KeyBanc downgrades T-Mobile stock to Underweight on fiber concerns

Published 09/07/2025, 06:04
© Reuters

Investing.com - KeyBanc Capital Markets downgraded T-Mobile US (NASDAQ:TMUS) from Sector Weight to Underweight on Wednesday, setting a price target of $200.00. The wireless telecommunications giant, currently valued at $268 billion, has seen its stock rise over 33% in the past year despite recent analyst concerns. According to InvestingPro data, two analysts have recently revised their earnings expectations downward for the upcoming period.

The downgrade comes as KeyBanc expressed concerns about T-Mobile being "fiber deficient in a converged/bundled world," which the firm believes puts the carrier at a disadvantage against competitors with stronger fiber infrastructure. Despite these concerns, T-Mobile maintains strong financial health with a 63.85% gross profit margin and revenue growth of 5.31% over the last twelve months.

KeyBanc also cited near-term macroeconomic and competitive pressures that could limit upside potential, along with a deterioration in T-Mobile’s consumer value proposition following recent pricing actions that may prevent the company from capturing an outsized share of industry net additions.

The research firm noted that T-Mobile would likely benefit less than peers from potential tax changes due to OBBB (Optimized Broadband Buildout Benefits), further supporting the downgrade rationale.

KeyBanc analysts consider T-Mobile’s premium valuation excessive at approximately 9.5 times their 2026 adjusted EBITDA estimates, compared to the three-year average of 9.4x and peer average of 7.6x, leading the firm to lower its financial estimates for the wireless carrier. Current analyst price targets range from $220 to $305, with deeper insights available through InvestingPro’s comprehensive research reports, which cover over 1,400 US stocks.

In other recent news, T-Mobile US reported positive first-quarter results for 2025, showing slight increases in both revenue and EBITDA, alongside better-than-expected gains in fixed wireless access and prepaid customers. Despite the positive results, the company’s shares have seen a decline, partly due to concerns over high industry activity affecting margins and potential CEO succession issues. T-Mobile is also making headlines with the launch of its new Revvl Tab 2 tablet, priced at $169.99, which it claims is the most affordable 5G tablet in the market. Promotions are available for new and existing customers, including offers that make the tablet free under certain conditions.

In a significant transaction, SoftBank (TYO:9984) Group Corp. sold $4.8 billion worth of T-Mobile shares as part of its strategy to fund artificial intelligence initiatives. The sale involved 21.5 million shares at $224 each, marking a 3% discount to T-Mobile’s previous closing price. Analyst firm BofA Securities has reinstated coverage on T-Mobile with a Neutral rating, citing high institutional ownership and record growth forecasts. Meanwhile, Redburn-Atlantic upgraded T-Mobile’s rating from Sell to Neutral, despite concerns over market net additions and contingent liabilities. TD Cowen has maintained its Buy rating on T-Mobile, emphasizing the company’s ability to navigate industry challenges while expanding in rural markets.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers
© 2007-2025 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.