AT&TT +0.49%74 ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % is 18.60% as of Mar. 2026, which is 2% above its 10-year median of 18.31. GuruFocus rates T with a GF Score™ of 74/100 and a GF Value™ of $23.64 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 364 Telecommunication Services companies, AT&T ranks better than 62.91% on this metric.
Joel Greenblatt defined Return on Capital differently in his book The Little Book That Still Beats the Market (Little Books. Big Profits). He defines ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % as EBIT divided by the total of Property, Plant and Equipment and net working capital. AT&T's annualized ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 18.60%.
The historical rank and industry rank for AT&T's ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % or its related term are showing as below:
T'
s ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 1.66 Med: 18.31 Max: 25.58
Current: 21.88
During the past 13 years, AT&T's highest ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % was 25.58%. The lowest was 1.66%. And the median was 18.31%.
T's ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % is ranked better than 62.91% of 364
companies
in the Telecommunication Services industry
Industry Median: 14.97
vs T: 21.88
AT&T's 5-Year average Growth Rate of ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % was 30.60% per year.
AT&T (NYSE:T) ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % Explanation
The way Joel Greenblatt defines Return on Capital is a more accurate measure of how efficiently the company generates returns onthe capital actually invested in the business. EBIT is used instead of net income because the tax and interest payment may be affected by factors other than the core business operation. Intangible assets are not included in the calculation because they don't need to be replaced.
The historical data trend for AT&T's ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % 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.
T vs VZ, TMUS, CMCSA: ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % Comparison
For the Telecom Services subindustry, AT&T's ROC (Joel Greenblatt) %, along with its competitors' market caps and ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
AT&T ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % vs Telecommunication Services Industry
For the Telecommunication Services industry and Communication Services sector, AT&T's ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where AT&T's ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % falls into.
Joel Greenblatt defined Return on Capital differently in his book The Little Book That Still Beats the Market (Little Books. Big Profits) . He defines Return on Capital as follows:
EBIT stands for Earnings Before Interest and Taxes.
Fixed Assets are also known as non-current assets. They include the Property, Plant and Equipment that the firm needs in its operation.
GuruFocus calculates net working capital as: (Accounts Receivable + Total Inventories + Other Current Assets) - (Accounts Payable & Accrued Expense + Deferred Revenue + Other Current Liabilities). We're trying to account for OPERATING assets and liabilities (part of daily business) when calculating working capital. Cash and marketable securities are considered NON-OPERATING assets and are not included in calculation. We will also back out all interest bearing debt, short term debt and the portion of long term debt that is due in the current period from the current liabilities. This debt will be considered when computing cost of capital and it would be inappropriate to count it twice.
Note:
The EBIT data used here is four times the quarterly (Mar. 2026) EBIT 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.
What does a ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % of 18.60% mean?
AT&T (T) has a ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % of 18.60% as of Mar. 2026. Joel Greenblatt's return on capital is the ratio of EBIT to average fixed assets and net working capital. View historical data on AT&T and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 18.31. Over the past decade, AT&T's ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % has ranged from 1.66 to 25.58. According to the industry distribution chart, AT&T ranks #135 out of 364 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry, placing it in the top 37.1%.
Is AT&T's ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % too high?
AT&T's current ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % of 18.60% is near median its 10-year median of 18.31. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 1.66 to a high of 25.58. The Telecommunication Services industry median ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % is 14.97. AT&T's value of 18.60% is 24.2% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, AT&T ranks #135 out of 364 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, AT&T has a GF Score™ of 74/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does AT&T's ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % compare to VZ and TMUS?
According to the Telecommunication Services industry distribution chart, AT&T ranks #135 out of 364 companies for ROC (Joel Greenblatt) %. This puts AT&T in the upper half of its industry. The industry median ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % is 14.97. AT&T's value of 18.60% is 24.2% above this benchmark. Historically, AT&T's own ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % has ranged from 1.66 to 25.58 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 18.31 vs. the industry median of 14.97, AT&T has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % for a Telecommunication Services company?
The median ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % among Telecommunication Services companies is 14.97, based on 364 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. AT&T's current ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % of 18.60% is 24.2% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % mean?
A high ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Joel Greenblatt's return on capital is the ratio of EBIT to average fixed assets and net working capital. View historical data on AT&T and its competitors. For the Telecommunication Services industry, the median ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % is 14.97 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. AT&T's current ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % is 18.60%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 18.31. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is AT&T stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, AT&T (T) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $23.64, compared to a current price of $20.58 — trading 12.9% below its estimated fair value. The current ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % is 18.60%, which is near median its 10-year median of 18.31 and 24.2% above the Telecommunication Services industry median of 14.97. AT&T's overall GF Score™ is 74/100 with 3 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % calculated?
ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For AT&T (T), the current ROC (Joel Greenblatt) % is 18.60% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is AT&T (T) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, AT&T stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $20.58 is trading 12.9% below its estimated GF Value™ of $23.64.
GuruFocus considers AT&T to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for T:
ROC (Joel Greenblatt) %: 18.60% (near median its 10-year median of 18.31)
GF Value™: $23.64 vs. price of $20.58 (12.9% below fair value)
Industry Position: 24.2% above the Telecommunication Services median (#135 of 364)
No single metric tells the full story. See the T stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
The wireless business contributes nearly 70% of AT&T's revenue. The company is the third-largest US wireless carrier, connecting 74 million postpaid and 17 million prepaid phone customers. Fixed-line enterprise services, which account for about 14% of revenue, include internet access, private networking, security, voice, and wholesale network capacity. Residential services, about 11% of revenue, primarily consist of in-home broadband internet access, serving 15 million customers. AT&T also has a sizable presence in Mexico, with 25 million wireless customers, but this business only accounts for 3% of revenue. The company recently sold its 70% equity stake in satellite television provider DirecTV to its partner, private equity firm TPG.
74GF Score
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