AT&T: A Higher-Than-Average Yield With Relative Safety


For investors who want more than a bond yield, but without taking much risk




AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is now among the stocks on the High-Yield Dividend Screener & High-Dividend Yield Stocks in Guru's Portfolios.

This GuruFocus screener identifies stocks owned by the investing gurus and with a dividend yield of at least 4%. AT&T makes the cut on guru portfolios because it was owned by 20 of the investing giants at the end of the first quarter of 2020, and because its current yield is 6.97%.

In its most recent 10-K, filed on Feb. 20, the company described its origins this way: “AT&T, formerly known as SBC Communications Inc. (SBC), was formed as one of several regional holding companies created to hold AT&T Corp.’s (ATTC) local telephone companies. On Jan. 1, 1984, we were spun-off from ATTC pursuant to an anti-trust consent decree, becoming an independent publicly-traded telecommunications services provider. At formation, we primarily operated in five southwestern states.”



Since 1984, it has merged with and acquired several other wireline and wireless companies, making it a big player in the telecommunications industry. In addition, it acquired DIRECTV in 2015 and Time Warner Inc. in 2018, making it an entertainment powerhouse as well.

Its full-year 2019 consolidated results featured these line items:


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