Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.

TDS

Communication Services · Telecom Services · Stock · quarterly payer

$33.90

Fairly valued · +6% Add to Portfolio

Forward Yield

0.47%

Annual Dividend

$0.16

Payout Ratio

5-Yr Growth

-25.1%

Ex-Date

Sep 15, 2026

Frequency

Quarterly

Key facts about TDS's dividend

Data as of Oct 18, 2026 · Source: SmarterDividends data

As of Oct 18, 2026, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS) has a forward dividend yield of 0.47%, based on an annual dividend of $0.16 per share and a share price of $33.90.
As of Oct 18, 2026, TDS's dividend safety grade from SmarterDividends is B (70 out of 100), which rates the dividend as safe.
TDS last cut its regular dividend in 2024.
TDS's most recent ex-dividend date was Sep 15, 2026, for a dividend of $0.0400 per share.
As of Oct 18, 2026, TDS pays out 4% of its trailing 12-month earnings as dividends (its payout ratio).
TDS's dividend has shrunk at an average rate of 25.1% a year over the past five years.
As of Oct 18, 2026, TDS's 0.47% yield is 84% below its five-year average yield of 3.00%.
As of Oct 18, 2026, SmarterDividends' blended fair-value estimate for TDS is $36.02 per share, 6% above the $33.90 share price, so TDS screens as fairly valued.
Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS) pays its dividend quarterly, 4 times a year.
Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS) has raised its regular dividend 38 times and cut it 2 times across the 160 payments on record since 1987. Its most recent change was a 78.9% cut to $0.0400 per share, going ex-dividend on Jun 14, 2024.

Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "TDS Dividend: Yield, Safety Grade & Next Ex-Date," updated Oct 18, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/stocks/TDS

Summary

As of Oct 18, 2026, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS) yields 0.47% ($0.16 a year per share) and has a dividend safety grade of B (70/100).

Is TDS a good dividend stock?

Yes, with caveats

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 0.47% ($0.16/yr), with 0 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of B. It's a solid income payer, but check the caveats below before buying.

Advantages

Comfortable payout ratio (4%)
92% total price return over 5 years

Risks

Cut its dividend in 2024
Dividend has been shrinking, not growing

Key Data

Dividend Yield: 0.47%
Payout Ratio: 4%
Annual Dividend: $0.16
5-Yr Avg Growth: -25.1%
Ex-Dividend Date: Sep 15, 2026
Years of Growth: 0
Frequency: quarterly
Beta: 0.32
Market Cap: $3.9B
P/E Ratio: 8.5
5-Yr Total Return: 92%
52-Week Range: $31.51 – $49.12
Dividend Safety: B · 70/100
Ever Cut?: Yes (2024)

TDS dividend raises and cuts

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS) has raised its regular dividend 38 times and cut it 2 times across the 160 payments on record since 1987. Its most recent change was a 78.9% cut to $0.0400 per share, going ex-dividend on Jun 14, 2024.

Ex-date	Change	Old → new	Move
Jun 14, 2024	Cut	$0.190 → $0.0400	−78.9%
Mar 14, 2024	Raise	$0.185 → $0.190	+2.7%
Mar 14, 2023	Raise	$0.180 → $0.185	+2.8%
Mar 14, 2022	Raise	$0.175 → $0.180	+2.9%
Mar 16, 2021	Raise	$0.170 → $0.175	+2.9%
Mar 16, 2020	Raise	$0.165 → $0.170	+3.0%
Mar 14, 2019	Raise	$0.160 → $0.165	+3.1%
Mar 15, 2018	Raise	$0.155 → $0.160	+3.2%
Mar 15, 2017	Raise	$0.148 → $0.155	+4.7%
Mar 15, 2016	Raise	$0.141 → $0.148	+5.0%
Mar 12, 2015	Raise	$0.134 → $0.141	+5.2%
Mar 12, 2014	Raise	$0.128 → $0.134	+4.7%

Show all 40 changes since 1987

Ex-date	Change	Old → new	Move
Mar 13, 2013	Raise	$0.122 → $0.128	+4.9%
Mar 14, 2012	Raise	$0.109 → $0.123	+13.3%
Mar 15, 2011	Raise	$0.104 → $0.109	+4.4%
Mar 15, 2010	Raise	$0.0994 → $0.104	+4.6%
Mar 12, 2009	Raise	$0.0948 → $0.0994	+4.9%
Mar 19, 2008	Raise	$0.0902 → $0.0948	+5.1%
Mar 15, 2007	Raise	$0.0856 → $0.0902	+5.4%
Mar 15, 2006	Raise	$0.0810 → $0.0856	+5.7%
Jun 14, 2005	Cut	$0.0825 → $0.0810	−1.9%
Mar 14, 2005	Raise	$0.0778 → $0.0825	+6.1%
Mar 15, 2004	Raise	$0.0731 → $0.0778	+6.5%
Mar 13, 2003	Raise	$0.0684 → $0.0731	+6.9%
Mar 13, 2002	Raise	$0.0637 → $0.0684	+7.4%
Mar 13, 2001	Raise	$0.0589 → $0.0637	+8.0%
Mar 13, 2000	Raise	$0.0542 → $0.0589	+8.7%
Mar 10, 1999	Raise	$0.0519 → $0.0542	+4.5%
Mar 13, 1998	Raise	$0.0495 → $0.0519	+4.8%
Mar 12, 1997	Raise	$0.0471 → $0.0495	+5.0%
Mar 13, 1996	Raise	$0.0448 → $0.0471	+5.3%
Mar 13, 1995	Raise	$0.0424 → $0.0448	+5.6%
Mar 11, 1994	Raise	$0.0401 → $0.0424	+5.9%
Mar 11, 1993	Raise	$0.0377 → $0.0401	+6.3%
Mar 9, 1992	Raise	$0.0354 → $0.0377	+6.7%
Mar 11, 1991	Raise	$0.0330 → $0.0354	+7.1%
Mar 12, 1990	Raise	$0.0306 → $0.0330	+7.7%
Mar 9, 1989	Raise	$0.0283 → $0.0306	+8.3%
Jun 6, 1988	Raise	$0.0251 → $0.0283	+12.5%
Sep 4, 1987	Raise	$0.0231 → $0.0251	+9.1%

Every TDS payment →Download every raise and cut (CSV)

TDS ex-dividend date & scheduleNext ex-date Sep 15, 2026 · full ex-dividend historyView →TDS dividend historyEvery payment, totals by year, raises and cutsView →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is TDS a good dividend stock?

Yes, with caveats. Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 0.47% ($0.16/yr), with 0 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of B. It's a solid income payer, but check the caveats below before buying.

Is TDS undervalued?

Based on a blend of discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings-multiple estimate, TDS's fair value is about $36.02 versus a $33.90 share price — so it looks fairly valued (+6% vs. fair value).

Is TDS's dividend safe?

TDS has a dividend-safety grade of B (70/100), based on its payout coverage, free-cash-flow, 0-year growth streak, a dividend cut in 2024, debt and yield-versus-history.

What is TDS's fair value?

Our blended fair-value estimate for TDS is about $36.02 per share, roughly 6% above the current $33.90 price — combining a discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings multiple.

Is TDS a buy, hold, or sell?

We don't issue formal ratings, but on the data TDS screens as "yes, with caveats" and fairly valued. Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 0.47% ($0.16/yr), with 0 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of B. It's a solid income payer, but check the caveats below before buying. This is research for your own analysis, not investment advice.

Will TDS cut its dividend?

TDS earns a dividend-safety grade of B (70/100), and has cut its dividend before (last in 2024). A higher score means lower cut risk based on payout coverage, cash flow and history — but no score guarantees a dividend.

Does TDS pay a dividend?

Yes. Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. pays a quarterly dividend of about $0.16 per share annually, a forward yield of roughly 0.47%.

What is TDS's dividend yield?

As of Oct 18, 2026, TDS's forward dividend yield is 0.47%, based on a $0.16 annual dividend and a $33.90 share price.

What is TDS's dividend per share?

As of Oct 18, 2026, TDS pays $0.16 per share per year, distributed on a quarterly basis.

What is TDS's dividend payout ratio?

As of Oct 18, 2026, TDS's payout ratio is 4% of trailing 12-month earnings — a comfortable level that leaves room to keep raising the dividend.

How many years has TDS grown its dividend?

TDS does not currently have a long dividend-growth streak on record.

When is the next TDS ex-dividend date?

As of Oct 18, 2026, TDS's next ex-dividend date hasn't been announced. The most recent was Sep 15, 2026, for $0.0400 per share.

Dividend Growth

Total dividends per share by year

Dividend History

Full TDS dividend history →

Ex-Date	Pay Date	Amount	Type
Sep 15, 2026	Sep 30, 2026	$0.0400	regular
Jun 16, 2026	Jun 30, 2026	$0.0400	regular
Mar 16, 2026	Mar 31, 2026	$0.0400	regular
Dec 15, 2025	Dec 30, 2025	$0.0400	regular
Sep 15, 2025	Sep 30, 2025	$0.0400	regular
Jun 16, 2025	Jun 30, 2025	$0.0400	regular
Mar 17, 2025	Mar 31, 2025	$0.0400	regular
Dec 16, 2024	Dec 31, 2024	$0.0400	regular
Sep 16, 2024	Sep 30, 2024	$0.0400	regular
Jun 14, 2024	Jun 28, 2024	$0.0400	regular
Mar 14, 2024	Mar 28, 2024	$0.1900	regular
Dec 14, 2023	Dec 29, 2023	$0.1850	regular
Sep 14, 2023	Sep 29, 2023	$0.1850	regular
Jun 14, 2023	Jun 30, 2023	$0.1850	regular