AT&T (T) risk factors, FY2025 10-K

Other

1. 01Adverse changes in the U.S. securities markets, a higher interest rate environment, rising inflation and medical costs could materially increase our benefit plan costs and future funding requirements
2. 02Inflationary pressures on costs, such as inputs for devices we sell and network components, labor and distribution costs, may impact our network construction, our financial condition or results of operations
3. 03Adverse changes in global financial markets could limit our ability and our larger customers’ and suppliers’ ability to access capital or increase the cost of capital needed to fund business operations
4. 04Our international operations increase our exposure to political instability, to changes in the international economy and to regulation on our business, and these risks could offset our expected growth opportunities
5. 05Changes to federal, state and foreign government regulations and decisions in regulatory proceedings, as well as private litigation, could further increase our operating costs and/or alter customer perceptions of our operations, which could materially adversely affect us20% rewritten
6. 06Extreme weather events and other potential effects of climate change may impose risk of damage to our infrastructure, our ability to provide services, and may cause changes in federal, state and foreign government regulation, all of which may result in potential adverse impact to our financial results
7. 07Continuing growth in and the converging nature of wireless and broadband services will require us to deploy significant amounts of capital and require ongoing access to spectrum in order to provide attractive services to customers35% rewritten
8. 08Increasing competition could materially adversely affect our operating results
9. 09Intellectual property rights may be inadequate to take advantage of business opportunities, which may materially adversely affect our operations
10. 10Incidents or public assertions leading to damage to our reputation or questions about our business conduct, and any resulting lawsuits, claims or other legal proceedings, could have a material adverse effect on our business
11. 11Our business is subject to risks related to public health crises
12. 12Customer adoption of new software-based technologies may require higher-quality services from us, and meeting these demands could create supply chain issues and could increase capital costs
13. 13We depend on various suppliers to provide equipment to operate our business and satisfy customer demand, and interruption or delay in supply can adversely impact our operating results
14. 14Our operating costs, including customer acquisition and retention costs, could continue to put pressure on margins and customer retention levels
15. 15A significant portion of our workforce is represented by labor unions, and we could incur additional costs or experience work stoppages as a result of the renegotiation of our labor contracts
16. 16We may not realize or sustain the expected benefits from acquisitions, joint ventures or our business transformation initiatives, including dispositions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations, financial condition, results of operations and competitive position40% rewritten
17. 17Unfavorable litigation or governmental investigation results could require us to pay significant amounts or lead to onerous operating procedures
18. 18Cyberattacks impacting our networks, systems or data or those of our suppliers or vendors may have a material adverse effect on our operations or results of operations
19. 19Natural disasters, extreme weather conditions or terrorist or other hostile acts could cause damage to our infrastructure and result in significant disruptions to our operations
20. 20Increases in our debt levels to fund spectrum purchases, or other strategic decisions could adversely affect our ability to finance future debt at attractive rates and reduce our ability to respond to competition and adverse economic trends
21. 21Our business may be impacted by changes in tax laws and regulations, judicial interpretations of the same or administrative actions by federal, state, local and foreign taxing authorities
22. 22CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS