The portfolio of stocks I started building on September 8, at a one stock per week pace for the next year, is named Vista. I will select its fifteenth stock this weekend. Vista is the sixth portfolio I've built (at a one dividend dog per-week pace) since 2014. Six portfolios = VI for Vista!

Vista is planned to Look Ahead for Outstanding, Proven, Dividend Winners. (Like Aristocrats)

Today I'll review the fifth of five communication services sector stock candidates vying to be that fifteenth selection in Vista.

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Today we look at a mid-cap telecom services company named Telephone and Data Systems Inc. Its trading ticker symbol is TDS. This is my second report on Telephone and Data Systems Inc for Vista. I last reviewed this company on November 17th. One month ago.

Telephone and Data Systems Inc is a diversified telecommunications operator that provides mobile, telephone, and broadband services to more than 7 million customers. 

The firm's mobile operations are conducted by its 81%-owned subsidiary, U.S. Cellular, which serves nearly 5 million wireless customers. The firm's wireline operations are conducted by its wholly-owned subsidiary, TDS Telecom, which services nearly 1 million phone and Internet access lines in predominantly rural and suburban areas.

The company offers its services to approximately 6 million connections. It sells its products through retail sales, direct sales, third-party retailers, and independent agents, as well as through website and telesales. 

The company was incorporated in 1968 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

I use three key data points to gauge dividend equities or funds like Telephone and Data Systems Inc:

(1) Price

(2) Dividends

(3) Returns

Those three basic keys best tell whether a company has made, is making, and will make money. 

TDS Price

Telephone and Data Systems's price per share closed at $18.64 yesterday. A year ago its price was $24.35. Price is down $5.71 or about 23.5% on the year.