AT&T Announces 2.5 Percent Dividend Increase, Marking a Quarter Century of Dividend Increases

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced that its board of directors has approved a 2.5 percent increase in the company's quarterly dividend, marking AT&T's 25th consecutive annual dividend increase, a record unmatched among major telecom companies.

AT&T directors increased the dividend rate from $0.40 to $0.41 a share on a quarterly basis and from $1.60 to $1.64 a share on an annual basis.

"This latest dividend increase reflects our board's continued confidence in AT&T's financial strength and underscores our commitment to returning value to stockholders," said Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and chief executive officer.

The dividend will be payable Feb. 2, 2009, to common stockholders of record on Jan. 9, 2009.