TDS (Telephone and Data Systems) FCF Margin %: -26.36% (As of Mar. 2026)


TDS Telephone and Data Systems Inc TDS
64 GF Score
Price $37.01
GF Value $32.81
Valuation Modestly Overvalued
! 5 Warning Signs
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What is Telephone and Data Systems FCF Margin %?

Telephone and Data Systems TDS -2.27% 64 FCF Margin % is -26.36% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus rates TDS with a GF Score™ of 64/100 and a GF Value™ of $32.81 (Modestly Overvalued). The stock has 5 warning signs investors should review. Among 364 Telecommunication Services companies, Telephone and Data Systems ranks worse than 69.51% on this metric.

FCF Margin % is calculated as Free Cash Flow divided by its Revenue. Telephone and Data Systems's Free Cash Flow for the three months ended in Mar. 2026 was $-82 Mil. Telephone and Data Systems's Revenue for the three months ended in Mar. 2026 was $309 Mil. Therefore, Telephone and Data Systems's FCF Margin % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was -26.36%.

As of today, Telephone and Data Systems's current FCF Yield % is -0.13%.

The historical rank and industry rank for Telephone and Data Systems's FCF Margin % or its related term are showing as below:

TDS' s FCF Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -25.45   Med: 2.99   Max: 58.69
Current: -0.26


During the past 13 years, the highest FCF Margin % of Telephone and Data Systems was 58.69%. The lowest was -25.45%. And the median was 2.99%.

TDS's FCF Margin % is ranked worse than
69.51% of 364 companies
in the Telecommunication Services industry
Industry Median: 8.37 vs TDS: -0.26


Telephone and Data Systems FCF Margin % Related Terms


Telephone and Data Systems FCF Margin % Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for Telephone and Data Systems's FCF Margin % can be seen below:

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

Telephone and Data Systems FCF Margin % Chart

Telephone and Data Systems Annual Data
Trend Dec16 Dec17 Dec18 Dec19 Dec20 Dec21 Dec22 Dec23 Dec24 Dec25
FCF Margin %
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -25.45 -11.45 27.27 58.69 15.89

Telephone and Data Systems Quarterly Data
Jun21 Sep21 Dec21 Mar22 Jun22 Sep22 Dec22 Mar23 Jun23 Sep23 Dec23 Mar24 Jun24 Sep24 Dec24 Mar25 Jun25 Sep25 Dec25 Mar26
FCF Margin % Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 41.02 16.68 -4.19 -32.93 -26.36

TDS vs LBRDA, IRDM, LBTYA: FCF Margin % Comparison

For the Telecom Services subindustry, Telephone and Data Systems's FCF Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and FCF Margin % data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


Telephone and Data Systems FCF Margin % vs Telecommunication Services Industry

For the Telecommunication Services industry and Communication Services sector, Telephone and Data Systems's FCF Margin % distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Telephone and Data Systems's FCF Margin % falls into.


TDS
64GF Score
Telephone and Data Systems Inc TDS
FCF Margin % is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Telephone and Data Systems FCF Margin % Calculation

FCF margin is the ratio of Free Cash Flow divided by net sales or Revenue, usually presented in percent.

Telephone and Data Systems's FCF Margin for the fiscal year that ended in Dec. 2025 is calculated as

FCF Margin=Free Cash Flow (A: Dec. 2025 )/Revenue (A: Dec. 2025 )
=195.185/1228.207
=15.89 %

Telephone and Data Systems's FCF Margin for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 is calculated as

FCF Margin=Free Cash Flow (Q: Mar. 2026 )/Revenue (Q: Mar. 2026 )
=-81.58/309.45
=-26.36 %

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about FCF Margin % →
What does a FCF Margin % of -26.36% mean?
Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) has a FCF Margin % of -26.36% as of Mar. 2026. Free cash flow margin is the ratio of total free cash flow to net sales. View historical data on Telephone and Data Systems and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Telephone and Data Systems ranks #253 out of 364 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry, placing it in the top 69.5%.
Is Telephone and Data Systems' FCF Margin % too high?
Telephone and Data Systems' current FCF Margin % is -26.36%. Based on the distribution chart, Telephone and Data Systems ranks #253 out of 364 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, Telephone and Data Systems has a GF Score™ of 64/100 and is considered Modestly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Telephone and Data Systems' FCF Margin % compare to LBRDA and IRDM?
According to the Telecommunication Services industry distribution chart, Telephone and Data Systems ranks #253 out of 364 companies for FCF Margin %. This places Telephone and Data Systems in the lower half of its industry. The industry median FCF Margin % is 8.37. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good FCF Margin % for a Telecommunication Services company?
The median FCF Margin % among Telecommunication Services companies is 8.37, based on 364 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a FCF Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, FCF Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high FCF Margin % mean?
A high FCF Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Free cash flow margin is the ratio of total free cash flow to net sales. View historical data on Telephone and Data Systems and its competitors. For the Telecommunication Services industry, the median FCF Margin % is 8.37 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Telephone and Data Systems's current FCF Margin % is -26.36%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Telephone and Data Systems stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) is currently considered Modestly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $32.81, compared to a current price of $37.01 — trading 12.8% above its estimated fair value. The current FCF Margin % is -26.36%. Telephone and Data Systems' overall GF Score™ is 64/100 with 5 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is FCF Margin % calculated?
FCF Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Telephone and Data Systems (TDS), the current FCF Margin % is -26.36% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Telephone and Data Systems stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of $37.01 is trading 12.8% above its estimated GF Value™ of $32.81. GuruFocus considers Telephone and Data Systems to be Modestly Overvalued.

Key valuation signals for TDS:

  • FCF Margin %: -26.36%
  • GF Value™: $32.81 vs. price of $37.01 (12.8% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 64/100 with 5 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the TDS stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Telephone and Data Systems Business Description

Other Exchanges TDSpU.PFD:USA
Address 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 4000, Chicago, IL, USA, 60602
Telephone and Data Systems Inc is a diversified telecommunications operator that provides communications services to customers through broadband, video, voice, and wireless connections. The company has two reportable segments: TDS Telecom and Array. The majority of its revenue is generated from the TDS Telecom segment, which generates revenue by providing broadband, video, voice, and wireless services. The Array segment generates its revenue mainly by leasing tower space on Array-owned towers to customers.
64GF Score

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FCF Margin % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$37.01
Price
$32.81
GF Value