14 DAY TRIAL // Wireless carrier AT&T announced today its financial results for the fourth quarter of the last year, and posted consolidated revenues of $30.9 billion for the three months period ended December 31, down from the $31.1 billion posted in Q4 2008, but slightly up from the previous quarter. At the same time, the operator also revealed a number of 2.7 million fourth-quarter net additions in wireless subscribers, along with 7.3 million net customer additions for the entire year 2009, which offered it the possibility to account for a number of 85.1 million subscribers as of December 31, 2009.
The carrier noted that its wireless service revenues went up by 9.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, mainly courtesy of rapid adoption of data services. Revenues for the time frame were of $30.9 billion, net income totaled $3.0 billion while cash from operating activities was of $9.0 billion. AT&T also announced that it registered $34.4 billion full-year cash from operating activities, up from the $33.7 billion it registered in 2008, and also posted $17.1 billion free cash flow, marking a growth of 28.4 percent when compared to the previous year.
Other highlights from the company's announcement include: - 2.6 percent growth in postpaid wireless subscriber ARPU (average monthly revenues per subscriber), eighth consecutive quarter with a year-over-year increase - Continued robust growth in revenues from wireless data services such as messaging, access to applications and related services; up $805 million, or 26.3 percent, versus the year-earlier quarter to $3.9 billion - 248,000 net gain in AT&T U-verse TV subscribers to reach 2.1 million in service, up more than 1 million in 2009, with continued high broadband and voice attach rates - 18.8 percent growth in wireline IP data revenues driven by AT&T U-verse expansion and growth in advanced business solutions - 17.0 percent growth in revenues from strategic business services such as Ethernet, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), hosting and application services.
For the entire year 2009, the carrier unveiled consolidated revenues of $123.0 billion, down from $124.0 billion in the year before, as well as operating expenses of $101.5 billion, higher than the $101.0 billion it registered in 2008. The company posted net income of $12.5 billion for the year, down when compared to $12.9 billion a year ago, and earnings per diluted share of $2.12, also decreased from $2.16 in 2008.
“We had a solid 2009 and led the industry in the biggest growth driver – mobile broadband,” said Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and chief executive officer. “Looking ahead, customer demand for connectivity, particularly mobile broadband and IP data, continues to be strong, and AT&T is well positioned at the center of this growth. Our fundamental outlook for the business is quite positive. Our leadership in mobile broadband will continue to set us apart as we roll out even faster 3G speeds this year and begin deploying 4G capabilities in 2011.”