free cash flow. In addition, AT&T achieved robust growth in its wireless and broadband business, demonstrating its competitive advantage in its fiber buildout and bundling strategies. As a result, it has likely provided investors more confidence that AT&T is well-positioned to ride a further recovery in 2024 as the Fed looks to cut rates three times this year.

With Q4’s results done and dusted, we must consider the challenges and opportunities that could impact the market’s perception of T’s appeal at the current levels.

As highlighted earlier, I assessed the opportunity for T to stage a decisive breakout as increasingly possible, bolstered by its attractive valuation (“A-” valuation grade). In other words, it shouldn’t take much for the market to re-rate T higher if AT&T management can execute well this year.

AT&T management provided a reasonable outlook in 2024 amid further investment in its fiber network to meet AT&T’s 2025 goal of delivering more than 30M fiber locations. Accordingly, AT&T guided to a free cash flow outlook of between $17B and $18B, underpinning the market’s confidence in further improvement in operating performance. The company is also committed to deleveraging its balance sheet, targeting an adjusted EBITDA leverage ratio of 2.5x, down from almost 3x in 2023. With the company on track to “achieving an incremental $2B+ run-rate cost savings target by mid-2026,” I believe the market is likely betting on a more robust free cash flow inflection in the medium term.

AT&T could face more intense headwinds from cable companies broadening their bundled offerings to the wireless market. However, AT&T management is confident that its increased focus on higher-quality consumers should help reduce churn. Furthermore, with CapEx expected to lower in the medium term after rapid buildout over the last few years, AT&T should be able to secure its dividend, underpinned by a robust forward yield of 6.4% at the current levels. Hence, I didn’t glean significant downside risks, suggesting investors should consider taking substantial exposure off the table.

As seen above, T has maintained its uptrend bias since it bottomed out in July 2023. Based on my observation, there are no sell signals. Dip-buyers defended every pullback resolutely, likely assessing its attractive valuation and solid dividend yields.

As a result, I believe AT&T’s solid buying momentum (rated “B” by Seeking Alpha Quant) has demonstrated the market’s increased confidence, potentially breaking above the $20 zone before an extended consolidation.

Hence, T investors looking to buy the recent pullback should consider pulling the buy trigger as the rally looks set to carry on.

Rating: Upgrade to Buy.

Important note: Investors are reminded to do their due diligence and not rely on the information provided as financial advice. Consider this article as supplementing your required research. Please always apply independent thinking. Note that the rating is not intended to time a specific entry/exit at the point of writing unless otherwise specified.

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