SOTS 2nd Hour: AT&T's New Strategic Plan, Record Holiday Shopping 12/3/24
Dec 3, 2024
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John Stanky, CEO of AT&T, shares insights on the company's ambitious strategic plan that focuses on expanding 5G and fiber networks to over 50 million locations by 2029. He discusses plans to divest from DirecTV to enhance AT&T's connectivity position and the challenges of meeting growing bandwidth demands. The conversation also touches on competitive telecom dynamics, the role of AI, and customer desires for simplicity in service. Alongside this, trends in holiday shopping reveal how retail is adapting to changing market conditions.
Current market dynamics indicate optimism regarding job growth and potential Federal Reserve rate cuts due to changing investor sentiment.
AT&T's strategic plan focuses on enhancing fiber infrastructure and customer satisfaction to ensure long-term growth and operational efficiency.
Deep dives
Market Overview and Economic Indicators
Current market dynamics show a slight pullback for stocks following record closes for the S&P 500, with notable strengths in sectors like communication services and technology. The latest data reported a job openings figure of 7.744 million, surpassing expectations and highlighting a potential rebound in the job market. This rebound coincides with a decrease in treasury yields, currently below 4.2%, which suggests a shift in investor sentiment. Financial analysts focus on how upcoming job reports could influence Federal Reserve policies, particularly regarding interest rates and inflation.
Federal Reserve's Approach to Inflation and Employment
Federal Reserve Governor Waller compared combating inflation to an MMA fighter struggling to maintain control, indicating ongoing challenges although he anticipated a December rate cut could be on the horizon. Despite signs of softness in the labor market, with job openings decreasing from previous highs, Waller emphasized that current monetary policy remains adequately restrictive. Market predictions for job growth in November are cautiously optimistic, estimating around 207,000 jobs added, following a weak October due to external factors like labor strikes. These dynamics suggest a delicate balance as the Fed assesses inflation versus employment, with upcoming data remaining crucial.
Earnings Growth Projections for Major Companies
Goldman Sachs projects significant earnings growth with expectations of 11% for 2025 and a narrowing performance gap between the MAG-7 and the broader market, emphasizing a shift in focus from multiple expansions to earnings growth. Analysts note that the MAG-7, which had a robust earnings growth forecast of 33%, is expected to see the growth rate slow while market-wide earnings will gradually improve. This trend indicates that while the MAG-7 may still outperform, the margin is narrowing significantly compared to prior years. As a result, employing an equal-weighted S&P index may prove to be a sound strategy for long-term investment.
AT&T's Strategic Focus and Growth Projections
AT&T's CEO John Stanky detailed the company's ambitions to solidify its position within the connectivity market by enhancing its fiber infrastructure, targeting to cover over 50 million locations by 2029. The strategic pivot emphasizes not only service integration across wireless and broadband offerings but also a commitment to improving customer satisfaction and lifetime value per account. Stanky dismissed concerns regarding competition from emerging technologies, asserting that fiber's performance remains unparalleled compared to satellite broadband solutions. Additionally, AT&T seeks to achieve operational efficiency, projecting significant cost savings and maintaining a stable dividend to reflect confidence in long-term growth.
The second hour of CNBC’s "Squawk on the Street" with Carl Quintanilla and Sara Eisen is broadcast each weekday from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, with the up-to-the-minute news investors need to know and interviews with the most influential CEOs and greatest market minds.