AT&T INC. (TBB)

Technology · Telecommunications · Price $19.31
Updated: Sep 2, 2026
Good Equity Returns — Technology
ROE of 17.07% — above the 15% good threshold Zyberno applies to Technology businesses.
ROE
17.07%
Return on Equity
ROIC
7.87%
Return on Invested Capital
ROA
5.09%
Return on Assets
Debt/Equity
1.37x
Leverage Ratio
Book Value/Share
$18.22
Equity Per Share

🧮 TBB ROE Calculation

ROE = Net Income / Shareholders' Equity
Net Income (TTM) $21.6B
Shareholders' Equity $126.4B
Total Debt $172.7B
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 1.37x
ROE (Return on Equity) 17.07%

Understanding ROE

Return on Equity (ROE) measures how efficiently a company generates profits from shareholders' equity. For TBB, the current ROE is 17.07%.

Why ROE Matters

Warren Buffett has called ROE one of his favorite metrics because it shows how well management uses shareholders' capital to generate returns. A company that consistently earns 15%+ ROE is typically a well-run business that creates value for shareholders.

ROE Benchmarks

Excellent: >20%

Exceptional returns on equity. Often indicates strong competitive advantages. Common in capital-light businesses.

Good: 15-20%

Above-average ROE. Buffett often looks for companies in this range or higher.

Average: 10-15%

Typical for most companies. Returns are reasonable but not exceptional.

Below Average: <10%

May indicate poor capital allocation or challenging business conditions.

The DuPont Analysis

ROE can be decomposed into three components using DuPont analysis:

ROE = Net Margin × Asset Turnover × Equity Multiplier

This breakdown reveals whether high ROE comes from high profitability (good), efficient asset use (good), or high leverage (potentially risky).

ROE vs ROIC: Which is Better?

ROIC: 7.87% →

ROIC measures returns on ALL capital. It's more comprehensive and less affected by leverage. Often considered the better quality metric.

ROE: 17.07%

ROE only measures returns on equity. Can be inflated by high debt. If ROE >> ROIC, the company uses significant leverage.

Owner Earnings: $19.0B →

Shows actual cash available to owners. Use alongside ROE and ROIC for complete analysis.

Net Income: $21.6B →

The numerator in ROE. Understanding net income trends helps explain ROE changes over time.

What to Look For

📊 Full TBB Stock Report

Intrinsic value, margin of safety, DCF valuation, and 250+ metrics.

🏆 TBB ROIC

Compare ROE to ROIC — the more comprehensive measure of capital efficiency.

💹 TBB P/E Ratio

Analyze valuation relative to earnings and understand market pricing.

👤 TBB Owner Earnings

Warren Buffett's preferred measure of true economic earnings available to owners.

💰 TBB Net Income

See the earnings that drive ROE calculations.

💵 TBB Free Cash Flow

Actual cash generation after capital expenditures.

View Full TBB Report Find More Quality Stocks
📊 Valuation Trilogy
Three interconnected metrics built on Owner Earnings
💎
Intrinsic Value
DCF Fair Value
$25.92
🛡️
Margin of Safety
Valuation Gap
25.5%
🎯
Expected Return
Projected Annual
0.5%
Click any metric for full methodology and detailed analysis

Summary: TBB Return on Equity

AT&T INC. (TBB) has a ROE of 17.07%, which Zyberno classifies as good for a Technology company — above the 15% threshold Zyberno applies to technology companies where high equity returns reflect software economics and capital-light scaling. Note: with a debt-to-equity of 1.37x, leverage is amplifying these returns — compare with ROIC (7.87%) for a leverage-neutral view. For complete financial analysis, view the full TBB stock report on Zyberno.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is TBB's current ROE?

AT&T INC.'s Return on Equity (ROE) is 17.07%, measured against the 25% excellent threshold Zyberno applies to Technology businesses. ROE measures the company's profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Is TBB's ROE good?

AT&T INC. (TBB) has a ROE of 17.07%, which Zyberno classifies as good for a Technology company — above the 15% threshold Zyberno applies to technology companies where high equity returns reflect software economics and capital-light scaling. Note: with a debt-to-equity of 1.37x, leverage is amplifying these returns — compare with ROIC (7.87%) for a leverage-neutral view.

What is the difference between ROE and ROIC?

ROE measures returns on shareholder equity only, while ROIC measures returns on all invested capital (debt + equity). TBB's ROE is 17.07% vs ROIC of 7.87%. ROE can be inflated by high debt, making ROIC often a more reliable quality metric.

Can high ROE be misleading?

Yes, high ROE can be misleading if achieved through high debt. TBB's debt-to-equity ratio is 1.37x. Compare ROE to ROIC — if ROE is much higher than ROIC, the company uses significant leverage which adds risk.

📊 Full TBB Stock Report

See TBB's intrinsic value, margin of safety, DCF valuation, and complete financial analysis with 250+ metrics.

🏆 TBB ROIC

Compare to Return on Invested Capital — the most comprehensive measure of capital efficiency.

💹 TBB P/E Ratio

Analyze the price-to-earnings ratio and earnings yield as a valuation metric.

🎯 TBB Earnings Surprise (SUE)

See whether TBB is beating or missing its own earnings trend — Standardized Unexpected Earnings and post-earnings drift.

👤 TBB Owner Earnings

Warren Buffett's preferred measure of true economic earnings available to owners.

💰 TBB Net Income

See the bottom-line profit that drives return calculations.

📊 TBB EPS

Earnings per share — net income on a per-share basis.

View Full TBB Report Find More Quality Stocks
Scroll to Top