Balance Sheet: Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

The balance sheet provides creditors, investors, and analysts with information on company resources (assets) and its sources of capital (its equity and liabilities). It normally also provides information about the future earnings capacity of a company assets as well as an indication of cash flows that may come from receivables and inventories.

Liabilities represents obligations of a company arising from past events, the settlement of which is expected to result in an outflow of economic benefits from the entity.

AT&T Inc., consolidated balance sheet: liabilities and stockholders’ equity

US$ in millions

	Dec 31, 2024	Dec 31, 2023	Dec 31, 2022	Dec 31, 2021	Dec 31, 2020
Debt maturing within one year	5,089)	9,477)	7,467)	24,630)	3,470)
Note payable to DIRECTV	—)	—)	130)	1,245)	—)
Accounts payable	27,433)	27,309)	31,101)	30,756)	31,836)
Accrued payroll and commissions	2,015)	1,698)	1,605)	3,449)	2,988)
Current portion of employee benefit obligation	570)	631)	1,173)	1,278)	1,415)
Current portion of Mobility preferred interests	—)	—)	2,670)	—)	—)
Accrued interest	2,020)	2,187)	2,160)	2,463)	2,454)
Accrued taxes	1,301)	1,022)	798)	1,402)	1,019)
Other	2,318)	3,005)	3,137)	11,313)	10,339)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	35,657)	35,852)	42,644)	50,661)	50,051)
Advanced billings and customer deposits	4,099)	3,778)	3,918)	5,303)	6,176)
Dividends payable	2,027)	2,020)	2,014)	3,749)	3,741)
Current liabilities	46,872)	51,127)	56,173)	85,588)	63,438)
Long-term debt, excluding maturing within one year	118,443)	127,854)	128,423)	152,724)	153,775)
Deferred income taxes	58,939)	58,666)	57,032)	65,226)	60,472)
Postemployment benefit obligation	9,025)	8,734)	7,260)	12,649)	18,276)
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities	17,391)	17,568)	18,659)	21,261)	22,202)
Other noncurrent liabilities	23,900)	23,696)	28,849)	30,223)	28,358)
Noncurrent portion of note payable to DIRECTV	—)	—)	—)	96)	—)
Deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities	109,255)	108,664)	111,800)	129,455)	129,308)
Noncurrent liabilities	227,698)	236,518)	240,223)	282,179)	283,083)
Total liabilities	274,570)	287,645)	296,396)	367,767)	346,521)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	1,980)	1,973)	—)	—)	—)
Preferred stock, $1 par value	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Common stock, $1 par value	7,621)	7,621)	7,621)	7,621)	7,621)
Additional paid-in capital	109,108)	114,519)	123,610)	130,112)	130,175)
Retained earnings (deficit)	1,871)	(5,015)	(19,415)	42,350)	37,457)
Treasury stock, at cost	(15,023)	(16,128)	(17,082)	(17,280)	(17,910)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	795)	2,300)	2,766)	3,529)	4,330)
Stockholders’ equity attributable to AT&T	104,372)	103,297)	97,500)	166,332)	161,673)
Noncontrolling interest	13,873)	14,145)	8,957)	17,523)	17,567)
Total stockholders’ equity	118,245)	117,442)	106,457)	183,855)	179,240)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	394,795)	407,060)	402,853)	551,622)	525,761)

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).

Current Liabilities: The current liabilities exhibit significant fluctuations over the period. Debt maturing within one year rises markedly from 3,470 million USD in 2020 to a peak of 24,630 million USD in 2021, followed by a sharp reduction to 5,089 million USD by 2024. Similar variability is seen in note payable to DIRECTV, present only in 2021 and 2022. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities show a downward trend from 50,051 million USD in 2020 to 35,657 million USD in 2024, indicating tighter management or lower short-term obligations. The overall current liabilities decline consistently after peaking at 85,588 million USD in 2021 to 46,872 million USD in 2024.
Long-Term Debt and Noncurrent Liabilities: Long-term debt excluding current maturities decreases steadily from 153,775 million USD in 2020 to 118,443 million USD in 2024. Noncurrent liabilities also follow a downward trend, reducing from 283,083 million USD in 2020 to 227,698 million USD by 2024. This overall reduction suggests a strategy aimed at deleveraging or refinancing obligations over time. Deferred income taxes remain relatively stable, with a slight decrease after peaking in 2021. Postemployment benefit obligations decrease sharply from 18,276 million USD in 2020 to 7,260 million USD in 2022, slightly increasing thereafter but remaining well below the initial level.
Total Liabilities: Total liabilities reach their highest in 2021 at 367,767 million USD, then decline steadily across subsequent years, ending at 274,570 million USD in 2024. This downward trend is consistent with the observed patterns in current and noncurrent liabilities and indicates a reduction in overall financial obligations over time.
Stockholders’ Equity: Stockholders’ equity attributable to the company peaks in 2021 at 166,332 million USD, before declining sharply to 97,500 million USD in 2022. It then recovers partially to 104,372 million USD by 2024. Retained earnings show a substantial deterioration with a move from positive 42,350 million USD in 2021 to a deficit of 19,415 million USD in 2022, improving gradually to a positive 1,871 million USD by 2024. Treasury stock decreases consistently in cost, from -17,910 million USD in 2020 to -15,023 million USD in 2024, suggesting some repurchase activity moderation. Additional paid-in capital falls steadily from 130,175 million USD in 2020 to 109,108 million USD in 2024, indicating possible share repurchases or reductions in capital contributions over the period.
Total Stockholders’ Equity and Total Liabilities & Equity: Total stockholders’ equity follows a similar trajectory to equity attributable to the company, peaking in 2021 and then decreasing significantly in 2022, with gradual recovery thereafter. Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity peak in 2021 at 551,622 million USD, dropping sharply in 2022 to 402,853 million USD, and then stabilizing around 394,795 million USD in 2024. These changes reflect the combined impact of liability reductions and equity fluctuations.
Other Observations: Accrued payroll and commissions experience a steep reduction from 3,449 million USD in 2021 to 1,605 million USD in 2022, followed by a gradual increase. Accrued taxes fluctuate without a clear trend, while accrued interest decreases slightly over the five-year span. Advanced billings and customer deposits decline consistently from 6,176 million USD in 2020 to 4,099 million USD in 2024, indicating a possible contraction in prepayments or deposits received. The appearance of redeemable noncontrolling interest in 2023 and 2024, around 1,973 million USD, represents a new liability component not previously recorded.
Summary: Overall, the data reveals a peak in liabilities and equity in 2021 with substantial reductions in liabilities afterward, suggesting efforts to reduce debt and improve the financial structure. Equity shows volatility with a notable dip in 2022 due to negative retained earnings but demonstrates a recovery trend through 2024. Current liabilities and especially short-term debt show significant fluctuations, likely tied to specific financing events or solvency management. The gradual debt reduction and stabilization of equity point to a strategic emphasis on strengthening the balance sheet over the observed period.

Download chart

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T)

Balance Sheet: Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity