AT&T reported solid wireless, business and international results in the fourth quarter.
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Highlights include strong postpaid phone gains, record-low fourth-quarter postpaid phone churn and DIRECTV NOW surpassing 1 million subscribers.
AT&T's consolidated revenues for the fourth quarter totaled $41.7 billion versus $41.8 billion in the year-ago quarter, primarily due to declines in legacy wireline services, wireless service revenues and domestic video, which were mostly offset by growth in wireless equipment and International.
Compared with results for the fourth quarter of 2016, operating expenses were $41.3 billion versus $37.6 billion primarily due to a write-off of certain network assets and higher wireless equipment costs; operating income was $0.4 billion versus $4.2 billion; and operating income margin was 0.9% versus 10.2%.
When adjusting for the write-off of certain network assets, non-cash actuarial loss on benefit plans, amortization, merger- and integration-related expenses and other items, operating income was $6.9 billion versus $7.3 billion in the year-ago quarter and operating income margin was 16.5%, versus 17.5% in the year-ago quarter.
Fourth-quarter net income attributable to AT&T was $19.0 billion, or $3.08 per diluted share, and reflects the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, compared to $2.4 billion, or $0.39 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.
Adjusting for the ($3.16) benefit from the remeasurement of deferred tax liabilities, $0.41 write-off of certain network assets and natural disaster impacts, $0.19 non-cash actuarial loss on benefit plans from the annual remeasurement process and $0.26 of costs for amortization, merger- and integration-related expenses and other items, earnings per diluted share was $0.78 compared to an adjusted $0.66 in the year-ago quarter.
The increase in adjusted diluted earnings per share includes $0.13 impact of the new tax law on the fourth-quarter 2017.
Cash from operating activities was $9.9 billion in the fourth quarter, and capital expenditures were $5.1 billion. Free cash flow — cash from operating activities minus capital expenditures — was $4.8 billion for the quarter.
For full-year 2017, compared with 2016 results, AT&T's consolidated revenues totaled $160.5 billion versus $163.8 billion, primarily due to declines in legacy wireline services and wireless service revenues, which were partially offset by growth in International and strategic business services.
Operating expenses were $139.6 billion compared with $139.4 billion. Excluding a $2.9 billion write-off of certain network assets, operating expenses decreased due to cost efficiencies. Operating income was $20.9 billion versus $24.3 billion; and operating income margin was 13.0% versus 14.9%.
Net income attributable to AT&T reflects the impact of the new tax law and was $29.5 billion versus $13.0 billion; and earnings per diluted share was $4.76, compared with $2.10.
With adjustments for both years, operating income was $31.8 billion versus $31.8 billion; operating income margin was 19.8% versus 19.4%; and earnings per diluted share totaled $3.05, compared with $2.84, an increase of 7.4%. The increase in adjusted diluted earnings per share includes $0.13 impact of the new tax law on the fourth-quarter 2017.
AT&T's full-year cash from operating activities was $39.2 billion versus $39.3 billion in 2016. Capital expenditures, including capitalized interest, totaled $21.6 billion versus $22.4 billion in 2016.
Full-year free cash flow was $17.6 billion compared to $16.9 billion in 2016. The company’s free cash flow dividend payout ratio for the full year was 68%. ■