EX-99.1 2 tdsq420218-kex991.htm EX-99.1 Document

Exhibit 99.1 NEWS RELEASE
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As previously announced, TDS will hold a teleconference on February 18, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. CST. Listen to the call live via the Events & Presentations page of investors.tdsinc.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TDS reports fourth quarter and full year 2021 results
UScellular and TDS Telecom executing on strategic priorities;
Provides 2022 guidance

CHICAGO (February 17, 2022) — Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS) reported total operating revenues of $1,372 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, versus $1,376 million for the same period one year ago. Net income attributable to TDS common shareholders and related diluted earnings per share were $14 million and $0.11, respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to $14 million and $0.12, respectively, in the same period one year ago.
TDS reported total operating revenues of $5,329 million and $5,225 million for the years ended 2021 and 2020, respectively. Net income attributable to TDS common shareholders and related diluted earnings per share were $117 million and $1.00, respectively, for the year ended 2021 compared to $226 million and $1.93, respectively, for the year ended 2020.
“The TDS Family of Companies made excellent progress toward our long-term strategic goals in 2021," said LeRoy T. Carlson, Jr., TDS President and CEO. “UScellular maintained cost discipline and generated positive momentum in the growth areas of its business, which include Business and Government, Prepaid, Fixed Wireless, and its tower portfolio. TDS Telecom continued its growth and transformation as a premier broadband provider, making tremendous progress in upgrading speeds and deploying fiber technology in both incumbent and expansion markets.
"At UScellular, higher ARPU helped drive service revenue growth year-over-year. UScellular continued to execute its regionalization strategy to optimize promotions and drive a deeper focus on customers. In 2021, significant progress was made on UScellular’s multi-year network modernization program as the company made successful bids to accumulate mid-band spectrum to enable its 5G growth strategy. UScellular has a strong spectrum position, an outstanding network, robust distribution to both consumers and businesses, and an amazing team. In 2022, UScellular plans to use those capabilities to drive growth in its business, as well as long-term expansion of Return on Capital.
“TDS Telecom surpassed $1 billion in revenue and exceeded a half million total broadband connections in the year. In addition, TDS Telecom launched 2Gig broadband speeds in select markets and announced a goal to triple the number of fiber service addresses by 2026. In 2022, TDS Telecom will focus on executing its strategies by growing its broadband business and aggressively expanding its fiber footprint.”
1


2022 Estimated Results

TDS’ current estimates of full-year 2022 results for UScellular and TDS Telecom are shown below. Such estimates represent management’s view as of February 17, 2022 and should not be assumed to be current as of any future date. TDS undertakes no duty to update such estimates, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that final results will not differ materially from estimated results.

UScellular2022 Estimated ResultsActual Results for
the Year Ended
December 31, 2021
(Dollars in millions)  
Service revenues$3,100-$3,200$3,115
Adjusted OIBDA1
$750-$900$869
Adjusted EBITDA1
$925-$1,075$1,054
Capital expenditures$700-$800$780
TDS Telecom2022 Estimated ResultsActual Results for
the Year Ended
December 31, 2021
(Dollars in millions)
Total operating revenues$1,010-$1,040$1,006
Adjusted OIBDA1
$260-$290$310
Adjusted EBITDA1
$260-$290$310
Capital expenditures$500-$550$411
2


The following tables reconcile EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA to the corresponding GAAP measures, Net income or Income before income taxes. In providing 2022 estimated results, TDS has not completed the below reconciliation to Net income because it does not provide guidance for income taxes. Although potentially significant, TDS believes that the impact of income taxes cannot be reasonably predicted; therefore, TDS is unable to provide such guidance.
UScellularTDS Telecom
2022 Estimated ResultsActual Results for
the Year Ended
December 31, 2021
2022 Estimated ResultsActual Results for
the Year Ended
December 31, 2021
(Dollars in millions)  
Net income (GAAP)N/A$160 N/A$90 
Add back:  
Income tax expenseN/A20 
N/A
24 
Income before income taxes (GAAP)$90-$240$180 $40-$70$114 
Add back:
Interest expense130175 (5)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense685678 220198 
EBITDA (Non-GAAP)1
$905-$1,055$1,033 $260-$290$308 
Add back or deduct:
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net2023 
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net(2)— 
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)1
$925-$1,075$1,054 $260-$290$310 
Deduct:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities170179 — 
Interest and dividend income5
Other, net— (1)
Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP)1
$750-$900$869 $260-$290$310 
Numbers may not foot due to rounding.
1EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are defined as net income adjusted for the items set forth in the reconciliation above. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are not measures of financial performance under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (GAAP) and should not be considered as alternatives to Net income or Cash flows from operating activities, as indicators of cash flows or as measures of liquidity. TDS does not intend to imply that any such items set forth in the reconciliation above are non-recurring, infrequent or unusual; such items may occur in the future. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA as measurements of profitability, and therefore reconciliations to Net income are deemed appropriate. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are useful measures of TDS’ operating results before significant recurring non-cash charges, gains and losses, and other items as presented above as they provide additional relevant and useful information to investors and other users of TDS’ financial data in evaluating the effectiveness of its operations and underlying business trends in a manner that is consistent with management’s evaluation of business performance. Adjusted EBITDA shows adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion, and gains and losses, while Adjusted OIBDA reduces this measure further to exclude Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities and Interest and dividend income in order to more effectively show the performance of operating activities excluding investment activities. The table above reconciles EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA to the corresponding GAAP measure, Net income or Income before income taxes. Additional information and reconciliations related to Non-GAAP financial measures for December 31, 2021, can be found on TDS' website at investors.tdsinc.com.
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Stock Repurchase
During the fourth quarter of 2021, TDS repurchased 163,000 of its Common Shares for $3 million and UScellular repurchased 308,678 of its Common Shares for $10 million.
Conference Call Information
TDS will hold a conference call on February 18, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time.
Access the live call on the Events & Presentations page of investors.tdsinc.com or at
https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/3574345/3C5CD0022A79EF0D0DC84C8CB588D5A1
Access the call by phone at (888) 330-2384 (US/Canada), passcode: 1328528
Before the call, certain financial and statistical information to be discussed during the call will be posted to investors.tdsinc.com. The call will be archived on the Events & Presentations page of investors.tdsinc.com.
About TDS
Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS), a Fortune 1000® company, provides wireless; cable and wireline broadband, video and voice; and hosted and managed services to approximately 6 million connections nationwide through its businesses, UScellular, TDS Telecom, BendBroadband and OneNeck IT Solutions. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, TDS employed 8,800 people as of December 31, 2021.
Visit investors.tdsinc.com for comprehensive financial information, including earnings releases, quarterly and annual filings, shareholder information and more.
Contacts
Jane W. McCahon, Senior Vice President - Corporate Relations and Corporate Secretary
jane.mccahon@tdsinc.com
Julie D. Mathews, IRC, Director - Investor Relations
julie.mathews@tdsinc.com
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: All information set forth in this news release, except historical and factual information, represents forward-looking statements. This includes all statements about the company’s plans, beliefs, estimates, and expectations. These statements are based on current estimates, projections, and assumptions, which involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that may affect these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: intense competition; the ability to obtain or maintain roaming arrangements with other carriers on acceptable terms; the ability to obtain access to adequate radio spectrum to meet current or anticipated future needs, including participation in FCC auctions; changes in demand, consumer preferences and perceptions, price competition, or churn rates; advances in technology; impacts of costs, integration problems or other factors associated with acquisitions, divestitures or exchanges of properties or wireless spectrum licenses and/or expansion of TDS’ businesses; the ability of the company to successfully construct and manage its networks; uncertainties in TDS’ future cash flows and liquidity and access to the capital markets; the ability to make payments on TDS and UScellular indebtedness or comply with the terms of debt covenants; conditions in the U.S. telecommunications industry; the value of assets and investments; disruption in credit or other financial markets; deterioration of U.S. or global economic conditions; the impact, duration and severity of public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Investors are encouraged to consider these and other risks and uncertainties that are more fully described under “Risk Factors” in the most recent filing of TDS’ Form 10-K.
For more information about TDS and its subsidiaries, visit:
TDS: www.tdsinc.com
UScellular: www.uscellular.com
TDS Telecom: www.tdstelecom.com
OneNeck IT Solutions: www.oneneck.com
4


United States Cellular Corporation
Summary Operating Data (Unaudited)
As of or for the Quarter Ended12/31/20219/30/20216/30/20213/31/202112/31/2020
Retail Connections     
Postpaid     
Total at end of period4,380,000 4,391,000 4,399,000 4,406,000 4,412,000 
Gross additions165,000 145,000 141,000 143,000 171,000 
Feature phones3,000 2,000 3,000 3,000 2,000 
Smartphones122,000 103,000 98,000 101,000 117,000 
Connected devices40,000 40,000 40,000 39,000 52,000 
Net additions (losses)(12,000)(8,000)(6,000)(6,000)11,000 
Feature phones(7,000)(7,000)(7,000)(9,000)(9,000)
Smartphones5,000 2,000 6,000 6,000 12,000 
Connected devices(10,000)(3,000)(5,000)(3,000)8,000 
ARPU1,2
$48.62 $48.12 $47.74 $47.65 $47.51 
ARPA1,3
$127.14 $125.99 $125.25 $125.25 $124.87 
Churn rate4
1.35 %1.15 %1.11 %1.12 %1.21 %
Handsets1.10 %0.95 %0.88 %0.92 %1.01 %
Connected devices3.08 %2.59 %2.69 %2.53 %2.64 %
Prepaid
Total at end of period513,000 518,000 507,000 496,000 499,000 
Gross additions63,000 74,000 65,000 62,000 56,000 
Net additions (losses)(5,000)11,000 10,000 (3,000)(8,000)
ARPU2
$34.53 $35.05 $35.64 $35.25 $35.15 
Churn rate4
4.39 %4.09 %3.66 %4.37 %4.24 %
Total connections at end of period5
4,973,000 4,972,000 4,967,000 4,961,000 4,968,000 
Market penetration at end of period
Consolidated operating population32,127,000 31,865,000 31,493,000 31,493,000 31,314,000 
Consolidated operating penetration6
15 %16 %16 %16 %16 %
Capital expenditures (millions)$321 $185 $148 $125 $320 
Total cell sites in service6,898 6,857 6,819 6,802 6,797 
Owned towers4,301 4,274 4,278 4,270 4,271 
Due to rounding, the sum of quarterly results may not equal the total for the year.
1Q3 2021 Postpaid ARPU and ARPA amounts exclude $9 million of postpaid revenue related to an out-of-period error recorded in the third quarter.
2Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) - metric is calculated by dividing a revenue base by an average number of connections and by the number of months in the period. These revenue bases and connection populations are shown below:
Postpaid ARPU consists of total postpaid service revenues and postpaid connections.
Prepaid ARPU consists of total prepaid service revenues and prepaid connections.
3Average Revenue Per Account (ARPA) - metric is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenues by the average number of postpaid accounts and by the number of months in the period.
4Churn rate represents the percentage of the connections that disconnect service each month. These rates represent the average monthly churn rate for each respective period.
5Includes reseller and other connections.
6Market penetration is calculated by dividing the number of wireless connections at the end of the period by the total estimated population of consolidated operating markets.
5


TDS Telecom
Summary Operating Data (Unaudited)
As of or for the Quarter Ended12/31/20219/30/20216/30/20213/31/202112/31/2020
Residential connections     
Broadband1
Wireline, Incumbent250,200 252,100 249,200 243,700 242,500 
Wireline, Expansion36,900 32,600 28,300 24,100 20,400 
Cable203,200 202,700 201,200 199,500 196,400 
Total Broadband 490,300 487,400 478,700 467,300 459,300 
Video2
Wireline66,100 65,900 64,800 63,000 63,000 
Cable75,400 77,200 78,400 79,600 81,400 
Total Video141,500 143,100 143,200 142,700 144,400 
Voice3
Wireline249,300 252,100 254,200 255,000 256,900 
Cable54,500 54,200 54,000 53,700 53,900 
Total Voice303,700 306,300 308,100 308,700 310,800 
Total Residential connections935,600 936,800 930,100 918,700 914,400 
Commercial connections
Broadband1
35,700 35,400 34,900 34,400 34,000 
Video2
18,100 18,200 19,100 19,400 19,700 
Voice3
108,900 111,500 114,300 116,500 119,700 
ManagedIP4
101,600 103,900 106,200 108,500 113,300 
Total Commercial connections264,300 269,000 274,400 278,800 286,700 
Total connections1,199,900 1,205,700 1,204,500 1,197,400 1,201,100 
Residential revenue per connection5
$57.86 $57.75 $57.66 $56.97 $55.66 
Capital expenditures (millions)$151 $91 $99 $70 $147 
Numbers may not foot due to rounding.
1The individual customers provided high-speed internet access through various transmission technologies, including fiber, DSL, dedicated internet circuit technologies or cable modem service.
2The individual customers provided video services.
3The individual circuits connecting a customer to TDS' central office facilities that provide voice services or the billable number of lines into a building for voice services.
4The number of telephone handsets, data lines and IP trunks providing communications using IP networking technology.
5Total residential revenue per connection is calculated by dividing total residential revenue by the average number of residential connections and by the number of months in the period.
6


Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Operations Highlights
(Unaudited)
 Three Months Ended
December 31,
Year Ended
December 31,
 202120202021
vs. 2020
202120202021
vs. 2020
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)      
Operating revenues      
UScellular$1,068 $1,073 $4,122 $4,037 %
TDS Telecom254 248 %1,006 976 %
All Other1
50 55 (9)%201 212 (5)%
 1,372 1,376 5,329 5,225 %
Operating expenses     
UScellular      
Expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and accretion887 895 (1)%3,253 3,161 %
Depreciation, amortization and accretion169 168 %678 683 (1)%
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net8 11 (28)%23 25 (9)%
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net(1)— N/M(2)— N/M
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (5)N/M (5)N/M
 1,063 1,069 3,952 3,864 %
TDS Telecom      
Expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and accretion179 175 %696 663 %
Depreciation, amortization and accretion52 50 %198 203 (2)%
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net1 — 76 %2 N/M
 231 226 %896 866 %
All Other1
      
Expenses excluding depreciation and amortization49 55 (11)%200 211 (5)%
Depreciation and amortization5 (19)%19 23 (18)%
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net — N/M1 (62)%
 54 60 (12)%220 236 (6)%
Total operating expenses1,348 1,355 5,068 4,966 %
Operating income (loss)      
UScellular5 %170 173 (2)%
TDS Telecom23 23 110 110 (1)%
All Other1
(4)(6)43 %(19)(24)21 %
 24 21 13 %261 259 %
Investment and other income (expense)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities43 43 %182 181 
Interest and dividend income3 (17)%11 15 (23)%
Gain (loss) on investments (1)N/M N/M
Interest expense(39)(50)22 %(232)(168)(38)%
Other, net — 20 %(1)(1)15 %
Total investment and other income (expense)7 (5)N/M(40)29 N/M
Income before income taxes31 16 90 %221 288 (23)%
Income tax expense (benefit)(5)— N/M33 19 82 %
Net income36 16 N/M188 269 (30)%
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax5 N/M32 43 (27)%
Net income attributable to TDS shareholders31 14 N/M156 226 (31)%
TDS Preferred Share dividends17 — N/M39 — N/M
Net income attributable to TDS common shareholders$14 $14 (2)%$117 $226 (48)%
Basic weighted average shares outstanding115 114 115 114 
Basic earnings per share attributable to TDS common shareholders$0.12 $0.12 (2)%$1.03 $1.97 (48)%
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding116 115 116 115 
Diluted earnings per share attributable to TDS common shareholders$0.11 $0.12 (4)%$1.00 $1.93 (48)%
N/M - Percentage change not meaningful.
Numbers may not foot due to rounding.
1    Consists of TDS corporate, intercompany eliminations and all other business operations not included in the UScellular and TDS Telecom segments.
7


Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
Year Ended December 31,20212020
(Dollars in millions)  
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income$188 $269 
Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities
Depreciation, amortization and accretion895 909 
Bad debts expense60 77 
Stock-based compensation expense49 53 
Deferred income taxes, net52 190 
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities(182)(181)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities180 189 
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net26 27 
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net(2)— 
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (5)
(Gain) loss on investments (2)
Other operating activities61 
Changes in assets and liabilities from operations
Accounts receivable(22)(16)
Equipment installment plans receivable(116)(54)
Inventory(25)12 
Accounts payable(69)173 
Customer deposits and deferred revenues43 
Accrued taxes(49)(120)
Other assets and liabilities14 
Net cash provided by operating activities1,103 1,532 
   
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment(1,131)(1,338)
Cash paid for acquisitions, licenses and other intangible assets(1,308)(172)
Cash received from investments3 
Cash paid for investments (3)
Cash received from divestitures and exchanges3 26 
Advance payments for license acquisitions(20)(30)
Other investing activities(9)
Net cash used in investing activities(2,462)(1,511)
   
Cash flows from financing activities
Issuance of long-term debt1,543 1,250 
Repayment of long-term debt(2,081)(110)
Issuance of TDS Preferred Shares1,110 — 
TDS Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments(5)(3)
UScellular Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments(16)(11)
Repurchase of TDS Common Shares(8)(14)
Repurchase of UScellular Common Shares(31)(23)
Dividends paid to TDS shareholders(119)(78)
Payment of debt and equity issuance costs(62)(41)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests(3)(2)
Payments to acquire additional interest in subsidiaries (11)
Other financing activities(7)— 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities321 957 
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash(1,038)978 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Beginning of period1,452 474 
End of period$414 $1,452 
8


Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights
(Unaudited)

ASSETS
December 31,20212020
(Dollars in millions)  
Current assets  
Cash and cash equivalents$367 $1,429 
Short-term investments 
Accounts receivable, net1,151 1,112 
Inventory, net178 154 
Prepaid expenses103 105 
Income taxes receivable184 187 
Other current assets61 36 
Total current assets2,044 3,026 
Assets held for sale18 
Licenses4,097 2,638 
Goodwill547 547 
Other intangible assets, net197 213 
Investments in unconsolidated entities479 477 
Property, plant and equipment, net
4,361 3,972 
Operating lease right-of-use assets1,040 998 
Other assets and deferred charges710 652 
Total assets$13,493 $12,525 
9


Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights
(Unaudited)

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
December 31,20212020
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)  
Current liabilities  
Current portion of long-term debt$6 $
Accounts payable481 508 
Customer deposits and deferred revenues236 193 
Accrued interest10 16 
Accrued taxes45 69 
Accrued compensation137 132 
Short-term operating lease liabilities141 129 
Other current liabilities124 101 
Total current liabilities1,180 1,153 
Liabilities held for sale 
Deferred liabilities and credits  
Deferred income tax liability, net921 863 
Long-term operating lease liabilities960 940 
Other deferred liabilities and credits759 541 
Long-term debt, net2,928 3,424 
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features11 10 
Equity  
TDS shareholders' equity  
Series A Common and Common Shares, par value $0.01 per share1 
Capital in excess of par value2,496 2,482 
Preferred Shares, par value $0.01 per share1,074 — 
Treasury shares, at cost(461)(477)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)5 (4)
Retained earnings2,812 2,802 
Total TDS shareholders' equity5,927 4,804 
Noncontrolling interests807 789 
Total equity6,734 5,593 
Total liabilities and equity$13,493 $12,525 
10


Balance Sheet Highlights
(Unaudited)
 December 31, 2021
 UScellular
TDS
Telecom
TDS Corporate
& Other
Intercompany
Eliminations
TDS
Consolidated
(Dollars in millions)     
Cash and cash equivalents$156 $101 $210 $(100)$367 
Licenses, goodwill and other intangible assets$4,088 $746 $$— $4,841 
Investment in unconsolidated entities439 44 (8)479 
 $4,527 $750 $51 $(8)$5,320 
Property, plant and equipment, net$2,606 $1,665 $90 $— $4,361 
Long-term debt, net:
Current portion$$— $$— $
Non-current portion2,728 197 — 2,928 
 $2,731 $$200 $— $2,934 
11


TDS Telecom Highlights
(Unaudited)
 Three Months Ended
December 31,
Year Ended
December 31,
 202120202021 vs. 2020202120202021 vs. 2020
(Dollars in millions)      
Operating revenues      
Residential
Wireline, Incumbent$86 $84 %$345 $330 %
Wireline, Expansion10 67 %34 19 74 %
Cable66 63 %263 245 %
Total residential162 153 %641 594 %
Commercial45 48 (7)%183 194 (6)%
Wholesale46 47 (2)%181 187 (3)%
Total service revenues254 248 %1,005 975 %
Equipment revenues — %1 (12)%
Total operating revenues254 248 %1,006 976 %
      
Cost of services103 104 (1)%404 392 %
Cost of equipment and products — 71 %1 (2)%
Selling, general and administrative75 70 %291 270 %
Depreciation, amortization and accretion52 50 %198 203 (2)%
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net1 — 76 %2 N/M
Total operating expenses231 226 %896 866 %
Operating income$23 $23 $110 $110 (1)%
N/M - Percentage change not meaningful.
Numbers may not foot due to rounding.
12


Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.
Financial Measures and Reconciliations

Free Cash Flow
 Three Months Ended
December 31,
Year Ended
December 31,
 2021202020212020
(Dollars in millions)    
Cash flows from operating activities (GAAP)$239 $366 $1,103 $1,532 
Less: Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment404 424 1,131 1,338 
Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)1
$(165)$(58)$(28)$194 
1Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure which TDS believes may be useful to investors and other users of its financial information in evaluating liquidity, specifically, the amount of net cash generated by business operations after deducting Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment.
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