07:56 AM EST, 12/03/2024 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with additional details from the fifth paragraph.)
AT&T (T) said Tuesday that it expects more than $50 billion of free cash flow over the next three years and will return at least $40 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks.
The company said it plans to maintain its current annualized dividend of $1.11 per share, which will result in over $20 billion in total dividend payments and leave about $20 billion for share repurchases.
AT&T's board already authorized an initial tranche of around $10 billion in repurchases, the company said. The other $10 billion tranche is expected to be authorized in 2027.
The first tranche is expected to commence when the company reaches its target of net-debt-to-adjusted EBITDA in the 2.5x range in the first half of 2025 and conclude by the end of 2026.
The telecommunications giant said it now expects 2024 adjusted EPS of $2.20 to $2.25, up from its previous EPS guidance of $2.15 to $2.25. Analysts polled by FactSet expect $2.21.
The company also said it expects 2024 wireless revenue growth of 3% and broadband revenue growth of more than 7%.