Here's what key metrics tell us about AT&T's (T) third-quarter earnings

For the quarter ended September 2024, AT&T (T) reported revenue of $30.21 billion, down 0.5% from the same period last year. Earnings per share were $0.60, compared to $0.64 in the year-ago quarter.

Reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $30.55 billion, representing a surprise of -1.10%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +1.69%, with the consensus EPS estimate coming in at $0.59.

As investors closely scrutinize year-over-year sales and earnings changes and how they compare to Wall Street's expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always provide a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

Since these key figures influence sales and profit development, a comparison with the previous year's figures and analysts' estimates helps investors to predict the price development of a share more precisely.

Here is AT&T's performance in the just-reported quarter on the metrics most commonly watched and forecast by Wall Street analysts:

• Consumer Wireline – Non-fiber broadband connections: 4.84 million compared to the average estimate of 4.87 million based on four analysts.

• Consumer Wireline – Broadband Connections – Total: 13.86 million versus an average of 13.93 million estimated by four analysts.

• Consumer Wireline – fiber optic broadband network access: 226K compared to the average estimate of 261.95K based on four analysts.

• Consumer Wireline – Fiber optic broadband connections: 9.02 million versus four analysts' average estimate of 9.06 million.

• Revenue – Communication – Business Wireline: $4.61 billion compared to the average estimate of $4.67 billion based on five analysts. The reported figure represents a change of -11.8% year-on-year.

• Revenue – Communications – Consumer Wireline: $3.42 billion versus five analysts' average estimate of $3.43 billion. The reported figure represents a change of +2.6% compared to the previous year.

• Revenue – Corporate and Other: $117 million versus an average of $116.35 million estimated by five analysts. Compared to the same quarter last year, this figure represents a change of +2.6%.

• Sales – communication – mobility: $21.05 billion compared to the average estimate of $21.20 billion based on five analysts. The reported figure represents a change of +1.7% year-on-year.

• Revenue – overall communication: $29.07 billion versus five analysts' average estimate of $29.30 billion. The reported figure represents a change of -0.6% compared to the previous year.

• Revenue – Latin America: $1.02 billion versus an average of $1.13 billion estimated by five analysts. Compared to the same quarter last year, this figure represents a change of +3%.

• Sales – Latin America – Wireless Equipment: $377 million versus four analysts' average estimate of $391.82 million. The reported figure represents a change of +17.8% compared to the previous year.

• Revenue – Latin America – Mobile Service: $645 million versus four analysts' average estimate of $731.04 million. The reported figure represents a -4% change from the previous year.

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