Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) Competitors

Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE:TDS) and United States Cellular (NYSE:USM) are both mid-cap utilities companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, profitability, dividends, community ranking, earnings, valuation, institutional ownership and media sentiment.

Which has more risk & volatility, TDS or USM?

Telephone and Data Systems has a beta of 0.52, meaning that its stock price is 48% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, United States Cellular has a beta of 0.35, meaning that its stock price is 65% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Does the media refer more to TDS or USM?

In the previous week, Telephone and Data Systems had 4 more articles in the media than United States Cellular. MarketBeat recorded 4 mentions for Telephone and Data Systems and 0 mentions for United States Cellular. United States Cellular's average media sentiment score of 1.88 beat Telephone and Data Systems' score of 1.10 indicating that United States Cellular is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company	Overall Sentiment
Telephone and Data Systems	Positive
United States Cellular	Very Positive

Do analysts recommend TDS or USM?

Telephone and Data Systems currently has a consensus price target of $50.00, suggesting a potential upside of 50.89%. United States Cellular has a consensus price target of $82.67, suggesting a potential upside of 38.49%. Given Telephone and Data Systems' higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Telephone and Data Systems is more favorable than United States Cellular.

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Telephone and Data Systems	0 Sell rating(s)	0 Hold rating(s)	2 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	3.00
United States Cellular	0 Sell rating(s)	0 Hold rating(s)	3 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	3.00

Does the MarketBeat Community favor TDS or USM?

Telephone and Data Systems received 50 more outperform votes than United States Cellular when rated by MarketBeat users. Likewise, 65.41% of users gave Telephone and Data Systems an outperform vote while only 55.94% of users gave United States Cellular an outperform vote.

Company	Underperform	Outperform
Telephone and Data Systems	Outperform Votes 295 65.41%	Underperform Votes 156 34.59%
United States Cellular	Outperform Votes 245 55.94%	Underperform Votes 193 44.06%

Is TDS or USM more profitable?

United States Cellular has a net margin of -0.79% compared to Telephone and Data Systems' net margin of -10.72%. United States Cellular's return on equity of 1.55% beat Telephone and Data Systems' return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Telephone and Data Systems	-10.72%	1.12%	0.40%
United States Cellular	-0.79%	1.55%	0.68%

Which has stronger earnings & valuation, TDS or USM?

United States Cellular has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Telephone and Data Systems. United States Cellular is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Telephone and Data Systems, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Company	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Telephone and Data Systems	$4.86B	0.78	-$500M	-$1.05	-31.56
United States Cellular	$3.71B	1.37	$54M	-$0.46	-129.76

Do insiders and institutionals hold more shares of TDS or USM?

80.0% of Telephone and Data Systems shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 18.0% of United States Cellular shares are held by institutional investors. 15.0% of Telephone and Data Systems shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 1.0% of United States Cellular shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Telephone and Data Systems beats United States Cellular on 9 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.