Telephone And Data Systems Inc. Stock Upgraded (TDS)

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from hold to buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• TDS's revenue growth has slightly outpaced the industry average of 3.2%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly increased by 3.4%. This growth in revenue does not appear to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, displayed by a decline in earnings per share.
• The current debt-to-equity ratio, 0.38, is low and is below the industry average, implying that there has been successful management of debt levels. To add to this, TDS has a quick ratio of 1.65, which demonstrates the ability of the company to cover short-term liquidity needs.
• The gross profit margin for TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC is rather high; currently it is at 56.20%. Regardless of TDS's high profit margin, it has managed to decrease from the same period last year. Despite the mixed results of the gross profit margin, TDS's net profit margin of 2.12% is significantly lower than the industry average.
• TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC has exprienced a steep decline in earnings per share in the most recent quarter in comparison to its performance from the same quarter a year ago. This company has reported somewhat volatile earnings recently. We feel it is likely to report a decline in earnings in the coming year. During the past fiscal year, TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC increased its bottom line by earning $1.68 versus $1.26 in the prior year. For the next year, the market is expecting a contraction of 31.7% in earnings ($1.15 versus $1.68).
• The company, on the basis of change in net income from the same quarter one year ago, has significantly underperformed against the S&P 500 and did not exceed that of the Wireless Telecommunication Services industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 59.1% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from $71.29 million to $29.12 million.

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Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., a diversified telecommunications service company, provides wireless and wireline telecommunications services in the United States. The company has a P/E ratio of 23.9, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Telephone and Data Systems has a market cap of $2.6 billion and is part of the technology sector and telecommunications industry. Shares are up 15.5% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.

You can view the full Telephone and Data Systems Ratings Report or get investment ideas from our investment research center.

-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

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For more information on Telephone and Data Systems Inc. click any of the following:

• Telephone and Data Systems Inc. Stock Price

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• Telephone and Data Systems Inc. Earnings

• Telephone and Data Systems Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Telephone and Data Systems Inc. Growth Rates

• Telephone and Data Systems Inc. Balance Sheet

• Telephone and Data Systems Inc. Cash Flow

• Telephone and Data Systems Inc. Income Statement