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TDS reports fourth quarter and full year 2017 results

February 23, 2018 7:53 AM

CHICAGO, Feb. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

As previously announced, TDS will hold a teleconference February 23, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. CST. Listen to the call live via the Events & Presentations page of investors.tdsinc.com.

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE: TDS) reported total operating revenues of $1,308 million for the fourth quarter of 2017, versus $1,293 million for the same period one year ago and Net income available to TDS common shareholders and related diluted earnings per share were $287 million and $2.54, respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2017. Excluding a benefit of $327 million ($282 million, non-GAAP, net of noncontrolling interests impacts) related to the enactment of new tax legislation, Net income available to TDS common shareholders and related diluted earnings per share excluding adjustments (non-GAAP) were $6 million and $0.05, respectively for the three months ended December 31, 2017, compared to a Net loss available to TDS common shareholders and related diluted loss per share of $5 million and $0.05, respectively, in the same period one year ago.

TDS reported total operating revenues of $5,044 million and $5,155 million for the years ended 2017 and 2016, respectively, and Net income available to TDS common shareholders and related diluted earnings per share were $153 million and $1.37, respectively, for the year ended 2017. Excluding the benefit of $327 million ($282 million, non-GAAP, net of noncontrolling interests impacts) related to the enactment of new tax legislation and a loss on goodwill impairment of $262 million ($188 million, non-GAAP, net of tax and noncontrolling interest impacts) in the third quarter of 2017, Net income available to TDS common shareholders and related diluted earnings per share excluding adjustments (non-GAAP) were $59 million and $0.53, respectively for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to Net income available to TDS common shareholders and related diluted earnings per share of $43 million and $0.39, respectively, for the year ended 2016.

"In 2017, the TDS family of companies continued to act on our long-term strategic goals," said LeRoy T. Carlson, Jr., TDS President and CEO. "U.S. Cellular successfully balanced customer growth with profitability, while TDS Telecom implemented its broadband strategy of driving broadband revenue and margin growth in its wireline and cable segments.

"U.S. Cellular protected and grew its customer base through an award winning network and the successful marketing and sales of Total Plans, which include no hidden fees and an unlimited data option. With record low churn, the company achieved postpaid handset growth for the year. We continued to invest in U.S. Cellular's high-quality network by increasing capacity and launching VoLTE, which is now fully operational in Iowa and Wisconsin. Tower rental revenues, accessories sales and device protection plan sales, along with effective cost management all worked to partially offset competitive pricing pressures.

"TDS Telecom continued to grow broadband services, bundling these with video and voice services. Several years of fiber investments led to growth in IPTV connections and to increased demand for higher broadband speeds, generating residential wireline revenue growth. Network investments in our cable properties also continue to see success, driving strong increases in broadband connections and cable revenues. This quarter we accomplished our seventh consecutive quarter of double-digit broadband cable connections growth. We also signed several small cable acquisitions to strengthen our existing markets, and are continuing to seek attractive cable properties.

"At OneNeck IT Solutions, lower spending by existing customers impacted equipment revenues, and associated hardware maintenance and service revenues. OneNeck remains focused on growing recurring revenues from high-margin services through a full portfolio of offerings. In 2017, our Colocation and Relia Cloud revenues grew nicely."

2018 Estimated ResultsCurrent estimates of full-year 2018 results for U.S. Cellular, TDS Telecom, and TDS are shown below. Such estimates represent management's view as of February 23, 2018. Such forward-looking statements should not be assumed to be current as of any future date. TDS undertakes no duty to update such information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that final results will not differ materially from such estimated results.

2018 Estimated Results and Actual Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2017

U.S. Cellular

Wireline and Cable (1)

TDS (1)(2)

Estimate

Actual

Estimate

Actual

Estimate

Actual

(Dollars in millions)

Total operating revenues

$3,850-$4,050

$

3,890

$900-$950

$

919

$5,015-$5,265

$

5,044

Adjusted OIBDA (3)(4)

$625-$775

$

675

$290-$320

$

317

$925-$1,105

$

999

Adjusted EBITDA (3)

$765-$915

$

820

$300-$330

$

323

$1,075-$1,255

$

1,152

Capital expenditures

$500-$550

$

469

$270

$

201

$795-$845

$

694

The following tables provide reconciliations of Net income to Adjusted OIBDA and Adjusted EBITDA for 2018 estimated results and actual results for the year ended December 31, 2017. In providing 2018 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.

U.S. Cellular

Wireline and Cable (1)

TDS (1)(2)

Estimate

Actual

Estimate

Actual

Estimate

Actual

(Dollars in millions)

Net income (GAAP)

N/A

15

N/A

N/A

N/A

157

Add back:

Income tax benefit

N/A

(287)

N/A

N/A

N/A

(279)

Income (loss) before income

taxes (GAAP)

$

10-160

$

(272)

$

80-110

$

125

$

5-185

$

(122)

Add back:

Interest expense

110

113

170

170

Depreciation, amortization and

accretion expense

625

615

220

195

880

844

EBITDA (Non-GAAP) (3)

$

745-895

$

456

$

300-330

$

319

$

1,055-1,235

$

892

Add back:

Loss on impairment of goodwill

370

262

(Gain) loss on sale of business

and other exit costs, net

(1)

(1)

(Gain) loss on license sales and

exchanges, net

(22)

(22)

(Gain) loss on asset

disposals, net

20

17

3

20

21

Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)(3)

$

765-915

$

820

$

300-330

$

323

$

1,075-1,255

$

1,152

Deduct:

Equity in earnings of

unconsolidated entities

130

137

130

137

Interest and dividend income

10

8

5

5

15

15

Other, net

5

5

1

Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP)(3)(4)

$

625-775

$

675

$

290-320

$

317

$

925-1,105

$

999

Note: Totals may not foot due to rounding differences.

(1)

Effective January 1, 2018, HMS will be considered a non-reportable segment and will no longer be reported under TDS Telecom. To be comparable with the 2018 estimated results, HMS actual results for the year ended 2017 have been included as part of TDS. A reconciliation of Cable and Wireline actual results to TDS Telecom as reported for full year 2017 can be found on TDS' website at investors.tdsinc.com.

(2)

The TDS column includes U.S. Cellular, Cable and Wireline, HMS and also the impacts of consolidating eliminations, corporate operations and non-reportable segments, all of which are not presented above.

(3)

EBITDA, 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 flow to the corresponding GAAP measure, Net income or Income (loss) before income taxes.

(4)

A reconciliation of Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP) to Operating income (GAAP) for full year 2017 actual results can be found on TDS' website at investors.tdsinc.com.

Conference Call InformationTDS will hold a conference call on February 23, 2018, at 9:30 a.m. Central Time.

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 TDSTelephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS), a Fortune 1000® company, provides wireless; cable and wireline broadband, TV and voice; and hosted and managed services to over 6 million connections nationwide through its businesses, U.S. Cellular, TDS Telecom, OneNeck IT Solutions, and BendBroadband. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, TDS employed 9,900 people as of December 31, 2017.

Visit www.tdsinc.com for comprehensive financial information, including earnings releases, quarterly and annual filings, shareholder information and more.

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 execute TDS' business strategy; uncertainties in TDS' future cash flows and liquidity and access to the capital markets; the ability to make payments on TDS and U.S. Cellular indebtedness or comply with the terms of debt covenants; impacts of any pending acquisitions/divestitures/exchanges of properties and/or licenses, including, but not limited to, the ability to obtain regulatory approvals, successfully complete the transactions and the financial impacts of such transactions; the ability of the company to successfully manage and grow its markets; the access to and pricing of unbundled network elements; the ability to obtain or maintain roaming arrangements with other carriers on acceptable terms; the state and federal telecommunications regulatory environment; the value of assets and investments; adverse changes in the ratings of TDS and U.S. Cellular debt securities by accredited ratings organizations; industry consolidation; advances in telecommunications technology; pending and future litigation; changes in income tax rates, laws, regulations or rulings; changes in customer growth rates, average monthly revenue per user, churn rates, roaming revenue and terms, the availability of wireless devices, or the mix of services and products offered by U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom. Investors are encouraged to consider these and other risks and uncertainties that are discussed in the Form 8-K Current Report used by TDS to furnish this press release to the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are incorporated by reference herein.

For more information about TDS and its subsidiaries, visit:TDS: www.tdsinc.comU.S. Cellular: www.uscellular.comTDS Telecom: www.tdstelecom.com OneNeck IT Solutions: www.oneneck.com

United States Cellular Corporation

Summary Operating Data (Unaudited)

As of or for the Quarter Ended

12/31/2017

9/30/2017

6/30/2017

3/31/2017

12/31/2016

Retail Connections

Postpaid

Total at end of period

4,518,000

4,513,000

4,478,000

4,455,000

4,482,000

Gross additions

177,000

191,000

174,000

146,000

187,000

Feature phones

5,000

7,000

7,000

7,000

7,000

Smartphones

128,000

132,000

116,000

88,000

109,000

Connected devices

44,000

52,000

51,000

51,000

71,000

Net additions (losses)

5,000

35,000

23,000

(27,000)

(2,000)

Feature phones

(15,000)

(15,000)

(15,000)

(19,000)

(21,000)

Smartphones

33,000

44,000

34,000

(9,000)

(4,000)

Connected devices

(13,000)

6,000

4,000

1,000

23,000

ARPU (1)

$

44.12

$

43.41

$

44.60

$

45.42

$

45.19

ABPU (Non-GAAP)(2)

$

56.69

$

54.71

$

55.19

$

55.82

$

55.43

ARPA (3)

$

118.05

$

116.36

$

119.73

$

121.88

$

120.67

ABPA (Non-GAAP)(4)

$

151.68

$

146.65

$

148.15

$

149.78

$

148.02

Churn rate (5)

1.27%

1.16%

1.13%

1.29%

1.41%

Handsets

1.00%

0.96%

0.91%

1.08%

1.23%

Connected devices

2.84%

2.33%

2.35%

2.55%

2.49%

Prepaid

Total at end of period

519,000

515,000

484,000

480,000

484,000

Gross additions

83,000

102,000

73,000

78,000

83,000

Net additions (losses)

4,000

31,000

3,000

(4,000)

4,000

ARPU (1)

$

32.42

$

33.12

$

33.52

$

33.66

$

33.25

Churn rate (5)

5.09%

4.75%

4.93%

5.69%

5.44%

Total connections at end of

period (6)

5,096,000

5,089,000

5,023,000

4,996,000

5,031,000

Market penetration at end of period

Consolidated operating population

31,834,000

31,834,000

32,089,000

32,089,000

31,994,000

Consolidated operating penetration (7)

16%

16%

16%

16%

16%

Capital expenditures (millions)

$

213

$

112

$

84

$

61

$

171

Total cell sites in service

6,460

6,436

6,421

6,417

6,415

Owned towers

4,080

4,051

4,044

4,041

4,040

(1)

Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) - metric which 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.

(2)

Average Billings Per User (ABPU) - non-GAAP metric which is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenues plus equipment installment plan billings by the average number of postpaid connections and by the number of months in the period. Refer to the end of this release for a reconciliation of this metric to its most comparable GAAP metric.

(3)

Average Revenue Per Account (ARPA) - metric which is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenues by the average number of postpaid accounts and by the number of months in the period.

(4)

Average Billings Per Account (ABPA) - non-GAAP metric which is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenues plus equipment installment plan billings by the average number of postpaid accounts and by the number of months in the period. Refer to the end of this release for a reconciliation of this metric to its most comparable GAAP metric.

(5)

Churn rate represents the percentage of the connections that disconnect service each month. These rates represent the average monthly churn rate for each respective period.

(6)

Includes reseller and other connections.

(7)

Market penetration is calculated by dividing the number of wireless connections at the end of the period by the total population of consolidated operating markets as estimated by Nielsen.

TDS Telecom

Summary Operating Data (Unaudited)

As of or for the Quarter Ended

12/31/2017

9/30/2017

6/30/2017

3/31/2017

12/31/2016

TDS Telecom

Wireline

Residential connections

Voice (1)

290,600

298,200

304,600

308,200

310,600

Broadband (2)

228,600

229,900

230,200

228,500

229,500

IPTV (3)

48,600

47,200

46,200

45,200

45,300

Wireline residential connections

567,700

575,300

581,000

581,900

585,400

Total residential revenue per connection (4)

$

46.21

$

46.07

$

46.39

$

45.17

$

44.27

Commercial connections

Voice (1)

143,000

146,900

150,500

154,000

157,400

Broadband (2)

20,600

20,900

21,000

21,200

21,400

managedIP (5)

146,500

147,600

149,700

150,300

150,900

Wireline commercial connections

310,100

315,300

321,200

325,500

329,700

Total Wireline connections

877,800

890,700

902,200

907,400

915,200

Cable

Cable Connections

Broadband (6)

153,300

143,800

140,300

137,800

133,700

Video (7)

101,800

97,900

97,900

97,600

99,000

Voice (8)

60,100

58,900

58,700

59,000

59,600

Cable connections

315,100

300,600

297,000

294,300

292,400

Numbers may not foot due to rounding.

(1)

The individual circuits connecting a customer to Wireline's central office facilities.

(2)

The number of Wireline customers provided high-capacity data circuits via various technologies, including DSL and dedicated internet circuit technologies.

(3)

The number of Wireline customers provided video services using IP networking technology.

(4)

Total residential revenue per connection is calculated by dividing total Wireline residential revenue by the average number of Wireline residential connections and by the number of months in the period.

(5)

The number of telephone handsets, data lines and IP trunks providing communications using IP networking technology.

(6)

Billable number of lines into a building for high-speed data services.

(7)

Generally, a home or business receiving video programming counts as one video connection. In counting bulk residential or commercial connections, such as an apartment building or hotel, connections are counted based on the number of units/rooms within the building receiving service.

(8)

Billable number of lines into a building for voice services.

TDS Telecom

Capital Expenditures (Unaudited)

Quarter Ended

12/31/2017

9/30/2017

6/30/2017

3/31/2017

12/31/2016

(Dollars in millions)

Wireline

$

55

$

41

$

33

$

17

$

26

Cable

20

14

12

9

13

HMS

2

2

4

6

5

$

76

$

58

$

49

$

33

$

45

Numbers may not foot due to rounding.

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Operations Highlights

(Unaudited)

2017 vs. 2016

Increase

Three Months Ended December 31,

2017

2016

(Decrease)

(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)

Operating revenues

U.S. Cellular (1)

$

1,029

$

1,006

2%

TDS Telecom

275

283

(3)%

All Other (2)

4

4

12%

1,308

1,293

1%

Operating expenses

U.S. Cellular

Expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and accretion

877

861

2%

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

155

156

(1)%

(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net

4

6

(34)%

(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net

(3)

(3)

(24)%

1,033

1,020

1%

TDS Telecom

Expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and accretion

196

212

(8)%

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

56

56

-

(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net

1

1

51%

(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net

(1)

N/M

253

269

(6)%

All Other (2)

Expenses excluding depreciation and amortization

4

4

4%

Depreciation and amortization

2

2

(7)%

5

5

(2)%

Total operating expenses

1,291

1,294

-

Operating income (loss)

U.S. Cellular (1)

(4)

(14)

75%

TDS Telecom

22

14

52%

All Other (2)

(1)

(1)

29%

17

(1)

>100%

Investment and other income (expense)

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities

36

30

18%

Interest and dividend income (1)

4

3

15%

Interest expense

(42)

(43)

3%

Other, net

(23)%

Total investment and other income (expense) (1)

(2)

(10)

75%

Income (loss) before income taxes

15

(11)

>100%

Income tax benefit

(319)

(6)

>(100)%

Net income (loss)

334

(5)

>100%

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax

47

>100%

Net income (loss) available to TDS common shareholders

$

287

$

(5)

>100%

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

111

110

1%

Basic earnings (loss) per share available to TDS common shareholders

$

2.59

$

(0.05)

>100%

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

112

110

2%

Diluted earnings (loss) per share available to TDS common shareholders

$

2.54

$

(0.05)

>100%

N/M - Percentage change not meaningful

Numbers may not foot due to rounding.

(1)

Equipment installment plan interest income is reflected as a component of Service revenues consistent with an accounting policy change effective January 1, 2017. All prior period numbers have been recast to conform to this accounting change.

(2)

Consists of TDS corporate, intercompany eliminations and all other business operations not included in the U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom segments.

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Operations Highlights

(Unaudited)

2017 vs. 2016

Increase

Year Ended December 31,

2017

2016

(Decrease)

(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)

Operating revenues

U.S. Cellular

$

3,890

$

3,990

(3)%

TDS Telecom

1,140

1,151

(1)%

All Other (1)

14

14

1%

5,044

5,155

(2)%

Operating expenses

U.S. Cellular

Expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and accretion

3,215

3,321

(3)%

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

615

618

-

Loss on impairment of goodwill

370

N/M

(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net

17

22

(22)%

(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net

(1)

>(100)%

(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net

(22)

(19)

(17)%

4,194

3,942

6%

TDS Telecom

Expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and accretion

817

856

(5)%

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

222

224

(1)%

Loss on impairment of goodwill

35

N/M

(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net

4

4

(21)%

(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net

(1)

N/M

1,077

1,084

(1)%

All Other(1)

Expenses excluding depreciation and amortization

13

11

18%

Depreciation and amortization

7

8

(9)%

Loss on impairment of goodwill (2)

(143)

N/M

(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net

1

>(100)%

(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net

(1)

N/M

(122)

18

>(100)%

Total operating expenses

5,149

5,044

2%

Operating income (loss)

U.S. Cellular

(304)

48

>(100)%

TDS Telecom

63

67

(7)%

All Other (1)

136

(4)

>100%

(105)

111

>(100)%

Investment and other income (expense)

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities

137

140

(2)%

Interest and dividend income

15

11

42%

Interest expense

(170)

(170)

-

Other, net

1

>100%

Total investment and other income (expense)

(17)

(19)

12%

Income (loss) before income taxes

(122)

92

>(100)%

Income tax expense (benefit)

(279)

40

>(100)%

Net income

157

52

>100%

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax

4

9

(55)%

Net income available to TDS common shareholders

$

153

$

43

>100%

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

111

110

1%

Basic earnings per share available to TDS common shareholders

$

1.39

$

0.39

>100%

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

112

111

1%

Diluted earnings per share available to TDS common shareholders

$

1.37

$

0.39

>100%

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 U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom segments.

(2)

During the third quarter of 2017, U.S. Cellular recorded a goodwill impairment of $370 million while TDS recorded a goodwill impairment of the U.S. Cellular reporting unit of $227 million. Prior to 2009, TDS accounted for U.S. Cellular's share repurchases as step acquisitions, allocating a portion of the share repurchase value to TDS' Goodwill. Further, goodwill was impaired at the TDS level in 2003 but not at the U.S. Cellular level, effectively resulting in a lower basis of goodwill attributable to the U.S. Cellular reporting unit rather than at U.S. Cellular itself. Consequently, U.S. Cellular's Goodwill on a stand-alone basis and any resulting impairment of Goodwill does not equal the TDS consolidated Goodwill related to U.S. Cellular.

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

Year Ended December 31,

2017

2016

(Dollars in millions)

Cash flows from operating activities

Net income

$

157

$

52

Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to net

cash flows from operating activities

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

844

850

Bad debts expense

95

102

Stock-based compensation expense

46

42

Deferred income taxes, net

(369)

22

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities

(137)

(140)

Distributions from unconsolidated entities

136

93

Loss on impairment of goodwill

262

(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net

21

27

(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net

(1)

(1)

(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net

(22)

(20)

Noncash interest

3

3

Other operating activities

(3)

Changes in assets and liabilities from operations

Accounts receivable

(61)

(23)

Equipment installment plans receivable

(261)

(246)

Inventory

6

4

Accounts payable

(7)

36

Customer deposits and deferred revenues

(4)

(52)

Accrued taxes

37

60

Accrued interest

(1)

Other assets and liabilities

31

(23)

Net cash provided by operating activities

776

782

Cash flows from investing activities

Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment

(685)

(636)

Cash paid for acquisitions and licenses

(218)

(53)

Cash paid for investments

(100)

Cash received from divestitures and exchanges

21

21

Federal Communications Commission deposit

(143)

Other investing activities

1

3

Net cash used in investing activities

(981)

(808)

Cash flows from financing activities

Issuance of long-term debt

2

Repayment of long-term debt

(17)

(12)

TDS Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments

4

9

U.S. Cellular Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments

1

6

Repurchase of TDS Common Shares

(3)

Repurchase of U.S. Cellular Common Shares

(5)

Repurchase of TDS Preferred Shares

(1)

Dividends paid to TDS shareholders

(69)

(65)

Payment of debt issuance costs

(2)

(4)

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

(4)

(1)

Other financing activities

11

14

Net cash used in financing activities

(77)

(59)

Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(282)

(85)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (1)

Beginning of period

904

989

End of period

$

622

$

904

(1)

As of December 31, 2017, TDS early adopted ASU 2016-18 on a retrospective basis which requires that restricted cash be presented with Cash and cash equivalents in the Statement of Cash Flows. The Statement of Cash Flows includes restricted cash of $3 million and $4 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights

(Unaudited)

ASSETS

December 31,

2017

2016

(Dollars in millions)

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$

619

$

900

Short-term investments

100

Accounts receivable from customers and others, net

961

851

Inventory, net

145

151

Prepaid expenses

112

115

Income taxes receivable

2

10

Other current assets

27

32

Total current assets

1,966

2,059

Assets held for sale

10

8

Licenses

2,232

1,895

Goodwill

509

766

Franchise rights

255

244

Other intangible assets, net

24

33

Investments in unconsolidated entities

453

451

Other investments

1

Property, plant and equipment, net

3,424

3,555

Other assets and deferred charges

422

434

Total assets

$

9,295

$

9,446

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights

(Unaudited)

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

December 31,

2017

2016

(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)

Current liabilities

Current portion of long-term debt

$

20

$

12

Accounts payable

368

365

Customer deposits and deferred revenues

223

229

Accrued interest

11

11

Accrued taxes

64

44

Accrued compensation

126

127

Other current liabilities

106

99

Total current liabilities

918

887

Deferred liabilities and credits

Deferred income tax liability, net

552

922

Other deferred liabilities and credits

495

453

Long-term debt, net

2,437

2,433

Noncontrolling interests with redemption features

1

1

Equity

TDS shareholders' equity

Series A Common and Common Shares, par value $.01

1

1

Capital in excess of par value

2,413

2,386

Treasury shares, at cost

(669)

(698)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

(1)

1

Retained earnings

2,525

2,454

Total TDS shareholders' equity

4,269

4,144

Preferred shares

1

Noncontrolling interests

623

605

Total equity

4,892

4,750

Total liabilities and equity

$

9,295

$

9,446

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.

Balance Sheet Highlights

(Unaudited)

December 31, 2017

U.S.

TDS

TDS Corporate

Intercompany

TDS

Cellular

Telecom

& Other

Eliminations

Consolidated

(Dollars in millions)

Cash and cash equivalents

$

352

$

24

$

243

$

$

619

Affiliated cash investments

362

(362)

$

352

$

386

$

243

$

(362)

$

619

Short-term investments

$

50

$

$

50

$

$

100

Licenses, goodwill and other intangible

assets

$

2,223

$

793

$

4

$

$

3,020

Investment in unconsolidated entities

415

4

41

(7)

453

$

2,638

$

797

$

45

$

(7)

$

3,473

Property, plant and equipment, net

$

2,320

$

1,081

$

23

$

$

3,424

Long-term debt, net:

Current portion

$

18

$

1

$

1

$

$

20

Non-current portion

1,622

2

813

2,437

$

1,640

$

3

$

814

$

$

2,457

TDS Telecom Highlights

(Unaudited)

2017 vs. 2016

Increase

Three Months Ended December 31,

2017

2016

(Decrease)

(Dollars in millions)

Wireline

Operating revenues

Residential

$

79

$

78

1%

Commercial

48

52

(7)%

Wholesale

48

44

9%

Total service revenues

175

174

1%

Equipment and product sales

(30)%

176

174

1%

Operating expenses

Cost of services

64

66

(4)%

Cost of equipment and products

1

(41)%

Selling, general and administrative expenses

47

49

(5)%

Expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and accretion

111

116

(5)%

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

37

40

(7)%

(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net

(1)

N/M

148

156

(5)%

Operating income

$

28

$

19

48%

Cable

Operating revenues

Residential

$

44

$

38

16%

Commercial

10

11

(8)%

54

49

10%

Operating expenses

Cost of services

25

24

1%

Selling, general and administrative expenses

15

13

15%

Expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and accretion

40

38

6%

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

12

9

31%

(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net

1

1

46%

53

47

11%

Operating income

$

1

$

1

(23)%

HMS

Operating revenues

Service revenues

$

27

$

28

(5)%

Equipment and product sales

21

34

(37)%

48

61

(22)%

Operating expenses

Cost of services

20

21

(2)%

Cost of equipment and products

17

28

(37)%

Selling, general and administrative expenses

10

12

(17)%

Expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and accretion

48

60

(21)%

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

7

7

1%

55

67

(19)%

Operating loss

$

(7)

$

(6)

(22)%

Intercompany revenues

$

(2)

$

(1)

(29)%

Intercompany expenses

(2)

(1)

(29)%

Total TDS Telecom operating income

$

22

$

14

52%

N/M – Percentage change not meaningful

Numbers may not foot due to rounding.

TDS Telecom Highlights

(Unaudited)

2017 vs. 2016

Increase

Year Ended December 31,

2017

2016

(Decrease)

(Dollars in millions)

Wireline

Operating revenues

Residential

$

319

$

309

3%

Commercial

199

212

(6)%

Wholesale

195

175

12%

Total service revenues

713

696

2%

Equipment and product sales

1

2

(33)%

714

698

2%

Operating expenses

Cost of services

258

258

-

Cost of equipment and products

2

2

(16)%

Selling, general and administrative expenses

191

197

(3)%

Expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and accretion

451

458

(1)%

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

151

159

(5)%

(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net

1

2

(35)%

(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net

(1)

N/M

603

618

(2)%

Operating income

$

111

$

80

40%

Cable

Operating revenues

Residential

$

169

$

147

15%

Commercial

37

38

(4)%

206

185

11%

Operating expenses

Cost of services

98

94

4%

Selling, general and administrative expenses

54

51

6%

Expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and accretion

151

144

5%

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

44

37

21%

(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net

2

2

(7)%

198

183

8%

Operating income

$

8

$

2

>100%

HMS

Operating revenues

Service revenues

$

111

$

119

(6)%

Equipment and product sales

114

155

(26)%

225

273

(18)%

Operating expenses

Cost of services

83

82

1%

Cost of equipment and products

95

128

(26)%

Selling, general and administrative expenses

42

48

(13)%

Expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and accretion

220

259

(15)%

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

28

29

(4)%

Loss on impairment of goodwill

35

N/M

282

288

(2)%

Operating loss

$

(57)

$

(14)

>(100)%

Intercompany revenues

$

(5)

$

(5)

(9)%

Intercompany expenses

(5)

(5)

(9)%

Total TDS Telecom operating income

$

63

$

67

(7)%

N/M – Percentage change not meaningful

Numbers may not foot due to rounding.

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.

Financial Measures and Reconciliations

(Unaudited)

Free Cash Flow

Three Months EndedDecember 31,

Year Ended December 31,

2017

2016

2017

2016

(Dollars in millions)

Cash flows from operating activities (GAAP)

$

155

$

144

$

776

$

782

Less: Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment

287

209

685

636

Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)(1)

$

(132)

$

(65)

$

91

$

146

(1)

Management uses Free cash flow as a liquidity measure and it is defined as Cash flows from operating activities less Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment. Free 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.

Non-GAAP Adjustments

The following non-GAAP financial measures present certain information in the table below excluding the effect of the goodwill impairment charge, enactment of H.R.1, originally referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Tax Act) and other related tax effects and noncontrolling interests impacts. The goodwill impairment charge, which occurred in the third quarter of 2017, and the deferred tax benefit are being excluded in this presentation, as they cause current operations of TDS not to be comparable with prior periods. TDS believes these measures may be useful to investors and other users of its financial information when comparing the current period financial results with periods that were not impacted by such items.

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31,

December 31,

Year ended December 31,

2017

2016

2017

2016

(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

Net income (loss) available to TDS common shareholders (GAAP)

$

287

$

(5)

$

153

$

43

Adjustments:

Loss on impairment of goodwill

262

Tax benefit on impairment of goodwill(1)

(22)

Noncontrolling interests impact (2)

(52)

Subtotal of Non-GAAP goodwill adjustments

188

Effect of the Tax Act

(327)

(327)

Noncontrolling interests impact (2)

45

45

Subtotal of Non-GAAP tax reform adjustments

(282)

(282)

Subtotal of Non-GAAP adjustments

(282)

(94)

Net income (loss) available to TDS common shareholders excluding adjustments (Non-GAAP)

$

6

$

(5)

$

59

$

43

Diluted earnings (loss) per share available to TDS common shareholders (GAAP)

$

2.54

$

(0.05)

$

1.37

$

0.39

Adjustments:

Loss on impairment of goodwill

2.34

Tax benefit on impairment of goodwill(1)

(0.20)

Noncontrolling interests impact on goodwill impairment (2)

(0.46)

Effect of the Tax Act

(2.91)

(2.92)

Noncontrolling interests impact on tax reform (2)

0.42

0.40

Diluted earnings (loss) per share available to TDS common shareholders excluding adjustments (Non-GAAP)

$

0.05

$

(0.05)

$

0.53

$

0.39

Note: Totals may not foot due to rounding differences.

(1)

Tax benefit represents the amount associated with the tax-amortizable portion of the loss on goodwill impairment.

(2)

Noncontrolling interests, net of tax, includes noncontrolling public shareholders' share in U.S. Cellular for similar adjustments recorded on U.S. Cellular's consolidated financial statements.

Postpaid ABPU and Postpaid ABPA

U.S. Cellular presents Postpaid ABPU and Postpaid ABPA to reflect the revenue shift from Service revenues to Equipment and product sales resulting from the increased adoption of equipment installment plans. Postpaid ABPU and Postpaid ABPA, as previously defined herein, are non-GAAP financial measures which U.S. Cellular believes are useful to investors and other users of its financial information in showing trends in both service and equipment and product sales revenues received from customers.

For the Quarter Ended

12/31/2017

9/30/2017

6/30/2017

3/31/2017

12/31/2016

(Dollars and connection counts in millions)

Calculation of Postpaid ARPU

Postpaid service revenues

$

598

$

586

$

597

$

608

$

607

Average number of postpaid connections

4.52

4.50

4.47

4.46

4.48

Number of months in period

3

3

3

3

3

Postpaid ARPU (GAAP metric)

$

44.12

$

43.41

$

44.60

$

45.42

$

45.19

Calculation of Postpaid ABPU

Postpaid service revenues

$

598

$

586

$

597

$

608

$

607

Equipment installment plan billings

170

152

142

139

138

Total billings to postpaid connections

$

768

$

738

$

739

$

747

$

745

Average number of postpaid connections

4.52

4.50

4.47

4.46

4.48

Number of months in period

3

3

3

3

3

Postpaid ABPU (Non-GAAP metric)

$

56.69

$

54.71

$

55.19

$

55.82

$

55.43

Calculation of Postpaid ARPA

Postpaid service revenues

$

598

$

586

$

597

$

608

$

607

Average number of postpaid accounts

1.69

1.68

1.66

1.66

1.68

Number of months in period

3

3

3

3

3

Postpaid ARPA (GAAP metric)

$

118.05

$

116.36

$

119.73

$

121.88

$

120.67

Calculation of Postpaid ABPA

Postpaid service revenues

$

598

$

586

$

597

$

608

$

607

Equipment installment plan billings

170

152

142

139

138

Total billings to postpaid accounts

$

768

$

738

$

739

$

747

$

745

Average number of postpaid accounts

1.69

1.68

1.66

1.66

1.68

Number of months in period

3

3

3

3

3

Postpaid ABPA (Non-GAAP metric)

$

151.68

$

146.65

$

148.15

$

149.78

$

148.02

Cision View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tds-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2017-results-300603347.html

SOURCE Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.

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