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AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today reported strong first-quarter results,
highlighted by a significant ramp in consolidated revenue growth, led
by improved results in wireless and enterprise, and further expansion
of wireless and consolidated margins. This marked AT&T's 12th
consecutive quarter of double-digit growth in adjusted earnings per
share.
"We delivered an excellent first quarter and a
solid start to the year," said Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman
and chief executive officer. "Revenue growth continues to ramp, we have
good momentum across key growth areas, major cost initiatives are on
track, and our operational results reinforce the confidence we have in
our outlook.
"AT&T's goal is to innovate and lead
in a communications world driven by mobility and interactivity,"
Stephenson said. "To that end, as we deliver strong earnings and return
substantial value to shareowners, we are also taking important steps to
expand our networks and product sets to drive continued growth in
wireless, broadband and IP-based services.
"AT&T
is moving quickly to create the next generation of wireless,"
Stephenson said. "The future of wireless has never been more promising,
and I am very pleased that through our transaction with Aloha Partners
and our successful bids in the recently completed auction, we have
assembled the industry's premier, high-quality wireless spectrum
position. This spectrum will provide a terrific foundation for new
wireless and integrated services, and it significantly advances
AT&T's long-term growth potential."
Reported Results: Ramp in Revenue Growth, Net Income Growth
For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, AT&T's revenues totaled $30.7
billion, up 6.1 percent versus reported results in the year-earlier
quarter and up 4.6 percent compared with first-quarter 2007 pro forma
revenues, which exclude merger-related accounting impacts on directory
revenues. This marks a substantial step up from year-over-year pro
forma revenue growth of 2.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007 and
1.7 percent in the first quarter of 2007.
Compared
with results for the year-earlier first quarter, AT&T's reported
operating expenses for the first quarter of 2008 were $24.8 billion, up
from $24.3 billion; reported operating income was $6.0 billion, up from
$4.7 billion; and AT&T's reported operating income margin was 19.5
percent, up from 16.1 percent.
AT&T's reported
first-quarter 2008 net income totaled $3.5 billion, up 21.5 percent
from $2.8 billion in the year-earlier first quarter, and reported
earnings per diluted share totaled $0.57, up 26.7 percent from $0.45 in
the first quarter of 2007.
Double-Digit Growth in Adjusted EPS
AT&T's adjusted results for the first quarter of 2008 exclude
merger-related amortization expenses and costs associated with a
workforce reduction. Adjusted results for the first quarter of 2007
excluded merger-related costs and accounting effects as well as gains
from wireless transactions.
Compared with results for
the year-earlier first quarter, AT&T's adjusted operating expenses
for the first quarter of 2008 totaled $23.2 billion, versus $22.4
billion; adjusted operating income was $7.6 billion, up from $7.0
billion; and AT&T's adjusted operating income margin was 24.6
percent, up from 23.7 percent.
AT&T's adjusted
first-quarter 2008 net income totaled $4.5 billion, up 10.3 percent
from $4.1 billion in the year-earlier first quarter, and adjusted
earnings per diluted share totaled $0.74, up 13.8 percent from $0.65 in
the first quarter of 2007.
AT&T's merger
integration and operational cost initiatives continue on schedule. For
the full year 2007, operating expense savings from BellSouth and
AT&T Corp. merger integration efforts and previously outlined
operational initiatives totaled approximately $3.9 billion. AT&T
expects these expense savings to grow in 2008 by more than $2 billion
dollars.
Cash From Operations, Share Repurchases
Compared with results in the year-earlier first quarter, AT&T's
cash from operating activities for the first quarter of 2008 totaled
$5.0 billion, up from $4.6 billion; capital expenditures totaled $4.2
billion, versus $3.3 billion; and free cash flow (cash from operations
minus capital expenditures) totaled $0.7 billion, compared with $1.3
billion.
As it invests in the future of its
business, AT&T continues to return substantial value to shareowners
through dividends and share repurchases. In the first quarter,
dividends paid totaled $2.4 billion and shares repurchased totaled
111.6 million for $4.1 billion. AT&T ended the quarter with 5.9
billion shares outstanding.
First-Quarter Operational Highlights
Wireless
AT&T delivered strong wireless growth in the first quarter,
reflecting the company's high-quality network, innovative services,
attractive handset selection, extensive sales reach and continued
improvements in operations. First-quarter 2008 results included:
Wireline
AT&T's first-quarter wireline results were highlighted by further
improvement in enterprise revenue growth, a solid double-digit increase
in broadband revenues and a continued strong ramp in AT&T U-verse
TV subscribers. Results included:
Additional Background on Adjusted and Pro Forma Results
AT&T's
adjusted earnings for the first quarter of 2008 exclude: (1) noncash,
pretax amortization costs related to acquisitions totaling $1.2
billion, or $0.13 per diluted share, and (2) a charge of $374 million,
or $0.04 per diluted share, associated with a workforce reduction
previously disclosed in a Form 8-K filing. Adjusted results for the
first quarter of 2007 excluded: (1) pretax merger-related integration
costs totaling $245 million, or $0.02 per diluted share; (2) noncash,
pretax merger-related costs totaling $1.8 billion, or $0.18 per diluted
share; (3) a merger-related directory accounting impact of $301
million, or $0.03 per diluted share; and (4) a gain of $409 million, or
$0.04 per share, from wireless transactions.
Advertising
& Publishing results for 2007 were affected by accounting
adjustments following AT&T's late 2006 acquisition of BellSouth. In
accordance with purchase accounting rules, deferred revenues and
expenses for all BellSouth directories delivered prior to the close of
the merger were eliminated from 2007 consolidated results. This
elimination of amortizations reduced first-quarter 2007 consolidated
revenues by $409 million and consolidated operating expenses by $108
million.
AT&T manages its print directory
business using amortized results. As a result, 2007 amortized results
are shown in the Advertising & Publishing segment on AT&T's
Statement of Segment Income. In 2008, both consolidated and segment
results reflect amortization accounting.
Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this news release contains financial estimates
and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and
uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. A discussion
of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims
any obligation to update or revise statements contained in this news
release based on new information or otherwise. This news release may
contain certain non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations between
the non-GAAP financial measures and the GAAP financial measures are
available on the company's Web site at www.att.com/investor.relations [2]. Accompanying financial statements follow.
NOTE: OIBDA is defined as operating income (loss)
before depreciation and amortization. OIBDA differs from Segment
Operating Income (loss), as calculated in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles (GAAP), in that it excludes depreciation
and amortization. OIBDA does not give effect to cash used for debt
service requirements and thus does not reflect available funds for
distributions, reinvestment or other discretionary uses. OIBDA is not
presented as an alternative measure of operating results or cash flows
from operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP. Our calculation
of OIBDA, as presented, may differ from similarly titled measures
reported by other companies.
NOTE: Free cash flow is defined as cash from
operations minus capital expenditures. Free cash flow yield is defined
as cash from continuing operations less capital expenditures as a
percentage of market capitalization computed on the last trading day of
the quarter. Market capitalization is computed by multiplying the end
of period stock price by the end of period shares outstanding. We
believe these metrics provide useful information to our investors
because management monthly reviews free cash flow as an important
indicator of how much cash is generated by normal business operations,
including capital expenditures, and makes decisions based on it.
Management also views it as a measure of cash available to pay debt and
return cash to shareowners.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its
subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the
providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the
world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based
business communications services and the nation's leading wireless,
high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets,
AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales
leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and
the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as
communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration
strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and
services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available
at www.att.com [3].
© 2008 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights
reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained
herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T
affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property
of their respective owners.
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercewireless.com/tags/t
[2] http://www.att.com/investor.relations
[3] http://www.att.com/