GURUFOCUS.COM » STOCK LIST » Communication Services » Telecommunication Services » AT&T Inc (NYSE:T) » Definitions » ROC %

AT&T (T) ROC %

: 5.35% (As of Dec. 2023)
View and export this data going back to 1946. Start your Free Trial

ROC % measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. It is also called ROIC %. AT&T's annualized return on capital (ROC %) for the quarter that ended in Dec. 2023 was 5.35%.

As of today (2024-04-16), AT&T's WACC % is 5.18%. AT&T's ROC % is 5.01% (calculated using TTM income statement data). AT&T earns returns that do not match up to its cost of capital. It will destroy value as it grows.


AT&T ROC % Historical Data

The historical data trend for AT&T's ROC % can be seen below:

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

* Premium members only.

AT&T Annual Data
Trend Dec14 Dec15 Dec16 Dec17 Dec18 Dec19 Dec20 Dec21 Dec22 Dec23
ROC %
Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 4.70 6.76 4.36 11.62 5.04

AT&T Quarterly Data
Mar19 Jun19 Sep19 Dec19 Mar20 Jun20 Sep20 Dec20 Mar21 Jun21 Sep21 Dec21 Mar22 Jun22 Sep22 Dec22 Mar23 Jun23 Sep23 Dec23
ROC % Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 5.69 4.79 5.08 5.05 5.35

AT&T ROC % Calculation

AT&T's annualized Return on Capital (ROC %) for the fiscal year that ended in Dec. 2023 is calculated as:

ROC % (A: Dec. 2023 )
=NOPAT/Average Invested Capital
=Operating Income * ( 1 - Tax Rate % )/( (Invested Capital (A: Dec. 2022 ) + Invested Capital (A: Dec. 2023 ))/ count )
=24654 * ( 1 - 21.29% )/( (385103 + 384488)/ 2 )
=19405.1634/384795.5
=5.04 %

where

AT&T's annualized Return on Capital (ROC %) for the quarter that ended in Dec. 2023 is calculated as:

ROC % (Q: Dec. 2023 )
=NOPAT/Average Invested Capital
=Operating Income * ( 1 - Tax Rate % )/( (Invested Capital (Q: Sep. 2023 ) + Invested Capital (Q: Dec. 2023 ))/ count )
=23440 * ( 1 - 12.06% )/( (386083 + 384488)/ 2 )
=20613.136/385285.5
=5.35 %

where

Note: The Operating Income data used here is four times the quarterly (Dec. 2023) data.

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.


AT&T  (NYSE:T) ROC % Explanation

ROC % measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. It is also called ROIC %. The reason book values of debt and equity are used is because the book values are the capital the company received when issuing the debt or receiving the equity investments.

There are four key components to this definition. The first is the use of operating income or EBIT rather than net income in the numerator. The second is the tax adjustment to this operating income or EBIT, computed as a hypothetical tax based on an effective or marginal tax rate. The third is the use of book values for invested capital, rather than market values. The final is the timing difference; the capital invested is from the end of the prior year whereas the operating income or EBIT is the current year's number.

Why is ROC % important?

Because it costs money to raise capital. A firm that generates higher returns on investment than it costs the company to raise the capital needed for that investment is earning excess returns. A firm that expects to continue generating positive excess returns on new investments in the future will see its value increase as growth increases, whereas a firm that earns returns that do not match up to its cost of capital will destroy value as it grows.

As of today, AT&T's WACC % is 5.18%. AT&T's ROC % is 5.01% (calculated using TTM income statement data). AT&T earns returns that do not match up to its cost of capital. It will destroy value as it grows.


Be Aware

Like ROE % and ROA %, ROC % is calculated with only 12 months of data. Fluctuations in the company's earnings or business cycles can affect the ratio drastically. It is important to look at the ratio from a long term perspective.


AT&T ROC % Related Terms

Thank you for viewing the detailed overview of AT&T's ROC % provided by GuruFocus.com. Please click on the following links to see related term pages.


AT&T (T) Business Description

Address
208 S. Akard Street, Dallas, TX, USA, 75202
The wireless business contributes about two thirds of AT&T's revenue following the spinoff of Warner Media. The firm is the third-largest U.S. wireless carrier, connecting 70 million postpaid and 18 million prepaid phone customers. Fixed-line enterprise services, which account for about 18% of revenue, include internet access, private networking, security, voice, and wholesale network capacity. Residential fixed-line services, about 11% of revenue, primarily consist of broadband internet access service. AT&T also has a sizable presence in Mexico, serving 22 million customers, but this business only accounts for 3% of revenue. The firm still holds a 70% equity stake in satellite television provider DirecTV but does not consolidate this business in its financial statements.
Executives
Sanders S Sabrina officer: SVP-ChiefActngOfcr&Controller 208 S. AKARD ST., 29TH FLOOR, DALLAS TX 75202
Debra L. Dial officer: SVP-ChiefActngOfcr&Controller 208 S. AKARD, 29TH FLOOR, DALLAS TX 75202
Jeremy Alan Legg officer: Chief Technology Officer 208 S. AKARD STREET, DALLAS TX 75202
Kenny Kellyn Smith officer: Chief Marketing & Growth Ofcr 208 S. AKARD ST, 29TH FLOOR, DALLAS TX 75202
Edward W Gillespie officer: SrEVP-Ext & Legal Affairs 208 S. AKARD, DALLAS TX 75202
Angela Santone officer: Sr. Exec VP-Human Resources 208 S. AKARD ST, DALLAS TX 75202
Jeffery S. Mcelfresh officer: CEO, AT&T Communications, LLC 208 S. AKARD, 29TH FLOOR, DALLAS TX 75202
Mcatee David R Ii officer: Sr. Exec. VP and Gen. Counsel 208 S. AKARD, 29TH FLOOR, DALLAS TX 75202
David S. Huntley officer: SEVP&Chief Compliance Officer 208 S. AKARD, ROOM 2900;07, DALLAS TX 75202
Lori M Lee officer: CEO-AT&T LatAm&GlobalMktgOfcr 208 S. AKARD ST., 29TH FLOOR, DALLAS TX 75202
Pascal Desroches officer: Sr. Exec VP and CFO AT&T INC., 208 S AKARD STREET, DALLAS TX 75202
Stephen J Luczo director
Luis A Ubinas director 209 REDWOOD SHORES PARKWAY, REDWOOD CITY CA 94065-1175
John T Stankey officer: Sr. Exec. VP and CIO 208 S. AKARD ST., 29TH FLOOR, DALLAS TX 75202
Jason Kilar officer: CEO, Warner Media, LLC 208 S. AKARD ST, DALLAS TX 75202