New York, January 7, 2026, 19:56 EST — After-hours
- AT&T shares fell 1.5% in regular trading; little changed after hours
- Arete cut the stock to sell; AT&T touted new connected-car deals and pursued more 3.45 GHz airwaves
- Wall Street is looking for about $0.47 per share in profit when AT&T reports on Jan. 28
AT&T Inc (T) shares fell 1.5% to $23.97 on Wednesday and were little changed after hours. Arete Research cut the stock to sell from neutral and set a $20 target, a report on analyst calls showed.
The drop came as investors reposition ahead of AT&T’s next earnings report later this month, when guidance can matter more than one-off headlines. Verizon Communications and T-Mobile US also finished lower, but AT&T’s decline was steeper.
Analysts tracked by Zacks expect earnings of 47 cents per share on revenue of $32.75 billion for the quarter, according to a Nasdaq.com report. That puts cash flow and any comments on spending and subscriber trends back in the frame.
AT&T has tried to keep the story on growth projects. At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, it said it is working with iM Media Labs on an in-car entertainment platform that runs on its 5G network and uses AI-driven personalization; AT&T’s Matt Harden said the companies are aiming for “a smarter and more customer-centric approach.” ATT Newsroom
On Wednesday, AT&T and Mitsubishi Motors North America said the 2026 Outlander SUV will use AT&T 5G for services including navigation and over-the-air software updates — updates sent wirelessly to the vehicle. Mitsubishi’s Bryan Arnett called it part of a “transformative, personalized experience” for drivers. ATT Newsroom
AT&T is also looking for more spectrum — the airwaves carriers use to carry calls and data — as demand for 5G capacity grows. Federal Communications Commission filings show AT&T is seeking a 3.45 gigahertz mid-band lease deal with Blue Ridge Wireless, while New Street Research policy analyst Blair Levin wrote it was “unlikely” FCC Chair Brendan Carr would hold up EchoStar’s spectrum sales to AT&T. fiercewireless.com
Away from the network, AT&T has been reshaping its footprint. The company said this week it will move its global headquarters from downtown Dallas to Plano, Texas, aiming for occupancy in the second half of 2028; CEO John Stankey said the site would “cost effectively consolidate” administrative space across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. CBS News
But AT&T’s push for more airwaves is not friction-free. Rural carriers and consumer advocates are asking the FCC to revisit its approval of AT&T’s $1 billion Array spectrum purchase, a challenge that could add uncertainty around the carrier’s broader mid-band buildout plans.
The stock is about 20% below its 52-week high of $29.79 reached in September, and Wednesday marked a second straight daily decline. Traders now turn to Jan. 28 for AT&T’s results and any update on spectrum approvals and timing.
