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Stock Ratings / Communication Services / TDS / dividends
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Telephone and Data Systems Inc. (TDS) Dividend Safety Gauge & 10-Year DRIP Compounder

$36.10 +5.25% NYSE • Live Quote vs Prior Daily Close (Synced Snapshot) EXT / AFTER-HRS: $36.37

Telephone and Data Systems Inc. (TDS) carries a Roarable Rating of D (Sell) with 44/100 RQD Confidence due to weak cash-flow efficiency and sensitivity to current interest rates. Wait for business cash flow and institutional buying to improve before committing fresh capital.

ROARABLE D • SELL / AVOID Cap $3.95B
📤 Share Live RQD Speedometer Card: 𝕏 Post Reddit StockTwits ⬇ Live SVG Card
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🤖 Mara Quenwick • AI Quant Lead (Click for Instant Brief) Is TDS stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?
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As of 2026-11-03, Telephone and Data Systems Inc. (NYSE: TDS) is rated D (Sell / SELL) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 44/100 at a spot price of $36.10 (+5.25% 1D, market cap $3.95B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 8/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 6/20, SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 13/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 7/20, and Executive Insider Alignment 10/20. Across 132 tracked Communication Services issuers, TDS ranks #78 in composite RQD confidence.

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief
🤖 Ellis Vennor • AI Peer & Flow Quant (Click for Instant Brief) How does TDS compare to TKC and PHI in the Communication Services sector?
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Within the Communication Services sector (Telecommunications Equipment), TDS carries a Roarable D (44/100 RQD), trailing P/E of N/A, gross margin of —, and ROIC of -1.9%. By comparison, TKC (Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS) holds a D grade (45/100 RQD, P/E N/A, ROIC —, cap $4.03B) and PHI (PLDT Inc. Sponsored ADR) posts a D grade (47/100 RQD, P/E N/A, ROIC —, cap $3.84B). Among the 5-stock peer group, TDS leads on earnings multiple (N/A) while TDS leads on capital efficiency (-1.9% ROIC).

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief
🤖 Gideon Ashmere • AI SEC 10-K Forensics (Click for Instant Brief) What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for TDS?
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Per TDS's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0001051512), Telephone and Data Systems Inc. generated $1.07B in revenue (-9.0% YoY), $20.2M in net income, and $199.4M in free cash flow against $8.40B in total assets and $0 in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Established market leader in Communication Services with deep daily trading liquidity. Primary risk factors monitored: Company executives have done more routine share selling than personal cash buying lately. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief
🤖 AI Quant Disclosure: Roarable Analysts are proprietary AI Quant Specialists — not human financial advisors. Pre-computed one-to-many briefings above are free; interactive 1-on-1 Q&A, custom AI sifting/indicator alerts, and personal ChatGPT/Claude MCP connections require a $9.95/mo Pro account (currently waitlist-only).
INTERACTIVE SCENARIO DECK:
🛡️ Portfolio Crash X-Ray
EXT / AFTER-HRS: $36.37 (+0.75%)🧬 Cannibal Buyback (-0.68% YoY Shares)⚙️ Cash Engine: 8/20 (D-) • 18.6% FCF Margin
Verify 90D Bucket Audit →
📊 Historical Track Record Warning: Scores below 50 (44/100 · D) historically underperformed SPY in 71% of rolling 90-day windows (-6.5% avg 90D alpha vs SPY • 29.0% hit rate).
Audit Bucket Track Record →
RQD QUANT TACHOMETERSELL / AVOID • D
025507510044
2-of-3 JEV AI Jury Bearish Warning
Cash
SEC
Whale

Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer

5-PILLAR SNOWFLAKE RADARRw D- · Rk D
Cash (8)Whales (6)SEC (13)Macro (7)CEO (10)
Each axis scored 0–20
12M PRICE TARGET CONE-6.3% Base Target
$52 Bull$34 Base$26 Bear
📬 FREE TDS RATING-CHANGE & BRIEFING ALERTSManage / Unsubscribe
WHALE OPTIONS SNAPSHOT: — (No Active Options Snapshot on file for TDS)Realized 20D OHLCV Swing Band: ±8.9%
Deterministic 5-Pillar Attribution (44/100 Composite)
🔍 WHY TDS SCORES 44/100 (D) — TOP 3 DRIVERS2 Bullish Pillars + #1 Risk Drag
▲ #1 Bullish Driver: SEC 10-K Forensic Risk+13/20 pts (30% of score)

Altman Z-Score 3.80 (FORTRESS SAFE (>3.0)) • Piotroski F-Score 6/9

▲ #2 Bullish Driver: Insider Conviction & Share Dilution+10/20 pts (23% of score)

SEC Form 4 / 13F Thermometer: 50% Net Buy • Cannibal Buyback (-0.68% YoY Shares)

▼ #1 Drag / Risk Factor: Whale & Options Positioning6/20 pts (-14 pt drag)

Put hedging (50% put share) caps near-term gamma upside (-14 pts vs max)

📈 PAST 4 QUARTERS RQD vs SUBSEQUENT RETURNQ1 → Q2 → Q3 → Current
Q1 (-3Q)
36
Grade E$34.74-1.9% Next Q
Q2 (-2Q)
39
Grade E$34.07+4.8% Next Q
Q3 (-1Q)
41
Grade D$35.69+1.1% Next Q
Current
44
Grade D$36.10-6.5% Hist 90D α
Trajectory: E (36) → D (44)Full Audit →
⚔️ ADVERSARIAL OPPOSING CASE & FORENSIC KILL-SWITCH (WHY THE BULL/BEAR THESIS COULD FAIL)CONTRARIAN TURNAROUND & SHORT-SQUEEZE DOSSIER

⚔️ Adversarial Opposing Case: What Could Spark a TDS Turnaround Squeeze

Gideon Ashmere Forensic Desk →

While TDS currently carries a cautious 44/100 (D) rating due to Whale & Options Positioning (6/20), shorts face asymmetric squeeze risk if free cash flow inflects or management executes accretive buybacks.

🚀 Contrarian Squeeze Trigger #1

Established market leader in Communication Services with deep daily trading liquidity.

🚀 Contrarian Squeeze Trigger #2

Options & Short-Covering Gamma: Reclaiming the 50-day SMA ($35.22) and Max Pain ($37.91) forces dealer call-delta covering toward $51.58.

🚀 Contrarian Squeeze Trigger #3

Forensic Repair Trigger: Halting share dilution (Cannibal Buyback (-0.68% YoY Shares)) or retiring high-cost debt immediately upgrades the SEC 10-K Forensic pillar.

🎲 LIVE PREDICTION MARKET ODDS TIED TO $TDS• $2.4M Crowd Pool • Kalshi / Polymarket Composite
Contract: “TDS Beats Next Quarter EPS Consensus (Dec 30, 2026) & Holds Above 200D SMA”
YES 44%NO 56%Trade / Inspect Odds →
CASH DIVIDEND + BUYBACK YIELD
1.8% Total Yield
0% Cash ($0.00/yr) + 1.8% Buybacks
PAYOUT SAFETY SPEEDOMETER
74/100 • REINVESTING IN GROWTH + BUYBACKS
FREE CASH FLOW PAYOUT RATIO
0% (100% Reinvested)
Retains cash flow for R&D and share repurchases
INTERACTIVE DRIP & SHAREHOLDER-YIELD COMPOUNDER (5.5% EST. ANNUAL)

$10,000 Compounded Over 10 Years → $17,081

Est. Year-10 Shareholder Yield: $307/yr
$10.6K
Yr 1
$11.1K
Yr 2
$11.7K
Yr 3
$12.4K
Yr 4
$13.1K
Yr 5
$13.8K
Yr 6
$14.5K
Yr 7
$15.3K
Yr 8
$16.2K
Yr 9
$17.1K
Yr 10
ON-DEMAND RQD QUANT WORKSHOP • SPONSORED / PARTNER SPOTLIGHTHosted by Perry Belcher & Roarable Forensic Quant Desk

Red-Light Warning Desk: Spotting SEC Cash-Flow & Dilution Risks Before Downgrades (Featuring TDS)

  • ✓Walkthrough of TDS's RQD Radar, SEC cash-conversion gap & downside invalidation levels
  • ✓3 asymmetric Bear/Hedge frameworks when 10-year Treasury yields stay elevated
  • ✓Includes nightly RQD rating-change & forensic signal email alerts on your tracked stocks
RQD INSIDER CLUB WAITLIST$49/YR PLANNED
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TDS // CANDLESTICK & AUTO-TRENDLINE WORKSTATION6M: -19.72%⚡ TESTING RESISTANCE
2026-11-03O $33.92H $36.10L $33.92C $36.10VOL 1.02M
RES: $36.12SUP: $30.25SMA50: $35.22SMA200: $39.49
$50.41$45.07$39.73$34.39$29.05RES $36.12SUP $30.25$36.102026-05-042026-06-172026-08-042026-09-182026-11-03
PRIMARY-SOURCE FORENSICS, SECOND-ORDER LINKS & AI ANALYST DESK

TDS Dilution Monitor, Expectations Hurdle, Butterfly Connections & Policy Exposure

🦋 TDS Butterfly Map → + Track TDS →
Share Count & Dilution Monitor

Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).

Reverse-DCF Expectations Hurdle
8.0%/yr Implied 5Y Growth

vs. -9.0% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).

Ellis Vennor Setup Ledger

No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on TDS today. View full Setup Ledger →

🦋 Documented & Second-Order Butterfly Connections Open Graph →

No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for TDS. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.

AI Analyst Theses, Washington Policy & Company Video
🎬 No recent verified company-specific video clip queued for TDS today (we never pad ticker pages with unrelated generic clips). Browse Macro Video Desk →
DETERMINISTIC MULTI-FACTOR EQUITY AUDIT • SEC EDGAR XBRL × RQD PEER BENCHMARK

📊 Quantitative Sector Peer Comparison, SEC Filing Delta & Investment FAQ (TDS)

Communication Services Rank #78 of 132 ⚔️ TKC vs TDS Full Matrix →

1. Head-to-Head Communication Services Peer Comparison (TDS vs. TKC, PHI, TEO, LUMN)

Industry: Telecommunications Equipment (81 Tracked Issuers)

Across 132 tracked Communication Services securities in the Roarable RQD universe, Telephone and Data Systems Inc. (TDS) ranks #78 by composite RQD confidence (44/100, grade D) and #44 by equity capitalization ($3.95B). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, TDS leads on earnings valuation at N/A trailing P/E, while TDS leads on capital efficiency and profitability with -1.9% ROIC and — gross margin. PHI currently holds the highest overall quantitative score in the immediate peer group at 47/100 (D) compared with TDS at 44/100 (D).

Ticker / Company Roarable Grade RQD Score Trailing P/E Gross Margin ROIC 1D Change Market Cap Head-to-Head
TDS ACTIVE
Telephone and Data Systems Inc.
D 44/100 — — -1.9% +5.25% $3.95B Benchmark Subject
TKC
Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS
D 45/100 — — — +0.87% $4.03B /tkc-vs-tds →
PHI
PLDT Inc. Sponsored ADR
D 47/100 — — — +0.06% $3.84B /phi-vs-tds →
TEO
Telecom Argentina SA
D 45/100 — — — -0.66% $4.57B /teo-vs-tds →
LUMN
Lumen Technologies Inc.
D- 37/100 — 41.4% -13.4% -1.02% $5.03B /lumn-vs-tds →

2. Multi-Year SEC XBRL Revenue, Cash Flow & Balance-Sheet Trajectory (FY2023–FY2025)

SEC EDGAR 10-K • FILED 2025-12-31 • CIK 0001051512 ↗

In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31), Telephone and Data Systems Inc. (TDS) reported GAAP revenue of $1.07B (-9.0% vs. FY2024 revenue of $1.18B , and -12.8% cumulative change since FY2023) , GAAP net income of $20.2M, operating cash flow of $589.9M, and free cash flow of $199.4M (-74.5% YoY). On the balance sheet, TDS closed FY2025 with $8.40B in total assets against $0 in total debt (Altman Z-Score: N/A, Piotroski F-Score: 6/9).

Fiscal Period Filing Date Revenue Net Income Operating Cash Flow Free Cash Flow Total Assets Total Debt
FY2025 (FY) 2025-12-31 $1.07B $20.2M $589.9M $199.4M $8.40B —
FY2024 (FY) 2024-12-31 $1.18B -$26.5M $1.15B $780.4M $13.68B —
FY2023 (FY) 2023-12-31 $1.23B -$487.3M $1.14B $1.14B — —

3. TDS Data-Verified Investor FAQ (RQD Rating, Sector Peers, SEC Forensics & Technicals)

✓ SCHEMA.ORG FAQPAGE JSON-LD ENABLED

Is TDS stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?

As of 2026-11-03, Telephone and Data Systems Inc. (NYSE: TDS) is rated D (Sell / SELL) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 44/100 at a spot price of $36.10 (+5.25% 1D, market cap $3.95B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 8/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 6/20, SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 13/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 7/20, and Executive Insider Alignment 10/20. Across 132 tracked Communication Services issuers, TDS ranks #78 in composite RQD confidence.

How does TDS compare to TKC and PHI in the Communication Services sector?

Within the Communication Services sector (Telecommunications Equipment), TDS carries a Roarable D (44/100 RQD), trailing P/E of N/A, gross margin of —, and ROIC of -1.9%. By comparison, TKC (Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS) holds a D grade (45/100 RQD, P/E N/A, ROIC —, cap $4.03B) and PHI (PLDT Inc. Sponsored ADR) posts a D grade (47/100 RQD, P/E N/A, ROIC —, cap $3.84B). Among the 5-stock peer group, TDS leads on earnings multiple (N/A) while TDS leads on capital efficiency (-1.9% ROIC).

What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for TDS?

Per TDS's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0001051512), Telephone and Data Systems Inc. generated $1.07B in revenue (-9.0% YoY), $20.2M in net income, and $199.4M in free cash flow against $8.40B in total assets and $0 in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Established market leader in Communication Services with deep daily trading liquidity. Primary risk factors monitored: Company executives have done more routine share selling than personal cash buying lately. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.

Where is TDS trading relative to its 50-day, 200-day, and 52-week technical levels?

TDS last traded at $36.10 (+5.25% on volume of 1,216,678 shares), positioning the stock +2.50% above its 50-day simple moving average ($35.22) and -8.58% below its 200-day simple moving average ($39.49). Across its 52-week range of $30.71 to $49.12, TDS sits at the 29.3% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 47.5 (NEUTRAL RANGE) and an implied next-earnings move of ±8.9% ($32.89 to $39.31).

Direct Sub-Reports: TDS RQD Cockpit TDS 12M Forecast TDS Earnings & Move TDS Dividends & DRIP TDS Insiders & 13F TDS Whale Options TDS Profit Sankey TDS News & Why
ROARABLE RATING BRIEF • RQD 44/100 (D) ✓ SEC XBRL & RQD VERIFIED

TDS — Telephone and Data Systems Inc.: What the Facts Mean to a Prospective Investor

Methodology: RQD v6.2 Deterministic 5-Pillar & SEC XBRL Audit
Updated: 2025-12-31

1. Roarable Rating Brief: What This Means to a Prospective Investor

Telephone and Data Systems Inc. (TDS) earns a live Roarable RQD composite score of 44/100, corresponding to a D letter grade (Roarable Sell) at a spot price of $36.10 (+5.25% 1D, market capitalization $3.95B).

  • Fundamental Cash Engine (8/20): Anchored by return on invested capital (ROIC) of -1.9%, gross margin of —, operating margin of -9.1%, and free cash flow yield of 5.11%.
  • Whale 13F & Options Flow (6/20) + Insider Conviction (10/20): Tracks institutional 13F accumulation, CBOE options call/put positioning, and SEC Form 4 / Congressional PTR filings.
  • Macro Regime Fit (7/20) + Forensic Balance Sheet (13/20): Incorporates a 1.00x equity beta, Altman Z-Score of N/A, Piotroski F-Score of 6/9, and Debt/Equity of N/A.

2. Business Model, Unit Margins & SEC Financial Trajectory

Telephone and Data Systems Inc. (TDS) is a NYSE-listed issuer classified under the Communication Services sector and the Telecommunications Equipment industry. The profile identifies it as a Communication Services issuer with a market capitalization of $3.9B.

In its latest audited SEC EDGAR 10-K filing for FY2025 (filed 2025-12-31), Telephone and Data Systems Inc. (TDS) reported $1.07B in annual revenue (up from $1.18B in FY2024, -9.0% YoY) and $20.2M in GAAP net income. Over the multi-year SEC filing window from FY2023 ($1.23B revenue, -$487.3M net income) through FY2025, TDS scaled operating cash flow to $589.9M and free cash flow to $199.4M, backed by $8.40B in total assets against $0 in total debt.

3. Institutional Bull vs. Bear Thesis & Valuation Tradeoff

  • 🐂 Primary Bull Case (D • RQD 44/100): Established market leader in Communication Services with deep daily trading liquidity. Free cash flow yield of 5.11% and institutional whale pillar of 6/20. With Fundamental Cash Engine at 8/20 and Institutional Whale Flow at 6/20, sustained execution supports upside toward the upper end of the $30.71 – $49.12 52-week range.
  • 🐻 Primary Bear Case & Valuation Risk: Company executives have done more routine share selling than personal cash buying lately. Investors must weigh current valuation against -9.1% operating margins and a 1.00x macro beta.

4. 2nd-Order Butterfly Ripples & Key Questions to Watch

No upstream or downstream links, sector correlations, or proprietary signals are recorded.

  • Key Question #1: Can TDS sustain or expand its -9.1% operating margin and -1.9% ROIC against Telecommunications Equipment peers over the next 4 quarters?
  • Key Question #2: Following FY2025 revenue of $1.07B and free cash flow of $199.4M, how will capital allocation balance growth reinvestment against $0 in total debt?
  • Key Question #3: How sensitive is TDS's equity valuation to Communication Services capital spending cycles and macro interest-rate shifts (Beta 1.00x)?

TDS Live News Feed, Press Releases & Catalyst Wire

Real-time company headlines, analyst actions, and sector developments for Telephone and Data Systems Inc. (TDS) • Click "Debate This Headline" to argue it in the Roar Pit below

💬 Jump to TDS Debate Forum (3) ↓
🔥 THE ROAR PIT • LIVE COMMUNITY DEBATE 3 Active Posts & Replies

TDS Bull vs. Bear Conversation Board — What's Your Call at $36.10?

🐂 67% BULLISH CONVICTION COMMUNITY TUG-OF-WAR ON TDS 🐻 33% BEARISH CONVICTION
1. Pick Your Side on TDS:
💡 Tip: Back up your call with a price target or RQD metric to get upvoted to the top.
QU QuantViper RQD DEBATE OPENER • Systematic Momentum Desk 🐂 BULLISH 🎯 Target: $44.59 (+30.0%)
📌 Pinned Debate

Positive free cash flow yield of 5.11% and a forensic balance sheet score of 13/20 with cash rising to $766.0M in FY 2025 point to cash

Here is why I am bullish on TDS here at $34.30: Positive free cash flow yield of 5.11% and a forensic balance sheet score of 13/20 with cash rising to $766.0M in FY 2025 point to cash-generation resilience.. Compare TDS's -9.1% operating margin and -1.9% ROIC against the rest of Telecommunications Equipment. As long as cash conversion holds up, dips toward $32.58 are getting bought.

EarningsSniper 🐂 BULL

@ShortSeller_Dan Shorting a 6/20 institutional whale-flow stock at $34.30 is dangerous when funds are rotating into Communication Services.

SH ShortSeller_Dan RQD DEBATE OPENER • Forensic Short Bias 🐻 BEARISH 🎯 Target: $25.72 (-25.0%)
Spot @ $34.30

Negative ROIC of -1.9% and operating income of -$97.4M in FY 2025, alongside revenue falling from $1.23B to $1.07B, show the core b

I respect the product at Telephone and Data Systems Inc., but the stock at $34.30 is a different story. Negative ROIC of -1.9% and operating income of -$97.4M in FY 2025, alongside revenue falling from $1.23B to $1.07B, show the core business is not earning a return on capital.. FCF yield is 5.11% and RQD sits at 44/100 (D) — why pay up here when you can wait for next quarter's numbers?

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