Current Yield
29.99%
TTM Dividend/Share
$10.41
Payment Frequency
Quarterly
Payout Ratio
606.5%
Consecutive Growth Years
0
Key takeaways
- Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) currently yields 29.99%, paying $10.41 per share over the trailing twelve months, distributed quarterly.
- Payout ratio is 606.5% — the share of earnings distributed as dividends.
- 4 of 8 dividend safety checks passed.
- 5-year dividend CAGR of -25.13% (growth is decelerating).
Dividend yield valuation for Telephone and Data Systems (TDS)
Current dividend yield vs its own 1Y / 3Y / 5Y historical averages — a rough valuation signal.
Valuation zone | Above average — potential buy zone |
Current yield (now) | 29.99% |
1-year average yield | 1.86%now 28.13 pp above |
3-year average yield | 3.97%now 26.02 pp above |
5-year average yield | 5.93%now 24.06 pp above |
TDS: a yield above its history can signal value (or risk); below can signal a rich price. One valuation signal among many — review fundamentals before investing.
Dividend health for Telephone and Data Systems (TDS)
Cash-flow, leverage and returns metrics that signal whether the dividend is well-covered and sustainable.
Chowder score | 4.9% |
FCF payout ratio | 39.5% |
Net debt / EBITDA | -0.1x |
Interest coverage | -0.17x |
ROIC (TTM) | 3.7% |
Dividend safety score for Telephone and Data Systems (TDS)
Checks covering payout coverage, free-cash-flow support, leverage and dividend-growth durability.
4 of 8 checks passed
Payout ratio below 75%
Payout ratio is 606.5%, above the 75% threshold.
Free cash flow covers dividend
TTM FCF after dividends is $-31M — FCF does not fully cover the payout.
No dividend cuts in 10+ years
2 dividend cut(s) in the last 10 years.
Positive earnings growth trend
Earnings per share have grown over the past 5 years.
10+ years of consecutive growth
Only 0 consecutive year(s) of dividend growth.
FCF payout ratio below 70%
FCF payout ratio is 39.5%, below the 70% threshold.
Net Debt/EBITDA below 3x
Net Debt/EBITDA is -0.1x.
Dividend growth ≤ earnings growth (5Y)
Dividend growth (-25.1%) ≤ EPS growth (33.3%) — sustainable.
This analysis is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Safety scores and comparisons reflect historical data and do not predict future performance.
Per-payment dividend history
167 payments from 1985 to 2026 · Adj. Dividend is split-adjusted
| Jun 16, 2026 | Jun 30, 2026 | $0.0400 | $0.0400 |
| Mar 16, 2026 | Mar 31, 2026 | $0.0400 | $0.0400 |
| Jan 23, 2026 | Feb 2, 2026 | $10.2500 | $10.2500 |
| Dec 15, 2025 | Dec 30, 2025 | $0.0400 | $0.0400 |
| Sep 15, 2025 | Sep 30, 2025 | $0.0400 | $0.0400 |
| Jun 16, 2025 | Jun 30, 2025 | $0.0400 | $0.0400 |
| Mar 17, 2025 | Mar 31, 2025 | $0.0400 | $0.0400 |
| Dec 16, 2024 | Dec 31, 2024 | $0.0400 | $0.0400 |
| Sep 16, 2024 | Sep 30, 2024 | $0.0400 | $0.0400 |
| Jun 14, 2024 | Jun 28, 2024 | $0.0400 | $0.0400 |
| Mar 14, 2024 | Mar 28, 2024 | $0.1900 | $0.1900 |
| Dec 14, 2023 | Dec 29, 2023 | $0.1850 | $0.1850 |
- Jun 16, 2026$0.0400
- Mar 16, 2026$0.0400
- Jan 23, 2026$10.2500
- Dec 15, 2025$0.0400
- Sep 15, 2025$0.0400
- Jun 16, 2025$0.0400
- Mar 17, 2025$0.0400
- Dec 16, 2024$0.0400
- Sep 16, 2024$0.0400
- Jun 14, 2024$0.0400
- Mar 14, 2024$0.1900
- Dec 14, 2023$0.1850
Historical dividend yield for Telephone and Data Systems (TDS)
Mean trailing dividend yield using one ratio snapshot per calendar year.Mean yield1Y: 1.86%5Y: 5.93%10Y: 4.22%
Dividend per share for Telephone and Data Systems (TDS)
CAGR (per year)1Y: -48.39%5Y: -25.13%10Y: -11.84%↓ Decelerating
| Year | Total ($/share) | Payments |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | $0.15 | 4 |
| 1986 | $0.16 | 4 |
| 1987 | $0.11 | 4 |
| 1988 | $0.09 | 4 |
| 1989 | $0.12 | 4 |
| 1990 | $0.13 | 4 |
| 1991 | $0.14 | 4 |
| 1992 | $0.15 | 4 |
| 1993 | $0.16 | 4 |
| 1994 | $0.17 | 4 |
| 1995 | $0.18 | 4 |
| 1996 | $0.19 | 4 |
| 1997 | $0.20 | 4 |
| 1998 | $0.21 | 4 |
| 1999 | $0.22 | 4 |
| 2000 | $0.24 | 4 |
| 2001 | $0.25 | 4 |
| 2002 | $0.27 | 4 |
| 2003 | $0.29 | 4 |
| 2004 | $0.31 | 4 |
| 2005 | $0.33 | 4 |
| 2006 | $0.34 | 4 |
| 2007 | $0.36 | 4 |
| 2008 | $0.38 | 4 |
| 2009 | $0.40 | 4 |
| 2010 | $0.42 | 4 |
| 2011 | $0.43 | 4 |
| 2012 | $0.49 | 4 |
| 2013 | $0.51 | 4 |
| 2014 | $0.54 | 4 |
| 2015 | $0.56 | 4 |
| 2016 | $0.59 | 4 |
| 2017 | $0.62 | 4 |
| 2018 | $0.64 | 4 |
| 2019 | $0.66 | 4 |
| 2020 | $0.68 | 4 |
| 2021 | $0.70 | 4 |
| 2022 | $0.72 | 4 |
| 2023 | $0.74 | 4 |
| 2024 | $0.31 | 4 |
| 2025 | $0.16 | 4 |
| 2026 | $10.33 | 3 |
Dividend growth for Telephone and Data Systems (TDS)
Year-over-year change in total annual dividend per share (split-adjusted, by ex-dividend year). Green is an increase, red a cut.
The table shows 36 year-over-year increases across 41 calendar years of data (1985–2025).
Dividend Increase Track Record
Year-over-year change in total annual DPS (dividends per share, split-adjusted), based on ex-dividend date.
| 2026 | $0.1600 | — | — |
| 2025 | $0.3100 | $0.1600 | -48.4% |
| 2024 | $0.7400 | $0.3100 | -58.1% |
| 2023 | $0.7200 | $0.7400 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $0.7000 | $0.7200 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | $0.6800 | $0.7000 | +2.9% |
| 2020 | $0.6600 | $0.6800 | +3.0% |
| 2019 | $0.6400 | $0.6600 | +3.1% |
| 2018 | $0.6200 | $0.6400 | +3.2% |
| 2017 | $0.5920 | $0.6200 | +4.7% |
| 2016 | $0.5640 | $0.5920 | +5.0% |
| 2015 | $0.5360 | $0.5640 | +5.2% |
| 2014 | $0.5100 | $0.5360 | +5.1% |
| 2013 | $0.4895 | $0.5100 | +4.2% |
| 2012 | $0.4342 | $0.4895 | +12.7% |
| 2011 | $0.4158 | $0.4342 | +4.4% |
| 2010 | $0.3974 | $0.4158 | +4.6% |
| 2009 | $0.3790 | $0.3974 | +4.9% |
| 2008 | $0.3606 | $0.3790 | +5.1% |
| 2007 | $0.3422 | $0.3606 | +5.4% |
| 2006 | $0.3254 | $0.3422 | +5.2% |
| 2005 | $0.3112 | $0.3254 | +4.6% |
| 2004 | $0.2923 | $0.3112 | +6.5% |
| 2003 | $0.2735 | $0.2923 | +6.9% |
| 2002 | $0.2546 | $0.2735 | +7.4% |
| 2001 | $0.2357 | $0.2546 | +8.0% |
| 2000 | $0.2169 | $0.2357 | +8.7% |
| 1999 | $0.2075 | $0.2169 | +4.5% |
| 1998 | $0.1980 | $0.2075 | +4.8% |
| 1997 | $0.1886 | $0.1980 | +5.0% |
| 1996 | $0.1792 | $0.1886 | +5.3% |
| 1995 | $0.1697 | $0.1792 | +5.6% |
| 1994 | $0.1603 | $0.1697 | +5.9% |
| 1993 | $0.1509 | $0.1603 | +6.3% |
| 1992 | $0.1414 | $0.1509 | +6.7% |
| 1991 | $0.1320 | $0.1414 | +7.1% |
| 1990 | $0.1226 | $0.1320 | +7.7% |
| 1989 | $0.0943 | $0.1226 | +30.0% |
| 1988 | $0.1079 | $0.0943 | -12.6% |
| 1987 | $0.1628 | $0.1079 | -33.7% |
| 1986 | $0.1492 | $0.1628 | +9.1% |
| 1985 | — | $0.1492 | — |
- 2026—
- 2025$0.1600
- 2024$0.3100
- 2023$0.7400
- 2022$0.7200
- 2021$0.7000
- 2020$0.6800
- 2019$0.6600
- 2018$0.6400
- 2017$0.6200
- 2016$0.5920
- 2015$0.5640
- 2014$0.5360
- 2013$0.5100
- 2012$0.4895
- 2011$0.4342
- 2010$0.4158
- 2009$0.3974
- 2008$0.3790
- 2007$0.3606
- 2006$0.3422
- 2005$0.3254
- 2004$0.3112
- 2003$0.2923
- 2002$0.2735
- 2001$0.2546
- 2000$0.2357
- 1999$0.2169
- 1998$0.2075
- 1997$0.1980
- 1996$0.1886
- 1995$0.1792
- 1994$0.1697
- 1993$0.1603
- 1992$0.1509
- 1991$0.1414
- 1990$0.1320
- 1989$0.1226
- 1988$0.0943
- 1987$0.1079
- 1986$0.1628
- 1985$0.1492
DPS sums split-adjusted amounts (adj. dividend) by ex-dividend calendar year—the same basis as the Adj. Dividend column in Dividend Payment History. The Dividend column can differ after stock splits. This table uses four decimals per annual total so the Change column matches the shown amounts; each payment row in Dividend Payment History also uses four.
Frequently asked questions
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