- AT&T's deal to acquire Time Warner is "good for T-Mobile (TMUS +9.5%) in the short and medium term," says T-Mobile chief John Legere today, expecting a distraction at his blue whale of a nemesis while his underdog firm racks up new subscribers.
- T-Mobile today logged net adds of 851,000 subscribers in branded postpaid phones, while AT&T lost 268,000 this quarter. For its part, Verizon lost 36,000 net subs in branded postpaid phones. (Sprint, the No. 4 carrier, added 347,000.)
- The Time Warner deal is a "bold move. It's going to cause acceleration," Legere says, but noting that AT&T could get "further defocused" on the wireless business as it diversifies.
- The interesting question going forward: Will regulators have a fresh stance on a once-squelched merger of T-Mobile with Sprint (S +5.7%) now that AT&T is making a move toward becoming a telecom/media behemoth?
- T-Mobile stock hit a nine-year high today. Sprint reports earnings tomorrow before the bell.
- Previously: T-Mobile up 7.4% on subscriber boost, Q3 profit beat (Oct. 24 2016)
- Previously: T-Mobile US beats by $0.04, misses on revenue (Oct. 24 2016)