AT&T Shares Climb 2.07% on $177M Data Breach Settlement with 103rd-Ranked Trading Volume

On August 7, 2025, AT&T (T) rose 2.07% with a trading volume of $0.98 billion, ranking 103rd in market activity. The stock’s performance coincided with developments surrounding a $177 million settlement to address two major data breaches affecting over 100 million customers. The settlement, approved in principle by a federal court, aims to resolve class-action lawsuits tied to a 2019 breach exposing 73 million account holders’ personal data and a 2024 incident involving Snowflake cloud storage that compromised call records of nearly all U.S. customers. AT&T has denied responsibility for the breaches, which were attributed to criminal acts, but agreed to the settlement to avoid prolonged litigation costs.

Eligible claimants, including current and former customers whose data was compromised, must submit claims by November 18, 2025. The settlement prioritizes higher payouts—up to $5,000 for the 2019 breach and $2,500 for the 2024 incident—to those who can demonstrate traceable damages. The remaining funds will be distributed to claimants without proof of harm, with final approval expected by December 3, 2025. Payouts are projected to begin in early 2026, contingent on court validation.

AT&T emphasized its commitment to data protection in a statement, despite not admitting wrongdoing. The settlement includes up to 24 months of credit monitoring for valid claimants and covers administrative costs and legal fees. Critics highlight the risk of reduced per-claim payouts if a high volume of applications is submitted, underscoring the need for timely participation.

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