AT&T Expands 5G RedCap Coverage: Will it Drive Sustainable Growth?
It is getting popular in multiple domains such as consumer devices like smartwatches, XR devices, industrial IoT devices like sensors, smart meters, healthcare, fleet and asset tracking devices. Per Market Research Intellect, 5G RedCap technology market is projected to grow at a 25% compound annual growth rate between the period of 2024 and 2033.
The technology is emerging as a game-changing connectivity layer for mid-tier devices. AT&T has been steadily advancing its 5G RedCap ecosystem to capitalize on this emerging market trend. The company recently announced that its 5G RedCap, built on a 5G Standalone network, now covers 200 million people across the country. Such comprehensive nationwide coverage is a major milestone, making AT&T's 5G network an essential enabler of the next generation of AI-powered IoT innovation and deployment in the United States.
Franklin Wireless RG350, a mobile hotspot powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X35 5G Modem-RF System, is the first commercially approved RedCap product to be used on AT&T's network. The company is collaborating with Samtech, Telit Cinterion and Rhino Mobility to check and certify their module as RedCap compatible and foster advancement in the IoT device ecosystem.
How Are Competitors Faring?
AT&T faces competition from T-Mobile US, Inc. TMUS and Verizon Communications, Inc. VZ in this market. T-Mobile is also advancing RedCap technology infrastructure nationwide in 2025. The company emphasizes that its technology efficiently reduces power consumption without compromising service quality. T-Mobile's effort to extend its 5G beyond legacy mobile services can pose a challenge to AT&T.
Verizon is witnessing healthy 5G traction. Its 5G mobility service offers an unmatched experience that impacts industries as diverse as public safety, health care, retail and sports. The company has collaborated with Ericsson and MediaTek to conduct trials for RedCap technology. However, Verizon is playing a catch-up game with its U.S. competitors, T-Mobile and AT&T, in RedCap commercialization.
T's Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
AT&T has gained 41% over the past year compared with the Wireless National industry's growth of 18.4%.
Going by the price/book ratio, the company's shares currently trade at 12.58 forward earnings, lower than 12.96 of the industry but above its mean of 10.96.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 have remained unchanged for the past 60 days.
AT&T currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see t the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here..
5 Stocks Set to Double
Each was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the favorite stock to gain +100% or more in the months ahead. They include
Stock #1: A Disruptive Force with Notable Growth and Resilience
Stock #2: Bullish Signs Signaling to Buy the Dip
Stock #3: One of the Most Compelling Investments in the Market
Stock #4: Leader In a Red-Hot Industry Poised for Growth
Stock #5: Modern Omni-Channel Platform Coiled to Spring
Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +171%, +209% and +232%.
Download Atomic Opportunity: Nuclear Energy's Comeback free today.
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
AT&T Inc. (T): Free Stock Analysis Report
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ): Free Stock Analysis Report
T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS): Free Stock Analysis Report
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
41 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Amber Kanwar's Weekly Setup: Big tests are coming for the markets
My husband got taken down by a nasty summer bug but has reintegrated into the family. He stayed in the guest room to avoid infecting me and the kids. He passed his time watching TV and having meals delivered. I'm glad he is back in the fold, but I would be lying if I didn't admit there is a small part of me that thought about licking one of his spoons to get a few days alone in a quiet room. This is not the week to call in sick with huge catalysts on deck. Here are the five things to watch: Magnificent week: With the S&P 500 sitting atop a record high, the resilience of the Magnificent 7 (also at a record) will be the next test for the markets. Four of the seven companies report this week, including Meta Platforms Inc. META-Q, Microsoft Corp. MSFT-Q, Apple Inc. AAPL-Q and Inc. AMZN-Q They represent a combined US$14-trillion in value. The big question for all of them will be how much each company is spending on AI. Although for Apple, it will be more like, 'Have you heard of AI?' Apple is the second-worst-performing Mag7 after Tesla Inc. TSLA-Q, down about 14 per cent so far in 2025. The reason Apple is in the dog house is because it lacks a clear AI strategy, according to Needham senior analyst Laura Martin. She said 'calls to replace Tim Cook as Apple CEO are getting louder every quarter that Apple doesn't lay out a comprehensive GenAI strategy.' After Alphabet Inc. GOOGL-Q surprised investors with a US$85-billion spending plan, there is a good chance the others follow suit. Is it any wonder that Nvidia Corp. NVDA-Q is back at a record high and the best-performing Magnificent 7 in 2025? Decisions, decisions: If mega-cap earnings weren't enough, the Bank of Canada and U.S. Federal Reserve are delivering interest-rate announcements on Wednesday. The BoC is expected to keep rates on hold at 2.75 per cent for a third time in a row. Core inflation, which is hanging around 3 per cent, and the oddly robust jobs data from earlier this month make it an easy bet that the BoC will hold. It is also an easy bet that the Federal Reserve won't cut this month, although U.S. President Donald Trump may think otherwise after meeting with Fed Chair Jerome Powell this week on a tour of the central bank's renovations. Mr. Trump said Mr. Powell congratulated him on a strong economy, which he took to mean that rate cuts are coming. Watch for dissenters on the decision; those are the ones auditioning for Mr. Powell's job when his term expires next year. Hold your breath: In the past three months, UnitedHealth Group Inc. UNH-N has slashed its profit forecast, announced that its CEO is leaving, then suspended its profit forecast altogether and endured a 50-per-cent drop in the value of its shares. And just last week, it confirmed that it is the subject of a Department of Justice investigation into its Medicare practices. Talk about a season to forget. The embattled health insurer is set to report quarterly results Tuesday morning as its stock languishes at the lowest level in five years. However, that now means it sports a low-teens multiple. Before you let that lure you in, like yours truly, value investor Michael McCloskey, founder and president of GreensKeeper Asset Management, said on my podcast this week that this has the markings of a value trap. 'When you see the suggestion that maybe they're playing games with Medicare, it's the cockroach theory,' he said. 'I might be totally wrong, but when I see that, I tend to stay away.' Flying close to the sun: Bombardier Inc. BBD-B-T reports this week and talk about a comeback story. The stock is up 1,400 per cent over the past five years compared with just 100 per cent for the TSX over that time. It went from a universally unloved stock with high debt levels to a Bay Street favourite with a new investment-grade debt rating. Its transformation into a business-jet company has paid off big time. But some analysts say the setup from here gets harder. TD Cowen analyst Tim James downgraded the stock last week on the runup and says it has a bad habit of falling on earnings days regardless of the results. '[The] recent share-price strength may heighten Q2 hurdle for driving further short-term upside,' said Mr. James in a note downgrading the stock from buy to hold. Hot commodity: MEG Energy Corp. MEG-T reports results Thursday after the close. The energy producer is subject to a hostile bid from Strathcona but reports last week suggest Cenovus is preparing a rival bid. The company will likely be tight lipped about what it can say, but analysts and investors may pry to see where the companies are in the process and how many other bidders have kicked the tires. In the Money with Amber Kanwar brings you actionable insights from top portfolio managers and business leaders. New episodes out Tuesdays and Thursdays. Subscribe now!
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Better Quantum Computing Stock: IonQ vs. Rigetti Computing
Key Points IonQ and Rigetti Computing have developed fundamentally different methods to create quantum computers. IonQ aspires to build the internet of the future while Rigetti focuses on commercializing its superconducting qubit technology. Neither IonQ nor Rigetti are profitable, although they have amassed large sums of cash to fund their operations. 10 stocks we like better than IonQ › The quantum computing industry is a promising area to invest in. Quantum machines can complete complex calculations in minutes that would take classical computers centuries, thanks to the power of quantum mechanics. In the sector, IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) and Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ: RGTI) are among the prominent players. IonQ uses ions to power its quantum machines while Rigetti employs the traditional superconducting qubits process. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » Both have seen impressive share price increases over the past year. IonQ stock is up over 400% through July 23 while Rigetti climbed more than 1,000% in that time. Is one a better investment in the nascent quantum computing field? Examining these businesses in more detail can help to arrive at an answer. Rigetti Computing's tried-and-true tech Rigetti uses a proven method of producing qubits. Qubits are a quantum device's equivalent to a classical computer's bit. But while bits represent a zero or one, the properties of quantum mechanics mean qubits can be both at the same time, enabling orders of magnitude faster processing speeds. Superconducting qubits offer several advantages. They can be manufactured using existing semiconductor chip processes, and can complete calculations faster than ion-based quantum machines. Rigetti hopes to gain greater commercialization with the latest version of its quantum computer, the Ankaa-3 system, which launched at the end of 2024. However, the technology isn't cheap. Superconducting qubits require special cryogenic equipment to keep temperatures colder than outer space. This is necessary for qubits to maintain stability long enough to perform calculations before they break down. As a result, the company exited the first quarter with an operating loss of $21.6 million on sales of $1.5 million. The loss is 30% greater than the previous year while Q1 revenue plunged 52% year over year. This combination of falling revenue and rising costs is unsustainable over the long run. That's why Rigetti executed a $350 million equity offering that helped it build up a stockpile of $575 million in cash, cash equivalents, and investments with no debt as of June 11. This cash hoard should sustain the company's operations in the short term, but it will need to produce revenue growth to build a sustainable business. IonQ's lofty ambition to remake the internet IonQ's ion-based method holds several advantages over superconducting qubits. Its tech can operate at room temperature, eschewing the need for cryogenic equipment. The technology also offers low error correction rates. Because qubits quickly break down, quantum computers are prone to calculation mistakes that limit their ability to scale. IonQ's reduced error rates make scalability a possibility. Consequently, the company aims to construct a quantum computing network, reminiscent of the infrastructure that underpins today's world wide web. It pursued several acquisitions to achieve its goal of building "the next generation of the internet," in the words of IonQ Chairman Peter Chapman. But like Rigetti, IonQ's costs are rising. It posted a Q1 operating loss of $75.7 million, an increase from 2024's $52.9 million, on revenue of $7.6 million. So it, too, is pursuing an equity offering to the tune of $1 billion. In addition, IonQ believes it can hit revenue of $75 million to $95 million in 2025. This would be a strong increase over 2024, when sales soared 95% year over year to $43.1 million. Making the choice between IonQ and Rigetti Computing stock Although Rigetti's superconducting qubits technology is well established in the quantum computing industry, IonQ's approach is producing higher sales. On top of that, another factor to consider is share price valuation. This can be assessed using the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio, a metric commonly used when companies are not profitable. Data by YCharts. The chart reveals Rigetti's P/S multiple has skyrocketed from where it was a year ago, and is far higher than IonQ's as well. This suggests Rigetti stock is overpriced, making IonQ the better value. That said, IonQ stock is not cheap, given it has a P/S ratio exceeding 200. While quantum computers hold the promise of revolutionizing the computing industry, whether IonQ or Rigetti's approach will win out in the end is far from certain. After all, quantum computing is still in its infancy. Its market size was just $4 billion in 2024, although industry estimates predict rapid growth to $72 billion by 2035. As of now, IonQ's 2024 sales success coupled with an outlook of 2025 revenue growth, and a far better valuation compared to Rigetti, make its stock the superior quantum computing investment between these two businesses. Ideally, wait for a dip in IonQ's share price, and for its Q2 results to validate it's on a trajectory to hit 2025 sales targets before deciding to pick up shares. Should you invest $1,000 in IonQ right now? Before you buy stock in IonQ, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and IonQ wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $636,628!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,063,471!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,041% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 183% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Qatari plane that could be new Air Force One will be ‘unconditional' gift to the Pentagon, agreement says
A 13-year-old private Boeing aircraft that U.S. President Donald Trump toured on July 26 to check out new hardware and technology features, and highlight the aircraft maker's delay in delivering updated versions of the Air Force One presidential aircraft. Ben Curtis/AP/FILE via CNN Newsource U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his Qatari counterpart have signed an agreement outlining the terms of Qatar's 'unconditional donation' of a Boeing jet to the Pentagon, confirming that the U.S. will pay nothing for the plane, according to a copy of the memorandum of understanding reviewed by CNN. The agreement, signed by Hegseth and Qatar's deputy prime minister and minister of state for defense affairs, Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, on July 7, says the plane — which is expected to be used by President Donald Trump as Air Force One once it is upgraded — is a 'bona fide gift' to the Defense Department. 'This donation is made in good faith and in the spirit of cooperation and mutual support between the parties,' the document says. 'Nothing in this MoU is, or shall be interpreted or construed as, an offer, promise, or acceptance of any form of bribery, undue influence, or corrupt practice.' The memorandum, while signed by both parties, could still be tweaked ahead of a formal announcement, a source familiar with the matter said. The aircraft is parked in San Antonio awaiting upgrades, CNN has reported. CNN has reached out to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Air Force and the Qatari Embassy for comment. The MOU was first reported by The Washington Post. The transfer of the jet from Qatar to the Trump administration sparked a political firestorm in the spring as Democrats and several influential Republicans, including supporters of the president, said they opposed the potential deal on ethics grounds. It also caught Air Force officials off guard, CNN has reported. While the Air Force was exploring options for getting a replacement plane for Air Force One faster than Boeing could deliver the new jets it had been contracted to build, the Air Force was initially under the impression that any transaction with the Qataris would involve a sale of the plane — not a donation, defense officials said. But after news of the U.S.-Qatar discussions became public, Trump repeatedly described the plane as a 'GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE.' The memorandum signed by Hegseth and Al-Thani emphasizes the transfer of the plane is 'unconditional' and that it is 'not connected or otherwise related to any governmental decision and, as such, is not made, offered, promised or accepted because of any past, present or future official act or decision and is not intended to obtain or retain any improper advantage or to influence any official decision.' But beyond the ethical and legal questions, retrofitting and installing the required security and communications equipment on a second-hand plane from another government, even a friendly one, is a monumental task. To fund the upgrades, the Air Force has sought to transfer hundreds of millions of dollars from the vastly overbudget Sentinel program to an unspecified classified project, according to sources familiar with a congressional notification about the transfer. Sentinel is a land-based intercontinental ballistic missile system that is being developed to replace the U.S.' aging Minuteman III missiles. Officially, the price tag to retrofit the Qatari plane for use by the president is classified, the Air Force previously told CNN. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told lawmakers last month that it will 'probably' cost less than $400 million. An addendum to the Defense Department-Qatar agreement reviewed by CNN says the Air Force 'is in the process of finalizing the transfer of registration and will immediately begin execution of the required modifications.'
