AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) reported strong first-quarter results, highlighted by a significant ramp in consolidated revenue growth, led by improved results in wireless and enterprise, and further expansion of wireless and consolidated margins. This marked AT&T's 12th consecutive quarter of double-digit growth in adjusted earnings per share.

Reported Results:

For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, AT&T's revenues totaled $30.7 billion, up 6.1 percent versus reported results in the year-earlier quarter and up 4.6 percent compared with first-quarter 2007 pro forma revenues, which exclude merger-related accounting impacts on directory revenues. This marks a substantial step up from year-over-year pro forma revenue growth of 2.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007 and 1.7 percent in the first quarter of 2007.

Compared with results for the year-earlier first quarter, AT&T's reported operating expenses for the first quarter of 2008 were $24.8 billion, up from $24.3 billion; reported operating income was $6.0 billion, up from $4.7 billion; and AT&T's reported operating income margin was 19.5 percent, up from 16.1 percent.

AT&T's reported first-quarter 2008 net income totaled $3.5 billion, up 21.5 percent from $2.8 billion in the year-earlier first quarter, and reported earnings per diluted share totaled $0.57, up 26.7 percent from $0.45 in the first quarter of 2007.

Double-Digit Growth in Adjusted EPS

AT&T's adjusted results for the first quarter of 2008 exclude merger-related amortization expenses and costs associated with a workforce reduction. Adjusted results for the first quarter of 2007 excluded merger-related costs and accounting effects as well as gains from wireless transactions.

Compared with results for the year-earlier first quarter, AT&T's adjusted operating expenses for the first quarter of 2008 totaled $23.2 billion, versus $22.4 billion; adjusted operating income was $7.6 billion, up from $7.0 billion; and AT&T's adjusted operating income margin was 24.6 percent, up from 23.7 percent.

AT&T's adjusted first-quarter 2008 net income totaled $4.5 billion, up 10.3 percent from $4.1 billion in the year-earlier first quarter, and adjusted earnings per diluted share totaled $0.74, up 13.8 percent from $0.65 in the first quarter of 2007.

AT&T's merger integration and operational cost initiatives continue on schedule. For the full year 2007, operating expense savings from BellSouth and AT&T Corp. merger integration efforts and previously outlined operational initiatives totaled approximately $3.9 billion. AT&T expects these expense savings to grow in 2008 by more than $2 billion dollars.