AT&T LOSES $1.7 BILLION IN 4TH QUARTER, WIRELESS REVENUE RISES
Not surprisingly, AT&T posted significant loss Mon. as it continued to face falling prices in long distance business and dealt with expenses in its broadband unit involving acquisition of MediaOne and impact of its investment in Excite@Home. Despite sharp decline, AT&T’s results were within analysts’ expectations for beleaguered company that’s in midst of restructuring itself. Bright spot was 39% revenue growth in company’s wireless unit, which it plans to spin off this year.
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AT&T had net loss of $1.7 billion in 4th quarter, compared with $1.2 billion profit in same quarter year earlier. Adjusted for special items such as MediaOne and Excite@Home costs, quarterly earnings dropped to $978 million from $1.72 billion year before. Revenue increased 3% to $16.9 billion but costs rose more than 50% to $21.2 billion. By unit in quarter: (1) Business revenue edged up 0.7% on strong growth in data and Internet protocol services but decline in long distance. Chmn. Michael Armstrong said in conference call with analysts that growth was almost 20% when long distance piece of business services was excluded. (2) Consumer revenue dropped 14.7%, reflecting long distance woes. (3) Broadband increased 11.8%. (4) AT&T Wireless revenue climbed 39.1% to $2.97 billion in the quarter, with similar 37% jump to $10.45 billion in year.
AT&T Wireless added 865,000 wireless customers in quarter and more than 2.5 million for full year, for total of 15.2 million. It still plans to spin off that unit into separate entity by midyear, spending $5 billion on capital expenditures, including for 3rd-generation wireless and existing network. Capital expenditures for fixed wireless will total about $450 million in 2001. AT&T Wireless Group Chmn.-CEO John Zeglis, in separate conference call with analysts, stopped short of saying AT&T Wireless had no interest in FCC’s upcoming 700 MHz auction. “We are declared at 1.9 [GHz] and we have the big expenditures behind us,” he said of company’s spectrum spending.
Zeglis declined to provide details of spectrum swap AT&T Wireless agreed to with Sprint PCS before start of C-block auction, saying markets would be outlined when disclosures were made at FCC. Swap was “one of the reasons we were able to do well in the auction,” he said. AT&T Wireless dropped out of auction as standalone bidder, but has non-controlling, 39.9% stake in designated entity Alaska Native Wireless (ANW), which won spectrum in key markets such as N.Y. “Essentially we will be in a venture relationship with ANW,” he said. As for $9.8 billion investment Japan’s NTT DoCoMo made in AT&T Wireless last year, Zeglis said some of wireless data services that carrier had capitalized on in Japan would be available toward end of year in U.S., although not under i-mode name. “You won’t be seeing a full suite of generally enhanced and differentiated services until some time in 2002,” he said.
Armstrong said there essentially were “2 AT&Ts:” (1) One is long distance unit, which faces “downward pressure” from such factors as Bell company entry into long distance, growth of IP, migration to lower-priced optional calling plans and 4th-quarter toll-free 800 revenue lower than traditionally posted. He said 800 revenues typically peaked in Christmas selling season as users called catalogs to order gifts. This year, more people used Internet to order gifts and 800 calling didn’t rise as high, he said. (2) Other is “growth businesses” such as wireless and broadband services where company “met our targets,” he said.
Company also issued financial projections for year, including continued decline in consumer long distance service and flat revenue for AT&T Business. However, AT&T expects sales growth in mid teens for broadband cable segment due to increase in customers. It said it would hold its annual meeting May 23 but there also would be special shareholder meeting in mid or late summer to vote on establishing AT&T Broadband and AT&T Consumer tracking stock. Armstrong told analysts that AT&T’s reciprocal compensation revenue “continues to decline” and impact probably would be seen this year.
AFL-CIO issued statement questioning AT&T’s decision to break up company to solve financial problems reflected in earnings results. “Today’s disappointing earnings announcement by AT&T further highlights the need for shareholders to examine AT&T’s long-term business strategy to enhance shareholder value,” AFL-CIO Secy.-Treas. Richard Trumka said. He said group would hold conference call for AT&T institutional shareholders and analysts at 1 p.m. Feb. 8 to discuss company’s future. To participate, call AFL-CIO -- 202-637-3900.