AT&T Sells Mexico Unit as Trading Volume Falls to 133rd Rank in Strategic Restructuring

On August 8, 2025, AT&T (T) traded higher by 0.07%, with a daily trading volume of $0.66 billion, a 32.6% decline from the prior day, ranking 133rd in market liquidity. The stock’s muted performance contrasts with broader market trends, as focus shifts to strategic corporate actions.

AT&T is reportedly seeking to sell its Mexico mobile unit for over $2 billion, a move to exit a market it entered in 2014 via acquisitions of Iusacell and NII Holdings. Despite investing over $10 billion in the region, the company holds just 18% market share, trailing Telefónica’s Telcel, which dominates with 64%. The potential divestiture aligns with AT&T’s broader strategy to streamline operations and prioritize U.S. infrastructure investments, including a $5.75 billion acquisition of Lumen’s fiber business. While no formal decision has been made, the sale would add to recent asset disposals aimed at reducing debt and improving efficiency.

Analysts note the Mexican market’s competitive challenges, with AT&T struggling to scale its presence against entrenched rivals. The company’s mobile subscriber base in Mexico stands at 24 million, generating roughly $1 billion in quarterly revenue. However, securing a buyer remains uncertain, as potential bidders may be deterred by the market’s low-margin dynamics and regulatory complexities. The ongoing exit strategies of other global players, such as Telefónica, further underscore the market’s unattractive profile for new entrants.

The strategy of purchasing the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding them for one day delivered a 166.71% return from 2022 to the present, outperforming the benchmark return of 29.18% by 137.53%. This underscores the role of liquidity concentration in short-term stock performance, particularly in volatile markets.