Episode summary
AT&T Reports Greater-than-Expected Mobile Subscriber Gains | Bloomberg Intelligence
Bloomberg Intelligence
· · 21 min · Hosts: Paul Sweeney, Scarlet Fu · Guests: Kelcee Griffis, Woo Jin Ho, Ken Shea, Gautam Mukunda
Summary
AT&T said stronger-than-expected wireless additions and a tighter bundle strategy are helping it compete in a crowded mobile market. The host and Bloomberg Telecom reporter Kelcee Griffis discussed how the company’s newer “all-in” plan folds home internet, mobile service, and devices into one bill, while still allowing price increases on older plans. She also said AT&T is leaning harder into shareholder returns, with plans to buy back $10 billion in stock this year instead of $8 billion.
Super Micro Computer rallied after a preliminary update showed backlog jumping to more than $60 billion from $39 billion a month earlier. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Woo Jin Ho said that sets up a very strong fiscal 2027 guide, though he still sees execution as uneven and wants to see gross margin guidance in the formal results. He said Dell should also benefit because large AI server deals tend to be dual-sourced.
Philip Morris International rose after reporting stronger demand for smoke-free products, especially IQOS and Zyn, even as it lowered its currency-adjusted outlook. The conversation then shifted to AI regulation, where Yale lecturer Gautam Mukunda argued that the industry’s risks justify an FAA-style framework to preserve safety while sustaining innovation.
Key takeaways
- AT&T added 432,000 monthly wireless subscribers, and Kelcee Griffis said its bundled pricing strategy is starting to resonate with customers.
- AT&T said it will buy back $10 billion of stock this year, up from the prior $8 billion plan, reinforcing the capital-return story.
- Woo Jin Ho said Super Micro’s backlog rising to more than $60 billion should make fiscal 2027 guidance “really really good,” though execution remains choppy.
- Philip Morris International’s smoke-free growth, led by IQOS and Zyn, helped offset a weaker currency outlook and supported the stock.
- Gautam Mukunda argued AI should be regulated like aviation, with strong federal oversight to manage security risks without killing innovation.
Notable quotes
“We can provide worldclass networks in both wireless and fixed that tackle 98% of what a customer needs to do on the internet”
“They were modeling it after Pelaton or Netflix or one of these sort of like tech lifestyle subscriptions where you pay one price and you have access to everything”
“That increased to about 60 billion uh as part of the pre-announcement”
How the episode opens
Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio, news. You're listening to the Bloomberg Intelligence Podcast. Catch us live weekdays at 10 a.m. Eastern on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with the Bloomberg Business App. — Listen on demand wherever you get your podcasts or watch us live on YouTube. Staying with earnings, AT&T adding more wireless subscribers and forecast by roughly 100,000 customers. The CEO John Stany joined Bloomberg Surveillance to discuss the rise in subscribers. Take a listen.
We can provide worldclass networks in both wireless and fixed that tackle 98% of what a customer needs to do on the internet. Occasionally, they walk off one of our networks. And as you look at our partnerships that we're working with the satellite industry, by this time next year, we'll be able to solve that problem.
And so we're the natural place for people to come and meet their needs on the internet and do it easily on one bill with one set of services and one support infrastructure. We think we're in a great position as a result of that.
Kelsey Griffith is uh the Bloomberg Telecom's reporter. She has been tracking the earnings today and she joins us right now from Washington. Kelsey, um, the mobile phone industry is extremely competitive. You, we are bombarded by ads constantly from, uh, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile trying to undercut each other and offer better terms, better deals. How is AT&T able to add more monthly wireless subscribers than expected in this kind of environment?
This is a strategy AT&T has put into place since um, about last quarter. So, back in March, they debuted this new plan that is um kind of like an all-in approach. They were modeling it after Pelaton or Netflix or one of these sort of like tech lifestyle subscriptions where you pay one price and you have access to everything that uh you hope to get out of it.
From the episode’s captions: roughly the first two minutes, lightly cleaned. Keep watching on YouTube →
Topics
- at&t subscriber gains
- telecom earnings
- supermicro server demand
- philip morris smoke-free growth
- ai regulation
Companies and tickers mentioned
- T
- SMCI
- PM
- AT&T
- Super Micro Computer
- Philip Morris International
Watch the episode
Summary, takeaways and quote selection by Octagon. Quotes are short excerpts; the full conversation is in the episode.
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