There are no safe havens in the stock market. Every stock carries risk. But some less than others. This column features stocks that have shown one or more of the following characteristics: less volatility, better earnings, larger market caps, safe and increasing dividends. In these times of turmoil, our goal is to show readers better opportunities for investing with fewer risks.

March 30, 2012 - AT&T Inc. (T-NYSE) together with its subsidiaries, provides telecommunications services to consumers, businesses, and other providers worldwide. The company's Wireless segment offers wireless voice and data communication services, such as local wireless communications services, long-distance services, and roaming services. This segment also sells various handsets, wirelessly enabled computers, and personal computer wireless data cards; and accessories, including carrying cases, hands-free devices, batteries, battery chargers, and other items. It sells through its own stores, or through agents or third-party retail stores.

Its Wireline segment provides data services comprising switched and dedicated transport, Internet access and network integration, U-verse services, and data equipment; businesses voice applications over IP-based networks; and digital subscriber lines, dial-up Internet access, private lines, managed Web-hosting services, packet services, enterprise networking services, and Wi-Fi services, as well as local, interstate, and international wholesale networking capacity to other service providers. This division also offers voice services, such as local and long-distance, calling card, 1-800, conference calling, wholesale switched access, caller ID, call waiting, and voice mail services; and application management, security services, integration services, customer premises equipment, outsourcing, government-related services, and satellite video services.

The company's Advertising Solutions segment publishes yellow and white pages directories; and sells directory advertising and Internet-based advertising and local search. In addition, the company provides customer information services. AT&T was formerly known as SBC Communications Inc. and changed its name in November 2005. AT&T Inc. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

Latest News:
Stock is downgraded from Outperform to Neutral by Robert W. Baird on March 29.

Shares lower after an analysts for RBC Capital lowered his growth targets for the wireless carrier. The analysts, Jonathan Atkin, left his rating unchanged at sector perform with a $30 price target.

The second-largest U.S. mobile service provider AT&T Inc. will sell Nokia Corporation's "Lumia 900" smartphone from April 9 onwards. The handset will be available for $99.99 with a two-year contract.

AT&T is the first ever carrier to offer 4G LTE Microsoft Corporation Windows Phone and has the exclusive right to sell the product. The company will also sell another Windows Phone - HTC Titan II - from HTC Corp for $199.99.

The devices will offer mobile broadband speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G.
Expectations:
- First quarter (ends March 31): 57 cents vs 57 cents last year in first.
- Second quarter: 62 cents compared to 60 cents last year in the second.
- Full year 2012: $2.35 vs $2.20 in 2011.
- Full year 2013: $2.54
Next Earnings date: April 24, 2012
Important Numbers:
- Forward P/E: 12.3
- Price to sales ratio: 1.46
- Price to book: 1.75
- Operating margin: 12.87%
- Profit margin: 3.11%
- Return on equity: 3.84%
- Return on assets: 3.78%
- Revenues for last 12 months: $126.72 billion
- Total cash: $3.18 billion
- Cash per share: 54 cents
- Total debt: $64.75 billion
- Debt to equity: 61.21%
- Current ratio: .75
- Book value per share: $17.81
- Beta: .48
- 52 week change: 1.93%
- Total shares outstanding: 5.93 billion
- Held by institutions: 81.4%
- Annual dividend: $1.76
- Yield: 5.6%

ompany Web site: www.att.com

- Ted Allrich