Group 1 - The US Department of Justice Antitrust Division has closed its investigation into the proposed transaction between United States Cellular Corporation and T-Mobile, but the transaction still requires approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) [1] - United States Cellular Corporation serves 4.4 million retail connections across 21 states and had 4,100 employees as of March 31, 2025 [2] - Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. owns approximately 83 percent of United States Cellular Corporation [2] Group 2 - Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. provides services to around 5.5 million connections nationwide through its subsidiaries, including UScellular and TDS Telecom [3] - TDS was founded in 1969 and has approximately 7,800 employees as of March 31, 2025 [3]

Group 1 - The sale of U.S. Cellular by Telephone and Data Systems is expected to close by mid-2025, but this timeline may be affected by disruptions at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) [1] - The equity market plays a significant role in wealth creation or destruction over the long term, with daily price fluctuations contributing to this dynamic [1] - Pacifica Yield focuses on long-term wealth creation by investing in undervalued high-growth companies, high-dividend stocks, REITs, and green energy firms [1]

Group 1 - The preferred stock of Telephone and Data Systems (TDS.PR.V) was recommended for its 13.0% dividend yield and expectations for lower interest rates [1] - The author has a background in chemical engineering and economics, and has written multiple books on investing and mathematics [1] - The author achieved financial independence at the age of 45, applying fundamental and technical analysis in investments [1] Group 2 - There is no disclosure of stock, option, or derivative positions in any mentioned companies, nor plans to initiate such positions in the near future [2] - The article expresses the author's own opinions and is not compensated beyond the platform it is published on [2] - Seeking Alpha clarifies that past performance does not guarantee future results and that views may not reflect the platform's overall stance [3]

Core Points - The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has approved a proposed class action settlement for purchasers of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS) securities, amounting to $7,750,000 [1][2][3] - The settlement is intended for individuals and entities who acquired TDS securities between May 6, 2022, and November 3, 2022, excluding certain defendants and their affiliates [1][2] - The average recovery per share is estimated to be approximately $0.50 for TDS common stock, $0.11 for TDS Series UU preferred stock, and $0.10 for TDS Series VV preferred stock, before deductions [2][3] Settlement Details - A cash fund of $7,750,000 will be created for distribution among eligible Settlement Class Members after deducting court-awarded fees and expenses [3] - A Settlement Hearing is scheduled for September 3, 2025, to evaluate the fairness and adequacy of the settlement and the proposed plan for allocating proceeds [4] - Members of the Settlement Class must submit a Claim Form by August 27, 2025, to be eligible for a distribution from the Net Settlement Fund [6][7] Exclusion and Objection Process - Settlement Class Members wishing to exclude themselves must submit a written request by August 13, 2025, to avoid being bound by the court's judgments [7] - Any objections to the proposed settlement or related applications must also be filed by August 13, 2025 [8]

Core Viewpoint - The recent share price performance of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE: TDS) appears to be misaligned with the company's actual operational performance, indicating that investors are anticipating a significant influx of capital in the future [1] Company Performance - The company is perceived to be in a position where its stock price does not reflect its operational results, suggesting a potential undervaluation [1] Investor Sentiment - Long-term investors, particularly those with a 5-10 year investment horizon, are likely to be focusing on the company's future growth potential rather than its current performance [1]

Company Overview - Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS) is a leading provider of telecommunications services, offering wireless, broadband, video, and voice services to approximately 5.5 million connections nationwide through its subsidiaries, UScellular and TDS Telecom [3] - Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, TDS employed approximately 7,800 associates as of March 31, 2025 [3] Dividend Declaration - The board of directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.04 per Common Share and Series A Common Share, payable on June 30, 2025, to holders of record on June 16, 2025 [5] - A quarterly dividend of $414.0625 per share will be paid on the company's 6.625% Series UU Preferred shares, with holders of depositary shares receiving $0.4140625 per depositary share, payable on June 30, 2025, to holders of record on June 15, 2025 [5] - A quarterly dividend of $375.0000 per share will be paid on the company's 6.000% Series VV Preferred shares, with holders of depositary shares receiving $0.3750000 per depositary share, also payable on June 30, 2025, to holders of record on June 15, 2025 [5] Stock Information - The ticker for TDS Common shares is "TDS", the Series UU depositary shares is "TDSPrU", and the Series VV depositary shares is "TDSPrV" [2]

Group 1 - Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS) will webcast its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 22, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Central time [1] - The meeting will be available both live and on-demand, with a recommendation to register at least 15 minutes prior to the start [1] Group 2 - TDS provides wireless, broadband, video, and voice services to approximately 5.5 million connections nationwide through its subsidiaries, UScellular and TDS Telecom [2] - The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Chicago, employing approximately 7,800 associates as of March 31, 2025 [2]

Financial Performance - Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS) reported a net loss of $10 million or 9 cents per share for Q1 2025, compared to a net income of $12 million or 10 cents in the same quarter last year, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7 cents [2] - Total revenues were $1.15 billion, down from $1.26 billion year-over-year, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by $39 million [2] - U.S. Cellular revenues decreased by 6% year-over-year to $891 million, impacted by a reduction in postpaid retail and prepaid connections, and also missed revenue estimates of $920.5 million [3] Operating Metrics - TDS reported an operating income of $41 million, down from $51 million in the prior-year quarter, with total operating expenses at $1.11 billion, down 6% year-over-year [4][7] - Adjusted EBITDA for TDS Telecom was $76 million, a decrease of 20% year-over-year, while U.S. Cellular's adjusted EBITDA decreased by 7% to $254 million [7] Customer Metrics - Total residential connections decreased to 931,400 from 956,100 year-over-year, while residential revenues per connection increased to $65.67 from $64.58 [5] - The company saw an increase in broadband expansion, with total connections at 1,119,000 compared to 1,162,200 in the year-ago quarter [6] Cash Flow and Liquidity - TDS generated $186 million of net cash from operating activities in Q1 2025, down from $224 million in the prior-year quarter, with cash and cash equivalents at $348 million and long-term debt at $4.04 billion as of March 31, 2025 [8] Outlook - For 2025, management expects total operating revenues for TDS Telecom to be in the range of $1.03-$1.07 billion, with adjusted EBITDA estimated between $320-$360 million and capital expenditures expected to be $375-$425 million [10]

Financial Performance - For the quarter ended March 2025, Telephone & Data Systems (TDS) reported revenue of $1.15 billion, down 8.6% year-over-year [1] - EPS came in at -$0.09, compared to $0.10 in the year-ago quarter, representing a significant decline [1] - The reported revenue was a surprise of -3.24% compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.19 billion, and the EPS surprise was -350.00% against the consensus estimate of -$0.02 [1] Key Metrics - US Cellular Postpaid ARPU was $52.06, slightly below the estimated $52.37 [4] - US Cellular Retail Connections Prepaid reported a net loss of 17 thousand, worse than the estimated loss of 13.5 thousand [4] - US Cellular Postpaid Churn rate was 1.2%, matching the average estimate [4] - Total Retail Connections Postpaid at the end of the period was 3.95 million, in line with the average estimate [4] Revenue Breakdown - Operating Revenues for U.S. Cellular were $891 million, below the average estimate of $923.79 million, reflecting a year-over-year change of -6.2% [4] - Operating Revenues for TDS Telecom were $257 million, slightly below the estimated $262.13 million, representing a -3.4% change year-over-year [4] - TDS Telecom Service- Wholesale revenues were $39 million, compared to the average estimate of $42.79 million, indicating an -11.4% year-over-year change [4] - TDS Telecom Service revenues were $256 million, below the estimated $261.09 million, with a -3.9% change year-over-year [4] - Operating Revenues from all other sources were $6 million, significantly below the estimated $10.03 million, representing an -87% change year-over-year [4] - TDS Telecom Service Residential - Wireline, Expansion revenues were $34 million, exceeding the average estimate of $32.20 million, with a year-over-year change of +30.8% [4] - TDS Telecom Service Residential - Cable revenues were $64 million, slightly below the estimated $64.63 million, reflecting an -8.6% change year-over-year [4] - U.S. Cellular Equipment and product sales were $150 million, significantly below the estimated $197.91 million, representing a -23.7% change year-over-year [4] Stock Performance - Shares of TDS have returned -0.6% over the past month, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.5% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a free cash flow of $79 million in Q1 2025, an increase of $18 million compared to the same quarter last year [16] - Total operating revenues decreased by 3% year over year, impacted by divestitures and declines in commercial and wholesale revenue [49] - Cash expenses increased by 6% or $11 million in the quarter compared to the prior year, with part of this increase attributed to a non-cash adjustment to stock-based compensation [49] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company saw a 6% increase in third-party tower revenue due to new co-locations and escalators on renewed leases [15] - Fiber service addresses grew by 6% year over year, with 14,000 new addresses delivered in the quarter [39] - Residential broadband net additions were 2,800, with 8,300 coming from fiber markets, lower than prior quarters due to timing of service address delivery [40] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is experiencing competitive pressures in the broadband market, with aggressive pricing and promotional offers from competitors [17] - The demand for higher broadband speeds remains strong, with 82% of residential broadband customers taking 100 meg or higher [47] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on completing the transaction with T-Mobile and repositioning the remaining business for future success [12] - There is an ongoing effort to expand the fiber program, which has increased the footprint by over 30% in the last three years [13] - The company plans to declare a special dividend to shareholders following the closing of the T-Mobile transaction, subject to board approval [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged increased uncertainties in the broader economy and markets but remains optimistic about the long-term potential of the tower business [15] - The company is focused on cost optimization and expects capital expenditures to decline in 2025 as planned 5G coverage builds are largely completed [16] - Management expressed confidence in achieving $100 million in annual cost savings by the end of 2028 through transformation efforts [41] Other Important Information - The company does not plan to redeem Series UU and Series BV preferred stock, viewing them as foundational capital [74] - The expected cash outflow related to severance obligations for employees not retained by T-Mobile is estimated to be between $60 million to $80 million [30] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the timeline for the designated entity spectrum approval? - The timing is uncertain and dependent on regulatory approval by the FCC, but there is optimism for a positive outcome [60] Question: How should free cash flow be viewed going forward? - The reported free cash flow of $79 million is not necessarily a run rate, but capital expenditures are expected to be down in 2025, which is positive for free cash flow [62] Question: What are the expectations for the tower company reporting post-closing? - The company anticipates providing tower company reporting including AFFO and related metrics in the first quarter after the close [65] Question: How is the door-to-door sales effort performing? - The company has strengthened its sales teams and expects net adds to improve as fiber address delivery ramps up [68] Question: Why does US Cellular need to remain a public entity? - The incremental cost to operate as a public company is minimal, and there are no significant incentives to collapse the structure at this time [112]