Thread regarding AT&T Inc. layoffs

Articles surrounding AT&T on Seeking Alpha are typically bullish. I pose the contrarian view, Current financials are poor, with future market outlooks painting a disastrous picture, AND The AT&T-DirecTV deal may be another nail in the coffin of a dying industry.

AT&T (NYSE:T) is a stock that gets a lot of coverage on Seeking Alpha, and most of the recent coverage has been positive. AT&T is a Dividend Aristocrat, having raised its dividend for 30 consecutive years. I see a lot of young dividend growth investors such as myself buying into AT&T's stock today, attempting to capitalize on that Dividend Aristocrat status and current big, fat 5.6% yield.

AT&T's stock has moved sideways for 3 years now. Aside from collecting the dividend check, there has otherwise been no growth alongside a fairly robust S&P 500 (NYSEARCA:SPY).

AT&T is a cornerstone of a rapidly aging communications industry full of high overhead costs, dated infrastructure and stagnating growth. Given that AT&T has struggled with growth so significantly during one of the most expansive bull markets in US history, I have had real concerns about its growth rate moving forward and have been puzzled by the consistently rosy picture painted for the company's future on Seeking Alpha. Maybe there is something I am missing here? So I decided to dive into the company's last six annual reports to attempt to uncover some financial trends to better wrap my mind around this company.

"If somebody is going to invest their life in a company," even part-time, "you still should deserve benefits and know that your employer will take care of you."Unlikely at AT&T

IBM! Oh my....IBM dumped att IT support techs spring and summer 2015. They were att employees before "told" you now work for IBM or don't let the door hit you in the arse on the way out!

Any rise in interests rates that ATT pays on their bonds is paid by our pensions. ATT pays more for their debt and our pensions take the hit. When Janet Yellen (Fed Chairwoman) raised interest rates I cringed. Every time ATT bought stock or businesses on credit I cringed. Genius for ATT, but who at our unions thought that was a good idea? What's worse than watching your pension shrink as your time with the company increases? Doing a lease roll on your computer without a net (tech support)! There used to be a tradeoff for putting up with the draconian work rules in this joint, but the shrinking pension, medical coverage and feeling a general loss of working for a noble purpose (the customer) vs lining the pockets of the king killed it for me. Get another sucker Randall....but have you seen what waits in the on deck circle? Those kids have a whole new attitude concerning what they demand from an employer. Good luck ATT.