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8-K - 8-K - UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPusmq220208-kearningsre.htm


Exhibit 99.1   NEWS RELEASE
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As previously announced, U.S. Cellular will hold a teleconference August 7, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. CDT. Listen to the call live via the Events & Presentations page of investors.uscellular.com.
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. Cellular reports second quarter 2020 results
Network modernization strategy is delivering enhanced network performance

 
CHICAGO (August 6, 2020) — United States Cellular Corporation (NYSE:USM) reported total operating revenues of $973 million for the second quarter of 2020, which is equal to the same period one year ago. Service revenues totaled $753 million, which is down 1% compared to the same period a year ago. Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders and related diluted earnings per share were $68 million and $0.78, respectively, for the second quarter of 2020 compared to $31 million and $0.35, respectively, in the same period one year ago.
"My first month at U.S. Cellular has been full of learning and listening - a seamless and effective transition," said Laurent C. Therivel. "I want to thank Ken Meyers for providing sound advice and counsel. Over the past few weeks, I have traveled to various locations and met with many of our associates (in the safest manner possible). I am inspired by our customer-centric culture and high levels of engagement, and I'm inspired by the flexibility and resiliency our associates have displayed throughout this pandemic. It is clear to me that our competitive advantage rests on our focus on the customer and our high-quality network. Our network strength was recently recognized, with U.S. Cellular ranking #1 in the North Central Region in the J.D. Power 2020 Wireless Network Quality Performance Study - Volume 2, making this the 7th time since 2016 that U.S. Cellular has received an award. This recognition validates that our network modernization strategy is working.
"Many aspects of our second quarter performance were impacted by the pandemic yet we were able to generate very solid results. Churn was exceptionally low, offsetting less store traffic, and we saw an increase in smartphone connections. We continued our network investment programs, deploying 5G to additional markets and maintaining the quality of our network despite increasing demand for data. The leadership team and I will be looking across the organization to identify, evaluate and accelerate further growth opportunities. I am looking forward to our progress throughout the back half of 2020 and thank all our associates for their support."

1



2020 Estimated Results
U.S. Cellular’s current estimates of full-year 2020 results are shown below. Such estimates represent management’s view as of August 6, 2020 and should not be assumed to be current as of any future date. U.S. Cellular undertakes no duty to update such estimates, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that final results will not differ materially from estimated results, especially in light of the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 
2020 Estimated Results
 
Previous
Current
(Dollars in millions)
 
 
Service revenues
$3,000-$3,100
Unchanged
Adjusted OIBDA1
$725-$850
Unchanged
Adjusted EBITDA1
$900-$1,025
Unchanged
Capital expenditures
$850-$950
Unchanged

The following table provides a reconciliation of Net income to Adjusted OIBDA and Adjusted EBITDA for 2020 estimated results, actual results for the six months ended June 30, 2020, and actual results for the year ended December 31, 2019. In providing 2020 estimated results, U.S. Cellular has not completed the below reconciliation to Net income because it does not provide guidance for income taxes. Although potentially significant, U.S. Cellular believes that the impact of income taxes cannot be reasonably predicted; therefore, U.S. Cellular is unable to provide such guidance.
 
 
 
Actual Results
 
2020 Estimated Results
 
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2020
 
Year Ended
December 31, 2019
(Dollars in millions)
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (GAAP)
N/A

 
$
141

 
$
133

Add back:
 

 
 

 
 

Income tax expense
N/A

 
8

 
52

Income before income taxes (GAAP)
$95-$220

 
$
149

 
$
185

Add back:
 

 
 

 
 

Interest expense
100

 
49

 
110

Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense
685

 
354

 
702

EBITDA (Non-GAAP)1
$880-$1,005

 
$
552

 
$
997

Add back or deduct:
 

 
 

 
 

(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net
20

 
8

 
19

(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net

 

 
(1
)
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)1
$900-$1,025

 
$
560

 
$
1,015

Deduct:
 

 
 

 
 

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities
165

 
89

 
166

Interest and dividend income
10

 
5

 
17

Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP)1
$725-$850

 
$
466

 
$
832

1 
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are defined as net income adjusted for the items set forth in the reconciliation above. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are not measures of financial performance under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (GAAP) and should not be considered as alternatives to Net income or Cash flows from operating activities, as indicators of cash flows or as measures of liquidity. U.S. Cellular does not intend to imply that any such items set forth in the reconciliation above are non-recurring, infrequent or unusual; such items may occur in the future. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA as measurements of profitability, and therefore reconciliations to Net income are deemed appropriate. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are useful measures of U.S. Cellular’s operating results before significant recurring non-cash charges, gains and losses, and other items as presented above as they provide additional relevant and useful information to investors and other users of U.S. Cellular’s financial data in evaluating the effectiveness of its operations and underlying business trends in a manner that is consistent with management’s evaluation of business performance. Adjusted EBITDA shows adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion, and gains and losses, while Adjusted OIBDA reduces this measure further to exclude Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities and Interest and dividend income in order to more effectively show the performance of operating activities excluding investment activities. The table above reconciles EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA to the corresponding GAAP measure, Net income or Income before income taxes. Additional information and reconciliations related to Non-GAAP financial measures for June 30, 2020, can be found on U.S. Cellular’s website at investors.uscellular.com.

2



Conference Call Information
U.S. Cellular will hold a conference call on August 7, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time.
Access the live call on the Events & Presentations page of investors.uscellular.com or at
https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1145/36390.
Access the call by phone at (833) 968-2187, conference ID: 3255207.

Before the call, certain financial and statistical information to be discussed during the call will be posted to investors.uscellular.com. The call will be archived on the Events & Presentations page of investors.uscellular.com.
About U.S. Cellular
United States Cellular Corporation provides a comprehensive range of wireless products and services, excellent customer support, and a high-quality network to customers with 4.9 million connections in 21 states. The Chicago-based company had 5,400 full- and part-time associates as of June 30, 2020. At the end of the second quarter of 2020, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. owned 82 percent of U.S. Cellular. For more information about U.S. Cellular, visit uscellular.com.
Contacts
Jane W. McCahon, Senior Vice President - Corporate Relations and Corporate Secretary of TDS
312-592-5379
jane.mccahon@tdsinc.com
 
Julie D. Mathews, IRC, Director - Investor Relations of TDS
312-592-5341
julie.mathews@tdsinc.com
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: All information set forth in this news release, except historical and factual information, represents forward-looking statements. This includes all statements about the company’s plans, beliefs, estimates, and expectations. These statements are based on current estimates, projections, and assumptions, which involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that may affect these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the impact, duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; intense competition; the ability to execute U.S. Cellular’s business strategy; uncertainties in U.S. Cellular’s future cash flows and liquidity and access to the capital markets; the ability to make payments on U.S. Cellular indebtedness or comply with the terms of debt covenants; the ability to obtain or maintain roaming arrangements with other carriers on acceptable terms; the ability to obtain access to adequate radio spectrum to meet current or anticipated future needs, including participation in FCC auctions; the state and federal regulatory environment; the ability to attract people of outstanding talent throughout all levels of the organization; conditions in the U.S. telecommunications industry; U.S. Cellular's smaller scale relative to larger competitors; changes in demand, consumer preferences, price competition, or churn rates; advances in technology; the value of assets and investments; impacts of costs, integration problems or other factors associated with acquisitions, divestitures or exchanges of properties or licenses and/or expansion of U.S. Cellular's businesses; the ability of the company to successfully construct and manage its networks; difficulties involving third parties; cyber-attacks or other breaches of network or information technology security; changes in facts and circumstances that could require U.S. Cellular to record adjustments to amounts reflected in the financial statements; disruption in credit or other financial markets; deterioration of U.S. or global economic conditions; pending and future litigation; potential conflicts of interests between TDS and U.S. Cellular. Investors are encouraged to consider these and other risks and uncertainties that are more fully described under “Risk Factors” in the most recent filing of U.S. Cellular's Form 10-K, as updated by any U.S. Cellular Form 10-Q filed subsequent to such Form 10-K.   
 
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. Cellular's business is uncertain, but depending on its duration and severity it could have a material adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.

The impact of the recent global spread of COVID-19 on U.S. Cellular's future operations is uncertain. Public health emergencies, such as COVID-19, pose the risk that U.S. Cellular or its associates, agents, partners and suppliers may be unable to conduct business activities for an extended period of time and/or provide the level of service expected. U.S. Cellular's ability to attract customers, maintain an adequate supply chain and execute on its business strategies and initiatives could be negatively impacted by this outbreak. Additionally, COVID-19 has caused and could continue to cause increased unemployment, economic downturn and credit market deterioration, all of which could negatively impact U.S. Cellular. The extent of the impact of COVID-19 on U.S. Cellular's business, financial condition and results of operations will depend on future circumstances, including the severity of the disease, the duration of the outbreak, actions taken by governmental authorities and other possible direct and indirect consequences, all of which are uncertain and cannot be predicted.

For more information about U.S. Cellular, visit:
U.S. Cellular: www.uscellular.com

3



United States Cellular Corporation
Summary Operating Data (Unaudited)
As of or for the Quarter Ended
6/30/2020
 
3/31/2020
 
12/31/2019
 
9/30/2019
 
6/30/2019
Retail Connections
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Postpaid
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total at end of period
4,372,000

 
4,359,000

 
4,383,000

 
4,395,000

 
4,414,000

Gross additions
129,000

 
132,000

 
170,000

 
163,000

 
137,000

Feature phones
3,000

 
2,000

 
2,000

 
3,000

 
5,000

Smartphones
82,000

 
88,000

 
128,000

 
121,000

 
97,000

Connected devices
44,000

 
42,000

 
40,000

 
39,000

 
35,000

Net additions (losses)
12,000

 
(26,000
)
 
(12,000
)
 
(19,000
)
 
(26,000
)
Feature phones
(8,000
)
 
(10,000
)
 
(11,000
)
 
(11,000
)
 
(10,000
)
Smartphones
11,000

 
(10,000
)
 
13,000

 
9,000

 
(1,000
)
Connected devices
9,000

 
(6,000
)
 
(14,000
)
 
(17,000
)
 
(15,000
)
ARPU1
$
46.24

 
$
47.23

 
$
46.57

 
$
46.16

 
$
45.90

ARPA2
$
120.70

 
$
122.92

 
$
120.99

 
$
119.87

 
$
119.46

Churn rate3
0.89
%
 
1.21
%
 
1.38
%
 
1.38
%
 
1.23
%
Handsets
0.71
%
 
0.95
%
 
1.11
%
 
1.09
%
 
0.97
%
Connected devices
2.24
%
 
3.11
%
 
3.44
%
 
3.44
%
 
3.01
%
Prepaid
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total at end of period
496,000

 
494,000

 
506,000

 
510,000

 
500,000

Gross additions
62,000

 
57,000

 
63,000

 
70,000

 
61,000

Net additions (losses)
2,000

 
(12,000
)
 
(3,000
)
 
9,000

 
(2,000
)
ARPU1
$
34.89

 
$
34.07

 
$
34.11

 
$
34.35

 
$
34.43

Churn rate3
4.05
%
 
4.67
%
 
4.40
%
 
4.03
%
 
4.20
%
Total connections at end of period4
4,919,000

 
4,903,000

 
4,941,000

 
4,957,000

 
4,967,000

Market penetration at end of period
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated operating population
31,292,000

 
31,292,000

 
30,740,000

 
31,310,000

 
31,310,000

Consolidated operating penetration5
16
%
 
16
%
 
16
%
 
16
%
 
16
%
Capital expenditures (millions)
$
168

 
$
236

 
$
243

 
$
170

 
$
195

Total cell sites in service
6,673

 
6,629

 
6,578

 
6,554

 
6,535

Owned towers
4,208

 
4,184

 
4,166

 
4,123

 
4,116

1 
Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) - metric is calculated by dividing a revenue base by an average number of connections and by the number of months in the period. These revenue bases and connection populations are shown below:
Postpaid ARPU consists of total postpaid service revenues and postpaid connections.
Prepaid ARPU consists of total prepaid service revenues and prepaid connections.
2 
Average Revenue Per Account (ARPA) - metric is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenues by the average number of postpaid accounts and by the number of months in the period.
3 
Churn rate represents the percentage of the connections that disconnect service each month. These rates represent the average monthly churn rate for each respective period.
4 
Includes reseller and other connections.
5 
Market penetration is calculated by dividing the number of wireless connections at the end of the period by the total population of consolidated operating markets as estimated by Nielsen.

4



United States Cellular Corporation
Consolidated Statement of Operations Highlights
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020 vs. 2019
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020 vs. 2019
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating revenues
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Service
$
753

 
$
757

 
(1
)%
 
$
1,515

 
$
1,498

 
1
 %
Equipment sales
220

 
216

 
2
 %
 
422

 
441

 
(4
)%
Total operating revenues
973


973




1,937


1,939

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)
197

 
193

 
2
 %
 
377

 
369

 
2
 %
Cost of equipment sold
218

 
224

 
(3
)%
 
435

 
458

 
(5
)%
Selling, general and administrative
323

 
344

 
(6
)%
 
659

 
669

 
(2
)%
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
178

 
177

 
1
 %
 
354

 
345

 
3
 %
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net
4

 
5

 
(19
)%
 
8

 
7

 
7
 %
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net

 

 
N/M

 

 
(2
)
 
N/M

(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net

 

 
N/M

 

 
(2
)
 
N/M

Total operating expenses
920

 
943


(2
)%
 
1,833

 
1,844

 
(1
)%
 


 


 
 
 


 


 
 
Operating income
53

 
30


74
 %

104


95

 
9
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment and other income (expense)
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities
44

 
40

 
8
 %
 
89

 
84

 
6
 %
Interest and dividend income
1

 
5

 
(79
)%
 
5

 
11

 
(54
)%
Interest expense
(25
)
 
(29
)
 
15
 %
 
(49
)
 
(58
)
 
17
 %
Other, net

 

 
N/M

 

 
(1
)
 
N/M

Total investment and other income
20

 
16

 
31
 %
 
45

 
36

 
27
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
73

 
46

 
60
 %
 
149

 
131

 
14
 %
Income tax expense
4

 
14

 
(71
)%
 
8

 
41

 
(81
)%
Net income
69

 
32

 
N/M

 
141

 
90

 
56
 %
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax
1

 
1

 
42
 %
 
2

 
4

 
(51
)%
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders
$
68

 
$
31

 
N/M

 
$
139

 
$
86

 
62
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
86

 
87

 
(1
)%
 
86

 
87

 
(1
)%
Basic earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders
$
0.79

 
$
0.36

 
N/M

 
$
1.62

 
$
0.99

 
63
 %



 


 
 
 


 


 
 
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
87

 
88

 
(1
)%
 
87

 
88

 
(1
)%
Diluted earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders
$
0.78

 
$
0.35

 
N/M

 
$
1.59

 
$
0.97

 
64
 %
N/M - Percentage change not meaningful


5



United States Cellular Corporation
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2020
 
2019
(Dollars in millions)
 
 
 
Cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
Net income
$
141

 
$
90

Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities
 

 
 

Depreciation, amortization and accretion
354

 
345

Bad debts expense
45

 
48

Stock-based compensation expense
17

 
25

Deferred income taxes, net
106

 
27

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities
(89
)
 
(84
)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities
90

 
76

(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net
8

 
7

(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net

 
(2
)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net

 
(2
)
Other operating activities

 
2

Changes in assets and liabilities from operations
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
23

 
3

Equipment installment plans receivable
22

 
(11
)
Inventory
17

 
(4
)
Accounts payable
55

 
(7
)
Customer deposits and deferred revenues
(10
)
 
8

Accrued taxes
(67
)
 
3

Other assets and liabilities
(20
)
 
(48
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
692

 
476

 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities
 
 
 
Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment
(471
)
 
(282
)
Cash paid for licenses
(144
)
 
(255
)
Cash received from investments
1

 
11

Cash paid for investments
(1
)
 
(11
)
Cash received from divestitures and exchanges
1

 
32

Advance payments for license acquisitions
(16
)
 

Other investing activities
(1
)
 
(1
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(631
)
 
(506
)
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities
 
 
 
Issuance of long-term debt
125

 

Repayment of long-term debt
(4
)
 
(10
)
Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments
(8
)
 
(8
)
Repurchase of Common Shares
(23
)
 

Payment of debt issuance costs
(4
)
 

Distributions to noncontrolling interests
(1
)
 
(2
)
Other financing activities
(1
)
 
(1
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
84

 
(21
)
 
 
 
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
145

 
(51
)
 
 
 
 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
 
 
 
Beginning of period
291

 
583

End of period
$
436

 
$
532



6



United States Cellular Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights
(Unaudited)
 
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
June 30, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
(Dollars in millions)
 
 
 
Current assets
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
418

 
$
285

Accounts receivable, net
954

 
1,010

Inventory, net
145

 
162

Prepaid expenses
50

 
50

Income taxes receivable
122

 
46

Other current assets
29

 
20

Total current assets
1,718

 
1,573

 
 
 
 
Licenses
2,621

 
2,471

 
 
 
 
Investments in unconsolidated entities
445

 
447

 
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment, net
2,258

 
2,207

 
 
 
 
Operating lease right-of-use assets
914

 
900

 
 
 
 
Other assets and deferred charges
544

 
566

 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
8,500

 
$
8,164



7



United States Cellular Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights
(Unaudited)
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 
 
 
 
 
June 30, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
 
 
 
Current liabilities
 

 
 

Current portion of long-term debt
$
4

 
$
8

Accounts payable
294

 
304

Customer deposits and deferred revenues
139

 
148

Accrued taxes
30

 
30

Accrued compensation
53

 
76

Short-term operating lease liabilities
112

 
105

Other current liabilities
65

 
79

Total current liabilities
697

 
750

 
 
 
 
Deferred liabilities and credits
 

 
 

Deferred income tax liability, net
613

 
507

Long-term operating lease liabilities
874

 
865

Other deferred liabilities and credits
346

 
319

 
 
 
 
Long-term debt, net
1,625

 
1,502

 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features
11

 
11

 
 
 
 
Equity
 

 
 

U.S. Cellular shareholders’ equity
 

 
 

Series A Common and Common Shares, par value $1 per share
88

 
88

Additional paid-in capital
1,646

 
1,629

Treasury shares
(70
)
 
(70
)
Retained earnings
2,657

 
2,550

Total U.S. Cellular shareholders’ equity
4,321

 
4,197

 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling interests
13

 
13

 
 
 
 
Total equity
4,334

 
4,210

 
 
 
 
Total liabilities and equity
$
8,500

 
$
8,164



8



United States Cellular Corporation
Financial Measures and Reconciliations
(Unaudited)
Free Cash Flow
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
(Dollars in millions)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from operating activities (GAAP)
$
350

 
$
189

 
$
692

 
$
476

Less: Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment
156

 
175

 
471

 
282

Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)1
$
194

 
$
14

 
$
221

 
$
194

1 
Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure which U.S. Cellular believes may be useful to investors and other users of its financial information in evaluating liquidity, specifically, the amount of net cash generated by business operations after deducting Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment.


9