EX-99.3 4 ex99_3.htm DISCUSSION AND RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES
Discussion and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

We believe the following measures are relevant and useful information to investors as they are part of AT&T's internal management reporting and planning processes and are important metrics that management uses to evaluate the operating performance of AT&T and its segments. Management also uses these measures as a method of comparing performance with that of many of our competitors.
Certain amounts have been conformed to the current period's presentation, including our change in accounting to capitalize customer set-up and installation costs and amortize them over the expected economic life of the customer relationship.
Free Cash Flow
Free cash flow is defined as cash from operations minus Capital expenditures. Free cash flow after dividends is defined as cash from operations minus Capital expenditures and dividends. Free cash flow dividend payout ratio is defined as the percentage of dividends paid to free cash flow. We believe these metrics provide useful information to our investors because management views free cash flow as an important indicator of how much cash is generated by routine business operations, including Capital expenditures, and makes decisions based on it. Management also views free cash flow as a measure of cash available to pay debt and return cash to shareowners.
 
Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Dividend Payout Ratio
Dollars in millions
 
Three Months Ended
 
Twelve Months Ended
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
   
2016
 
2015
   
2016
 
2015
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
10,142
$
9,185
 
$
39,344
$
35,880
 
Less: Capital expenditures
 
(6,456)
 
(6,093)
   
(22,408)
 
(20,015)
 
Free Cash Flow
 
3,686
  
3,092
   
16,936
 
15,865
 
                     
Less: Dividends paid
 
(2,947)
 
(2,889)
   
(11,797)
 
(10,200)
 
Free Cash Flow after Dividends
$
739
$
203
 
$
5,139
$
5,665
 
Free Cash Flow Dividend Payout Ratio
 
80.0%
 
93.4%
   
69.7%
 
64.3%
 


Capital Investment
Capital Investment is a non-GAAP financial measure that adds to Capital expenditures the amount of vendor financing arrangements for capital improvements. These favorable payment terms are considered vendor financing arrangements and are reported as financing activities instead of Capital expenditures. Management believes that Capital Investment provides relevant and useful information to investors and other users of our financial data in evaluating long-term investment in our business.

Capital Investment
Dollars in millions
 
Three Months Ended
 
Twelve Months Ended
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
   
2016
 
2015
   
2016
 
2015
 
Capital Expenditures
$
6,456
$
6,093
 
$
22,408
$
20,015
 
Vendor Financing
 
267
 
684
   
492
 
684
 
Capital Investment
$
6,723
$
6,777
 
$
22,900
$
20,699
 




EBITDA

Our calculation of EBITDA, as presented, may differ from similarly titled measures reported by other companies. For AT&T, EBITDA excludes other income (expense) – net, and equity in net income (loss) of affiliates, as these do not reflect the operating results of our subscriber base or operations that are not under our control. Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates represents the proportionate share of the net income (loss) of affiliates in which we exercise significant influence, but do not control. Because we do not control these entities, management excludes these results when evaluating the performance of our primary operations. EBITDA also excludes interest expense and the provision for income taxes. Excluding these items eliminates the expenses associated with our capital and tax structures. Finally, EBITDA excludes depreciation and amortization in order to eliminate the impact of capital investments. EBITDA does not give effect to cash used for debt service requirements and thus does not reflect available funds for distributions, reinvestment or other discretionary uses. EBITDA is not presented as an alternative measure of operating results or cash flows from operations, as determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

EBITDA service margin is calculated as EBITDA divided by service revenues.

When discussing our segment results, EBITDA excludes equity in net income (loss) of affiliates, and depreciation and amortization from segment contribution. For our supplemental presentation of our combined domestic wireless operations (AT&T Mobility), EBITDA excludes depreciation and amortization from Operating Income.

These measures are used by management as a gauge of our success in acquiring, retaining and servicing subscribers because we believe these measures reflect AT&T's ability to generate and grow subscriber revenues while providing a high level of customer service in a cost-effective manner. Management also uses these measures as a method of comparing segment performance with that of many of its competitors. The financial and operating metrics which affect EBITDA include the key revenue and expense drivers for which segment managers are responsible and upon which we evaluate their performance.

We believe EBITDA Service Margin (EBITDA as a percentage of service revenues) to be a more relevant measure than EBITDA Margin (EBITDA as a percentage of total revenue) for our Consumer Mobility segment operating margin and our supplemental AT&T Mobility operating margin. For the periods covered by this report, we subsidized a portion of some of our wireless handset sales, which are recognized in the period in which we sell the handset. Management views this equipment subsidy as a cost to acquire or retain a subscriber, which is recovered through the ongoing service revenue that is generated by the subscriber. We also use wireless service revenues to calculate margin to facilitate comparison, both internally and externally with our wireless competitors, as they calculate their margins using wireless service revenues as well.

There are material limitations to using these non-GAAP financial measures. EBITDA, EBITDA margin and EBITDA service margin, as we have defined them, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Furthermore, these performance measures do not take into account certain significant items, including depreciation and amortization, interest expense, tax expense and equity in net income (loss) of affiliates. Management compensates for these limitations by carefully analyzing how its competitors present performance measures that are similar in nature to EBITDA as we present it, and considering the economic effect of the excluded expense items independently as well as in connection with its analysis of net income as calculated in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA, EBITDA margin and EBITDA service margin should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP.
 
EBITDA, EBITDA Margin and EBITDA Service Margin
 
Dollars in millions
Three Months Ended
 
Twelve Months Ended
 
 
December 31,
   December 31,  
   
2016
 
2015
   
2016
 
2015
   
Net Income
$
2,515
$
4,086
 
$
13,333
$
13,687
   
Additions:
                     
   Income Tax Expense
 
676
 
2,221
   
6,479
 
7,005
   
   Interest Expense
 
1,221
 
1,143
   
4,910
 
4,120
   
   Equity in Net (Income) of Affiliates
 
(41)
 
(31)
   
(98)
 
(79)
   
   Other (Income) Expense - Net
 
(123)
 
113
   
(277)
 
52
   
   Depreciation and amortization
 
6,129
 
6,477
   
25,847
 
22,016
   
EBITDA
 
10,377
 
14,009
   
50,194
 
46,801
   
                       
Total Operating Revenues
 
41,841
 
42,119
   
163,786
 
146,801
   
Service Revenues
 
37,369
 
37,635
   
148,884
 
131,677
   
                       
EBITDA Margin
 
24.8%
 
33.3%
   
30.6%
 
31.9%
   
EBITDA Service Margin
 
27.8%
 
37.2%
   
33.7%
 
35.5%
   
 

                         
Segment EBITDA, EBITDA Margin and EBITDA Service Margin
Dollars in millions
 
Three Months Ended
 
Twelve Months Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2016
 
2015
   
2016
 
2015
 
Business Solutions Segment
                   
Segment Contribution
$
4,023
$
3,721
 
$
16,826
$
16,392
 
Additions:
                   
Depreciation and amortization
 
2,264
 
2,513
   
9,832
 
9,789
 
EBITDA
 
6,287
 
6,234
   
26,658
 
26,181
 
                     
Total Segment Operating Revenues
 
18,033
 
18,214
   
70,988
 
71,127
 
                     
Segment Operating Income Margin
 
22.3%
 
20.4%
   
23.7%
 
23.0%
 
EBITDA Margin
 
34.9%
 
34.2%
   
37.6%
 
36.8%
 
                     
Entertainment Group Segment
                   
Segment Contribution
$
1,370
$
1,457
 
$
6,104
$
2,000
 
Additions:
                   
Equity in Net (Income) of Affiliates
 
(8)
 
(12)
   
(9)
 
4
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
1,381
 
1,426
   
5,862
 
4,945
 
EBITDA
 
2,743
 
2,871
   
11,957
 
6,949
 
                     
Total Segment Operating Revenues
 
13,206
 
12,994
   
51,295
 
35,294
 
                     
Segment Operating Income Margin
 
10.3%
 
11.1%
   
11.9%
 
5.7%
 
EBITDA Margin
 
20.8%
 
22.1%
   
23.3%
 
19.7%
 
                     
Consumer Mobility Segment
                   
Segment Contribution
$
2,185
$
2,141
 
$
9,825
$
9,738
 
Additions:
                   
Depreciation and amortization
 
918
 
939
   
3,716
 
3,851
 
EBITDA
 
3,103
 
3,080
   
13,541
 
13,589
 
                     
Total Segment Operating Revenues
 
8,419
 
8,749
   
33,200
 
35,066
 
Service Revenues
 
6,731
 
7,131
   
27,536
 
29,150
 
                     
Segment Operating Income Margin
 
26.0%
 
24.5%
   
29.6%
 
27.8%
 
EBITDA Margin
 
36.9%
 
35.2%
   
40.8%
 
38.8%
 
EBITDA Service Margin
 
46.1%
 
43.2%
   
49.2%
 
46.6%
 
                     
International Segment
                   
Segment Contribution
$
(240)
$
(260)
 
$
(661)
$
(488)
 
Additions:
                   
Equity in Net (Income) of Affiliates
 
(28)
 
1
   
(52)
 
5
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
298
 
309
   
1,166
 
655
 
EBITDA
 
30
 
50
   
453
 
172
 
                     
Total Segment Operating Revenues
 
1,909
 
1,849
   
7,283
 
4,102
 
                     
Segment Operating Income Margin
 
-14.0%
 
-14.0%
   
-9.8%
 
-11.8%
 
EBITDA Margin
 
1.6%
 
2.7%
   
6.2%
 
4.2%
 




Supplemental AT&T Mobility EBITDA, EBITDA Margin and EBITDA Service Margin
Dollars in millions
 
Three Months Ended
 
Twelve Months Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2016
 
2015
   
2016
 
2015
 
AT&T Mobility
                   
Operating Contribution
$
4,638
$
4,376
 
$
20,643
$
19,803
 
   Add: Depreciation and amortization
 
2,048
 
2,031
   
8,292
 
8,113
 
EBITDA
 
6,686
 
6,407
   
28,935
 
27,916
 
                     
Total Segment Operating Revenues
 
18,750
 
18,886
   
72,821
 
73,705
 
Service Revenues
 
14,713
 
14,815
   
59,386
 
59,837
 
                     
Segment Operating Income Margin
 
24.7%
 
23.2%
   
28.3%
 
26.9%
 
EBITDA Margin
 
35.7%
 
33.9%
   
39.7%
 
37.9%
 
EBITDA Service Margin
 
45.4%
 
43.2%
   
48.7%
 
46.7%
 


Adjusting Items

Adjusting items include revenues and costs we consider nonoperational in nature, such as items arising from asset acquisitions or dispositions. We also adjust for net actuarial gains or losses associated with our pension and postemployment benefit plans due to the often significant impact on our fourth-quarter results (we immediately recognize this gain or loss in the income statement, pursuant to our accounting policy for the recognition of actuarial gains and losses.) Consequently, our adjusted results reflect an expected return on plan assets rather than the actual return on plan assets, as included in the GAAP measure of income.

The tax impact of adjusting items is calculated using the effective tax rate during the quarter except for (1) adjustments related to Mexico operations, which are taxed at the 30% marginal rate for Mexico and (2) adjustments that, given their magnitude can drive a change in the effective tax rate, reflect the actual tax expense or combined marginal rate of approximately 38%.

Adjusting Items
Dollars in millions
 
Three Months Ended
 
Twelve Months Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2016
 
2015
   
2016
 
2015
 
Operating Revenues
                   
   Merger related deferred revenue
$
-
$
-
 
$
-
$
85
 
   Storm revenue credits
 
10
 
-
   
23
 
-
 
Adjustments to Operating Revenues
 
10
 
-
   
23
 
85
 
Operating Expenses
                   
   DIRECTV and other video merger integration costs
 
259
 
165
   
754
 
502
 
   Mexico merger integration costs
 
78
 
84
   
309
 
167
 
   Time Warner merger costs
 
47
 
-
   
47
 
-
 
   Wireless merger integration costs
 
1
 
79
   
93
 
649
 
   Leap network decommissioning
 
-
 
55
   
-
 
669
 
   Asset abandonments and impairments
 
361
 
-
   
361
 
35
 
   Storm costs
 
27
 
-
   
44
 
-
 
   Employee separation costs
 
30
 
36
   
344
 
375
 
   Actuarial (gain) loss
 
1,024
 
(2,152)
   
1,024
 
(2,152)
 
   (Gain) loss on transfer of wireless spectrum
 
-
 
-
   
(714)
 
-
 
Adjustments to Operations and Support Expenses
 
1,827
 
(1,733)
   
2,262
 
245
 
   Amortization of intangible assets
 
1,228
 
1,272
   
5,177
 
2,556
 
   Impairments
 
29
 
-
   
29
 
-
 
Adjustments to Operating Expenses
 
3,084
 
(461)
   
7,468
 
2,801
 
Other
                   
   DIRECTV-related interest expense and exchange fees 1
 
-
 
-
   
16
 
142
 
   (Gain) loss on sale of investments and impairments
 
28
 
132
   
32
 
132
 
Adjustments to Income Before Income Taxes
 
3,122
 
(329)
   
7,539
 
3,160
 
   Tax impact of adjustments
 
1,097
 
(206)
   
2,618
 
996
 
   Tax-related benefits2
 
359
 
-
   
359
 
228
 
Adjustments to Net Income
$
1,666
$
(123)
 
$
4,562
$
1,936
 
1 Includes interest expense incurred on the debt issued prior to the close of the DIRECTV transaction and fees associated with the exchange of DIRECTV notes for AT&T notes.
 
22016 includes merger-related restructuring of investment in Mexico.



Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income Margin, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted EBITDA service margin and Adjusted diluted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures calculated by excluding from operating revenues, operating expenses and income tax expense certain significant items that are non-operational or non-recurring in nature, including dispositions and merger integration and transaction costs. Management believes that these measures provide relevant and useful information to investors and other users of our financial data in evaluating the effectiveness of our operations and underlying business trends.

Adjusted Operating Revenues, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income Margin, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted EBITDA service margin and Adjusted diluted EPS should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. AT&T's calculation of Adjusted items, as presented, may differ from similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income Margin,
Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Adjusted EBITDA Service Margin
Dollars in millions
 
Three Months Ended
 
Twelve Months Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2016
 
2015
   
2016
 
2015
 
Operating Income
$
4,248
$
7,532
 
$
24,347
$
24,785
 
Adjustments to Operating Revenues
 
10
 
-
   
23
 
85
 
Adjustments to Operating Expenses
 
3,084
 
(461)
   
7,468
 
2,801
 
Adjusted Operating Income1
 
7,342
 
7,071
   
31,838
 
27,671
 
                     
EBITDA
 
10,377
 
14,009
   
50,194
 
46,801
 
Adjustments to Operating Revenues
 
10
 
-
   
23
 
85
 
Adjustments to Operations and Support Expenses
 
1,827
 
(1,733)
   
2,262
 
245
 
Adjusted EBITDA1
 
12,214
 
12,276
   
52,479
 
47,131
 
                     
Total Operating Revenues
 
41,841
 
42,119
   
163,786
 
146,801
 
Adjustments to Operating Revenues
 
10
 
-
   
23
 
85
 
Total Adjusted Operating Revenue
 
41,851
 
42,119
   
163,809
 
146,886
 
Service Revenues
 
37,369
 
37,635
   
148,884
 
131,677
 
Adjustments to Operating Revenues
 
10
 
-
   
23
 
85
 
Adjusted Service Revenues
 
37,379
 
37,635
   
148,907
 
131,762
 
                     
Operating Income Margin
 
10.2%
 
17.9%
   
14.9%
 
16.9%
 
Adjusted Operating Income Margin1
 
17.5%
 
16.8%
   
19.4%
 
18.8%
 
Adjusted EBITDA Margin1
 
29.2%
 
29.1%
   
32.0%
 
32.1%
 
Adjusted EBITDA Service Margin1
 
32.7%
 
32.6%
   
35.2%
 
35.8%
 
1 Adjusted Operating Income,  Adjusted EBITDA and associated margins exclude all actuarial gains or losses ($1.0 billion loss in 2016) associated with our pension and postemployment benefit plans, which we immediately recognize in the income statement, pursuant to our accounting policy for the recognition of actuarial gains/losses. As a result, Adjusted Operating Income and Margin reflect an expected return on plan assets of $3.5 billion (based on an average expected return on plan assets of 7.75% for our pension trust and 5.75% for our VEBA trusts), rather than the actual return on plan assets of $3.5 billion (actual pension return of 7.8% and VEBA return of 6.7%), as included in the GAAP measure of income.
 
 
Adjusted Diluted EPS
   
Three Months Ended
 
Twelve Months Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2016
 
2015
   
2016
 
2015
 
Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS)
$
0.39
$
0.65
 
$
2.10
$
2.37
 
   Amortization of intangible assets
 
0.13
 
0.14
   
0.55
 
0.30
 
   Merger integration and other items1
 
0.04
 
0.06
   
0.13
 
0.28
 
   Employee separation costs
 
-
 
-
   
0.04
 
0.04
 
   Asset abandonments and impairments
 
0.05
 
-
   
0.04
 
-
 
   Actuarial (gain) loss
 
0.10
 
(0.22)
   
0.10
 
(0.24)
 
   Storm related and other items
 
0.01
 
-
   
0.01
 
-
 
   Gain (loss) on transfer of wireless spectrum
 
-
 
-
   
(0.07)
 
-
 
   Tax-related benefits
 
(0.06)
 
-
   
(0.06)
 
(0.04)
 
Adjusted EPS
$
0.66
$
0.63
 
$
2.84
$
2.71
 
Year-over-year growth - Adjusted
 
4.8%
       
4.8%
     
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding
     with Dilution (000,000)
 
6,181
 
6,187
   
6,189
 
5,646
 
1Includes combined merger integration items, Leap network decommissioning, and DIRECTV-related interest expense and exchange fees.
 
 

Entertainment Group Segment Adjusted Operating Revenues includes the external operating revenues from DIRECTV U.S. as reported in the DIRECTV Form 10-Q/A dated June 30, 2015 adjusted to (1) include operations reported in other DIRECTV operating segments that AT&T has chosen to manage in our Entertainment Group segment, (2) conform DIRECTV's practice of recognizing revenue to be received under contractual commitments on a straight line basis over the minimum contract period to AT&T's method of limiting the revenue recognized to the monthly amounts billed and (3) eliminate intercompany transactions from DIRECTV U.S. and the Entertainment Group segment. Adjusting Entertainment Group segment operating revenues provides for comparability between periods.

Entertainment Group Adjusted Operating Revenues
Dollars in millions
 
Three Months Ended
 
Twelve Months Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2016
 
2015
   
2016
 
2015
 
Segment Operating Revenues
$
13,206
$
12,994
 
$
51,295
$
35,294
 
DIRECTV Operating Revenues1
     
-
       
14,864
 
Adjustments:
                   
   Other DIRECTV operations
     
-
       
182
 
   Revenue recognition
     
-
       
229
 
   Intercompany eliminations
     
-
       
(40)
 
Adjusted Segment Operating Revenues
$
13,206
$
12,994
 
$
51,295
$
50,529
 
Year-over-year growth - Adjusted
 
1.6%
       
1.5%
     
1Includes results from July 1, 2015 through July 24, 2015 acquisition date.
 


Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA

Net Debt to EBITDA ratios are non-GAAP financial measures frequently used by investors and credit rating agencies and management believes these measures provide relevant and useful information to investors and other users of our financial data. The Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio is calculated by dividing the Net Debt by annualized Net Debt Adjusted EBITDA. Annualized Net Debt Adjusted EBITDA excludes severance-related adjustments as described in our credit agreements. Net Debt is calculated by subtracting cash and cash equivalents and certificates of deposit and time deposits that are greater than 90 days, from the sum of debt maturing within one year and long-term debt. Annualized Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by annualizing the year-to-date Net Debt Adjusted EBITDA.
Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA
Dollars in millions
               
   
Three Months Ended
       
   
Mar. 31,
 
Jun. 30
 
Sep. 30
 
Dec. 31
   
YTD 2016
 
   
2016
 
2016
 
2016
 
2016
     
Adjusted EBITDA
$
13,279
$
13,397
$
13,589
 $
12,214
 
$
52,479
 
   Add back severance
 
(25)
 
(29)
 
(260)
 
(30)
   
(344)
 
Net Debt Adjusted EBITDA
 
13,254
 
13,368
 
13,329
 
12,184
   
52,135
 
Annualized Net Debt Adjusted EBITDA
                   
52,135
 
   End-of-period current debt
                   
9,832
 
   End-of-period long-term debt
                   
113,681
 
Total End-of-Period Debt
                   
123,513
 
   Less: Cash and Cash Equivalents
                   
5,788
 
Net Debt Balance
                   
117,725
 
Annualized Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio
                   
2.26