ITTI(US:TDS)2026-02-20 16:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2025, total operating revenues decreased by 1% compared to the previous quarter and by 2% for the full year, with revenues flat year-over-year when excluding divestitures [17][18] - Adjusted EBITDA improved by 6% in Q4, but declined by 6% for the full year due to divestitures and a non-cash adjustment to stock-based compensation in Q1 [18] - Capital expenditures for the full year were $406 million, with a forecast increase to $550 million-$600 million for 2026 [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - TDS Telecom added 58,000 new marketable fiber addresses in Q4, a 39% increase year-over-year, and delivered a total of 140,000 new marketable fiber addresses for the full year [10][11] - Residential fiber net adds were approximately 15,000 in Q4, up 11% from Q4 2024, totaling about 45,000 for the year [11][12] - Cash site rental revenue for Array increased by 64% year-over-year in Q4, with a 96% increase when including T-Mobile interim site revenue [25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The divestitures in 2025, including the sale of wireless operations, have concentrated TDS's footprint in economically viable markets for fiber [12] - The company identified 300,000 additional fiber address opportunities, raising its long-term goal from 1.8 million to 2.1 million fiber addresses [13][14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - TDS aims to strengthen its corporate and capital structure, grow TDS Telecom's fiber business, support Array's tower operations, and enhance company culture while delivering strong operational results [4][5] - Array focuses on optimizing tower operations and monetizing spectrum, with significant progress in spectrum monetization agreements with major carriers [21][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about growth prospects for 2026, particularly in fiber and tower operations, despite challenges from legacy revenue declines and divestitures [19][34] - The company is committed to delivering a best-in-class customer experience and achieving operational efficiency through ongoing business transformation efforts [14][15] Other Important Information - TDS repaid $150 million in term loan debt and received $726 million from a special dividend related to the AT&T spectrum sale [6][7] - The company plans to continue disciplined share repurchase activities, with $524 million remaining on its authorization as of the end of 2025 [8] Q&A Session Summary Question: Is DISH included in the 2026 guidance? - Management confirmed that DISH is completely out of the 2026 guidance, and any settlement would be considered upside [43][44] Question: What is the outlook for tower leasing applications? - Management expressed optimism about growth prospects, expecting significant same-store growth and positive results from insourcing the sales team [45][47] Question: How is TDS Telecom addressing video bundling? - Management emphasized the importance of video in their value proposition and plans to strengthen video bundling alongside broadband offerings [84] Question: What is the growth rate embedded in the revenue guidance for 2026? - Management indicated a growth expectation of around 6% on a same-store basis, excluding DISH revenue [80]