As is the case with all mobile carriers, T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:TMUS)’s story also revolves around the firm’s subscriber base. More subscribers mean more revenue and happy investors. On this front, the firm’s shares closed a strong 10.7% lower on July 23rd. The dip came after the firm’s second quarter earnings report. Among other factors, the results saw T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:TMUS) beat analyst profit-per-share estimates of $2.59 by posting $2.99. However, the firm also outlined that it expected to add 250,000 postpaid accounts in the third quarter, which was lower than Q2’s 275,000 in additions. Cramer, in his Monday morning appearance, discussed the role of Apple’s subscribers on T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:TMUS)’s business:
“I think T-Mobile’s going to have a very positive Apple offering.”
While brief, his remarks are at the center of the debate surrounding T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:TMUS). As the carrier continues to focus high value susbcriber additions to drive up its average revenue per user (ARPU), Apple can play a key role due to the premium nature of the iPhone. The effect was evident in Q3 2025 when T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:TMUS) reported one million subscriber additions following the new iPhone’s launch. The additions marked the carrier’s highest subscriber growth in a decade.
However, the carrier’s bears argue that not only did T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:TMUS)’s broader growth slow down in the second quarter, but the firm’s forced migration of consumers to higher value plans can cause churn. The firm’s management has also admitted this possibility, and it has led to worries that any weakness in subscriber retention can lead to competitors gaining a foothold in T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:TMUS)’s market. However, the bulls point towards strong financial performance metrics such as an operating margin of 23%.
Shifting towards hedge funds, 76 out of the 1,041 hedge funds part of Insider Monkey’s database in Q4 2025 had held a stake in T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:TMUS). This figure grew to 85 out of 1,022 in Q1 2026. Looking at the firm’s competitors, Verizon had 75 hedge fund investors in Q1, while AT&T’s hedge fund stakeholders sat at 72. Zooming in, SOFTBANK GROUP CORP held the largest stake, which was worth $2.1 billion, but which also marked a 65% dip. Point72 Asset Management grew its stake by 1,758% to $302 million while Highbridge Capital Management exited its position in T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:TMUS). 4.70% of the float was sold short as of mid-July.
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Disclosure: None.
