TDS

We rate TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/ (TDS) as a Reduce with a composite score of 47.5/100 at a current price of $44.47. The quantitative profile shows weakness across multiple dimensions, suggesting limited upside potential and elevated risk of underperformance relative to peers over the next 12 months.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in stability (61th percentile) and momentum (59th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in quality (29th percentile) and value (32th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a No Moat rating (20/100), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation.

Key items to watch: the path to profitability. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/ holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 47.5/100 places it at rank #2414 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $4.5B in market capitalization, TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/ is a mid-cap player in the Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.

Revenue contraction of -75% combined with momentum at the 59th percentile paints a cautious picture of the near-term business outlook. The market appears to be pricing in continued challenges, and a catalyst for reversal is not clearly visible from current data.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 53% (-2.4pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of -15% (-32.9pp vs sector) and net margins of -11.3%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of -21%. The significant margin erosion from gross to net suggests elevated operating expenses, high interest costs, or other structural drags that warrant monitoring.

At a current price of $44.47, TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/ is trading at a premium to fundamental value. Our value factor score of 32/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. The premium valuation implies the market is pricing in significant future growth or quality improvements that are not yet fully reflected in current fundamentals.

The stock currently trades at P/B of 1.0x, P/S of 1.4x. We evaluate these multiples in the context of both absolute levels and sector-relative positioning to form our valuation view.

We assign a High uncertainty rating to TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/. Key risk factors include current negative profitability (net margin -11.3%), weak quality scores (29th percentile), the combination of leverage (61% D/E) and thin margins (-11.3% net) amplifies downside risk. The wide range of potential outcomes widens our fair value estimate and increases the possibility of permanent capital impairment. Investors considering this name should size positions accordingly and demand a meaningful margin of safety before initiating.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: current negative profitability (net margin -11.3%); weak quality scores (29th percentile); the combination of leverage (61% D/E) and thin margins (-11.3% net) amplifies downside risk. Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 61th percentile and quality factor at the 29th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

Key risk mitigants include: healthy gross margins of 53% provide a buffer against cost pressures; above-average stability (61th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile warrants caution and disciplined position management.

We rate TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/'s capital allocation as Poor. Key concerns include low returns on equity (-2.3%), negative profitability, weak asset returns (ROA -1.4%). Exemplary capital allocators generate ROE above 20% and maintain conservative leverage — TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/ significantly underperforms these benchmarks, raising questions about management's ability to create shareholder value.

Investors should scrutinize management's reinvestment decisions and balance sheet trajectory before committing capital. Poor capital allocation often compounds over time: overlevered balance sheets limit strategic flexibility, while low returns on capital destroy shareholder value. We would need to see sustained improvement in profitability metrics and balance sheet discipline before considering an upgrade.

In summary, TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/ receives a Reduce rating with a composite score of 47.5/100 (rank #2414 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a No Moat (20/100, trend: stable), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 43/100.

Our analysis does not support a constructive view on TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/ at this time. The combination of limited competitive advantages, high uncertainty, and poor capital allocation suggests unfavorable risk-reward at current levels. We recommend investors avoid new positions and existing holders consider reducing exposure.