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Telephone & Data Systems Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 8 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 lowered, 12 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Total revenue rose on Array: Consolidated operating revenues rose to $309.5 million. Array's increase was larger than TDS Telecom's decline, and All Other revenue also grew. Source
  • Spectrum gain lifted earnings: Array's January 13 spectrum sale produced a book gain of $150.9 million, or $114.7 million net of tax. Net income from continuing operations was $179.4 million. Source
  • Fiber addresses delivered in quarter: TDS Telecom reports 40,000 marketable fiber service addresses delivered in the quarter as part of its fiber broadband strategy. Source
  • Site rental revenue grew 92%: Site rental revenue reached $51.0 million in the quarter, and management described Array's tower tenancy growth as continuing outside DISH. Source
  • Array Adjusted OIBDA turned positive: Array Adjusted OIBDA was $17.8 million, compared with $(17.4) million a year earlier. Array operating income was $160.8 million, including license-sale gains. Source
  • Free cash flow stayed negative: Free cash flow from continuing operations was $(81.1) million, against $(107.7) million a year earlier. Source
  • Granite State acquisition announced: Granite State Communications is located adjacent to existing TDS Telecom operations and adds approximately 11,000 fiber service addresses. Source
  • Non-binding proposal for Array shares: TDS proposed, in a non-binding letter to the Array board, to acquire the Array common shares it does not own. Source

“TDS Telecom and Array entered 2026 with momentum”

Walter Carlson, TDS President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
TDS Telecom total operating revenues Sourcefull year 2026$1,015-$1,055Kept
TDS Telecom Adjusted OIBDA Sourcefull year 2026$300-$340Kept
TDS Telecom Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$310-$350Kept
TDS Telecom capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$550-$600Kept
TDS Telecom income (loss) before income taxes Sourcefull year 2026($15)-$25Kept
Array total operating revenues Sourcefull year 2026$200-$215Kept
Array Adjusted OIBDA Sourcefull year 2026$50-$65Kept
Array Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$200-$215Kept
Array capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$25-$35Kept
Array income (loss) before income taxes Sourcefull year 2026$770-$785Lowered from $780-$795
Array EBITDA (Non-GAAP) Sourcefull year 2026$865-$880Lowered from $875-$890
Array license-sale gain and imputed spectrum lease income adjustments Sourcefull year 2026(590); (75)Lowered from (595); (80)
Array interest expense Sourcefull year 202645Kept
Depreciation, amortization and accretion Sourcefull year 2026325 (TDS Telecom); 50 (Array)Kept
Equity in earnings, interest and dividend income, and other, net Sourcefull year 2026140 (Array equity in earnings); 5 and 10 (interest and dividend income, TDS Telecom and Array); 5 (other, net, TDS Telecom)Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Headline 2026 estimates for TDS Telecom and Array were reaffirmed; the Array pre-tax and EBITDA reconciliation lines changed as listed below. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Array's reconciled 2026 EBITDA estimate moved to $865-$880 million from $875-$890 million, and its pre-tax income estimate to $770-$785 million from $780-$795 million. Source
  • New: TDS Telecom agreed to acquire Granite State Communications, adding about 11,000 fiber service addresses in New Hampshire. Source
  • New: On May 7, 2026, TDS made a non-binding proposal to acquire the Array common shares it does not own. Source
  • New: A sale of certain 700 MHz spectrum licenses closed on May 5, 2026, after the quarter ended. Source

Consolidated results and growth drivers

  • Total revenue rose on Array: Consolidated operating revenues rose to $309.5 million. Array's increase was larger than TDS Telecom's decline, and All Other revenue also grew. Source
  • Spectrum gain lifted earnings: Array's January 13 spectrum sale produced a book gain of $150.9 million, or $114.7 million net of tax. Net income from continuing operations was $179.4 million. Source
  • Diluted EPS from continuing operations: Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $1.11, against $(0.20) a year earlier. Statements show $127.3 million net income attributable to TDS common shareholders after discontinued operations. Source

TDS Telecom broadband and fiber

  • Fiber addresses delivered in quarter: TDS Telecom reports 40,000 marketable fiber service addresses delivered in the quarter as part of its fiber broadband strategy. Source
  • Marketable footprint reached 1.1 million: The marketable fiber service footprint expanded to 1.1 million addresses during the quarter. Source
  • Telecom revenue fell on divestitures: TDS Telecom revenues declined 3% in the quarter, with $6 million of the drop attributed to divestitures of non-strategic assets. Source
  • Residential incumbent down, expansion up: Incumbent residential service revenue fell 10% and cable fell 10%, while expansion fiber residential revenue rose 27%. Source
  • Commercial and wholesale revenue eased: Commercial revenue fell 5% and wholesale revenue fell 1% compared with the first quarter of 2025. Source

“Both business units are making meaningful progress toward their strategic objectives.”

Walter Carlson, TDS President and CEO

Array tower business

  • Site rental revenue grew 92%: Site rental revenue reached $51.0 million in the quarter, and management described Array's tower tenancy growth as continuing outside DISH. Source
  • Colocations and tenancy declined: Colocations were 4,290 at March 31, 2026, against 4,572 at December 31, 2025, and the tower tenancy rate was 0.96, against 1.03, with DISH Wireless excluded. Source
  • Tenancy growth excluding DISH: Management said Array is continuing to grow tower tenancy and secure healthy application volume when DISH is excluded. Source

Costs and segment margins

  • TDS Telecom costs trimmed: TDS Telecom cost of operations fell 4% and selling, general and administrative expense fell 3%, while depreciation, amortization and accretion rose 2%. Source
  • Array overhead fell sharply: Array selling, general and administrative expense fell 56% from $29.2 million, while Array cost of operations rose 33%. Source
  • TDS Telecom Adjusted OIBDA slightly lower: TDS Telecom Adjusted OIBDA was $71.3 million, against $73.0 million a year earlier, and its operating loss was $3.7 million. Source
  • Array Adjusted OIBDA turned positive: Array Adjusted OIBDA was $17.8 million, compared with $(17.4) million a year earlier. Array operating income was $160.8 million, including license-sale gains. Source

“while Array continued to optimize its operations and secure healthy application volume.”

Walter Carlson, TDS President and CEO

Connections, products and customers

  • Expansion fiber connections grew: Expansion fiber connections rose to 168,500 from 133,200 a year earlier, and incumbent fiber connections rose to 130,200 from 119,700. Source
  • Incumbent copper connections declined: Incumbent copper connections fell to 84,200 from 91,200 at year-end 2025, continuing a decline visible across the last five quarters. Source
  • Voice connections kept falling: Voice connections fell to 216,900 from 256,900 a year earlier. Source
  • Wireless connections rose: Wireless connections reached 5,300, up from 900 a year earlier. Source

Cash flow and capital spending

  • Operating cash flow turned positive: Operating cash flow from continuing operations was $68.1 million, against $(42.5) million a year earlier. Source
  • Capital spending rose sharply: Cash paid for property, plant and equipment was $149.0 million, up from $64.4 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Free cash flow stayed negative: Free cash flow from continuing operations was $(81.1) million, against $(107.7) million a year earlier. Source
  • Array adjusted free cash flow reported: Array's adjusted free cash flow from continuing operations was $30.7 million, a non-GAAP measure defined by the company. Source
  • Divestiture proceeds came in: Cash received from divestitures was $1,016.5 million, close to the $1,018.0 million January spectrum sale price. Source

Balance sheet and shareholder payments

  • Cash balance rose sharply: Cash and cash equivalents were $1,366.6 million at March 31, 2026, up from $766.0 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Long-term debt repaid: Repayments of long-term debt totaled $150.3 million, and long-term debt, net, fell to $672.7 million from $823.4 million. Source
  • Array paid public dividends: Array paid $159.9 million of dividends to its noncontrolling public shareholders, with no equivalent payment in the year-earlier quarter. Source
  • No Array buybacks; TDS dividends paid: No Array common shares were repurchased, against $21.4 million a year earlier. TDS paid $21.9 million of dividends to its shareholders. Source

Spectrum sales, acquisition and Array proposal

  • Granite State acquisition announced: Granite State Communications is located adjacent to existing TDS Telecom operations and adds approximately 11,000 fiber service addresses. Source
  • Non-binding proposal for Array shares: TDS proposed, in a non-binding letter to the Array board, to acquire the Array common shares it does not own. Source
  • Further spectrum sale closed in May: Sale of 700 MHz spectrum licenses closed on May 5 for total proceeds of $74.8 million, after the quarter end. Source

Coming up, as management said on 8 May 2026

  • Granite State closing expected Q3: Management expects the Granite State transaction to close in the third quarter of 2026. Source
  • Array proposal under special committee review: A special committee of Array directors will evaluate the proposal; the release gives no timing for its conclusion. Source
  • More spectrum sales still closing: Management lists continuing closings of pending wireless spectrum sales; the release gives no dates for the remaining sales. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Residential fiber net adds Source10,900
Residential broadband net adds Source100
Residential fiber churn Source1.3%
Residential broadband churn Source1.8%
Residential revenue per connection (ARPU) Source$66.41
Residential connections Source891,400
TDS Telecom capital expenditures Source$125,963 thousand
Array capital expenditures Source$8,645 thousand

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Array excluded DISH Wireless from its colocation count and tenancy rate because collection on outstanding amounts is considered unlikely. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed the full-year 2026 estimates for both units; the release does not state progress against them. Source
  • Not stated: An earlier expectation to close pending spectrum transactions; the current release reports the May 5 closing instead.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.