U.S. Cellular reports first quarter 2016 results

Improved customer loyalty drives net additions growth; 2015 gains affect year-over-year comparisons

As previously announced, U.S. Cellular will hold a teleconference May 6, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. CDT. Listen to the live call via the Events & Presentations page of investors.uscellular.com.

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United States Cellular Corporation

May 06, 2016, 07:53 ET

CHICAGO, May 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- United States Cellular Corporation (NYSE:USM) reported total operating revenues of $958 million for the first quarter of 2016, versus $965 million for the same period one year ago. Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders and related diluted earnings per share were $9 million and $0.10, respectively, for the first quarter of 2016, compared to $160 million and $1.89, respectively, in the same period one year ago. Year-over-year comparisons are affected by pre-tax gains of $234 million ($145 million after-tax) from sales and exchanges of businesses and licenses in 2015.

"We are off to a good start in 2016 with solid first quarter results," said Kenneth R. Meyers, U.S. Cellular president and CEO. "We continue to grow our customer base and increase customer loyalty as evidenced by significantly lower churn and higher customer satisfaction scores. Strong customer engagement is foundational to our success and in order to provide exceptional customer experiences, we must have engaged and dedicated associates. We are proud that for the second year in a row, U.S. Cellular earned a place on the Forbes 'America's Best Employer's' list.

"We are pleased to see customer growth through higher sales of data-centric devices, including smartphones and tablets. This growth is being driven by the combination of competitive products and services, our high-quality network and supported by exceptional customer service.

"We continue to focus on improving our operating processes and efficiency. Strong customer adoption of Equipment Installment Plans drove down loss on equipment and our cost control initiatives generated another quarter of lower expenses."

2016 Estimated Results

U.S. Cellular's current estimates of full-year 2016 results, which are unchanged from the previous estimates, are shown below. Such estimates represent management's view as of May 6, 2016. Such forward‑looking statements should not be assumed to be current as of any future date. U.S. Cellular undertakes no duty to update such information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. There can be no assurance that final results will not differ materially from such estimated results.

	2016 Estimated Results
	Current		Previous
(Dollars in millions)
Total operating revenues	$3,900-$4,100		Unchanged
Operating cash flow ⁽¹⁾	$525-$650		Unchanged
Adjusted EBITDA ⁽¹⁾	$725-$850		Unchanged
Capital expenditures	Approx.	$500	Unchanged

The following table provides a reconciliation to Operating Cash Flow and Adjusted EBITDA for 2016 estimated results, and actual results for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and year ended December 31, 2015:

					Actual Results
			2016 Estimated Results (2)		Three Months Ended March 31, 2016		Year Ended December 31, 2015*
(Dollars in millions)
Net income (loss) (GAAP)			N/A	$	9	$	247
Add back:
	Income tax expense (benefit)		N/A		11		156
Income (loss) before income taxes (GAAP)
Income (loss) before income taxes (GAAP)		$	0-125	$	20	$	404
Add back:
	Interest expense		105		28		86
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense		600		153		606
EBITDA		$	705-830	$	201	$	1,096
Add back (deduct):
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net		–		–		(114)
	(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net
	(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net		–		–		(147)
	(Gain) loss on assets disposals, net		20		5		16
Adjusted EBITDA ⁽¹⁾		$	725-850	$	206	$	852
Deduct:
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities		140		35		140
	Interest and dividend income		60		13		37
Operating cash flow ⁽¹⁾⁽³⁾		$	525-650	$	157	$	675

* Includes $58 million of revenue related to termination of the rewards points program.
Note: Totals may not foot due to rounding differences.


(1)	Operating cash flow is defined as net income, adjusted for the items set forth in the reconciliation above. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income, adjusted for the items set forth in the reconciliation above. Operating cash flow and Adjusted EBITDA exclude these items in order to show operating results on a more comparable basis from period to period. From time to time, U.S. Cellular may exclude other items from Operating cash flow and/or Adjusted EBITDA if such items help reflect operating results on a more comparable basis. U.S. Cellular does not intend to imply that any such items that are excluded are non-recurring, infrequent or unusual; such items may occur in the future. Operating cash flow and Adjusted EBITDA 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 as indicators of the company's operating performance or as alternatives to cash flows from operating activities, determined in accordance with GAAP, as indicators of cash flows or as measures of liquidity. U.S. Cellular believes Operating cash flow and Adjusted EBITDA are useful measures of U.S. Cellular's operating results before significant recurring non-cash charges, gains and losses, and other items as indicated above.
(2)	In providing 2016 Estimated Results, U.S. Cellular has not completed the above reconciliation to net income because it does not provide guidance for income taxes. U.S. Cellular believes that the impact of income taxes cannot be reasonably predicted; therefore, the company is unable to provide such guidance. Accordingly, a reconciliation to net income is not available without unreasonable effort.
(3)	A reconciliation of Operating cash flow (Non-GAAP) to Operating income (GAAP) for March 31, 2016 actual results can be found on the company's website at investors.uscellular.com.

Conference Call Information

U.S. Cellular will hold a conference call on May 6, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. Central Time.

Access the live call on the Events & Presentation page of investors.uscellular.com or at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1145/14974.
Access the call by phone at 877/407-8029 (US/Canada), no pass code required.

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 4.9 million customers in 23 states. The Chicago-based company had 6,500 full- and part-time associates as of March 31, 2016. At the end of the first quarter of 2016, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. owned 84 percent of U.S. Cellular. For more information about U.S. Cellular, visit uscellular.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: 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; impacts of any pending acquisitions/divestitures/exchanges of properties and/or licenses, including, but not limited to, the ability to obtain regulatory approvals, successfully complete the transactions and the financial impacts of such transactions; the ability of the company to successfully manage and grow its markets; the overall economy; the ability to obtain or maintain roaming arrangements with other carriers on acceptable terms; the state and federal telecommunications regulatory environment; the value of assets and investments; adverse changes in the ratings afforded U.S. Cellular debt securities by accredited ratings organizations; industry consolidation; advances in telecommunications technology; pending and future litigation; changes in income tax rates, laws, regulations or rulings; changes in customer growth rates, average monthly revenue per user, churn rates, roaming revenue and terms, the availability of wireless devices, or the mix of products and services offered by U.S. Cellular. Investors are encouraged to consider these and other risks and uncertainties that are discussed in the Form 8-K Current Report used by U.S. Cellular to furnish this press release to the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are incorporated by reference herein.

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

United States Cellular Corporation
Summary Operating Data (Unaudited)

As of or for the Quarter Ended					3/31/2016		12/31/2015		9/30/2015		6/30/2015		3/31/2015
Retail Customers
	Postpaid
		Total at end of period				4,454,000		4,409,000		4,341,000		4,324,000		4,307,000
		Gross additions				215,000		240,000		200,000		191,000		200,000
			Feature phones			9,000		10,000		14,000		15,000		14,000
			Smartphones			124,000		132,000		119,000		115,000		119,000
			Connected devices			82,000		98,000		67,000		61,000		67,000
		Net additions (losses)				45,000		68,000		17,000		17,000		9,000
			Feature phones			(25,000)		(25,000)		(28,000)		(26,000)		(34,000)
			Smartphones			20,000		23,000		6,000		7,000		3,000
			Connected devices			50,000		70,000		39,000		36,000		40,000
		ARPU ⁽¹⁾⁽⁸⁾			$	48.13	$	51.46	$	58.12	$	53.62	$	54.87
		ABPU ⁽²⁾⁽⁸⁾			$	56.06	$	58.57	$	63.88	$	58.08	$	58.50
		ARPA ⁽³⁾⁽⁸⁾			$	125.36	$	131.96	$	147.00	$	133.85	$	134.94
		ABPA ⁽⁴⁾⁽⁸⁾			$	145.99	$	150.19	$	161.57	$	144.99	$	143.86
		Churn rate ⁽⁵⁾				1.28%		1.31%		1.41%		1.34%		1.48%
		Smartphone penetration ⁽⁶⁾				75%		74%		72%		69%		67%
	Prepaid
		Total at end of period				399,000		387,000		380,000		368,000		360,000
		Gross additions				75,000		69,000		71,000		65,000		73,000
		Net additions (losses)				12,000		7,000		12,000		8,000		12,000
		ARPU⁽¹⁾			$	35.51	$	35.54	$	35.64	$	35.98	$	35.72
		Churn rate ⁽⁵⁾				5.37%		5.40%		5.24%		5.22%		5.76%
Total customers at end of period						4,926,000		4,876,000		4,807,000		4,779,000		4,775,000
Smartphones sold as a percent of total
	handsets sold					92%		91%		87%		87%		86%
Market penetration at end of period
	Consolidated operating population					31,994,000		31,967,000		31,814,000		31,814,000		31,814,000
	Consolidated operating penetration⁽⁷⁾					15%		15%		15%		15%		15%
Capital expenditures (millions)					$	79	$	198	$	135	$	134	$	66
Total cell sites in service						6,306		6,297		6,246		6,223		6,219
Owned towers						3,989		3,978		3,957		3,940		3,936

(1)		Average Revenue Per User ("ARPU") are metrics calculated by dividing a revenue base by an average number of customers and by the number of months in the period. These revenue bases and customer populations are shown below:
			▪	Postpaid ARPU consists of total postpaid service revenues and postpaid customers.
			▪	Prepaid ARPU consists of total prepaid service revenues and prepaid customers.
(2)		Average Billings Per User ("ABPU") metric is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenues plus equipment installment plan billings by the average number of postpaid customers and by the number of months in the period.
(3)		Average Revenue Per Account ("ARPA") metric is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenue by the average number of postpaid accounts and by the number of months in the period.
(4)		Average Billings Per Account ("ABPA") metric is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenues plus equipment installment plan billings by the average number of postpaid accounts and by the number of months in the period.
(5)		Churn metrics represent the percentage of the postpaid or prepaid customers that disconnect service each month. These metrics represent the average monthly postpaid or prepaid churn rate for each respective period.
(6)		Smartphones represent wireless devices which run on an Android, Apple, BlackBerry or Windows Mobile operating system, excluding connected devices. Smartphone penetration is calculated by dividing postpaid smartphone customers by total postpaid handsets.
(7)		Market penetration is calculated by dividing the number of wireless customers at the end of the period by the total population of consolidated operating markets as estimated by Nielsen.
(8)		The quarter ended September 30, 2015 results include the recognition of $58 million in revenue due to the termination of the awards program.

United States Cellular Corporation
Consolidated Statement of Operations Highlights
(Unaudited)

			Three Months Ended March 31,
			2016		2015		2016 vs. 2015
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)
Operating revenues
	Service		$	760	$	828	$	(68)	(8)%
	Equipment sales			198		137		61	45%
		Total operating revenues		958		965		(7)	(1)%

Operating expenses
	System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)
				184		191		(7)	(4)%
	Cost of equipment sold			256		238		18	8%
	Selling, general and administrative			361		369		(8)	(2)%
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion			153		147		6	4%
	(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net			5		4		1	19%
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net			–		(111)		111	100%
	(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net			–		(123)		123	N/M
		Total operating expenses		959		715		244	34%

Operating income (loss)				(1)		250		(251)	>(100)%

Investment and other income (expense)
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities			35		34		1	2%
	Interest and dividend income			13		8		5	75%
	Interest expense			(28)		(20)		(8)	(39)%
	Other, net			1		–		1	44%
		Total investment and other income		21		22		(1)	(7)%

Income (loss) before income taxes				20		272		(252)	(93)%
	Income tax expense			11		107		(96)	(90)%
Net income (loss)				9		165		(156)	(94)%
	Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax			–		5		(5)	(87)%
Net income (loss) attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders			$	9	$	160	$	(151)	(95)%

Basic weighted average shares outstanding				84		84		–	-
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders
			$	0.10	$	1.90	$	(1.80)	(95)%

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding				85		85		–	-
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders
			$	0.10	$	1.89	$	(1.79)	(95)%

United States Cellular Corporation
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

				Three Months Ended March 31,
				2016		2015
(Dollars in millions)
Cash flows from operating activities
	Net income (loss)			$	9	$	165
	Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operating activities
		Depreciation, amortization and accretion			153		147
		Bad debts expense			19		29
		Stock-based compensation expense			5		6
		Deferred income taxes, net			4		(26)
		Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities			(35)		(34)
		Distributions from unconsolidated entities			14		13
		(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net			5		4
		(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net			–		(111)
		(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net			–		(123)
	Changes in assets and liabilities from operations
		Accounts receivable			15		(1)
		Equipment installment plans receivable			(41)		(36)
		Inventory			(2)		102
		Accounts payable			43		(19)
		Customer deposits and deferred revenues			(6)		13
		Accrued taxes			30		189
		Accrued interest			9		10
		Other assets and liabilities			(59)		(73)
			Net cash provided by operating activities		163		255

Cash flows from investing activities
	Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment				(103)		(116)
	Cash paid for acquisitions and licenses				–		(280)
	Cash received from divestitures and exchanges				2		274
	Other investing activities				(1)		2
			Net cash used in investing activities		(102)		(120)

Cash flows from financing activities
	Repayment of long-term debt				(3)		–
	Common shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments				1		–
	Common shares repurchased				(2)		(2)
	Payment of debt issuance costs				–		(3)
	Acquisition of assets in common control transaction				–		(2)
	Other financing activities				–		(3)
			Net cash used in financing activities		(4)		(10)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents					57		125

Cash and cash equivalents
	Beginning of period				715		212
	End of period			$	772	$	337

United States Cellular Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights
(Unaudited)

ASSETS

			March 31,		December 31,
			2016		2015
(Dollars in millions)
Current assets
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	772	$	715
	Accounts receivable from customers and others, net			666		672
	Inventory, net			151		149
	Prepaid expenses			96		81
	Other current assets			23		55
				1,708		1,672

Assets held for sale				26		–

Licenses				1,808		1,834
Goodwill				370		370
Investments in unconsolidated entities				384		363

Property, plant and equipment
	In service and under construction			7,693		7,669
	Less: Accumulated depreciation			5,120		5,020
		Property, plant and equipment, net		2,573		2,649

Other assets and deferred charges				188		172

Total assets			$	7,057	$	7,060

United States Cellular Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights
(Unaudited)

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

			March 31,		December 31,
			2016		2015
(Dollars in millions)
Current liabilities
	Current portion of long-term debt		$	11	$	11
	Accounts payable
		Affiliated		10		10
		Trade		295		275
	Customer deposits and deferred revenues			245		251
	Accrued taxes			24		28
	Accrued compensation			41		68
	Other current liabilities			97		105
				723		748

Deferred liabilities and credits
	Net deferred income tax liability			825		821
	Other deferred liabilities and credits			297		290

Long-term debt				1,626		1,629

Noncontrolling interests with redemption features				2		1

Equity
U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity
	Series A Common and Common Shares, par value $1 per share			88		88
	Additional paid-in capital			1,501		1,497
	Treasury shares			(155)		(157)
	Retained earnings			2,140		2,133
		Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity		3,574		3,561

Noncontrolling interests				10		10

	Total equity			3,584		3,571

Total liabilities and equity			$	7,057	$	7,060

United States Cellular Corporation
Financial Measures and Reconciliations
(Unaudited)

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2016		2015
(Dollars in millions)
Cash flows from operating activities		$	163	$	255
Less: Cash used for additions to property, plant and equipment			103		116
	Free cash flow		60		139
Add: Sprint Cost Reimbursement			2		16
	Adjusted free cash flow ⁽¹⁾	$	62	$	155


(1)		Free cash flow is defined as Cash flows from operating activities less Cash used for additions to property, plant and equipment. Adjusted free cash flow is defined as Cash flows from operating activities (which includes cash outflows related to the Sprint decommissioning), as adjusted for cash proceeds from the Sprint Cost Reimbursement (which are included in Cash flows from investing activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows), less Cash used for additions to property, plant and equipment. Sprint decommissioning and Sprint Cost Reimbursement are further defined and discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. Free cash flow and Adjusted free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures which U.S. Cellular believes may be useful to investors and other users of its financial information in evaluating the amount of cash generated by business operations (including cash proceeds from the Sprint Cost Reimbursement), after Cash used for additions to property, plant and equipment.

SOURCE United States Cellular Corporation