AT&T

RANK22

Revenue at the newly created communications and entertainment conglomerate increased 6%, but profits dropped 28% amid merger costs, pension charges, and changes in the value of some assets, among other items. CEO Randall Stephenson, in what would turn out to be his last year at the helm, focused on breaking down barriers in the company's WarnerMedia unit and creating a streaming video strategy to attract cord cutters. Now it will be up to new CEO John Stankey, who took over July 1, to keep all the pieces working in harmony—from an expensive new 5G wireless network to newly launched streaming service HBO Max.