AT&T’s big acquisition now paying off

Article Excerpt

AT&T INC. $41 (New York symbol T; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 6.2 billion; Market cap: $254.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.6; Dividend yield: 4.7%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.att.com) is the largest wireless provider in the U.S., with 130.4 million subscribers. It also has 9.2 million wireless users in Mexico. In addition, the company sells traditional phone services, television packages and high-speed Internet access to 51.7 million customers in the U.S. Satellite purchase opened new markets In July 2015, AT&T acquired DirecTV for $48.5 billion (70% stock and 30% cash). This business has 20.1 million satellite TV customers in the U.S., and 12.4 million in Latin America. DirecTV also owns regional sports networks and other cable channels. Thanks to this purchase, revenue rose 15.8%, from $126.7 billion in 2011 to $146.8 billion in 2015. Earnings increased 4.5%, from $13.1 billion in 2011 to $13.7 billion in 2012. Due to fewer shares outstanding, earnings per share gained 5.9%,…