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TDS (TDS) Q3 Earnings: How Key Metrics Compare to Wall Street Estimates

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For the quarter ended September 2025, Telephone & Data Systems (TDS - Free Report) reported revenue of $308.52 million, down 74.8% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.07, compared to $0.01 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of -23.31% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $402.31 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being -$0.06, the EPS surprise was +216.67%.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how TDS performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
  • TDS Telecom Residential connections - Broadband - Wireline, Incumbent: 225.5 thousand versus 228.87 thousand estimated by two analysts on average.
  • TDS Telecom Residential connections - Broadband - Wireline, Expansion: 150.7 thousand versus the two-analyst average estimate of 154.62 thousand.
  • TDS Telecom Residential connections - Broadband - Cable: 186.1 thousand versus the two-analyst average estimate of 186.41 thousand.
  • TDS Telecom Residential connections - Broadband - Total: 562.4 thousand versus the two-analyst average estimate of 569.9 thousand.
  • Operating Revenues- TDS Telecom- Service: $254.97 million versus $261.39 million estimated by three analysts on average.
  • Operating Revenues- TDS Telecom: $255.11 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $261.45 million.
  • Operating Revenues- All other: $6.29 million versus $5.46 million estimated by three analysts on average.
  • Operating Revenues- TDS Telecom- Service- Residential - Wireline, Expansion: $39.61 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $36.96 million.
  • Operating Revenues- TDS Telecom- Service- Residential - Cable: $60.23 million compared to the $62.29 million average estimate based on two analysts.
  • Revenues from contracts with customers- Total- Service - Residential: $181.75 million versus $185.57 million estimated by two analysts on average.
  • Revenues from contracts with customers- Total- Service - Commercial: $34.07 million compared to the $34.93 million average estimate based on two analysts.
  • Revenues from contracts with customers- Total- Service - Wholesale: $38.37 million versus $42.34 million estimated by two analysts on average.

View all Key Company Metrics for TDS here>>>

Shares of TDS have returned -1.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.3% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.

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