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Why AT&T Stock Plunged on Friday

2026-10-24 00:33 •Joe Tenebruso •The Motley Fool Mixed Axe Cap view: Selective •Equities•Earnings •T•TBB•TPA•TPC•SPCX

Axe Cap view

AT&T’s Plunge: SpaceX Threat or Overblown Fear?

AT&T’s shares fell sharply on SpaceX’s plans to build a rival wireless network, but the fundamentals are still solid.

When SpaceX started talking about accessing 80,000 cell sites to build a wireless network, AT&T’s 8% drop makes sense on surface fear alone. But making a full-scale nationwide carrier is no small feat—it requires massive investment and years of building infrastructure. AT&T’s recent earnings beat, steady customer growth, and better free cash flow suggest it’s far from vulnerable. For South African investors, this is a good reminder that tech disruption often triggers knee-jerk market reactions. Look locally at MTN, which faces different challenges but also displays solid cash flow and subscriber gains, justifying a watchful stance rather than panic. Dollar weakness versus the rand might cushion local telcos amid global tech worries, but keep an eye on any sustained rand weakness, which could pressure costs. If you're betting on disruption, be ready for volatility and a long game. this is just our opinion and not financial advice

How I would invest

Trim exposure to global telecom stocks facing speculative competition threats like AT&T. Maintain or watch MTN cautiously, focusing on its strong fundamentals amid shifting FX conditions.

What I would watch
  • T
  • MTN
  • USD/ZAR
What could go wrong
  • SpaceX accelerates faster than expected in US wireless market
  • Rand weakens sharply against the dollar, increasing local telco costs
How strongly I feel

6/10

AT&T stock fell 8% on Friday after reports that SpaceX is negotiating access to 80,000 U.S. cell sites to build a rival wireless carrier. Despite the threat, AT&T remains well-positioned with strong Q3 earnings, growing customer base, and improving free cash flow projections. Building a nationwide carrier would require tens of billions in investment and significant time.

Our take is based on reporting first published by The Motley Fool.

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