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A Tenth Cheaper Than VerizonNarrow moat

T-Mobile US (TMUS) — moat facet

Verizon charges about 10.1% more per account than T-Mobile's $152.91; T-Mobile calls its prices the lowest in the industry.

T-Mobile's price is part of the moat because it was set low on purpose and kept there. Postpaid ARPA, the average revenue per account, was $152.91 in the June 2026 quarter1, against Verizon's $168.352. Verizon charges about 10.1% more per account3.

Postpaid ARPA, Q2 2026 ($ per account per month)152.91T-Mobile168.35VerizonT-Mobile US and Verizon Q2 2026 earnings releases
About $15 less per account each month.

T-Mobile describes its position as the "industry-lowest backbook" alongside the industry's lowest prices for new customers4. That is the company's claim, not a measured fact, but the ARPA gap supports it.

Cheaper and better is a hard combination to fight. A rival matching T-Mobile's price would have to reprice a base of accounts that pays more; a rival matching the network would have to spend as T-Mobile did. The Verizon pages argue the same comparison from the other side, where Verizon is adding lines to the households it has.

The price is not standing still. ARPA rose 2.0% in the year to June 20265, helped by "Higher fee revenue, including from the adoption of new tax and fee exclusive plans"6 and held back by promotions.

The price gap has not stopped postpaid revenue from growing fast. Postpaid revenues were $31,482 million in the first half of 2026 against $27,672 million a year earlier7, 13.8% more8, with UScellular included. Cheaper per account and growing faster in total is the combination the moat depends on.

T-Mobile's claim covers both ends of the base. It says it has the industry's lowest prices for existing customers and for new ones9. The second matters for winning switchers; the first matters for keeping them, because a customer who learns that new customers pay less is the one most likely to leave. Holding both is what lets the price gap survive a fee increase.

The value position lasts while the gap to Verizon stays wide enough to matter to a switcher. A gap below 5%, with T-Mobile raising fees faster than Verizon, would mean the cheaper carrier had stopped being cheaper.

Moat trajectory: Holding steady

ARPA gap to Verizon about 10% in Q2 2026.

The number that tests this moat
Moat Explorer calc
Verizon postpaid ARPA premium over T-Mobile, latest quarter
10.1% ($168.35 against $152.91, Q2 2026)

How much cheaper T-Mobile is; a gap below 5% would mean the value position had faded.

How it's calculated: Verizon postpaid ARPA divided by T-Mobile postpaid ARPA, minus one; Verizon and T-Mobile Q2 2026 earnings releases.
Source: Moat Explorer calculation from T-Mobile US filings ↗
⚠ Threats to the moat
References
  1. ReportedPostpaid ARPA, the average revenue per account, was $152.91 in the June 2026 quarter, against Verizon's $168.35.
    T-Mobile US second-quarter 2026 results release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - postpaid account additions, ARPA, Core Adjusted EBITDA, shareholder returns and raised 2026 guidance. — Q2 2026 · publ. 23 July 2026 · source ↗
  2. ReportedPostpaid ARPA, the average revenue per account, was $152.91 in the June 2026 quarter, against Verizon's $168.35.
    Verizon Communications second-quarter 2026 results, Form 8-K exhibit 99 - 184,000 postpaid phone net additions, retail postpaid accounts of 34,237 thousand and ARPA of $168.35. — Q2 2026 · publ. July 2026 · source ↗
  3. Moat Explorer calcVerizon charges about 10.1% more per account.
    Moat Explorer calculation from T-Mobile US reported figures ($ millions unless stated; calendar years). Revenue lines: FY2025 shares of total revenues 88,309: postpaid 57,932 = 65.6%, prepaid 10,497 = 11.9%, wholesale and other service 2,877 = 3.3%, equipment 15,972 = 18.1%, other 1,031 = 1.2%. Postpaid share of total revenues 2018 20,862 / 43,310 = 48.2%. Service revenues = postpaid + prepaid + wholesale and other service: 2018 32,441, 2020 50,395, 2022 61,323, 2025 71,306; postpaid share of service revenues 2018 64.3%, 2020 72.0%, 2022 74.9%, 2025 57,932 / 71,306 = 81.2%; Q2 2026 15,853 / 18,983 = 83.5%. Postpaid growth 2025 57,932 / 52,340 - 1 = +10.7%; 2021-2025 (57,932 / 42,562)^(1/4) - 1 = 8.0% a year. Wholesale and other service 2,877 / 5,547 - 1 = -48.1% (2022 to 2025). Prepaid ARPU 34.14 / 37.92 - 1 = -10.0% (2023 to 2025). Equipment revenues less cost of equipment sales 15,972 - 21,277 = -5,305 (2025), 14,263 - 18,882 = -4,619 (2024), 14,138 - 18,533 = -4,395 (2023); loss over service revenues 5,305 / 71,306 = 7.4% (2025), 4,395 / 63,241 = 6.9% (2023); equipment share of revenue 2021 20,727 / 80,118 = 25.9%; cost of equipment sales growth 21,277 / 18,882 - 1 = +12.7%. Revenue growth 2025 88,309 / 81,400 - 1 = +8.5%; operating income growth 18,279 / 18,010 - 1 = +1.5%. Q2 2026 against Q2 2025: total revenues 22,791 / 21,132 - 1 = +7.9%; service revenues 18,983 / 17,438 - 1 = +8.9%; postpaid 15,853 / 14,078 - 1 = +12.6%; prepaid 2,473 / 2,643 - 1 = -6.4%; wholesale and other service 657 / 717 - 1 = -8.4%; equipment 3,524 / 3,439 - 1 = +2.5%; operating income 5,490 / 5,213 - 1 = +5.3%; net income 3,239 / 3,222 - 1 = +0.5%; Core Adjusted EBITDA 9,537 / 8,541 - 1 = +11.7%. T-Mobile postpaid revenue growth +12.6% against AT&T wireless service revenue growth +3.3%. Capital expenditure 9,955 / 13,970 - 1 = -28.7% (2022 to 2025); as a share of revenue 9,955 / 88,309 = 11.3% (2025), 13,970 / 79,571 = 17.6% (2022). Customers and accounts: low- and mid-band spectrum 394 - 357 = 37 MHz added (2021 to 2025); 2.5 GHz share 185 / 394 = 47.0%. Auction 108 cost 304 / Channel 51 purchase 3,500 = 8.7%, less than a tenth. Monthly churn times twelve: 1.58% x 12 = 19.0% a year (about a fifth), 0.86% x 12 = 10.3% (about a tenth). Postpaid accounts 34,700 / 31,502 - 1 = +10.2%; accounts acquired 1,448 (UScellular) + 633 (Metronet and other) + 85 (Lumos) = 2,166; excluding them (34,700 - 2,166) / 31,502 - 1 = +3.3%. Postpaid phone customers 85,594 - 79,013 = 6,581 added in 2025, of which 3,287 from UScellular = 49.9%, about half; organic 6,581 - 3,287 = 3,294. Postpaid account lead over Verizon 34,700 - 34,237 = 463 thousand; Verizon ARPA 168.35 / 152.91 - 1 = +10.1%, a difference of $15.44. ARPA growth 152.91 / 149.87 - 1 = +2.0% (Q2 2026); 143.85 / 139.27 - 1 = +3.3% (2024); 148.97 / 143.85 - 1 = +3.6% (2025); 2018-2025 (148.97 / 128.86)^(1/7) - 1 = 2.1% a year. Customers per employee 142,388,000 / 75,000 = 1,899. 5G broadband to target 15,000 - 8,450 = 6,550 thousand over five years = 1,310 thousand a year; other broadband 9,447 - 8,450 = 997 thousand. Capital and valuation: spectrum licences over total assets 98,032 / 219,237 = 44.7% (2025), 98,178 / 213,553 = 46.0% (30 June 2026). Spectrum step-up in the Sprint year 82,828 - 36,465 = 46,363. Sprint merger-related costs 1,915 + 3,107 + 4,969 + 1,034 = 11,025, about $11.0 billion; 2020-2022 1,915 + 3,107 + 4,969 = 9,991. Lease expense 5,197 / 5,066 - 1 = +2.6%. Net interest expense 3,774 / 3,335 - 1 = +13.2% (2023 to 2025). Employee expenses 8,553 / 7,041 - 1 = +21.5%. Bad debt expense 1,370 / 898 - 1 = +52.6%. Core Adjusted EBITDA over service revenues 29,116 / 63,241 = 46.0% (2023), 31,771 / 66,178 = 48.0% (2024), 33,924 / 71,306 = 47.6% (2025). Digital and AI target 3,000 / 33,924 = 8.8% of 2025 Core Adjusted EBITDA. Shareholder returns 2025 14,000 / Adjusted Free Cash Flow 17,995 = 77.8%; cumulative returns 54.6bn / market value 176.60bn = 30.9%; 2026 program 18.2bn / 176.60bn = 10.3%; trailing free cash flow 18.40bn / 176.60bn = 10.4%. Deutsche Telekom stake 54.3% x 176.60bn = 95.9bn. Market value 176.60 / 256.15 - 1 = -31.1% (end-2024 to October 2026). Verizon 190.79bn / AT&T 166.51bn = 1.146. Contracted revenue 2,700 + 1,200 + 938 + 2,200 = 7,038, over revenue 88,309 = 8.0%; wholesale minimums 1,200 + 938 + 2,200 = 4,338. Fiber joint venture commitments 932 + 500 + 4,600 + 700 + 2,000 = 8,732, about $8.7 billion. Further derived figures: ad-technology purchases Vistar 621 + Blis 180 = 801; lease expense over revenue 5,197 / 88,309 = 5.9%; low-band spectrum 600 MHz 43 + 700 MHz 12 + 800 MHz 14 = 69 MHz; total customers added in 2024 129,528 - 119,700 = 9,828, of which Mint 3,504 = 35.7%; SG&A 23,470 / 20,818 - 1 = +12.7%; advertising expense 3,668 / 2,515 - 1 = +45.8%; postpaid other customers 30,851 / 22,116 - 1 = +39.5%; postpaid revenues first half 2026 31,482 / 27,672 - 1 = +13.8%; net income Q1 2026 2,504 / 2,953 - 1 = -15.2%; wholesale and other service share of service revenues 6,074 / 58,369 = 10.4% (2021), 2,877 / 71,306 = 4.0% (2025); Q4 2025 total revenues less service revenues 24,334 - 18,702 = 5,632; postpaid RPO over postpaid revenues 2,700 / 57,932 = 4.7%; fiber customers acquired 755 + 97 = 852 thousand, against a 3,000-4,000 thousand target, 2,148-3,148 thousand to go; first half 2026 service revenues 37,814 / 34,363 - 1 = +10.0%, net income 5,743 / 6,175 - 1 = -7.0%, Core Adjusted EBITDA 18,777 / 16,799 - 1 = +11.8%; postpaid phone ARPU 50.37 / 49.35 - 1 = +2.1% (2025); prepaid churn over postpaid phone churn 2.72 / 0.93 = 2.9 times; Verizon total revenues 34,253 / 34,504 - 1 = -0.7%; Lumos 932,000,000 / 97,000 customers = about $9,608 (about 9,600) a customer; postpaid accounts Q3 2025 33,979 - 31,502 = 2,477; equipment revenues first half 2026 7,520 / 7,143 - 1 = +5.3%; three carriers 35 + 34 + 27 = 96%; bad debt and receivable losses 1.8% x 22,791 = about 410 (Q2 2026); prepaid customers 25,943 - 25,410 = 533, of which UScellular 349; depreciation and amortization less capital spending 13,508 - 9,955 = 3,553 (2025); employee expenses per employee 8,553,000,000 / 75,000 = about $114,000 (2025), 7,041,000,000 / 70,000 = about $101,000 (2024); deal values Ka-ena up to 1,350 + UScellular 4,400 + Metronet 4,600 = 10,350, about $10.4 billion; Metronet and other 633 + Lumos 85 = 718; net income over total revenues 2,103 / 24,334 = 8.6% (Q4 2025), 3,222 / 21,132 = 15.2% (Q2 2025); ARPA 152.91 / 148.97 - 1 = +2.6%; lease expense 5,066 / 5,398 - 1 = -6.2% (2024); total customers added 2024 129,528 - 119,700 = 9,828; UScellular merger costs net of tax first half 2026 476 + 146 = 622; return on equity 10,992 / ((59,203 + 61,741) / 2 = 60,472) = 18.2% (2025), 11,339 / ((61,741 + 64,715) / 2 = 63,228) = 17.9% (2024); wholesale and other service share of service revenues 1,981 / 32,441 = 6.1% (2018), 4,782 / 63,241 = 7.6% (2023); wholesale 1,183 + roaming and other service 798 = 1,981 (2018), 1,279 + 1,005 = 2,284 (2019), as recast in the FY2020 10-K; year-end P/E about 20.7 (2025) and 22.6 (2024); customers added 2020 to 2025 142,388 - 102,064 = 40,324 thousand, about 40 million. Trailing twelve months to June 2026: revenue 88,309 - 42,018 + 45,898 = 92,189; net income 10,992 - 6,175 + 5,743 = 10,560. Year-end market value (stockanalysis.com) over net income and total revenues: 2015 31.92bn / 733 = 43.55, / 32,467 = 0.983; 2016 47.39 / 1,460 = 32.46, / 37,490 = 1.264; 2017 52.84 / 4,536 = 11.65, / 40,604 = 1.301; 2018 53.97 / 2,888 = 18.69, / 43,310 = 1.246; 2019 67.09 / 3,468 = 19.35, / 44,998 = 1.491; 2020 167.37 / 3,064 = 54.62, / 68,397 = 2.447; 2021 144.87 / 3,024 = 47.91, / 80,118 = 1.808; 2022 174.18 / 2,590 = 67.25, / 79,571 = 2.189; 2023 185.42 / 8,317 = 22.29, / 78,558 = 2.360; 2024 256.15 / 11,339 = 22.59, / 81,400 = 3.147; 2025 227.10 / 10,992 = 20.66, / 88,309 = 2.572; October 2026 176.60 / 10,560 = 16.72, / 92,189 = 1.916 - customers: spectrum depth, churn, accounts, ARPA and broadband. — FY2015-Q2 2026 · publ. October 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in T-Mobile US Forms 10-K, 10-Q, earnings releases and the Investor Factbook, Verizon and AT&T Q2 2026 releases, and stockanalysis.com market values; each operand is stated in the source line.
  4. ReportedT-Mobile describes its position as the "industry-lowest backbook" alongside the industry's lowest prices for new customers.
    T-Mobile US Capital Markets Day Update, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1, 11 February 2026 - 2026-2027 targets, broadband 2030 targets, the digital and AI contribution, the network-seeker opportunity and the capital envelope. — February 2026 · publ. 11 February 2026 · source ↗
  5. Moat Explorer calcARPA rose 2.0% in the year to June 2026, helped by "Higher fee revenue, including from the adoption of new tax and fee exclusive plans" and held back by promotions.
    Moat Explorer calculation from T-Mobile US reported figures ($ millions unless stated; calendar years). Revenue lines: FY2025 shares of total revenues 88,309: postpaid 57,932 = 65.6%, prepaid 10,497 = 11.9%, wholesale and other service 2,877 = 3.3%, equipment 15,972 = 18.1%, other 1,031 = 1.2%. Postpaid share of total revenues 2018 20,862 / 43,310 = 48.2%. Service revenues = postpaid + prepaid + wholesale and other service: 2018 32,441, 2020 50,395, 2022 61,323, 2025 71,306; postpaid share of service revenues 2018 64.3%, 2020 72.0%, 2022 74.9%, 2025 57,932 / 71,306 = 81.2%; Q2 2026 15,853 / 18,983 = 83.5%. Postpaid growth 2025 57,932 / 52,340 - 1 = +10.7%; 2021-2025 (57,932 / 42,562)^(1/4) - 1 = 8.0% a year. Wholesale and other service 2,877 / 5,547 - 1 = -48.1% (2022 to 2025). Prepaid ARPU 34.14 / 37.92 - 1 = -10.0% (2023 to 2025). Equipment revenues less cost of equipment sales 15,972 - 21,277 = -5,305 (2025), 14,263 - 18,882 = -4,619 (2024), 14,138 - 18,533 = -4,395 (2023); loss over service revenues 5,305 / 71,306 = 7.4% (2025), 4,395 / 63,241 = 6.9% (2023); equipment share of revenue 2021 20,727 / 80,118 = 25.9%; cost of equipment sales growth 21,277 / 18,882 - 1 = +12.7%. Revenue growth 2025 88,309 / 81,400 - 1 = +8.5%; operating income growth 18,279 / 18,010 - 1 = +1.5%. Q2 2026 against Q2 2025: total revenues 22,791 / 21,132 - 1 = +7.9%; service revenues 18,983 / 17,438 - 1 = +8.9%; postpaid 15,853 / 14,078 - 1 = +12.6%; prepaid 2,473 / 2,643 - 1 = -6.4%; wholesale and other service 657 / 717 - 1 = -8.4%; equipment 3,524 / 3,439 - 1 = +2.5%; operating income 5,490 / 5,213 - 1 = +5.3%; net income 3,239 / 3,222 - 1 = +0.5%; Core Adjusted EBITDA 9,537 / 8,541 - 1 = +11.7%. T-Mobile postpaid revenue growth +12.6% against AT&T wireless service revenue growth +3.3%. Capital expenditure 9,955 / 13,970 - 1 = -28.7% (2022 to 2025); as a share of revenue 9,955 / 88,309 = 11.3% (2025), 13,970 / 79,571 = 17.6% (2022). Customers and accounts: low- and mid-band spectrum 394 - 357 = 37 MHz added (2021 to 2025); 2.5 GHz share 185 / 394 = 47.0%. Auction 108 cost 304 / Channel 51 purchase 3,500 = 8.7%, less than a tenth. Monthly churn times twelve: 1.58% x 12 = 19.0% a year (about a fifth), 0.86% x 12 = 10.3% (about a tenth). Postpaid accounts 34,700 / 31,502 - 1 = +10.2%; accounts acquired 1,448 (UScellular) + 633 (Metronet and other) + 85 (Lumos) = 2,166; excluding them (34,700 - 2,166) / 31,502 - 1 = +3.3%. Postpaid phone customers 85,594 - 79,013 = 6,581 added in 2025, of which 3,287 from UScellular = 49.9%, about half; organic 6,581 - 3,287 = 3,294. Postpaid account lead over Verizon 34,700 - 34,237 = 463 thousand; Verizon ARPA 168.35 / 152.91 - 1 = +10.1%, a difference of $15.44. ARPA growth 152.91 / 149.87 - 1 = +2.0% (Q2 2026); 143.85 / 139.27 - 1 = +3.3% (2024); 148.97 / 143.85 - 1 = +3.6% (2025); 2018-2025 (148.97 / 128.86)^(1/7) - 1 = 2.1% a year. Customers per employee 142,388,000 / 75,000 = 1,899. 5G broadband to target 15,000 - 8,450 = 6,550 thousand over five years = 1,310 thousand a year; other broadband 9,447 - 8,450 = 997 thousand. Capital and valuation: spectrum licences over total assets 98,032 / 219,237 = 44.7% (2025), 98,178 / 213,553 = 46.0% (30 June 2026). Spectrum step-up in the Sprint year 82,828 - 36,465 = 46,363. Sprint merger-related costs 1,915 + 3,107 + 4,969 + 1,034 = 11,025, about $11.0 billion; 2020-2022 1,915 + 3,107 + 4,969 = 9,991. Lease expense 5,197 / 5,066 - 1 = +2.6%. Net interest expense 3,774 / 3,335 - 1 = +13.2% (2023 to 2025). Employee expenses 8,553 / 7,041 - 1 = +21.5%. Bad debt expense 1,370 / 898 - 1 = +52.6%. Core Adjusted EBITDA over service revenues 29,116 / 63,241 = 46.0% (2023), 31,771 / 66,178 = 48.0% (2024), 33,924 / 71,306 = 47.6% (2025). Digital and AI target 3,000 / 33,924 = 8.8% of 2025 Core Adjusted EBITDA. Shareholder returns 2025 14,000 / Adjusted Free Cash Flow 17,995 = 77.8%; cumulative returns 54.6bn / market value 176.60bn = 30.9%; 2026 program 18.2bn / 176.60bn = 10.3%; trailing free cash flow 18.40bn / 176.60bn = 10.4%. Deutsche Telekom stake 54.3% x 176.60bn = 95.9bn. Market value 176.60 / 256.15 - 1 = -31.1% (end-2024 to October 2026). Verizon 190.79bn / AT&T 166.51bn = 1.146. Contracted revenue 2,700 + 1,200 + 938 + 2,200 = 7,038, over revenue 88,309 = 8.0%; wholesale minimums 1,200 + 938 + 2,200 = 4,338. Fiber joint venture commitments 932 + 500 + 4,600 + 700 + 2,000 = 8,732, about $8.7 billion. Further derived figures: ad-technology purchases Vistar 621 + Blis 180 = 801; lease expense over revenue 5,197 / 88,309 = 5.9%; low-band spectrum 600 MHz 43 + 700 MHz 12 + 800 MHz 14 = 69 MHz; total customers added in 2024 129,528 - 119,700 = 9,828, of which Mint 3,504 = 35.7%; SG&A 23,470 / 20,818 - 1 = +12.7%; advertising expense 3,668 / 2,515 - 1 = +45.8%; postpaid other customers 30,851 / 22,116 - 1 = +39.5%; postpaid revenues first half 2026 31,482 / 27,672 - 1 = +13.8%; net income Q1 2026 2,504 / 2,953 - 1 = -15.2%; wholesale and other service share of service revenues 6,074 / 58,369 = 10.4% (2021), 2,877 / 71,306 = 4.0% (2025); Q4 2025 total revenues less service revenues 24,334 - 18,702 = 5,632; postpaid RPO over postpaid revenues 2,700 / 57,932 = 4.7%; fiber customers acquired 755 + 97 = 852 thousand, against a 3,000-4,000 thousand target, 2,148-3,148 thousand to go; first half 2026 service revenues 37,814 / 34,363 - 1 = +10.0%, net income 5,743 / 6,175 - 1 = -7.0%, Core Adjusted EBITDA 18,777 / 16,799 - 1 = +11.8%; postpaid phone ARPU 50.37 / 49.35 - 1 = +2.1% (2025); prepaid churn over postpaid phone churn 2.72 / 0.93 = 2.9 times; Verizon total revenues 34,253 / 34,504 - 1 = -0.7%; Lumos 932,000,000 / 97,000 customers = about $9,608 (about 9,600) a customer; postpaid accounts Q3 2025 33,979 - 31,502 = 2,477; equipment revenues first half 2026 7,520 / 7,143 - 1 = +5.3%; three carriers 35 + 34 + 27 = 96%; bad debt and receivable losses 1.8% x 22,791 = about 410 (Q2 2026); prepaid customers 25,943 - 25,410 = 533, of which UScellular 349; depreciation and amortization less capital spending 13,508 - 9,955 = 3,553 (2025); employee expenses per employee 8,553,000,000 / 75,000 = about $114,000 (2025), 7,041,000,000 / 70,000 = about $101,000 (2024); deal values Ka-ena up to 1,350 + UScellular 4,400 + Metronet 4,600 = 10,350, about $10.4 billion; Metronet and other 633 + Lumos 85 = 718; net income over total revenues 2,103 / 24,334 = 8.6% (Q4 2025), 3,222 / 21,132 = 15.2% (Q2 2025); ARPA 152.91 / 148.97 - 1 = +2.6%; lease expense 5,066 / 5,398 - 1 = -6.2% (2024); total customers added 2024 129,528 - 119,700 = 9,828; UScellular merger costs net of tax first half 2026 476 + 146 = 622; return on equity 10,992 / ((59,203 + 61,741) / 2 = 60,472) = 18.2% (2025), 11,339 / ((61,741 + 64,715) / 2 = 63,228) = 17.9% (2024); wholesale and other service share of service revenues 1,981 / 32,441 = 6.1% (2018), 4,782 / 63,241 = 7.6% (2023); wholesale 1,183 + roaming and other service 798 = 1,981 (2018), 1,279 + 1,005 = 2,284 (2019), as recast in the FY2020 10-K; year-end P/E about 20.7 (2025) and 22.6 (2024); customers added 2020 to 2025 142,388 - 102,064 = 40,324 thousand, about 40 million. Trailing twelve months to June 2026: revenue 88,309 - 42,018 + 45,898 = 92,189; net income 10,992 - 6,175 + 5,743 = 10,560. Year-end market value (stockanalysis.com) over net income and total revenues: 2015 31.92bn / 733 = 43.55, / 32,467 = 0.983; 2016 47.39 / 1,460 = 32.46, / 37,490 = 1.264; 2017 52.84 / 4,536 = 11.65, / 40,604 = 1.301; 2018 53.97 / 2,888 = 18.69, / 43,310 = 1.246; 2019 67.09 / 3,468 = 19.35, / 44,998 = 1.491; 2020 167.37 / 3,064 = 54.62, / 68,397 = 2.447; 2021 144.87 / 3,024 = 47.91, / 80,118 = 1.808; 2022 174.18 / 2,590 = 67.25, / 79,571 = 2.189; 2023 185.42 / 8,317 = 22.29, / 78,558 = 2.360; 2024 256.15 / 11,339 = 22.59, / 81,400 = 3.147; 2025 227.10 / 10,992 = 20.66, / 88,309 = 2.572; October 2026 176.60 / 10,560 = 16.72, / 92,189 = 1.916 - customers: spectrum depth, churn, accounts, ARPA and broadband. — FY2015-Q2 2026 · publ. October 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in T-Mobile US Forms 10-K, 10-Q, earnings releases and the Investor Factbook, Verizon and AT&T Q2 2026 releases, and stockanalysis.com market values; each operand is stated in the source line.
  6. ReportedARPA rose 2.0% in the year to June 2026, helped by "Higher fee revenue, including from the adoption of new tax and fee exclusive plans" and held back by promotions.
    T-Mobile US Investor Factbook for Q2 2026, Form 8-K exhibit 99.2 - quarterly revenue lines, postpaid accounts, churn, ARPA and its drivers, upgrade rate, bad debt, margins, balance sheet and leverage ratios - postpaid accounts, account churn, ARPA and its drivers, and the upgrade rate. — Q2 2026 · publ. 23 July 2026 · source ↗
  7. ReportedPostpaid revenues were $31,482 million in the first half of 2026 against $27,672 million a year earlier, 13.8% more, with UScellular included.
    T-Mobile US Investor Factbook for Q2 2026, Form 8-K exhibit 99.2 - quarterly revenue lines, postpaid accounts, churn, ARPA and its drivers, upgrade rate, bad debt, margins, balance sheet and leverage ratios - quarterly revenue lines, operating income, net income, Core Adjusted EBITDA, cash flow, bad debt and margins. — Q2 2026 · publ. 23 July 2026 · source ↗
  8. Moat Explorer calcPostpaid revenues were $31,482 million in the first half of 2026 against $27,672 million a year earlier, 13.8% more, with UScellular included.
    Moat Explorer calculation from T-Mobile US reported figures ($ millions unless stated; calendar years). Revenue lines: FY2025 shares of total revenues 88,309: postpaid 57,932 = 65.6%, prepaid 10,497 = 11.9%, wholesale and other service 2,877 = 3.3%, equipment 15,972 = 18.1%, other 1,031 = 1.2%. Postpaid share of total revenues 2018 20,862 / 43,310 = 48.2%. Service revenues = postpaid + prepaid + wholesale and other service: 2018 32,441, 2020 50,395, 2022 61,323, 2025 71,306; postpaid share of service revenues 2018 64.3%, 2020 72.0%, 2022 74.9%, 2025 57,932 / 71,306 = 81.2%; Q2 2026 15,853 / 18,983 = 83.5%. Postpaid growth 2025 57,932 / 52,340 - 1 = +10.7%; 2021-2025 (57,932 / 42,562)^(1/4) - 1 = 8.0% a year. Wholesale and other service 2,877 / 5,547 - 1 = -48.1% (2022 to 2025). Prepaid ARPU 34.14 / 37.92 - 1 = -10.0% (2023 to 2025). Equipment revenues less cost of equipment sales 15,972 - 21,277 = -5,305 (2025), 14,263 - 18,882 = -4,619 (2024), 14,138 - 18,533 = -4,395 (2023); loss over service revenues 5,305 / 71,306 = 7.4% (2025), 4,395 / 63,241 = 6.9% (2023); equipment share of revenue 2021 20,727 / 80,118 = 25.9%; cost of equipment sales growth 21,277 / 18,882 - 1 = +12.7%. Revenue growth 2025 88,309 / 81,400 - 1 = +8.5%; operating income growth 18,279 / 18,010 - 1 = +1.5%. Q2 2026 against Q2 2025: total revenues 22,791 / 21,132 - 1 = +7.9%; service revenues 18,983 / 17,438 - 1 = +8.9%; postpaid 15,853 / 14,078 - 1 = +12.6%; prepaid 2,473 / 2,643 - 1 = -6.4%; wholesale and other service 657 / 717 - 1 = -8.4%; equipment 3,524 / 3,439 - 1 = +2.5%; operating income 5,490 / 5,213 - 1 = +5.3%; net income 3,239 / 3,222 - 1 = +0.5%; Core Adjusted EBITDA 9,537 / 8,541 - 1 = +11.7%. T-Mobile postpaid revenue growth +12.6% against AT&T wireless service revenue growth +3.3%. Capital expenditure 9,955 / 13,970 - 1 = -28.7% (2022 to 2025); as a share of revenue 9,955 / 88,309 = 11.3% (2025), 13,970 / 79,571 = 17.6% (2022). Customers and accounts: low- and mid-band spectrum 394 - 357 = 37 MHz added (2021 to 2025); 2.5 GHz share 185 / 394 = 47.0%. Auction 108 cost 304 / Channel 51 purchase 3,500 = 8.7%, less than a tenth. Monthly churn times twelve: 1.58% x 12 = 19.0% a year (about a fifth), 0.86% x 12 = 10.3% (about a tenth). Postpaid accounts 34,700 / 31,502 - 1 = +10.2%; accounts acquired 1,448 (UScellular) + 633 (Metronet and other) + 85 (Lumos) = 2,166; excluding them (34,700 - 2,166) / 31,502 - 1 = +3.3%. Postpaid phone customers 85,594 - 79,013 = 6,581 added in 2025, of which 3,287 from UScellular = 49.9%, about half; organic 6,581 - 3,287 = 3,294. Postpaid account lead over Verizon 34,700 - 34,237 = 463 thousand; Verizon ARPA 168.35 / 152.91 - 1 = +10.1%, a difference of $15.44. ARPA growth 152.91 / 149.87 - 1 = +2.0% (Q2 2026); 143.85 / 139.27 - 1 = +3.3% (2024); 148.97 / 143.85 - 1 = +3.6% (2025); 2018-2025 (148.97 / 128.86)^(1/7) - 1 = 2.1% a year. Customers per employee 142,388,000 / 75,000 = 1,899. 5G broadband to target 15,000 - 8,450 = 6,550 thousand over five years = 1,310 thousand a year; other broadband 9,447 - 8,450 = 997 thousand. Capital and valuation: spectrum licences over total assets 98,032 / 219,237 = 44.7% (2025), 98,178 / 213,553 = 46.0% (30 June 2026). Spectrum step-up in the Sprint year 82,828 - 36,465 = 46,363. Sprint merger-related costs 1,915 + 3,107 + 4,969 + 1,034 = 11,025, about $11.0 billion; 2020-2022 1,915 + 3,107 + 4,969 = 9,991. Lease expense 5,197 / 5,066 - 1 = +2.6%. Net interest expense 3,774 / 3,335 - 1 = +13.2% (2023 to 2025). Employee expenses 8,553 / 7,041 - 1 = +21.5%. Bad debt expense 1,370 / 898 - 1 = +52.6%. Core Adjusted EBITDA over service revenues 29,116 / 63,241 = 46.0% (2023), 31,771 / 66,178 = 48.0% (2024), 33,924 / 71,306 = 47.6% (2025). Digital and AI target 3,000 / 33,924 = 8.8% of 2025 Core Adjusted EBITDA. Shareholder returns 2025 14,000 / Adjusted Free Cash Flow 17,995 = 77.8%; cumulative returns 54.6bn / market value 176.60bn = 30.9%; 2026 program 18.2bn / 176.60bn = 10.3%; trailing free cash flow 18.40bn / 176.60bn = 10.4%. Deutsche Telekom stake 54.3% x 176.60bn = 95.9bn. Market value 176.60 / 256.15 - 1 = -31.1% (end-2024 to October 2026). Verizon 190.79bn / AT&T 166.51bn = 1.146. Contracted revenue 2,700 + 1,200 + 938 + 2,200 = 7,038, over revenue 88,309 = 8.0%; wholesale minimums 1,200 + 938 + 2,200 = 4,338. Fiber joint venture commitments 932 + 500 + 4,600 + 700 + 2,000 = 8,732, about $8.7 billion. Further derived figures: ad-technology purchases Vistar 621 + Blis 180 = 801; lease expense over revenue 5,197 / 88,309 = 5.9%; low-band spectrum 600 MHz 43 + 700 MHz 12 + 800 MHz 14 = 69 MHz; total customers added in 2024 129,528 - 119,700 = 9,828, of which Mint 3,504 = 35.7%; SG&A 23,470 / 20,818 - 1 = +12.7%; advertising expense 3,668 / 2,515 - 1 = +45.8%; postpaid other customers 30,851 / 22,116 - 1 = +39.5%; postpaid revenues first half 2026 31,482 / 27,672 - 1 = +13.8%; net income Q1 2026 2,504 / 2,953 - 1 = -15.2%; wholesale and other service share of service revenues 6,074 / 58,369 = 10.4% (2021), 2,877 / 71,306 = 4.0% (2025); Q4 2025 total revenues less service revenues 24,334 - 18,702 = 5,632; postpaid RPO over postpaid revenues 2,700 / 57,932 = 4.7%; fiber customers acquired 755 + 97 = 852 thousand, against a 3,000-4,000 thousand target, 2,148-3,148 thousand to go; first half 2026 service revenues 37,814 / 34,363 - 1 = +10.0%, net income 5,743 / 6,175 - 1 = -7.0%, Core Adjusted EBITDA 18,777 / 16,799 - 1 = +11.8%; postpaid phone ARPU 50.37 / 49.35 - 1 = +2.1% (2025); prepaid churn over postpaid phone churn 2.72 / 0.93 = 2.9 times; Verizon total revenues 34,253 / 34,504 - 1 = -0.7%; Lumos 932,000,000 / 97,000 customers = about $9,608 (about 9,600) a customer; postpaid accounts Q3 2025 33,979 - 31,502 = 2,477; equipment revenues first half 2026 7,520 / 7,143 - 1 = +5.3%; three carriers 35 + 34 + 27 = 96%; bad debt and receivable losses 1.8% x 22,791 = about 410 (Q2 2026); prepaid customers 25,943 - 25,410 = 533, of which UScellular 349; depreciation and amortization less capital spending 13,508 - 9,955 = 3,553 (2025); employee expenses per employee 8,553,000,000 / 75,000 = about $114,000 (2025), 7,041,000,000 / 70,000 = about $101,000 (2024); deal values Ka-ena up to 1,350 + UScellular 4,400 + Metronet 4,600 = 10,350, about $10.4 billion; Metronet and other 633 + Lumos 85 = 718; net income over total revenues 2,103 / 24,334 = 8.6% (Q4 2025), 3,222 / 21,132 = 15.2% (Q2 2025); ARPA 152.91 / 148.97 - 1 = +2.6%; lease expense 5,066 / 5,398 - 1 = -6.2% (2024); total customers added 2024 129,528 - 119,700 = 9,828; UScellular merger costs net of tax first half 2026 476 + 146 = 622; return on equity 10,992 / ((59,203 + 61,741) / 2 = 60,472) = 18.2% (2025), 11,339 / ((61,741 + 64,715) / 2 = 63,228) = 17.9% (2024); wholesale and other service share of service revenues 1,981 / 32,441 = 6.1% (2018), 4,782 / 63,241 = 7.6% (2023); wholesale 1,183 + roaming and other service 798 = 1,981 (2018), 1,279 + 1,005 = 2,284 (2019), as recast in the FY2020 10-K; year-end P/E about 20.7 (2025) and 22.6 (2024); customers added 2020 to 2025 142,388 - 102,064 = 40,324 thousand, about 40 million. Trailing twelve months to June 2026: revenue 88,309 - 42,018 + 45,898 = 92,189; net income 10,992 - 6,175 + 5,743 = 10,560. Year-end market value (stockanalysis.com) over net income and total revenues: 2015 31.92bn / 733 = 43.55, / 32,467 = 0.983; 2016 47.39 / 1,460 = 32.46, / 37,490 = 1.264; 2017 52.84 / 4,536 = 11.65, / 40,604 = 1.301; 2018 53.97 / 2,888 = 18.69, / 43,310 = 1.246; 2019 67.09 / 3,468 = 19.35, / 44,998 = 1.491; 2020 167.37 / 3,064 = 54.62, / 68,397 = 2.447; 2021 144.87 / 3,024 = 47.91, / 80,118 = 1.808; 2022 174.18 / 2,590 = 67.25, / 79,571 = 2.189; 2023 185.42 / 8,317 = 22.29, / 78,558 = 2.360; 2024 256.15 / 11,339 = 22.59, / 81,400 = 3.147; 2025 227.10 / 10,992 = 20.66, / 88,309 = 2.572; October 2026 176.60 / 10,560 = 16.72, / 92,189 = 1.916 - revenue lines, growth rates and shares of revenue. — FY2015-Q2 2026 · publ. October 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in T-Mobile US Forms 10-K, 10-Q, earnings releases and the Investor Factbook, Verizon and AT&T Q2 2026 releases, and stockanalysis.com market values; each operand is stated in the source line.
  9. ReportedIt says it has the industry's lowest prices for existing customers and for new ones.
    T-Mobile US Capital Markets Day Update, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1, 11 February 2026 - 2026-2027 targets, broadband 2030 targets, the digital and AI contribution, the network-seeker opportunity and the capital envelope. — February 2026 · publ. 11 February 2026 · source ↗
Sources
Generated October 6, 2026