This week I'm seeking a prestigious and long-term dividend-paying stock from the communications services sector. 

That sector has companies that connect us electronically in either of two ways: telecommunications, or pay TV. 

Today I'm reviewing a large-cap telecom institution named AT&T, Inc. Its trading ticker symbol is T.

AT&T Inc is engaged in the provision of communications and digital entertainment services in the United States and the world. It provides fixed-line services, including voice, data, and television services to consumers and small businesses.

The company operates through four segments: Business Solutions, Entertainment Group, Consumer Mobility, and International. 

The Business Solutions segment offers wireless services, strategic services, legacy voice, data services, wireless equipment, and other services to institutional, and individual subscribers. 

The Entertainment Group segment provides video entertainment and audio programming channels to approximately 25 million subscribers; broadband and Internet services to 13.5 million residential subscribers; local and long-distance voice services. 

The Consumer Mobility segment offers postpaid and prepaid wireless voice and data communications services to consumers, and wireless wholesale and resale subscribers, as well as accessories, such as carrying cases, hands-free devices, and other items. 

The International segment offers digital television services, including local and international digital video entertainment and audio programming under the DIRECTV and SKY brands throughout Latin America. 

The company was formerly known as SBC Communications Inc. and changed its name to AT&T Inc. in November 2005. AT&T Inc. was founded in 1983 and is based in Dallas, Texas.

You may remember its forebear as Ma Bell. Who knew she could dance?

I use three key data points to gauge the value of any dividend equity or fund likeAT&T, Inc. (T ): 

(1) Price

(2) Dividends

(3) Returns

Besides those three, four more keys will finally unlock an equity or fund in which to invest.

But those first three primary keys, best tell whether a company has made, is making, and will make money. 

T Price

AT&T's price per share was $31.94 at Friday's market close. A year ago its price was $37.48 for a loss of $5.54 per share.  

Assuming T's price will trade in the range of $30 to $38 next year, perhaps T can make up all of the previous year loss and move T's current $31.94 price to $37 by early September 2019. 

T Dividends

AT&T's most recent quarterly dividend was $0.50 declared June 29th and paid out August 1st. At this most recent quarterly pay rate, CF's annual dividend is calculated at $2.00 yielding 6.26% at Friday's closing $31.94 price.

Gains For T?

Adding the $2.00 estimated annual dividend to the nearly $5 year over year price gain estimate for T makes a $7.00gross annual per share gain, which will be reduced by costs to trade the shares.  

A little under $1,000.00 invested today at the $31.94 recent price buys 31 AT&T, Inc. (T) shares. 

A $10 broker fee paid half at purchase and half at sale costs $0.32 per share, subtracting that $0.32 brokerage cost from the estimated $7.00 gross gain leaves a net gain of $6.68 X 31 shares = $207.08 or a 21% net gain on a $990.14 investment.

Therefore, AT&T, Inc. whose trading ticker symbol is T now shows a possible 21% net gain including a 6.26% dividend yield. 

Thirty brokers cover this stock:

Seven say "buy" T.

Three say T will "outperform" its peers.

Eighteen analysts say "Hold" your position on T.

Two says T will "underperform" its peers!

Thus, the analyst consensus recommendation number is 2.5 or "outperform".

The median price target set by those thirty brokers is $1.24 under my $37 price number.

Here I am more optimistic than the brokers again!  

I look at all those various numbers this way, AT&T, Inc. (T) has made money, is making money, and could net a 21% net annual gain including a 6.26% dividend yield. It could be more, it could be less.

The above speculation is based on past year performance. Actual results remain to be seen. Those results will determine if AT&T, Inc. (T ) is worth your time and money.