The Big Five Telecom Companies in United States

On NASDAQ more than 100 telecommunication companies are listed under public utilities. All companies are serving in a wide range of demanding services, some are serving with their wireless and broadband products, some are manufacturing wireless devices and some are innovating new technologies to deliver better and faster communication services.

The following Big Five companies are the most popular and preferred by the U.S population in Mobile/Wireless carrier platform services. The big names are AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile U.S, Sprint Corporation and U.S Cellular. These companies holds 376 Million subscriptions in the U.S region. With respect to subscribers AT&T holds the major portion around 35% of the combined total which makes them 1^st in standing with 131.81 Million subscribers. Verizon’s share is 30% of the combined total and stands at 2^nd with 113.15 Million Subs. T-Mobile U.S stands at 3^rd with 67.83 Million Subs by retaining 17.89% share. Sprint Corporation is the subsidiary of AT&T but, it is providing the mobile career services separately, and positions at 4^th with 59.4 Million subs and giving direct competition to T-Mobile U.S. in terms of subscriber acquisition. The 5^th market player is U.S Cellular, It has the least percentage share of 4.9 Million subs at 1.3% of the combined group total, but, still one of the Big Fives.

If we talk about revenues, there is a slight change in the sequences, but the picture clarifies that the amount of 67,283 Million $ Revenues are being generated by these big market players. Verizon’s revenues are at uppermost, 21,704 M$ and their Earning per Share (EPS) is 0.94$ per share. AT&T’s revenues are 17,925 M$ at 2^nd but their EPS is highest in the group with 1.43$ per share. T-Mobile U.S is slightly behind AT&T, its EPS is 0.82$ per share and revenues are 15,957 M$. Sprint Corporation is generating 7,597 M$ Revenues but their EPS is Negative / at loss with -0.08$ per share. U.S Cellular is at the minimum with 4,100 M$ Revenues but their EPS is positive 0.1$ per share, just above the no profit no loss state.

Capital Expenditure or CAPEX is the cost expensed out / capitalize for gaining benefit in a longer run. For instance, upgrading physical asset, industrial buildings, and equipment, project investments etc. Let’s see how much these big fives are investing in CAPEX activates. AT&T is outlaying 5,470 M$ which are 31% of their revenues. A huge internal investment to achieve strategic and long term objectives. Due to which it has obtained the highest number of customers. Verizon spending 2,815 M$ which are 13% of their operating revenues. 2,684 M$ are being expensed by T-Mobile U.S  that are 17% portion of their revenues and are higher than Verizon. Sprint Corporation is spending 878 M$ that are 12% of revenues, but are at good percentage of capitalization costs as per their volume of earnings. U.S Cellular spending 2% of their revenues which are 79 M$ and is lowest in the group because of their overall operational and earning volumes including business size and market cap.

All above figures are taken from the public sources like NASDAQ and companies data available for general public.