New York, January 21, 2026, 12:46 EST — Regular session
- T-Mobile shares dropped roughly 0.9% by midday, hitting a fresh 52-week low.
- Starting Wednesday, many customers saw an increase in the recurring “Regulatory Programs & Telco Recovery Fee” on their bills.
- Investors are gearing up for T-Mobile’s results and capital markets update due Feb. 11.
T-Mobile US shares dropped during midday trading Wednesday, hitting a new 52-week low. The decline followed the rollout of a higher recurring fee on numerous customer bills. By 12:30 p.m. EST, the stock was down 0.9% at $182.02, having dipped as low as $181.36, while the S&P 500 climbed 0.3%, according to market data. 1
The decline comes after a rough day for T-Mobile, which dropped 1.4% to $183.65 on Tuesday, marking its third consecutive loss amid a broader market selloff. The stock now stands roughly 34% below its 52-week peak of $276.49 reached in March, according to MarketWatch data. 2
The company clarifies the “Regulatory Programs & Telco Recovery Fee” isn’t a government tax but a charge it collects to offset costs related to compliance and fees from other carriers and network providers. Starting Jan. 21, T-Mobile raised the fee to $4.49 per month for voice lines and $2.10 for mobile internet lines, up from $3.99 and $1.60, respectively. 3
T-Mobile’s stock dipped, while its telecom rivals showed more stability. Verizon edged up roughly 0.1% to $39.12, and AT&T climbed 0.7% to $23.61.
On the consumer side, T-Mobile has doubled down on promotions targeting multi-line users, stacking streaming perks and extras to win over families. TechRadar reported Tuesday that the carrier launched a “Better Value” family-plan deal featuring Netflix and Hulu subscriptions, mobile hotspot access, and other benefits. 4
Investors now have a key date to note. T-Mobile plans to release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on Feb. 11. On the same day, the company will hold a capital markets day event in New York, where CEO Srini Gopalan and other top executives will present updated financial targets for 2026 and 2027. 5
Traders will zero in on net customer additions and churn, the pace at which subscribers drop off, as the sector leans heavily on promotions and fees to shore up revenue. They’ll also scrutinize the company’s projections for free cash flow growth — the money left after costs and investments — and how it intends to use that cash.
The stock’s drop to fresh lows has intensified the debate over the company’s ability to maintain pricing power without sparking customer resistance. While the higher line-level fee is modest per individual user, it’s noticeable—and impacts multi-line accounts the most.
But the fee increase is a double-edged sword. If customers push back and jump ship, or if competitors respond with better deals, higher churn might wipe out the gains from boosted recurring fees and weigh on subscriber growth ahead of earnings.
Investors are focused on whether TMUS can hold above $180 by the close. The next big event is Feb. 11, when T-Mobile releases its earnings and updates guidance for 2026 and 2027.
