On Thursday, AT&T (NYSE: T) showed just how much it was pinched by cord-cutting and closed theaters. However, it managed to beat lowered Q3 analyst estimates, causing its shares to rise 1% in premarket trading. Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) also managed to beat estimates on Wednesday due to strong demand for its phone and internet services. As offices and schools continued to operate in a digital framework to surf their way through the pandemic, this trend fuelled Verizon’s growth. It seems Comms are doing better than expected.
AT&T Q3
During the quarter that ended on September 30, total revenue was $42.3 billion, exceeding the average analyst expectation of $41.59 billion. Big media bets, namely DirecTV and Warner Bros dragged the results down due to movie theatre closures and pay-television customer losses, but HBO Max streaming service told a different story. Offers for HBO Max streaming service for free on certain phone plans are what helped the company beat revenue expectations.
The company added 645,000 net new phone subscribers who pay a recurring monthly bill whereas FactSet reported analysts had expected AT&T to lose a net 9,000 customers over the quarter. It also gained 357,000 net new fiber internet customers, as demand for home internet increased with home offices.
AT&T has spent the past few years investing in media businesses. It reached its 2021 goal a year early by acquiring 38 million subscribers in the US for both its HBO and HBO Max during the quarter. It now has 57 million subscribers across the globe compared to 36.3 million in the previous quarter. AT&T is trying to catch up its larger streaming rivals. Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) currently has about 68 million U.S. customers and nearly 200 million across the globe. Disney+ from Walt Disney Co (NYSE: DIS) has more than 60 million subscribers already as it reached its goal four years early.
But the pandemic had taken a heavy toll on its media business. WarnerMedia which contains both HBO as well as the company’s movie and TV studio saw its revenue drop from $8.4 billion in the year-ago quarter to $7.5 billion, as movie theaters largely remained shut.
As for earnings, adjusted earnings per share dropped from last year’s 94 cents to 76 cents, matching analyst expectations.
Verizon Q3
With lockdowns measures being eased, Verizon gradually reopened all of its company-operated retail stores during the quarter. It successfully implemented touch-less retail appointments and curbside pickups.
As a result, it added 283,000 postpaid phone subscribers, exceeding FactSet’s average estimate of 268,000.
Total operating revenue dropped 4.1% due to lower customer activity as well as the timing of launches. One of its key partners, Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), has delayed the launch of its new iPhone for approximately a month. Such delays resulted in operating revenue of $31.54 billion.
Verizon’s media revenue that covers Yahoo, HuffPost and TechCrunch was hit with as companies reduced their ad spending. It dropped 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year to $1.7 billion
Net income also fell from last year’s $5.34 billion $4.50 billion, or $1.05 per share in the quarter. The company estimated that pandemic-related costs amounted to approximately 5 cents per share.
Excluding items, Verizon earned $1.25 per share, exceeding analysts’ average estimate of $1.22.
But full-year 2020 guidance was improved as adjusted EPS growth is expected in the range between 0% to 2%, as opposed to -2% to 2%.
Takeaway
The health crisis has brought global economies to a halt, but the Communication sector has been relatively less affected. Verizon benefited from people staying and working from home, and so did AT&T, mostly due to its streaming star.
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