These telcos have a winning formula

Article Excerpt

Both AT&T and Verizon aim to fuel long-term demand for their wireless, TV and high-speed Internet services with the same two-pronged strategy. Each is investing heavily in new 5G technology, which will speed up wireless transmissions and bring high-speed Internet access to less-populated areas. Both companies have also bought media firms to gain access to their exclusive content and use it to attract new customers and hang on to existing ones. We feel those investments will expand their profits and push up their share prices for years to come. AT&T INC. $33 (New York symbol T; Income Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 7.3 billion; Market cap: $240.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.4; Dividend yield: 6.2%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.att.com) is the largest wireless carrier in the U.S., with 159.7 million subscribers. It also has 9.2 million traditional phone customers, 15.7 million high-speed Internet users, and 22.9 million TV customers. As well, AT&T sells wireless and satellite TV services to over 31 million users in Mexico and…