Investors may be eyeing telecom stocks AT&T, T-Mobile US and Verizon Communications as defensive plays amid the growing rout in technology stocks and broad market correction. AT&T stock has gained nearly 24% in 2025.
Meanwhile, T-Mobile stock has advanced 20% while Verizon stock is up 12%. The Nasdaq composite has shed 10% this year.
Both AT&T and Verizon offer investors high dividends while T-Mobile has a big share repurchase program underway.
From a technical view, AT&T holds a Relative Strength rating of 95 out of a best-possible 99. T-Mobile's RS rating also stands at 95 while Verizon's is 83. The best stocks tend to have RS ratings of 80 or better.
AT&T stock is trading at record highs. Verizon stock tumbled from its early March peak, but is back above a double-bottom base buy point. T-Mobile stock is working on a short consolidation just above a prior base, trading around a trendline entry.
Telecom Stocks: Low ATRs
Meanwhile, the average true range metric available on IBD's MarketSurge charting tool offers some guidance amid market volatility. It gauges the characteristic breadth of a stock's behavior.
Stocks that tend to make large jumps or dives in daily action, the kind that can trigger sell rules and shake investors out of a stock, have a high ATR. Stocks that tend to make more incremental moves have lower ATRs.
In the current, unpredictable market, IBD suggests stocks with 21-day ATRs of 3% or below.
AT&T's 21-day ATR comes in at 2.73%. Verizon's ATR is 2.67%. T-Mobile's ATR is 2.51%.
First-quarter earnings for Verizon stock are due before the market open on April 22. AT&T reports Q1 financial results early April 23. Earnings for T-Mobile stock are due after the market close on April 24.
AT&T has returned to its telecom roots, shedding satellite TV broadcaster DirecTV and WarnerMedia.
Both AT&T and Verizon are focused on "convergence" — selling landline broadband and wireless services in product bundles.
Verizon last year agreed to buy Frontier Communications, the largest pure-play fiber internet provider in the U.S., in an all-cash deal valued at $20 billion.
In 2024, AT&T stock gained 36%.
Follow Reinhardt Krause on X, formerly Twitter, @reinhardtk_tech for updates on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud computing.
