Two 59%+ winners, four above 25% in Aug – How this AI model keeps picking winners
Introduction & Market Context
Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS) presented its second-quarter 2025 results on August 11, 2025, highlighting the successful closing of its transformative transaction with T-Mobile on August 1. The presentation comes as TDS shares were down 3.61% in premarket trading, following a challenging first quarter where the company missed earnings expectations. The telecommunications company is now focused on debt reduction, spectrum monetization, and fiber expansion as it repositions for future growth.
T-Mobile Transaction (JO:NTUJ) & Debt Reduction
TDS detailed the significant financial impact of the T-Mobile transaction, which is reshaping the company’s capital structure. The company is undertaking substantial debt reduction, with $1.7 billion of Array debt exchanged into T-Mobile debt and TDS set to receive $1.6 billion from Array’s special dividend. These moves have already resulted in S&P upgrading TDS’s issuer credit rating to BBB-.
As shown in the following debt reduction chart:
The Array board approved a special dividend of $23.00 per Common Share and Series A Common Share on August 1, 2025, totaling $2.0 billion. The presentation provided a detailed breakdown of how the T-Mobile transaction proceeds will be allocated:
Spectrum Monetization Strategy
TDS has made significant progress in monetizing its spectrum holdings, with agreements reached to sell approximately 70% of Array’s total spectrum holdings (measured on a MHz-Pops basis), including the T-Mobile transaction. The company has also announced major spectrum sales to AT&T (NYSE:T) ($1.018 billion) and Verizon (NYSE:VZ) ($1.0 billion), subject to regulatory approval.
The following table details the terms of these pending spectrum sales:
The company provided a comprehensive overview of its spectrum monetization efforts, categorizing them as closed, pending, and future opportunities:
Tower Business Performance
Following the T-Mobile transaction, TDS is focusing on growing its tower business, which now consists of 4,400 wholly-owned towers across the United States. The tower segment reported solid Q2 2025 performance with total revenues of $62 million (up 7% year-over-year) and Adjusted EBITDA of $34 million (up 9% year-over-year).
The presentation highlighted key tower operating metrics, including a current tower tenancy rate of 1.57 and revenue distribution across major carriers:
A significant development is the new Master Lease Agreement (MLA) with T-Mobile, which commenced on August 1, 2025. The agreement includes a 15-year initial term on a minimum of 2,015 sites and provides for an interim license for up to 30 months on the remaining 1,800 towers to ensure a smooth network transition.
TDS Telecom (BCBA:TECO2m) Fiber Expansion
TDS Telecom continues to execute its fiber expansion strategy, deploying 27,000 new marketable fiber addresses in Q2 2025 and remaining on track to reach its goal of 150,000 new addresses for the year. The company also announced the appointment of Ken Dixon as the new CEO of TDS Telecom.
The presentation highlighted progress on the long-term fiber program, which aims to reach 1.8 million marketable fiber service addresses and have 80% of service addresses served by fiber:
The fiber expansion is driving growth in both the company’s footprint and residential connections:
This fiber deployment is also enabling faster broadband speeds for customers, with a growing percentage of connections at 1G+ speeds:
Financial Results & Outlook
TDS Telecom reported mixed financial results for Q2 2025, with total operating revenues of $265 million (down 1% year-over-year) and Adjusted EBITDA of $89 million (down 3% year-over-year). Capital expenditures increased 16% to $90 million as the company continued to invest in fiber expansion.
The company’s quarterly revenue breakdown shows growth in residential expansion and wholesale segments, offset by declines in other areas:
TDS has slightly adjusted its 2025 guidance for TDS Telecom, narrowing the revenue range to $1,030-$1,050 million (from the previous $1,030-$1,070 million) and adjusting the Adjusted EBITDA range to $320-$350 million (from $320-$360 million). Capital expenditure guidance remains unchanged at $375-$425 million.
Forward-Looking Statements
Looking ahead, TDS outlined several strategic priorities for 2025, including successfully closing the T-Mobile transaction (now completed), positioning the tower company for success, investing in fiber expansion at TDS Telecom, optimizing the post-transaction capital structure, and maintaining a strong corporate culture.
For the tower business specifically, priorities include closing pending spectrum transactions, opportunistically monetizing remaining spectrum (principally C-Band), ground lease optimization, and colocation growth.
The company faces challenges ahead, as evidenced by its Q1 2025 performance and the slight downward adjustment to its 2025 guidance. However, the successful closing of the T-Mobile transaction and ongoing fiber expansion provide a foundation for potential future growth as TDS completes its business transformation.
Full presentation:
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