11/01/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/01/2024 05:41
2024 Estimated Results | ||
Previous | Current | |
(Dollars in millions) | ||
Service revenues | $2,950-$3,050 | $2,950-$3,000 |
Adjusted OIBDA1, 2 (Non-GAAP)
|
$750-$850 | $800-$875 |
Adjusted EBITDA1, 2 (Non-GAAP)
|
$920-$1,020 | $970-$1,045 |
Capital expenditures | $550-$650 | $550-$600 |
Actual Results | ||||
2024 Estimated Results2
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 |
Year Ended December 31, 2023 |
||
(Dollars in millions) | ||||
Net income (loss) (GAAP) | N/A | ($37) | $58 | |
Add back: | ||||
Income tax expense | N/A | 29 | 53 | |
Income (loss) before income taxes (GAAP) | $(35)-$40 | ($8) | $111 | |
Add back: | ||||
Interest expense | 180 | 137 | 196 | |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense | 665 | 499 | 656 | |
EBITDA (Non-GAAP)1
|
$810-$885 | $628 | $963 | |
Add back or deduct: | ||||
Expenses related to strategic alternatives review | - | 28 | 8 | |
Loss on impairment of licenses | 135 | 136 | - | |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net | 20 | 14 | 17 | |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net | 5 | 4 | (2) | |
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)1
|
$970-$1,045 | $810 | $986 | |
Deduct: | ||||
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities | 160 | 123 | 158 | |
Interest and dividend income | 10 | 9 | 10 | |
Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP)1
|
$800-$875 | $678 | $818 |
UnitedStates Cellular Corporation
|
||||||||||
Summary Operating Data (Unaudited) | ||||||||||
As of or for the Quarter Ended | 9/30/2024 | 6/30/2024 | 3/31/2024 | 12/31/2023 | 9/30/2023 | |||||
Retail Connections | ||||||||||
Postpaid | ||||||||||
Total at end of period1
|
3,999,000 | 4,027,000 | 4,051,000 | 4,106,000 | 4,159,000 | |||||
Gross additions | 123,000 | 117,000 | 106,000 | 129,000 | 128,000 | |||||
Handsets | 84,000 | 73,000 | 63,000 | 80,000 | 84,000 | |||||
Connected devices | 39,000 | 44,000 | 43,000 | 49,000 | 44,000 | |||||
Net additions (losses)1
|
(28,000) | (24,000) | (44,000) | (50,000) | (35,000) | |||||
Handsets | (28,000) | (29,000) | (47,000) | (53,000) | (38,000) | |||||
Connected devices | - | 5,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | |||||
ARPU2
|
$ | 52.04 | $ | 51.45 | $ | 51.96 | $ | 51.61 | $ | 51.11 |
ARPA3
|
$ | 131.81 | $ | 130.41 | $ | 132.00 | $ | 131.63 | $ | 130.91 |
Handset upgrade rate4
|
3.5 | % | 4.1 | % | 4.5 | % | 5.8 | % | 4.5 | % |
Churn rate5
|
1.25 | % | 1.16 | % | 1.22 | % | 1.44 | % | 1.30 | % |
Handsets | 1.07 | % | 0.97 | % | 1.03 | % | 1.22 | % | 1.11 | % |
Connected devices | 2.47 | % | 2.47 | % | 2.52 | % | 3.03 | % | 2.64 | % |
Prepaid | ||||||||||
Total at end of period1
|
452,000 | 439,000 | 436,000 | 451,000 | 462,000 | |||||
Gross additions | 57,000 | 50,000 | 41,000 | 43,000 | 52,000 | |||||
Net additions (losses)1
|
13,000 | 3,000 | (13,000) | (11,000) | - | |||||
ARPU2, 6
|
$ | 32.01 | $ | 32.37 | $ | 32.25 | $ | 32.32 | $ | 33.44 |
Churn rate5
|
3.30 | % | 3.60 | % | 4.06 | % | 3.87 | % | 3.68 | % |
Market penetration at end of period | ||||||||||
Consolidated operating population | 32,550,000 | 32,550,000 | 32,550,000 | 32,350,000 | 32,350,000 | |||||
Consolidated operating penetration7
|
15 | % | 15 | % | 14 | % | 15 | % | 15 | % |
Capital expenditures (millions) | $ | 120 | $ | 165 | $ | 131 | $ | 148 | $ | 111 |
Total cell sites in service | 7,007 | 6,990 | 6,995 | 7,000 | 6,973 | |||||
Owned towers | 4,407 | 4,388 | 4,382 | 4,373 | 4,356 | |||||
Number of colocations8
|
2,418 | 2,392 | 2,397 | 2,390 | 2,406 | |||||
Tower tenancy rate9
|
1.55 | 1.55 | 1.55 | 1.55 | 1.55 |
United States Cellular Corporation | ||||||||||||
Consolidated Statement of Operations Highlights | ||||||||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||
2024 | 2023 |
2024 vs. 2023 |
2024 | 2023 |
2024 vs. 2023 |
|||||||
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts) | ||||||||||||
Operating revenues | ||||||||||||
Service | $ | 747 | $ | 762 | (2) | % | $ | 2,245 | $ | 2,289 | (2) | % |
Equipment sales | 175 | 201 | (13) | % | 554 | 617 | (10) | % | ||||
Total operating revenues | 922 | 963 | (4) | % | 2,799 | 2,906 | (4) | % | ||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||||||
System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) | 180 | 185 | (2) | % | 542 | 557 | (3) | % | ||||
Cost of equipment sold | 203 | 228 | (11) | % | 630 | 708 | (11) | % | ||||
Selling, general and administrative | 324 | 333 | (3) | % | 977 | 1,020 | (4) | % | ||||
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 167 | 159 | 5 | % | 499 | 490 | 2 | % | ||||
Loss on impairment of licenses | 136 | - | N/M | 136 | - | N/M | ||||||
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net | 4 | 1 | N/M | 14 | 14 | 4 | % | |||||
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net | (2) | - | N/M | 4 | - | N/M | ||||||
Total operating expenses | 1,012 | 906 | 12 | % | 2,802 | 2,789 | - | |||||
Operating income (loss) | (90) | 57 | N/M | (3) | 117 | N/M | ||||||
Investment and other income (expense) | ||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities | 43 | 40 | 9 | % | 123 | 121 | 2 | % | ||||
Interest and dividend income | 4 | 3 | 28 | % | 9 | 8 | 17 | % | ||||
Interest expense | (49) | (50) | 2 | % | (137) | (147) | 6 | % | ||||
Total investment and other expense | (2) | (7) | 80 | % | (5) | (18) | 68 | % | ||||
Income (loss) before income taxes | (92) | 50 | N/M | (8) | 99 | N/M | ||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | (14) | 27 | N/M | 29 | 56 | (50) | % | |||||
Net income (loss) | (78) | 23 | N/M | (37) | 43 | N/M | ||||||
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax | 1 | - | (19) | % | 7 | 3 | N/M | |||||
Net income (loss) attributable to UScellular shareholders | $ | (79) | $ | 23 | N/M | $ | (44) | $ | 40 | N/M | ||
Basic weighted average shares outstanding | 86 | 85 | 1 | % | 86 | 85 | 1 | % | ||||
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to UScellular shareholders | $ | (0.92) | $ | 0.26 | N/M | $ | (0.51) | $ | 0.47 | N/M | ||
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding | 86 | 86 | (1) | % | 86 | 86 | (1) | % | ||||
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to UScellular shareholders | $ | (0.92) | $ | 0.26 | N/M | $ | (0.51) | $ | 0.47 | N/M |
United States Cellular Corporation | ||||
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows | ||||
(Unaudited) | ||||
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||
2024 | 2023 | |||
(Dollars in millions) | ||||
Cash flows from operating activities | ||||
Net income (loss) | $ | (37) | $ | 43 |
Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities | ||||
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 499 | 490 | ||
Bad debts expense | 65 | 72 | ||
Stock-based compensation expense | 37 | 14 | ||
Deferred income taxes, net | (35) | 41 | ||
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities | (123) | (121) | ||
Distributions from unconsolidated entities | 106 | 97 | ||
Loss on impairment of licenses | 136 | - | ||
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net | 14 | 14 | ||
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net | 4 | - | ||
Other operating activities | 3 | 4 | ||
Changes in assets and liabilities from operations | ||||
Accounts receivable | 30 | 30 | ||
Equipment installment plans receivable | 12 | 20 | ||
Inventory | 38 | 86 | ||
Accounts payable | 12 | (39) | ||
Customer deposits and deferred revenues | (4) | (16) | ||
Accrued taxes | 46 | 12 | ||
Accrued interest | 8 | 7 | ||
Other assets and liabilities | (50) | (35) | ||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 761 | 719 | ||
Cash flows from investing activities | ||||
Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment | (399) | (454) | ||
Cash paid for licenses | (17) | (24) | ||
Other investing activities | 1 | 14 | ||
Net cash used in investing activities | (415) | (464) | ||
Cash flows from financing activities | ||||
Issuance of long-term debt | 40 | 115 | ||
Repayment of long-term debt | (203) | (395) | ||
Repayment of short-term debt | - | (60) | ||
Tax payments for stock-based compensation awards | (11) | (6) | ||
Repurchase of Common Shares | (26) | - | ||
Distributions to noncontrolling interests | (4) | (2) | ||
Cash paid for software license agreements | (31) | (28) | ||
Other financing activities | (2) | (2) | ||
Net cash used in financing activities | (237) | (378) | ||
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | 109 | (123) | ||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | ||||
Beginning of period | 179 | 308 | ||
End of period | $ | 288 | $ | 185 |
United States CellularCorporation
|
||||
Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights | ||||
(Unaudited) | ||||
ASSETS | ||||
September 30, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||
(Dollars in millions) | ||||
Current assets | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 272 | $ | 150 |
Accounts receivable, net | 918 | 957 | ||
Inventory, net | 161 | 199 | ||
Prepaid expenses | 55 | 57 | ||
Income taxes receivable | - | 1 | ||
Other current assets | 21 | 36 | ||
Total current assets | 1,427 | 1,400 | ||
Assets held for sale | - | 15 | ||
Licenses | 4,576 | 4,693 | ||
Investments in unconsolidated entities | 478 | 461 | ||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 2,504 | 2,576 | ||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 912 | 915 | ||
Other assets and deferred charges | 619 | 690 | ||
Total assets | $ | 10,516 | $ | 10,750 |
United States Cellular Corporation | ||||
Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights | ||||
(Unaudited) | ||||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | ||||
September 30, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) | ||||
Current liabilities | ||||
Current portion of long-term debt | $ | 20 | $ | 20 |
Accounts payable | 272 | 248 | ||
Customer deposits and deferred revenues | 225 | 229 | ||
Accrued taxes | 63 | 32 | ||
Accrued compensation | 66 | 83 | ||
Short-term operating lease liabilities | 139 | 135 | ||
Other current liabilities | 124 | 154 | ||
Total current liabilities | 909 | 901 | ||
Deferred liabilities and credits | ||||
Deferred income tax liability, net | 719 | 755 | ||
Long-term operating lease liabilities | 813 | 831 | ||
Other deferred liabilities and credits | 579 | 565 | ||
Long-term debt, net | 2,882 | 3,044 | ||
Noncontrollinginterests with redemption features
|
16 | 12 | ||
Equity | ||||
UScellular shareholders' equity | ||||
Series A Common and Common Shares, par value $1.00 per share | 88 | 88 | ||
Additional paid-in capital | 1,764 | 1,726 | ||
Treasury shares | (83) | (80) | ||
Retained earnings | 2,813 | 2,892 | ||
Total UScellular shareholders' equity | 4,582 | 4,626 | ||
Noncontrolling interests | 16 | 16 | ||
Total equity | 4,598 | 4,642 | ||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 10,516 | $ | 10,750 |
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||
UScellular | 2024 | 2023 |
2024 vs. 2023 |
2024 | 2023 |
2024 vs. 2023 |
||||||
(Dollars in millions) | ||||||||||||
Operating Revenues | ||||||||||||
Wireless | $ | 896 | $ | 938 | (4) | % | $ | 2,722 | $ | 2,831 | (4) | % |
Towers | 59 | 57 | 2 | % | 175 | 170 | 3 | % | ||||
Intra-company eliminations | (33) | (32) | (3) | % | (98) | (95) | (3) | % | ||||
Total operating revenues | 922 | 963 | (4) | % | 2,799 | 2,906 | (4) | % | ||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||||||
Wireless | 1,005 | 900 | 12 | % | 2,784 | 2,770 | 1 | % | ||||
Towers | 40 | 38 | 4 | % | 116 | 114 | 1 | % | ||||
Intra-company eliminations | (33) | (32) | (3) | % | (98) | (95) | (3) | % | ||||
Total operating expenses | 1,012 | 906 | 12 | % | 2,802 | 2,789 | - | |||||
Operating income (loss) | $ | (90) | $ | 57 | N/M | $ | (3) | $ | 117 | N/M | ||
Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP) | $ | 222 | $ | 220 | 1 | % | $ | 678 | $ | 624 | 9 | % |
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) | $ | 269 | $ | 263 | 3 | % | $ | 810 | $ | 753 | 8 | % |
Capital expenditures | $ | 120 | $ | 111 | 8 | % | $ | 415 | $ | 462 | (10) | % |
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||
UScellular Wireless | 2024 | 2023 |
2024 vs. 2023 |
2024 | 2023 |
2024 vs. 2023 |
||||||
(Dollars in millions) | ||||||||||||
Retail service | $ | 669 | $ | 687 | (3) | % | $ | 2,014 | $ | 2,065 | (2) | % |
Other | 52 | 50 | 5 | % | 154 | 149 | 4 | % | ||||
Service revenues | 721 | 737 | (2) | % | 2,168 | 2,214 | (2) | % | ||||
Equipment sales | 175 | 201 | (13) | % | 554 | 617 | (10) | % | ||||
Total operating revenues | 896 | 938 | (4) | % | 2,722 | 2,831 | (4) | % | ||||
System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) | 193 | 199 | (3) | % | 582 | 597 | (2) | % | ||||
Cost of equipment sold | 203 | 228 | (11) | % | 630 | 708 | (11) | % | ||||
Selling, general and administrative | 316 | 324 | (3) | % | 953 | 995 | (4) | % | ||||
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 155 | 148 | 5 | % | 466 | 456 | 2 | % | ||||
Loss on impairment of licenses | 136 | - | N/M | 136 | - | N/M | ||||||
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net | 4 | 1 | N/M | 13 | 14 | (1) | % | |||||
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net | (2) | - | N/M | 4 | - | N/M | ||||||
Total operating expenses | 1,005 | 900 | 12 | % | 2,784 | 2,770 | 1 | % | ||||
Operating income (loss) | $ | (109) | $ | 38 | N/M | $ | (62) | $ | 61 | N/M | ||
Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP) | $ | 191 | $ | 190 | 1 | % | $ | 583 | $ | 534 | 9 | % |
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) | $ | 191 | $ | 190 | 1 | % | $ | 583 | $ | 534 | 9 | % |
Capital expenditures | $ | 114 | $ | 106 | 7 | % | $ | 400 | $ | 452 | (12) | % |
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||
UScellular Towers | 2024 | 2023 |
2024 vs. 2023 |
2024 | 2023 |
2024 vs. 2023 |
||||||
(Dollars in millions) | ||||||||||||
Third-party revenues | $ | 26 | $ | 25 | 1 | % | $ | 77 | $ | 75 | 2 | % |
Intra-company revenues | 33 | 32 | 3 | % | 98 | 95 | 3 | % | ||||
Total tower revenues | 59 | 57 | 2 | % | 175 | 170 | 3 | % | ||||
System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) | 20 | 18 | 10 | % | 58 | 55 | 4 | % | ||||
Selling, general and administrative | 8 | 9 | (14) | % | 24 | 25 | (7) | % | ||||
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 12 | 11 | 7 | % | 33 | 34 | (1) | % | ||||
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net | - | - | N/M | 1 | - | N/M | ||||||
Total operating expenses | 40 | 38 | 4 | % | 116 | 114 | 1 | % | ||||
Operating income | $ | 19 | $ | 19 | (1) | % | $ | 59 | $ | 56 | 7 | % |
Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP) | $ | 31 | $ | 30 | 3 | % | $ | 95 | $ | 90 | 6 | % |
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) | $ | 31 | $ | 30 | 3 | % | $ | 95 | $ | 90 | 6 | % |
Capital expenditures | $ | 6 | $ | 5 | 33 | % | $ | 15 | $ | 10 | 61 | % |
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||
UScellular | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
(Dollars in millions) | ||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities (GAAP) | $ | 245 | $ | 329 | $ | 761 | $ | 719 |
Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment | (129) | (103) | (399) | (454) | ||||
Cash paid for software license agreements | (11) | (9) | (31) | (28) | ||||
Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)1
|
$ | 105 | $ | 217 | $ | 331 | $ | 237 |
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
(Dollars in millions) | ||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to UScellular shareholders (GAAP) | $ | (79) | $ | 23 | $ | (44) | $ | 40 |
Adjustments: | ||||||||
Loss on impairment of licenses | 136 | - | 136 | - | ||||
Deferred tax benefit on the tax-amortizable portion of the impaired licenses | (34) | - | (34) | - | ||||
Subtotal of Non-GAAP adjustments | 102 | - | 102 | - | ||||
Net income attributable to UScellular shareholders excluding licenses impairment charge (Non-GAAP) | $ | 23 | $ | 23 | $ | 58 | $ | 40 |
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding used for diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to UScellular shareholders | 86 | 86 | 86 | 86 | ||||
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding used for diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to UScellular shareholders excluding licenses impairment charge | 88 | 86 | 88 | 86 | ||||
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to UScellular shareholders (GAAP) | $ | (0.92) | $ | 0.26 | $ | (0.51) | $ | 0.47 |
Adjustments: | ||||||||
Loss on impairment of licenses | 1.56 | - | 1.55 | - | ||||
Deferred tax benefit on the tax-amortizable portion of the impaired licenses | (0.38) | - | (0.38) | - | ||||
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to UScellular shareholders excluding licenses impairment charge (Non-GAAP) | $ | 0.26 | $ | 0.26 | $ | 0.66 | $ | 0.47 |