T-Mobile US, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides mobile communications services in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands. The company offers voice, messaging, and data services to customers in the postpaid, prepaid, and wholesale and other services. It also provides wireless devices, including smartphones, wearables, tablets, home broadband routers, and other mobile communication devices, as well as wireless devices and accessories; financing through equipment installment plans; reinsurance for device insurance policies and extended warranty contracts; leasing through JUMP! On Demand; and High Speed Internet services. In addition, the company offers services, devices, and accessories under the T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile brands through its owned and operated retail stores, T-Mobile app and customer care channels, and its websites. It also sells its devices to dealers and other third-party distributors for resale through independent third-party retail outlets and various third-party websites. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington.

T-Mobile US has a strong operating base, but the valuation already looks not cheap on a number of multiples. Its P/E is around the industry median, which does not provide a strong signal either for overvaluation or for clear undervaluation. At the same time, P/S and P/B are noticeably above industry benchmarks, which usually means the market is already pricing in the business’s high quality and cash flow stability. On the other hand, P/FCF is below the median, which supports the thesis of strong free cash flow generation and partially offsets the expensive P/S and P/B. Profitability looks solid: gross, operating, and net margins are above the median, and operating income and EBITDA are growing, confirming the efficiency of the business. EPS and forward EPS are also strong, and the year-over-year trend remains generally stable, although net income and margins show some cooling from last year’s higher levels. ROE is above the industry level, while ROA and ROI are around the median, indicating normal but not outstanding efficiency in the use of assets and capital. The balance sheet remains a point of sensitivity: debt/equity is above the industry level, long-term debt is very large, and liquidity is weak — quick ratio and current ratio are below 1, which limits financial flexibility. The cash position has declined compared with earlier periods, so the liquidity cushion does not look comfortable. Revenue and earnings are high in absolute terms and generally stable, but assets and equity do not show a clear acceleration, while liabilities remain significant. Dividend yield is currently absent, so the investor does not receive additional support through current cash return. Overall, the fundamentals support a moderately positive view of the company, but the high debt burden and expensive revenue and book-value multiples limit the upside from revaluation. For an investor, this is a story of a high-quality, mature telecom business with strong operating profitability, but without enough valuation cushion to expect aggressive share price growth.

T-Mobile US, Inc.

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Быки в растерянности.

Strong index, significantly down. The bulls are confused.

Средний индекс, значительно вырос. Рынок не поддерживает быков.

Medium index, significantly up. The market does not support the bulls.

Сильный индекс, без изменений. Отток средств из лонгов на высоком уровне.

Strong index, flat. Outflow of funds from longs at a high level.

Strong profitability and FCF support TMUS, but high debt load and expensive P/S and P/B limit revaluation potential.

Key Points
A report that SpaceX wants access to 80,000 U.S. cell sites sent tower stocks soaring and telecom stocks down on Friday.
The last company that tried to become America's fourth wireless carrier ended up fighting its tower landlords in court.
There were some big moves in telecommunications stocks on Friday. On one hand, shares of cell tower owners Crown Castle (NYSE:CCI) and American Tower (NYSE:AMT) soared, with shares up by about 9% and 4%, respectively, as of midday. On the other hand, the three largest wireless carriers plunged, with Verizon (NYSE:VZ), AT&T (NYSE:T), and T-Mobile (NASDAQ:TMUS) all deep in the red.
Both moves are due to one company, SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX). On Thursday evening, Bloomberg reported that SpaceX is in talks to secure at least 80,000 cell sites across the United States as it aims to become the fourth nationwide wireless carrier. For context, 80,000 sites would represent about half of all the purpose-built cell towers in the U.S., so it would be a pretty big move.
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This is the second time in October that SpaceX has sent shockwaves through the telecom industry. First, on Oct. 9, SpaceX agreed to buy $8 billion in low-frequency wireless spectrum, and telecom stocks plunged. So, will SpaceX truly boost the tower companies and cost the telecom leaders money?
Why are the tower companies soaring?
First, a little context on how the cell tower business works. The owner builds a tower and then rents space on it to wireless carriers, typically under long-term leases. Next time you drive by a cell tower, take a look at the top. You'll probably see several rings of transmission equipment, and each of those represents a tenant. Since the tower is already standing, adding tenants produces extra revenue with very little additional cost.
Ever since Sprint was acquired by T-Mobile, the tower industry has essentially had three wireless customers. The majority of Crown Castle's rent comes from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. A well-capitalized fourth player would mean more tenants per tower.
This is also a notable expansion of SpaceX's plans. Although the company has made its telecom network ambitions known for some time, as recently as August, management described its network as small cells mounted on rooftops (not traditional towers). But without getting too technical, the low-band spectrum it bought makes large towers far more useful, so it makes sense to add them to the plan.
Of course, this isn't the first time a "fourth carrier" has emerged. Just a few years ago, Dish Network signed long-term tower leases to build its own 5G network. To make a long story short, Dish's parent company sold most of its spectrum in 2025 and began shutting down the network. Of course, SpaceX is a far more deep-pocketed tenant and could easily afford to build a nationwide network.
Should investors forget about the carriers?
SpaceX is certainly a threat to the big three wireless carriers, but the recent sell-off appears a bit overdone. After all, SpaceX would be starting with no wireless customers at all, it holds less spectrum than any of the others, and its service isn't expected to launch commercially until late 2027. And building a competitive network would be a multiyear process at a minimum.
Let's be clear. SpaceX could certainly pressure the three major wireless carriers over time, but this isn't exactly a death sentence for them either. All have existed in the past with a fourth competitor (Sprint), and pricing power hasn't changed that much since the number dropped to three.
The bottom line
If you're thinking about buying tower owners as a momentum play or telecoms at a discount, it might be a smart idea to be patient. For one thing, although Crown Castle was specifically mentioned as a company SpaceX was in talks with, there isn't a signed contract or any official management acknowledgment yet. And the telecom sell-off may be overdone, as all that is happening right now is that a potential competitor (who would be starting from scratch) is negotiating with landlords.
In a nutshell, the market is pricing in a deal that hasn't happened yet, and the reaction on both the tower owner and wireless carrier side may be a bit overdone. I'm keeping an eye on some of the stocks involved, but I'm waiting for further official developments before making any moves.
Should you buy stock in Space Exploration Technologies right now?
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SpaceX Just Made Cell Towers Cool Again. Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile Are Paying the Price

The Elon Musk-operated company is expanding into broader wireless services.
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SpaceX Delivers Unfortunate News for Verizon, ATT, T-Mobile, and AST Space Mobile Stock Investors

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) closed down by -0.02% on Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed down by -0.35%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed down -0.31%. December E-mini S&P futures (ESZ26) fell -0.02%, and December E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQZ26) fell -0.32%.
Stock indexes settled lower on Tuesday, with the Nasdaq 100 falling to a 1.5-week low. Weakness in chipmakers weighed on the broader market Tuesday amid concerns that investment in artificial intelligence may be unsustainable due to safety concerns and signs of funding strain. Also, a selloff in South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix knocked South Korea’s Kospi Index down more than -5% on Tuesday to a 2.5-month low amid concerns over intensifying competition from China, adding additional pressure to chip stocks.
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However, stocks recovered from their worst levels on Tuesday as bond yields fell on dovish Fed comments that bolstered speculation the Fed won’t be forced to raise interest rates aggressively. Fed Governor Christopher Waller said the recent surge in long-term bond yields is helping to curb demand in interest-rate-sensitive sectors, such as housing and automobiles, doing some of the Fed's work to tighten monetary policy. Waller’s comments suggest he favors holding policy steady at the FOMC meeting later this month. Also, New York Fed President John Williams said, "It may be appropriate for one more 25 bp Fed rate hike this year, but I don't think at this time I have any reason to believe that we would need to do more."
Hawkish comments on Tuesday from Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee limited the decline in T-note yields when he said inflation tied to the AI boom is "jumping out of its lane" and starting to push up prices in unrelated corners of the economy. The 10-year T-note yield fell -3 bp to 5.21%.
Tuesday’s US economic news was supportive for stocks after Sep existing home sales unexpectedly rose +1.5% m/m to 3.99 million, stronger than expectations of a decline to 3.95 million.
Stocks have support from the prospect of solid quarterly earnings results starting this week. Goldman Sachs on Monday raised its three-month view on global equity markets to overweight from neutral, saying. “Earnings growth remains supportive for equities and the recent valuation de-rating has improved asymmetry into the third-quarter earnings season.”
According to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence, Q3 S&P 500 profits are expected to climb by +25% from a year earlier, up from a July estimate of 22%. Q3 earnings season begins this week when US money center banks report.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised its 2026 global GDP forecast to 3.1% from 3.0% in July and kept its 2026 global consumer price forecast unchanged from July at 4.7%.
Nov WTI crude oil prices (CLX26) rose slightly on Tuesday amid concerns about Middle East energy-supply disruptions. Saudi Arabia has seen an increase in attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen in recent days, while Iran has ramped up attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Gains in crude were limited on Tuesday after Saudi Arabia said its Sep crude production rose by +2 million bpd (+40% m/m) to 8.732 million bpd, recovering from a 36-year low in August. Goldman Sachs estimates a $24-a-barrel risk premium in crude oil prices due to the Middle East conflict. However, if Europe releases half the diesel it has announced from reserves, fair value prices could fall by about $11 a barrel.
Markets are discounting a 22% chance of a +25 bp Fed rate hike at the next FOMC meeting on October 27-28.
Overseas stock markets settled mixed on Tuesday. The Euro Stoxx 50 closed down -0.55%. China's Shanghai Composite recovered from a 2.5-month low and closed up +0.10%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average fell to a 1.5-week low and closed down -1.82%.
Interest Rates
December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ6) closed up by +5.5 ticks on Tuesday. The 10-year T-note yield fell -2.5 bp to 5.213%. Dec T-notes rose to a 1-week high on Tuesday, and the 10-year T-note yield fell to a 1-week low of 5.171%. Lower inflation expectations supported gains in T-notes on Tuesday after the 10-year breakeven inflation rate fell to a 1-week low of 2.336%. Dovish Fed comments also supported T-note prices on Tuesday when Fed Governor Christopher Waller said the recent surge in long-term bond yields is doing some of the Fed’s work to tighten monetary policy, suggesting he favors holding policy steady at the FOMC meeting later this month. Also, New York Fed President John Williams said that after the Fed hikes rates one more time this year, he believes the Fed’s rate-hike cycle is done.
T-note gains were limited Tuesday after Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said inflation remains too high. Also, Tuesday’s report showing Sep existing home sales unexpectedly increased weighed on T-notes.
European government bond yields were mixed on Tuesday. The 10-year German bund yield fell to a 1-week low of 3.426% and finished down -0.8 bp to 3.469%. The 10-year UK gilt yield rose +0.7 bp to 5.447%.
Markets are discounting a 12% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at the ECB’s next meeting on October 29.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks retreated for a second session on Tuesday, weighing on the overall market. Applied Materials (AMAT) closed down more than -6% to lead losers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 after failing to give a detailed outlook at an investor day conference. Also, Micron Technology (MU) and KLA Corp (KLAC) closed down more than -3%, and Lam Research (LRCX) closed down more than -2%. In addition, ASML Holding NV (ASML) and Western Digital (WDC) closed down more than -1%.
Pharmaceutical stocks sold off on Tuesday. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) closed down more than -4%, and Merck & Co (MRK), Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS), Jazz Pharmaceuticals Plc (JAZZ), and Untragenyx Pharmaceutical (RARE) closed down more than -2%. Also, Gilead Sciences (GILD), Amgen (AMGN), Eli Lilly (LLY), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) closed down more than -1%.
Energy producers and service providers rallied on Tuesday as WTI crude prices rose. Valero Energy (VLO) closed up more than +4%, and Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Phillips 66 (PSX) closed up more than +3%. Also, APA Corp (APA), ConocoPhillips (COP), and Devon Energy (DVN) closed up more than +2%, and Chevron (CVX), Diamondback Energy (FANG), and ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) closed up more than +1%.
Telecom operators moved higher on Tuesday. Charter Communications (CHTR) closed up more than +4%, and T-Mobile US (TMUS), Comcast (CMCSA), Verizon Communications (VZ), and AT&T (T) closed up more than +1%.
Syndax Pharmaceuticals (SNDX) closed down more than -16% after saying its MAXPIRe Phase 2 trial of its axatilimab to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis failed to meet its primary endpoint.
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) closed down more than -8% after Piper Sandler downgraded the stock to neutral from overweight.
SentinelOne (S) closed down more than -6% after announcing that it intends to offer $1.25 billion in convertible senior notes due in 2031 via private placement.
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) closed down more than -5% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials after forecasting full-year sales of $101.00 billion to $101.40 billion, the midpoint below the consensus of $101.24 billion.
Domino’s Pizza (DPZ) closed down more than -5% after reporting Q3 total domestic store comparable sales growth of +0.30%, below the consensus of +0.72%.
Meta Platforms (META) closed up more than +2% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100, adding to Monday’s +3% gain, after releasing a new artificial intelligence model called Muse Wonder, which the company claims has “frontier capabilities.”
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings (OLLI) closed up more than +2% after its Board of Directors approved a $500 million stock buyback plan.
Amer Sports (AS) closed up more than +2% after Jefferies initiated coverage on the stock with a buy recommendation and a price target of $42.
Earnings Reports (10/14/2026)
Bank of America Corp (BAC), Blackrock Inc (BLK), Fastenal Co (FAST), Morgan Stanley (MS), Progressive Corp/The (PGR), State Street Corp (STT).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

Stocks Finish Lower Ahead of Wednesday’s CPI Report

AT&T Inc. T is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 earnings on Oct. 21, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues and earnings is pegged at $31.68 billion and 61 cents per share, respectively. The earnings estimate for AT&T for 2026 has decreased 0.43% to $2.33 per share over the past 60 days, while the same for 2027 has decreased 1.17% to $2.54 per share.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Earnings Surprise History
The communications service provider delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 6.26%, on average.
Earnings Whispers
Our proven model predicts a likely earnings beat for AT&T for the third quarter. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. This is exactly the case here. AT&T currently has an ESP of +3.77% and a Zacks Rank #3.
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You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Factors Shaping the Upcoming Results
During the quarter, AT&T introduced AT&T Video Intelligence with EdgeVis Cloud, a managed cloud deployment option that expands its existing IoT Video Intelligence platform. The offering combines optimized video streaming, secure transmission, analytics and alerting with an AT&T-managed cloud backend. It is designed to simplify deployment and reduce infrastructure requirements for enterprise, mid-market, large SMB and public-sector customers. Potential applications include construction sites, transportation corridors, utility operations, logistics yards, retail locations, smart-city pilots and emergency response sites.
In the quarter under review, AT&T announced that Ericsson will provide 600 MHz dual-band radios to support deployment of spectrum acquired from EchoStar. AT&T said the new spectrum and radios will improve network capacity, coverage, reliability and performance, including in indoor and rural locations. The company is more than 60% through its wireless network modernization program. In upgraded areas, customers can see up to 2X higher average speeds, a 10% reduction in dropped and blocked calls, and up to a 70% reduction in slower data speeds.
AT&T and Corning also inked a multi-year agreement worth more than $3 billion, under which Corning will supply the fiber-optic cables. The materials will enable AT&T to expand its high-speed internet network across the United States.
However, AT&T continues to face intense competition in the U.S. telecom market from Verizon Communications, Inc. VZ and T-Mobile, US, Inc. TMUS. This could impact subscriber growth and impact revenue.
Over the past year, AT&T has declined 13.3% against the industry’s growth of 122.7%, outperforming its peers like T-Mobile but underperforming Verizon. T-Mobile has declined 34%, while Verizon has improved 4.8% during this period.
Key Valuation Metric
From a valuation standpoint, AT&T appears to be trading relatively cheaper than the industry and below its mean. Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company shares currently trade at 8.89 forward earnings, lower than 36.25 for the industry and the stock’s mean of 10.74.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Investment Considerations
T continues to benefit from its fiber-led growth strategy and efforts to increase customer adoption of bundled connectivity services. AT&T had expanded its fiber footprint to 38.6 million locations by the end of the second quarter and aims to exceed 40 million locations by year-end 2026. Continued fiber deployment and the integration of Lumen’s acquired mass-market fiber customer base could support broadband growth. This may also encourage more households to purchase wireless and Internet services together. Its bundled offerings is improving customer retention and strengthen long-term revenue visibility.
However, intense competition in the U.S. wireless market remains a challenge for AT&T. Although wireless service revenues increased 3.3% year over year in the second quarter, promotional discounts partially offset the benefits of pricing actions. Persistent competition from major telecom operators could require continued spending on customer acquisition and retention, limiting revenue gains per subscriber.
End Note
AT&T continues to invest in fiber and fixed wireless to expand advanced Internet reach and deepen household convergence with wireless. Focus on 5G network upgradation worldwide will likely bring long term benefits. Strategy of bundled product offerings by combining wireless and broadband is driving retention. However, However, aggressive competition in wireless services, declining legacy revenues and substantial capital requirements remain key challenges. AT&T’s balance sheet remains leveraged while investment, spectrum needs and shareholder returns compete for cash. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), AT&T presents a balanced outlook ahead of its third-quarter earnings report, making execution on its fiber-led growth strategy and cash flow targets important factors for investors to monitor.
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Does T Stock Deserve a Spot in Your Portfolio Ahead of Q3 Earnings?

Key Points
AST is getting ready to launch three more BlueBird satellites, but it’s still far from its near-term target of 45 to 60 satellites.
It needs to reach at least 45 satellites to start generating commercial revenue.
AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS), a developer of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, has successfully launched 13 of its BlueBird satellites to date. These satellites, which are much bigger than SpaceX's (NASDAQ: SPCX) Starlink satellites, help telecom giants like AT&T (NYSE: T) and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) expand their cellular networks to remote areas that their terrestrial towers can't reach. AST is already working with over 60 carriers to reach more than 3 billion wireless subscribers worldwide, so it clearly has plenty of room to grow.
However, AST doesn't generate any recurring commercial revenue yet. Instead, it generates all of its revenue from government contracts and prepayments from its telecom partners.
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For AST SpaceMobile to deliver stable cellular connections and generate recurring commercial revenue, it must expand its constellation to at least 45 satellites. It had planned to reach that milestone by late 2026. But in mid-July, it pushed back that target to early 2027.
AST just delivered its next three BlueBird satellites (14, 15, and 16) to Cape Canaveral, but it's unclear when it will launch them. It's also continuing the production of its future satellites through BlueBird 50. Should you invest in AST before its commercial business finally blasts off?
What could happen to AST SpaceMobile over the next few years?
From 2025 to 2028, analysts expect AST SpaceMobile's revenue to surge from $71 million to $1.73 billion as it begins providing direct-to-cell services to AT&T and Verizon. They also expect its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) to turn positive in 2027 and soar nearly 17 times to $1.25 billion in 2028. That growth should be driven by the gradual expansion of its constellation toward its long-term goal of 248 satellites.
With an enterprise value of $17.2 billion, AST's stock trades at 15 times its projected 2028 adjusted EBITDA. That valuation looks reasonable relative to its growth potential, but three unpredictable headwinds are driving away the bulls and compressing its valuations.
First, Starlink's recent acquisition of T-Mobile's (NASDAQ: TMUS) 800 MHz spectrum will position it as a major competitor for AT&T and Verizon in the wireless market. To keep up, AT&T and Verizon will likely need to ramp up their spending on AST's satellite services. However, AST could struggle to expand its constellation fast enough to meet that demand.
Second, AST is completely dependent on third-party launch partners -- including SpaceX and Blue Origin -- to carry its satellites into orbit. Therefore, AST has much less control over its own launch schedule than SpaceX, which launches its Starlink satellites with its own rockets.
Lastly, AST will continue to issue more debt and shares to support its capital-intensive expansion. It ended its latest quarter with $2.96 billion in long-term debt, and its share count has increased by 479% since it closed its SPAC merger on April 6, 2021. If the Fed continues to raise its benchmark rates, its borrowing costs and interest payments could skyrocket.
Is it the right time to buy AST SpaceMobile's stock?
AST SpaceMobile has plenty of growth potential, but it will struggle to attract new investors as long as interest rates are rising. SpaceX also stands out as a more diverse and vertically integrated player in the space logistics, satellite internet services, and AI markets.
That's why AST's stock has declined more than 40% over the past 12 months, and why it could sink even lower before it's considered a bargain. AST might deserve a closer look if it successfully expands its constellation to 45 satellites next year. Still, investors should assess how much that expansion increases its debt and dilutes existing shares before pulling the trigger.
Should you buy stock in AST SpaceMobile right now?
Before you buy stock in AST SpaceMobile, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and AST SpaceMobile wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
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Leo Sun has positions in Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AST SpaceMobile. The Motley Fool recommends T-Mobile US and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

AST SpaceMobile Shipped 3 More BlueBird Satellites to Cape Canaveral. Here's How Many It Needs in Orbit Before Revenue Shows Up.

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, in trading on Friday, shares of T-Mobile US Inc (Symbol: TMUS) were yielding above the 3% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $4.68), with the stock changing hands as low as $148.12 on the day. Dividends are particularly important for investors to consider, because historically speaking dividends have provided a considerable share of the stock market's total return. To illustrate, suppose for example you purchased shares of the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) back on 12/31/1999 — you would have paid $146.88 per share. Fast forward to 12/31/2012 and each share was worth $142.41 on that date, a decrease of $4.67/share over all those years. But now consider that you collected a whopping $25.98 per share in dividends over the same period, for a positive total return of 23.36%. Even with dividends reinvested, that only amounts to an average annual total return of about 1.6%; so by comparison collecting a yield above 3% would appear considerably attractive if that yield is sustainable. T-Mobile US Inc (Symbol: TMUS) is an S&P 500 company, giving it special status as one of the large-cap companies making up the S&P 500 Index.
In general, dividend amounts are not always predictable and tend to follow the ups and downs of profitability at each company. In the case of T-Mobile US Inc, looking at the history chart for TMUS below can help in judging whether the most recent dividend is likely to continue, and in turn whether it is a reasonable expectation to expect a 3% annual yield.
Further TMUS Research:

T-Mobile US (TMUS) Shares Cross 3% Yield Mark

Among the underlying components of the S&P 500 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in Moderna Inc (Symbol: MRNA), where a total of 230,723 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 23.1 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 135.9% of MRNA's average daily trading volume over the past month of 17.0 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $220 strike call option expiring October 09, 2026, with 16,869 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.7 million underlying shares of MRNA. Below is a chart showing MRNA's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $220 strike highlighted in orange:
Robinhood Markets Inc (Symbol: HOOD) options are showing a volume of 218,710 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 21.9 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 98.9% of HOOD's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 22.1 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $110 strike call option expiring October 09, 2026, with 24,069 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 2.4 million underlying shares of HOOD. Below is a chart showing HOOD's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $110 strike highlighted in orange:
And T-Mobile US Inc (Symbol: TMUS) options are showing a volume of 44,163 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 4.4 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 85.5% of TMUS's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 5.2 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $152.50 strike call option expiring October 09, 2026, with 5,911 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 591,100 underlying shares of TMUS. Below is a chart showing TMUS's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $152.50 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for MRNA options, HOOD options, or TMUS options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Further MRNA Research:

Noteworthy Friday Option Activity: MRNA, HOOD, TMUS

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) is up by +0.26% today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is up by +0.21%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.31%. December E-mini S&P futures (ESZ26) are up +0.20%, and December E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQZ26) are up +0.16%.
Stock indexes are moving higher today, supported by lower crude oil prices. WTI crude oil is down nearly -1% today as Middle East tensions eased after President Trump said the US would not attack Iran before the midterm elections.
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Also, concerns about slowing demand for AI-infrastructure stocks eased today after people familiar with the matter said OpenAI is expecting to reach or exceed $70 billion in annualized revenue by the end of the year, refuting a report from the Financial Times on Thursday that said OpenAI is on track to generate annualized revenue of roughly $50 billion based on its current performance.
Earnings optimism is a bullish factor for stock prices. According to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence, Q3 S&P 500 profits are expected to climb by +25% from a year earlier, up from a July estimate of 22%. Q3 earnings season begins next week when US money center banks report.
Nov WTI crude oil prices (CLX26) are down nearly -1% today after President Trump said the US would not attack Iran ahead of next month’s midterm elections, citing “productive discussions” with Iran. Losses in crude may be limited today as signs point to lower US crude output and threats to refining capacity. Roughly 1.28 million bpd of crude output, or 63% of US Gulf crude production, has been shut in, and Hurricane Isaias is expected to make landfall along the Gulf Coast later today or tomorrow, threatening 500,000 bpd of refining capacity. Also, due to Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the cost to ship oil out of the Middle East is soaring, with freight rates from the Middle East to China jumping to $1.4 million a day, the most on record.
Markets are discounting a 19% chance of a +25 bp Fed rate hike at the next FOMC meeting on October 27-28.
Overseas stock markets are mixed today. The Euro Stoxx 50 is up +1.18%. China's Shanghai Composite recovered from a 2.5-month low and closed up +0.05%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average closed down -0.02%.
Interest Rates
December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ6) are down by -7 ticks today. The 10-year T-note yield is up +3.0 bp to 5.257%. T-notes are under pressure today from stronger stocks, which curbs safe-haven demand for government debt. T-note losses are limited today, with WTI crude oil prices down nearly -1%, easing inflation expectations.
European government bond yields are moving lower today. The 10-year German bund yield is down -2.6 bp to 3.469%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is down -5.2 bp to 5.429%.
Italy's Aug industrial production fell -1.3% m/m, weaker than expectations of no change and the biggest decline in a year.
Markets are discounting a 11% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at the ECB’s next meeting on October 29.
US Stock Movers
Optical-equipment makers are rallying today after Lumentum Holdings said its components are “completely sold out” through 2029 on high demand from tech companies clamoring for faster AI data centers. Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) is up more than +9%, and Coherent (COHR) is up more than +8%. Also, Lumentum Holdings (LITE) is up more than +6% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100, and Fabrinet (FN) is up more than +3%.
Tower companies are gaining today after SpaceX said it had agreed to acquire a nationwide low-band spectrum license portfolio in a deal analysts say is a positive catalyst for the sector. Crown Castle (CCI) is up more than +11%, and American Tower (AMT) and SBA Communications (SBAC) are up more than -7%.
Humana (HUM) is up more than +14% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 and health insurance stocks higher after data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services showed improved ratings for the company’s Medicare Advantage contract, allowing it to earn bonus payments. Also, UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is up more than +3% to lead gainers in the Dow Jones Industrials, and Elevance Health (ELV) and Centene (CNC) are up more than +2%. In addition, Molina Healthcare (MOH), and the Cigna Group (CI) are up more than +1%.
Telecom stocks are retreating today after SpaceX said it had agreed to acquire a nationwide low-band spectrum license portfolio, which will increase competition from satellite operators. T-Mobile US (TMUS) is down more than -9% to lead losers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100. Also, AT&T (T) is down more than -7%, and Verizon Communications (VZ) is down more than -6%. In addition, Charter Communications (CHTR) is down more than -3%, and Comcast (CMCSA) is down more than -1%.
Delta Air Lines (DAL) is down more than -3% to lead airline stocks lower after cutting its full-year adjusted EPS forecast to $5.10 to $5.60 from a previous estimate of $6.50 to $7.50, the midpoint below the consensus of $5.44. Also, American Airlines Group (AAL), United Airlines Holdings (UAL), and Alaska Air Group (ALK) are down more than -2%, and Southwest Airlines (LUV) is down more than -1%.
Fastly (FSLY) is up more than +6% after Oppenheimer upgraded the stock to outperform from perform, with a price target of $35.
Cboe Global Markets (CBOE) is up more than +3% after Morgan Stanley double-upgraded the stock to overweight from underweight, with a price target of $358.
Apple (AAPL) is down more than -2% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials after cutting component orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max following weaker-than-expected demand. Skyworks Solutions (SWKS), a supplier of Apple, also dropped -6% on the news.
Earnings Reports (10/9/2026)
Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL), Hingham Institution For Savings (HIFS), Nurix Therapeutics Inc (NRIX).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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Stocks Push Higher as Crude Oil Prices Ease

In early trading on Friday, shares of Honeywell International topped the list of the day's best performing components of the Nasdaq 100 index, trading up 7.5%. Year to date, Honeywell International registers a 42.2% gain.
And the worst performing Nasdaq 100 component thus far on the day is T-Mobile, trading down 9.2%. T-Mobile US is lower by about 23.4% looking at the year to date performance.
Two other components making moves today are Astera Labs, trading down 4.3%, and Lumentum Holdings, trading up 3.6% on the day.

Nasdaq 100 Movers: TMUS, HONIV

Key Points
Both AT&T and T-Mobile offer yields that are far higher than the S&P 500 average.
These stocks are both down more than 10% in the past year, making them more attractive value buys.
Their recent quarterly results showcased solid growth in revenue and free cash flow.
Telecom stocks can be attractive options for multiple reasons. Their businesses are normally fairly stable, as they provide essential services, and thus, their financial performance will normally be fairly consistent from one period to the next. That stability can also make them excellent dividend investments, as consistently strong financial results can enable a business to reliably make regular payouts to its shareholders.
Two top telecom stocks that may be particularly enticing options for investors to consider these days are AT&T (NYSE:T) and T-Mobile US (NASDAQ:TMUS). They've both been struggling over the past year, but they can be attractive value-based investments that also can generate plenty of dividend income. Which dividend stock is the better buy today?
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AT&T offers a higher yield, but T-Mobile has recently raised its payout
A big benefit of buying AT&T stock right now is that at 4.5%, its yield is fairly high, well above the S&P 500 average of 1.1%. T-Mobile also offers an above-average yield, but at 2.8%, it's a fair bit lower than AT&T's.
However, unlike its rival, T-Mobile has been raising its dividend recently, and if that trend continues, the gap in yields may shrink over time. A growing dividend is also an encouraging sign for investors that the business is doing well. Last week, T-Mobile announced it would be raising its dividend by 15% -- a significant increase, as oftentimes dividend stocks announce more modest bumps to their payouts.
Meanwhile, AT&T hasn't increased its dividend since 2020.
Both businesses have been growing steadily
AT&T last reported earnings in July, and its revenue rose 2.3% for the second quarter, totaling $31.6 billion. Its free cash flow was also encouraging, as it totaled $4.7 billion for the period, up from $4.4 billion a year earlier. For dividend investors, these are the types of steady and solid numbers that highlight the overall stability of the business, and why the dividend looks safe. AT&T has paid out $8 billion in cash dividends over the course of an entire year, so if it's generating more than $4 billion on a quarterly basis, its dividend looks to be in solid shape.
T-Mobile also reported earnings in July, and its growth rate was a bit better, coming in at 7.9%, with revenue totaling $22.8 billion for the period. While its earnings were nearly unchanged, the company's adjusted free cash flow rose by 4% to $4.8 billion. Over the past four quarters, T-Mobile has paid out about $4.3 billion in dividends. Even with the hefty increase to its payout recently, its dividend also looks to be incredibly safe.
Which stock is the better value buy?
Telecom stocks haven't been hot buys over the past year, as AT&T has declined by 12% and T-Mobile has plummeted by around 30%. Worries about rising interest rates and about Space Exploration Technologies Corp, better known as SpaceX, disrupting the sector have weighed on these stocks.
T-Mobile has been generating more growth and thus commands a bit of a higher earnings multiple. But it's still fairly cheap. Currently, it's trading at a forward price-to-earnings multiple (based on analyst estimates) of just under 12. By comparison, AT&T stock trades at a slightly lower forward P/E multiple of 10.
AT&T, thus, is slightly cheaper, but it's also growing at a more modest pace.
Why I’d go with T-Mobile
Both AT&T and T-Mobile can make for solid income investments to buy today. However, I'd give the edge to T-Mobile. It's growing at a better rate, and a higher valuation is very well justifiable in that case.
While T-Mobile’s yield is lower than AT&T's, the gap is likely to shrink if it continues to increase its dividend, as it might given its strong free cash flow. Its decline has been more significant over the past year, but it was also trading at a far higher premium. From here on out, I believe it's in a good position to outperform AT&T.
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David Jagielski, CPA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends T-Mobile US. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

T-Mobile US, Inc.

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