Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) Dividend History & Yield
Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) has increased its dividend for multiple years and currently yields 26.49%. The most recent dividend was $0.0400/share on Mar 31, 2026, paid Quarterly.
Current Yield
26.49%
TTM Dividend/Share
$10.41
Payment Frequency
Quarterly
Payout Ratio
606.5%
Consecutive Growth Years
0
Div Growth (1Y CAGR)
-48.39%
Div Growth (5Y CAGR)
-25.13%
Div Growth (10Y CAGR)
-11.84%
TDS: compare the "Now" marker to the 1Y / 3Y / 5Y averages on the scale. One valuation signal among many — review fundamentals before investing.
Dividend health
Chowder score
1.4%
FCF payout ratio
39.5%
Net debt / EBITDA
-0.2x
Interest coverage
-0.17x
ROIC (TTM)
3.6%
Dividend Safety Score
4 out of 8 checks passed
Payout ratio below 75%
Payout ratio is 606.5%, above the 75% threshold.
Free cash flow covers dividend
FCF/share ($1.69) does not fully cover dividend/share ($10.41).
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 -0.2x.
Dividend growth ≤ earnings growth (5Y)
Dividend growth (-25.1%) ≤ EPS growth (42.6%) — sustainable.
Per-payment dividend history
Ex-date Mar 16, 2026
- Payment date
- Mar 31, 2026
- Dividend
- $0.0400
- Adj. dividend
- $0.0400
Ex-date Jan 23, 2026
- Payment date
- Feb 2, 2026
- Dividend
- $10.2500
- Adj. dividend
- $10.2500
Ex-date Dec 15, 2025
- Payment date
- Dec 30, 2025
- Dividend
- $0.0400
- Adj. dividend
- $0.0400
Ex-date Sep 15, 2025
- Payment date
- Sep 30, 2025
- Dividend
- $0.0400
- Adj. dividend
- $0.0400
Ex-date Jun 16, 2025
- Payment date
- Jun 30, 2025
- Dividend
- $0.0400
- Adj. dividend
- $0.0400
Ex-date Mar 17, 2025
- Payment date
- Mar 31, 2025
- Dividend
- $0.0400
- Adj. dividend
- $0.0400
Ex-date Dec 16, 2024
- Payment date
- Dec 31, 2024
- Dividend
- $0.0400
- Adj. dividend
- $0.0400
Ex-date Sep 16, 2024
- Payment date
- Sep 30, 2024
- Dividend
- $0.0400
- Adj. dividend
- $0.0400
Ex-date Jun 14, 2024
- Payment date
- Jun 28, 2024
- Dividend
- $0.0400
- Adj. dividend
- $0.0400
Ex-date Mar 14, 2024
- Payment date
- Mar 28, 2024
- Dividend
- $0.1900
- Adj. dividend
- $0.1900
Ex-date Dec 14, 2023
- Payment date
- Dec 29, 2023
- Dividend
- $0.1850
- Adj. dividend
- $0.1850
Ex-date Sep 14, 2023
- Payment date
- Sep 29, 2023
- Dividend
- $0.1850
- Adj. dividend
- $0.1850
| Ex-Date | Payment Date | Dividend | Adj. Dividend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Sep 14, 2023 | Sep 29, 2023 | $0.1850 | $0.1850 |
Historical Dividend Yield
Dividend Growth
Dividend Increase Track Record
The table shows 36 year-over-year increases across 41 calendar years of data (1985–2025).
| Year | Previous DPS | New DPS | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | — |
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.
Cash dividends paid (USD) — TTM and history
Trailing-twelve-month and annual common dividends paid for Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) from the consolidated cash flow statement, in USD as filed.
Latest period
$87.53M
YoY change
-15.7%
5Y CAGR
+2.4%
Peak year (2023)
$153.00M
Latest annual
$87.67M
Cash dividends paid over time for Telephone and Data Systems (TDS)
Per-period cash dividends paid
Cash dividends paid annual + quarterly history for Telephone and Data Systems (TDS)
| Fiscal year | Period ended | Reported | Dividends Paid | YoY | YoY change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $87.67M | -15.7% | -$16.33M | ||
| 2024 | $104.00M | -32.0% | -$49.00M | ||
| 2023 | $153.00M | +1.3% | +$2.00M | ||
| 2022 | $151.00M | +26.9% | +$32.00M | ||
| 2021 | $119.00M | +52.6% | +$41.00M | ||
| 2020 | $78.00M | +4.0% | +$3.00M | ||
| 2019 | $75.00M | +4.2% | +$3.00M | ||
| 2018 | $72.00M | +4.3% | +$3.00M | ||
| 2017 | $69.00M | +6.2% | +$4.00M | ||
| 2016 | $65.00M | +6.2% | +$3.78M | ||
| 2015 | $61.22M | +5.5% | +$3.18M | ||
| 2014 | $58.04M | +5.0% | +$2.75M | ||
| 2013 | $55.29M | +4.0% | +$2.13M | ||
| 2012 | $53.16M | +9.2% | +$4.50M | ||
| 2011 | $48.67M | +3.1% | +$1.47M | ||
| 2010 | $47.20M | +1.0% | +$455,000 | ||
| 2009 | $46.75M | -1.1% | -$521,000 | ||
| 2008 | $47.27M | +3.3% | +$1.49M | ||
| 2007 | $45.78M | +6.8% | +$2.90M | ||
| 2006 | $42.88M | +6.2% | +$2.50M | ||
| 2005 | $40.37M | +6.1% | +$2.33M | ||
| 2004 | $38.05M | +5.1% | +$1.85M | ||
| 2003 | $36.19M | +5.1% | +$1.75M | ||
| 2002 | $34.45M | +7.2% | +$2.30M | ||
| 2001 | $32.14M | +5.5% | +$1.67M | ||
| 2000 | $30.47M | +3.6% | +$1.07M | ||
| 1999 | $29.40M | +3.2% | +$900,000 | ||
| 1998 | $28.50M | +4.8% | +$1.30M | ||
| 1997 | $27.20M | +3.8% | +$1.00M | ||
| 1996 | $26.20M | +9.2% | +$2.20M | ||
| 1995 | $24.00M | +14.8% | +$3.10M | ||
| 1994 | $20.90M | +17.4% | +$3.10M | ||
| 1993 | $17.80M | +28.1% | +$3.90M | ||
| 1992 | $13.90M | +23.0% | +$2.60M | ||
| 1991 | $11.30M | -3.4% | -$400,000 | ||
| 1990 | $11.70M | +62.5% | +$4.50M | ||
| 1989 | $7.20M | — | — |
In 2025, Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) dividends paid totalled $87.67M – declined 15.7% year-over-year.
Over 2020–2025 (5 years), Telephone and Data Systems dividends paid expanded at a +2.4% compound annual rate, with the latest reading among the more recent periods of the dataset.
Between 2023 and 2025, Telephone and Data Systems dividends paid plunged 42.7%, falling from $153.00M to $87.67M.
Across the available history, dividends paid reached its high of $153.00M in 2023 and its low of $7.20M in 1989.
Among 8 Communication Services peers, Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) ranks 7th; the peer median for dividends paid is $4.72B.
Telephone and Data Systems Dividends Paid 2025: $87.67M
Telephone and Data Systems dividends paid in 2025 was $87.67M, declined 15.7% below 2024.
Telephone and Data Systems Dividends Paid 2024: $104.00M
Telephone and Data Systems dividends paid in 2024 was $104.00M, plunged 32.0% below 2023.
Telephone and Data Systems Dividends Paid 2023: $153.00M
Telephone and Data Systems dividends paid in 2023 was $153.00M, edged up 1.3% from 2022. This figure represents the highest annual value in the available history.
Telephone and Data Systems Dividends Paid 2022: $151.00M
Telephone and Data Systems dividends paid in 2022 was $151.00M, grew 26.9% from 2021.
Telephone and Data Systems Dividends Paid 2021: $119.00M
Telephone and Data Systems dividends paid in 2021 was $119.00M.
See more financial history for Telephone and Data Systems (TDS).
Sector peers by dividends paid
Companies in the same sector as Telephone and Data Systems, ranked by their latest dividends paid.
| Company | Dividends Paid | Sector |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon (VZ) | $11.48B | Communication Services |
| Alphabet (GOOGL) | $10.05B | Communication Services |
| AT&T (T) | $8.18B | Communication Services |
| Meta (META) | $5.32B | Communication Services |
| T-Mobile US (TMUS) | $4.12B | Communication Services |
| Walt Disney (DIS) | $1.80B | Communication Services |
| Netflix (NFLX) | $0 | Communication Services |
| Spotify (SPOT) | $0 | Communication Services |
Frequently asked questions
Does Telephone and Data Systems pay dividends?
Yes, Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) pays quarterly dividends of approximately $10.41 per share annually, yielding 26.49%.
What is Telephone and Data Systems's dividend yield?
Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) has a current dividend yield of 26.49%.
Is Telephone and Data Systems's dividend safe?
Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) passes 4 out of 8 dividend safety checks. See the detailed breakdown above for each criterion.
Is Telephone and Data Systems a yield trap?
Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) shows 4 warning signals: Current yield is more than 2x the 5-year average; Payout ratio exceeds 90%; Dividend growth rate declining for multiple years; Dividends declining for 3+ consecutive years. Investors should review fundamentals carefully.
How many consecutive years has Telephone and Data Systems increased its dividend?
Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) has 0 consecutive years of dividend increases.
What is Telephone and Data Systems's dividend payout ratio?
Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) has a dividend payout ratio of 606.5%. Trailing twelve months (GAAP): adjusted dividends over roughly 12 months aligned with the latest reported quarter, divided by the sum of diluted EPS from the last four fiscal quarters (not NII or taxable income for BDCs/REITs).
What is Telephone and Data Systems's dividends paid?
Latest reported dividends paid for Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) is $87.53M (period ending March 31, 2026).
How has Telephone and Data Systems dividends paid changed year-over-year?
Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) dividends paid changed -15.7% year-over-year on the latest annual filing.
What is the long-term growth rate of Telephone and Data Systems dividends paid?
Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) dividends paid compound annual growth rate is +2.4% over the most recent 5 years available.
When did Telephone and Data Systems dividends paid hit its highest annual value?
Telephone and Data Systems dividends paid reached its highest annual value of $153.00M in 2023.
What was Telephone and Data Systems dividends paid in 2024?
Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) dividends paid in 2024 was $104.00M.
What was Telephone and Data Systems dividends paid in 2025?
Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) dividends paid in 2025 was $87.67M.
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