AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T ) is expected to report its Q3 earnings on Oct 20, 2011.
Last quarter, smartphone sales drove the company's data revenue growth, and in this quarter I expect it to continue its strong performance in the data revenue growth department, which will help it compete against Verizon and Sprint in the telecom market. However, business service revenue is expected to be flat in 3Q.
For the third quarter of 2011, the company is likely to report revenue of $31.6 billion, an increase of 0.1 percent over the same quarter a year ago. Operating profit for the company is likely to come in at $6.3 billion, an increase of 16.6 percent over the same quarter a year ago. Margins should expand sequentially across the board. Post-paid ARPU is expected to grow for the 11th consecutive quarter, a record unmatched in the industry. U-verse is expected to continue its strong performance, adding subscribers, and increasing triple-play ARPU.
Its net profit is likely to come in at $5.6 billion, a decrease of 51.8 percent over the same quarter a year ago. Net profit in the year ago quarter benefited from tax credit of $6.6 billion. After, adjusting for tax credit, the company's net profit is likely to show an increase of 10.9 percent over the same quarter a year ago.
Net-on-net, the company is expected to report an EPS of $0.61 compared with an EPS of $0.55 in the same quarter a year ago.
The company is likely to announce updates on its T-Mobile acquisition plans in the aftermath of the immense opposition it has encountered from both Sprint and the federal government.