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Telephone & Data Systems Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 3 lowered, 1 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Earnings per share fell year over year: Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.26, against $0.33; net income attributable to TDS common shareholders was $29.6 million, against $40.2 million. Source
  • Telecom service revenue down 3%: Service revenue was $247.2 million, down 3%. Residential fiber revenue grew 14%, offset by divestitures and legacy declines. Source
  • Fiber footprint grew 76,000 addresses: Marketable fiber service addresses grew by about 76,000 in the quarter, with about 17,000 residential fiber net adds. Source
  • Site rental revenue up 14%: Site rental revenue was $52.5 million, up from $45.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Telecom capital spending up sharply: TDS Telecom capital expenditures were $251.5 million in the quarter, against $102.4 million a year earlier and $179.2 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Quarterly share repurchases: TDS repurchased about 6 million shares in the quarter at an average price of $36.65 per share. Source
  • Array spectrum sales progressing: Array received regulatory approval for remaining pending spectrum transactions in October, with closings still subject to FCC finality. Source

“We continue to make progress as our teams execute our strategic objectives”

Walter Carlson, TDS President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
TDS Telecom total operating revenues Sourcefull year 2026$990 million to $1,010 millionLowered from $1,000 million to $1,025 million
TDS Telecom Adjusted OIBDA Sourcefull year 2026$280 million to $300 millionLowered from $300 million to $320 million
TDS Telecom Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$290 million to $310 millionLowered from $310 million to $330 million
TDS Telecom capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026approximately $750 millionRaised from $625 million to $675 million
Array total operating revenues Sourcefull year 2026$205 million to $215 millionKept
Array Adjusted OIBDA Sourcefull year 2026$60 million to $75 millionKept
Array Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$220 million to $235 millionKept
Array capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$25 million to $35 millionKept
TDS share repurchase authorization Sourcenot stated$250 million incremental authorizationNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: TDS Telecom lowered its 2026 revenue, Adjusted OIBDA and Adjusted EBITDA ranges. Source
  • Guidance raised: TDS Telecom 2026 capital expenditure estimate increased from $625 million to $675 million to approximately $750 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: Array 2026 estimates for revenue, Adjusted OIBDA, Adjusted EBITDA and capital expenditures were kept unchanged. Source
  • New: TDS Board approved an incremental share repurchase authorization of $250 million. Source
  • Ended: TDS stopped pursuing its proposal to acquire the Array common shares it does not own. Source
  • New: Array received regulatory approval in October for the remaining pending spectrum transactions. Source
  • New: A September 2026 acquisition added connections to TDS Telecom's total. Source

Consolidated results and earnings

  • Revenue slightly below prior year: Total operating revenues were $306.7 million, against $308.5 million a year earlier, a decline of about 1%. Source
  • Earnings per share fell year over year: Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.26, against $0.33; net income attributable to TDS common shareholders was $29.6 million, against $40.2 million. Source
  • Operating loss narrowed: Total operating loss was $30.0 million, compared with $68.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • Nine-month results include Array gain: Nine-month total operating income was $487.0 million, helped by a Array gain of $566.5 million on license sales and exchanges. Source

TDS Telecom revenue and profit

  • Telecom service revenue down 3%: Service revenue was $247.2 million, down 3%. Residential fiber revenue grew 14%, offset by divestitures and legacy declines. Source
  • Expansion fiber revenue up 22%: Expansion fiber residential revenue was $48.3 million, up 22%, while incumbent and cable residential revenue each declined. Source
  • Wholesale revenue declined: Wholesale revenue fell 9% to $35.6 million. Source
  • Telecom Adjusted OIBDA lower: Telecom Adjusted OIBDA was $63.5 million, against $77.0 million, and the segment operating loss was $17.5 million, against $8.3 million. Source

“During the quarter, TDS Telecom expanded its marketable fiber service footprint by approximately 76,000 addresses and grew fiber net adds by approximately 17,000.”

Walter Carlson, TDS President and CEO

Fiber build and broadband subscribers

  • Fiber footprint grew 76,000 addresses: Marketable fiber service addresses grew by about 76,000 in the quarter, with about 17,000 residential fiber net adds. Source
  • Broadband connections up year over year: Total residential broadband connections reached 579,600, up from 562,400 a year earlier. Fiber connections rose while incumbent copper fell to 71,100 from 102,000. Source
  • Voice connections fell, wireless rose: Voice connections fell to 204,100 from 242,200, while wireless connections rose to 10,500 from 2,200. Source
  • Residential fiber churn lower: Residential fiber churn was 1.3% monthly, against 1.5% a year earlier. Total broadband churn was 1.7%, unchanged from a year earlier. Source
  • Revenue per residential connection higher: Residential revenue per connection was $66.88, against $65.66 a year earlier. Source

Array tower operations

  • Site rental revenue up 14%: Site rental revenue was $52.5 million, up from $45.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Colocations up sequentially: Colocations reached 4,372, up from 4,362 at June 30, 2026. Tenancy rate was 0.98, unchanged on the quarter and below 1.02 a year earlier. Source
  • DISH excluded from tenancy figures: Colocation and tenancy figures exclude DISH Wireless as of March 31, 2026. Source
  • Array Adjusted OIBDA higher: Array Adjusted OIBDA was $18.3 million, against $6.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Prior-year impairment absent: Array operating expenses were $56.2 million, against $100.4 million, as the year-earlier quarter included a $47.7 million license impairment. Source

“I'm pleased to report that following TDS' withdrawal of the offer to acquire the minority interest in Array, TDS was in the market, and has repurchased nearly 15 million shares in 2026, returning over $520 million to shareholders.”

Walter Carlson, TDS President and CEO

Costs and margins

  • Telecom overhead costs rose: Telecom cost of operations rose 1% to $103.2 million, and selling, general and administrative expense rose 7% to $84.6 million. Source
  • Telecom Adjusted EBITDA lower: Telecom Adjusted EBITDA was $65.9 million, against $80.5 million, and EBITDA was $60.9 million, against $74.1 million. Source
  • Strategic review costs in quarter: Telecom expenses for the strategic alternatives review were $4.2 million in the quarter. Source

Capital spending and cash flow

  • Telecom capital spending up sharply: TDS Telecom capital expenditures were $251.5 million in the quarter, against $102.4 million a year earlier and $179.2 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Nine-month free cash flow negative: Free cash flow from continuing operations was negative $472.8 million for nine months, against negative $38.7 million a year earlier, after property additions of $515.6 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell: Net cash from continuing operating activities was $44.7 million for nine months, against $224.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Array cash flow negative: Array Adjusted Free Cash Flow from continuing operations was negative $162.0 million for nine months. Source

Balance sheet and shareholder returns

  • Quarterly share repurchases: TDS repurchased about 6 million shares in the quarter at an average price of $36.65 per share. Source
  • Authorization nearly exhausted: Management said TDS stayed in the market after quarter-end, virtually exhausting the existing authorization. Source
  • Cash rose on spectrum proceeds: Cash and cash equivalents were $1,635.4 million at September 30, 2026, up from $766.0 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Array special dividend paid in June: Array issued a special dividend of $11 per common share, as reported in the prior quarter's release.

Strategy and spectrum sales

  • Array spectrum sales progressing: Array received regulatory approval for remaining pending spectrum transactions in October, with closings still subject to FCC finality. Source
  • Array cash taxes tied to spectrum: Management said substantially all of Array's cash paid for income taxes this year relates to 2026 wireless spectrum license sales. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 November 2026

  • Spectrum closings pending FCC finality: Remaining spectrum sales are approved, but closings remain subject to FCC finality and other customary closing conditions. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total residential fiber net adds Source16,700
Total residential broadband net adds Source7,200
Residential fiber churn Source1.3%
Total residential broadband churn Source1.7%
Residential revenue per connection Source$66.88
TDS Telecom capital expenditures Source$251,463 thousand
Array capital expenditures Source$3,915 thousand

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Array tenancy ratios excluding DISH would have been 0.95 and 0.94 at year-end 2025 and Q3 2025, below reported levels. Source
  • Financial: Management said the income tax impact cannot be reasonably predicted, so no tax guidance was given. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: TDS Telecom continues its fiber strategy and reported 76,000 addresses delivered in the quarter. Source
  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed Array's 2026 financial guidance in the release. Source

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.