| Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Dividend Payout Ratio | |||||||||||||||||
| Dollars in millions | |||||||||||||||||
| Fourth Quarter | Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities1 | $ | 11,254 | $ | 10,082 | $ | 41,957 | $ | 43,130 | |||||||||
| Add: Distributions from DIRECTV classified as investing activities | 1,323 | — | 1,323 | — | |||||||||||||
| Less: Capital expenditures | (3,831) | (2,392) | (16,527) | (15,675) | |||||||||||||
| Free Cash Flow | 8,746 | 7,690 | 26,753 | 27,455 | |||||||||||||
| Less: Dividends paid | (3,749) | (3,741) | (15,068) | (14,956) | |||||||||||||
| Free Cash Flow after Dividends | $ | 4,997 | $ | 3,949 | $ | 11,685 | $ | 12,499 | |||||||||
| Free Cash Flow Dividend Payout Ratio | 42.9 | % | 48.6 | % | 56.3 | % | 54.5 | % | |||||||||
1Includes distributions from DIRECTV of $489 in the fourth quarter and $619 for the year ended December 31, 2021. Total distributions from DIRECTV were $1,812 in the fourth quarter and $1,942 for the year ended December 31, 2021. | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash Paid for Capital Investment | |||||||||||||||||
| Dollars in millions | |||||||||||||||||
| Fourth Quarter | Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||
| Capital Expenditures | $ | (3,831) | $ | (2,392) | $ | (16,527) | $ | (15,675) | |||||||||
| Cash paid for vendor financing | (583) | (1,001) | (4,596) | (2,966) | |||||||||||||
| Cash paid for Capital Investment | $ | (4,414) | $ | (3,393) | $ | (21,123) | $ | (18,641) | |||||||||
| FirstNet reimbursement | (515) | (920) | (515) | (1,063) | |||||||||||||
| Gross Capital Investment | $ | (4,929) | $ | (4,313) | $ | (21,638) | $ | (19,704) | |||||||||
| EBITDA, EBITDA Margin and EBITDA Service Margin | |||||||||||||||||
| Dollars in millions | |||||||||||||||||
| Fourth Quarter | Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 5,390 | $ | (13,515) | $ | 21,479 | $ | (3,821) | |||||||||
| Additions: | |||||||||||||||||
| Income Tax Expense | 1,056 | (2,038) | 5,468 | 965 | |||||||||||||
| Interest Expense | 1,663 | 1,894 | 6,884 | 7,925 | |||||||||||||
| Equity in Net (Income) Loss of Affiliates | (447) | (106) | (631) | (95) | |||||||||||||
| Other (Income) Expense - Net | (2,354) | 3,020 | (9,853) | 1,431 | |||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 5,673 | 6,979 | 22,862 | 28,516 | |||||||||||||
| EBITDA | 10,981 | (3,766) | 46,209 | 34,921 | |||||||||||||
| Merger costs and revenue adjustments | 132 | 37 | 299 | 468 | |||||||||||||
| Employee separation costs and benefit-related (gain) loss | — | 253 | 57 | 1,177 | |||||||||||||
| Impairments | 188 | 16,365 | 4,904 | 18,880 | |||||||||||||
| Gain on spectrum transactions | — | — | — | (900) | |||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA1 | $ | 11,301 | $ | 12,889 | $ | 51,469 | $ | 54,546 | |||||||||
1 See page 5 for additional discussion and reconciliation of adjusted items. | |||||||||||||||||
| Segment and Business Unit EBITDA, EBITDA Margin and EBITDA Service Margin | |||||||||||||||||
| Dollars in millions | |||||||||||||||||
| Fourth Quarter | Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||
| Communications Segment | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating Contribution | $ | 6,451 | $ | 6,360 | $ | 28,279 | $ | 28,313 | |||||||||
| Additions: | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 4,156 | 4,062 | 16,409 | 16,216 | |||||||||||||
| EBITDA | 10,607 | 10,422 | 44,688 | 44,529 | |||||||||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 30,206 | 29,486 | 114,730 | 109,965 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Income Margin | 21.4 | % | 21.6 | % | 24.6 | % | 25.7 | % | |||||||||
| EBITDA Margin | 35.1 | % | 35.3 | % | 39.0 | % | 40.5 | % | |||||||||
| Mobility | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating Contribution | $ | 5,353 | $ | 5,088 | $ | 23,312 | $ | 22,372 | |||||||||
| Additions: | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 2,050 | 2,008 | 8,122 | 8,086 | |||||||||||||
| EBITDA | 7,403 | 7,096 | 31,434 | 30,458 | |||||||||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 21,146 | 20,119 | 78,254 | 72,564 | |||||||||||||
| Service Revenues | 14,669 | 14,022 | 57,590 | 55,542 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Income Margin | 25.3 | % | 25.3 | % | 29.8 | % | 30.8 | % | |||||||||
| EBITDA Margin | 35.0 | % | 35.3 | % | 40.2 | % | 42.0 | % | |||||||||
| EBITDA Service Margin | 50.5 | % | 50.6 | % | 54.6 | % | 54.8 | % | |||||||||
| Business Wireline | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating Contribution | $ | 897 | $ | 997 | $ | 3,990 | $ | 4,564 | |||||||||
| Additions: | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 1,317 | 1,316 | 5,192 | 5,216 | |||||||||||||
| EBITDA | 2,214 | 2,313 | 9,182 | 9,780 | |||||||||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 5,901 | 6,251 | 23,937 | 25,083 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Income Margin | 15.2 | % | 15.9 | % | 16.7 | % | 18.2 | % | |||||||||
| EBITDA Margin | 37.5 | % | 37.0 | % | 38.4 | % | 39.0 | % | |||||||||
| Consumer Wireline | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating Contribution | $ | 201 | $ | 275 | $ | 977 | $ | 1,377 | |||||||||
| Additions: | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 789 | 738 | 3,095 | 2,914 | |||||||||||||
| EBITDA | 990 | 1,013 | 4,072 | 4,291 | |||||||||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 3,159 | 3,116 | 12,539 | 12,318 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Income Margin | 6.4 | % | 8.8 | % | 7.8 | % | 11.2 | % | |||||||||
| EBITDA Margin | 31.3 | % | 32.5 | % | 32.5 | % | 34.8 | % | |||||||||
| Segment and Business Unit EBITDA, EBITDA Margin and EBITDA Service Margin | |||||||||||||||||
| Dollars in millions | |||||||||||||||||
| Fourth Quarter | Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||
| WarnerMedia Segment | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating Contribution | $ | 1,573 | $ | 2,529 | $ | 7,277 | $ | 8,210 | |||||||||
| Additions: | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity in Net (Income) Loss of Affiliates | 6 | 13 | (38) | (18) | |||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 165 | 177 | 656 | 671 | |||||||||||||
| EBITDA | 1,744 | 2,719 | 7,895 | 8,863 | |||||||||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 9,873 | 8,554 | 35,632 | 30,442 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Income Margin | 16.0 | % | 29.7 | % | 20.3 | % | 26.9 | % | |||||||||
| EBITDA Margin | 17.7 | % | 31.8 | % | 22.2 | % | 29.1 | % | |||||||||
| Segment and Business Unit EBITDA, EBITDA Margin and EBITDA Service Margin | |||||||||||||||||
| Dollars in millions | |||||||||||||||||
| Fourth Quarter | Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||
| Latin America Segment | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating Contribution | $ | (80) | $ | (167) | $ | (430) | $ | (729) | |||||||||
| Additions: | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity in Net (Income) Loss of Affiliates | 1 | 2 | (6) | (24) | |||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 153 | 260 | 836 | 1,033 | |||||||||||||
| EBITDA | 74 | 95 | 400 | 280 | |||||||||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 1,063 | 1,498 | 5,354 | 5,716 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Income Margin | -7.4 | % | -11.0 | % | -8.1 | % | -13.2 | % | |||||||||
| EBITDA Margin | 7.0 | % | 6.3 | % | 7.5 | % | 4.9 | % | |||||||||
| Mexico | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating Contribution | $ | (117) | $ | (126) | $ | (510) | $ | (587) | |||||||||
| Additions: | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 153 | 140 | 605 | 513 | |||||||||||||
| EBITDA | 36 | 14 | 95 | (74) | |||||||||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 704 | 736 | 2,747 | 2,562 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Income Margin | -16.6 | % | -17.1 | % | -18.6 | % | -22.9 | % | |||||||||
| EBITDA Margin | 5.1 | % | 1.9 | % | 3.5 | % | -2.9 | % | |||||||||
| Adjusting Items | |||||||||||||||||
| Dollars in millions | |||||||||||||||||
| Fourth Quarter | Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating Expenses | |||||||||||||||||
| Merger costs | 132 | 37 | 299 | 468 | |||||||||||||
Employee separation costs and benefit-related (gain) loss1 | — | 253 | 57 | 1,177 | |||||||||||||
| Asset impairments and abandonment | 188 | 16,365 | 4,904 | 18,880 | |||||||||||||
| Gain (loss) on spectrum transaction | — | — | — | (900) | |||||||||||||
| Adjustments to Operations and Support Expenses | 320 | 16,655 | 5,260 | 19,625 | |||||||||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 1,021 | 1,890 | 4,233 | 8,012 | |||||||||||||
| Impairments | — | 14 | — | 14 | |||||||||||||
| Adjustments to Operating Expenses | 1,341 | 18,559 | 9,493 | 27,651 | |||||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||||||||
| DIRECTV intangible amortization (proportionate share) | 434 | — | 826 | — | |||||||||||||
| (Gain) loss on sale of assets | 172 | 43 | (660) | (50) | |||||||||||||
| Debt redemption, impairments and other adjustments | 22 | (29) | 235 | 1,735 | |||||||||||||
| Actuarial (gain) loss | (1,119) | 4,106 | (4,140) | 4,169 | |||||||||||||
Employee benefit-related (gain) loss1 | — | (149) | — | (172) | |||||||||||||
| Adjustments to Income Before Income Taxes | 850 | 22,530 | 5,754 | 33,333 | |||||||||||||
| Tax impact of adjustments | (40) | 3,186 | 580 | 4,977 | |||||||||||||
| Tax-related items | 264 | 41 | 505 | 41 | |||||||||||||
| Impairment attributable to noncontrolling interest | — | — | 81 | 105 | |||||||||||||
| Adjustments to Net Income | $ | 626 | $ | 19,303 | $ | 4,588 | $ | 28,210 | |||||||||
1Mark-to-market gains and losses on benefit-related investments were adjusted in 2020 reflecting more significant market volatility and uncertainty experienced as a result of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Benefit-related investment gains were approximately $160 and $430 in the fourth quarter and for the year ended December 31, 2021, and $205 and $330 in the fourth quarter and for the year ended December 31, 2020. | |||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income Margin, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin | |||||||||||||||||
| Dollars in millions | |||||||||||||||||
| Fourth Quarter | Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating Income | $ | 5,308 | $ | (10,745) | $ | 23,347 | $ | 6,405 | |||||||||
| Adjustments to Operating Expenses | 1,341 | 18,559 | 9,493 | 27,651 | |||||||||||||
| Adjusted Operating Income | 6,649 | 7,814 | 32,840 | 34,056 | |||||||||||||
| EBITDA | 10,981 | (3,766) | 46,209 | 34,921 | |||||||||||||
| Adjustments to Operations and Support Expenses | 320 | 16,655 | 5,260 | 19,625 | |||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | 11,301 | 12,889 | 51,469 | 54,546 | |||||||||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 40,958 | 45,691 | 168,864 | 171,760 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Income Margin | 13.0 | % | (23.5) | % | 13.8 | % | 3.7 | % | |||||||||
| Adjusted Operating Income Margin | 16.2 | % | 17.1 | % | 19.4 | % | 19.8 | % | |||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA Margin | 27.6 | % | 28.2 | % | 30.5 | % | 31.8 | % | |||||||||
| Adjusted Diluted EPS | |||||||||||||||||
| Fourth Quarter | Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) | $ | 0.69 | $ | (1.95) | $ | 2.76 | $ | (0.75) | |||||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 0.12 | 0.22 | 0.47 | 0.90 | |||||||||||||
| DIRECTV intangible amortization (proportionate share) | 0.05 | — | 0.09 | — | |||||||||||||
| Impairments | 0.02 | 2.02 | 0.56 | 2.37 | |||||||||||||
| (Gain) loss on sale of assets | 0.04 | 0.03 | (0.05) | 0.02 | |||||||||||||
Actuarial (gain) loss 1 | (0.12) | 0.43 | (0.43) | 0.44 | |||||||||||||
| Debt redemption, merger and other adjustments | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.07 | 0.21 | |||||||||||||
| Tax-related items | (0.04) | (0.01) | (0.07) | (0.01) | |||||||||||||
| Adjusted EPS | $ | 0.78 | $ | 0.75 | $ | 3.40 | $ | 3.18 | |||||||||
| Year-over-year growth - Adjusted | 4.0 | % | 6.9 | % | |||||||||||||
| Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding with Dilution (000,000) | 7,204 | 7,176 | 7,199 | 7,183 | |||||||||||||
1Includes adjustments for actuarial gains or losses associated with our postemployment benefit plans, which we immediately recognize in the income statement, pursuant to our accounting policy for the recognition of actuarial gains/losses. We recorded total net actuarial gain of $4.1 billion in 2021. As a result, adjusted EPS reflects an expected return on plan assets of $3.7 billion (based on an average expected return on plan assets of 6.75% for our pension trust and 4.50% for our VEBA trusts), rather than the actual return on plan assets of $5.9 billion gain (actual pension return of 11.4% and VEBA return of 6.3%), included in the GAAP measure of income. | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Debt to Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA - 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dollars in millions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March. 31 | June 30, | Sept. 30, | Dec. 31, | Four Quarters | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 1 | 2021 1 | 2021 1 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 13,564 | $ | 13,585 | $ | 13,019 | $ | 11,301 | $ | 51,469 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Historical Video | (1,065) | (1,364) | (418) | — | (2,847) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Add: WarnerMedia sale of DIRECTV advertising | 349 | 372 | 99 | — | 820 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Add: WarnerMedia/DIRECTV revenue share | (271) | (287) | (78) | — | (636) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Historical Vrio | (82) | (89) | (96) | (38) | (305) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA | 12,495 | 12,217 | 12,526 | 11,263 | 48,501 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| End-of-period current debt | 24,630 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| End-of-period long-term debt | 152,724 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total End-of-Period Debt | 177,354 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Cash and Cash Equivalents | 21,169 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Debt Balance | 156,185 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annualized Net Debt to Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA Ratio 2 | 3.22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1Adjusted EBITDA as reported in AT&T's Form 8-K filed April 22, 2021, July 22, 2021 and October 21, 2021. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2Annualized Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio of 3.03 (excluding pro forma). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA - 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dollars in millions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 31, | June 30, | Sept. 30, | Dec. 31, | Four Quarters | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020 1 | 2020 1 | 2020 1 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 14,232 | $ | 14,112 | $ | 13,313 | $ | 12,889 | $ | 54,546 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| End-of-period current debt | 3,470 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| End-of-period long-term debt | 153,775 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total End-of-Period Debt | 157,245 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Cash and Cash Equivalents | 9,740 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Debt Balance | 147,505 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Annualized Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio | 2.70 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1As reported in AT&T's Form 8-K filed April 22, 2020, July 23, 2020, and October 22, 2020. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supplemental Operational Measure | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fourth Quarter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mobility | Business Wireline | Adjustments1 | Business Solutions | Mobility | Business Wireline | Adjustments1 | Business Solutions | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Revenues | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wireless service | $ | 14,669 | $ | — | $ | (12,561) | $ | 2,108 | $ | 14,022 | $ | — | $ | (12,074) | $ | 1,948 | |||||||||||||
| Wireline services | — | 5,727 | — | 5,727 | — | 6,042 | — | 6,042 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Wireless equipment | 6,477 | — | (5,447) | 1,030 | 6,097 | — | (5,172) | 925 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Wireline equipment | — | 174 | — | 174 | — | 209 | — | 209 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 21,146 | 5,901 | (18,008) | 9,039 | 20,119 | 6,251 | (17,246) | 9,124 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operations and support | 13,743 | 3,687 | (11,419) | 6,011 | 13,023 | 3,938 | (10,926) | 6,035 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| EBITDA | 7,403 | 2,214 | (6,589) | 3,028 | 7,096 | 2,313 | (6,320) | 3,089 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 2,050 | 1,317 | (1,700) | 1,667 | 2,008 | 1,316 | (1,686) | 1,638 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 15,793 | 5,004 | (13,119) | 7,678 | 15,031 | 5,254 | (12,612) | 7,673 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Income | 5,353 | 897 | (4,889) | 1,361 | 5,088 | 997 | (4,634) | 1,451 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Contribution | $ | 5,353 | $ | 897 | $ | (4,889) | $ | 1,361 | $ | 5,088 | $ | 997 | $ | (4,634) | $ | 1,451 | |||||||||||||
1Non-business wireless reported in the Communication segment under the Mobility business unit. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supplemental Operational Measure | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mobility | Business Wireline | Adjustments1 | Business Solutions | Mobility | Business Wireline | Adjustments1 | Business Solutions | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Revenues | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wireless service | $ | 57,590 | $ | — | $ | (49,429) | $ | 8,161 | $ | 55,542 | $ | — | $ | (47,810) | $ | 7,732 | |||||||||||||
| Wireline service | — | 23,224 | — | 23,224 | — | 24,313 | — | 24,313 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Wireless equipment | 20,664 | — | (17,250) | 3,414 | 17,022 | — | (14,140) | 2,882 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Wireline equipment | — | 713 | — | 713 | — | 770 | — | 770 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 78,254 | 23,937 | (66,679) | 35,512 | 72,564 | 25,083 | (61,950) | 35,697 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operations and support | 46,820 | 14,755 | (38,749) | 22,826 | 42,106 | 15,303 | (34,927) | 22,482 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| EBITDA | 31,434 | 9,182 | (27,930) | 12,686 | 30,458 | 9,780 | (27,023) | 13,215 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 8,122 | 5,192 | (6,744) | 6,570 | 8,086 | 5,216 | (6,802) | 6,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 54,942 | 19,947 | (45,493) | 29,396 | 50,192 | 20,519 | (41,729) | 28,982 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Income | 23,312 | 3,990 | (21,186) | 6,116 | 22,372 | 4,564 | (20,221) | 6,715 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Contribution | $ | 23,312 | $ | 3,990 | $ | (21,186) | $ | 6,116 | $ | 22,372 | $ | 4,564 | $ | (20,221) | $ | 6,715 | |||||||||||||
1Non-business wireless reported in the Communication segment under the Mobility business unit. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||