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Stock-Based Compensation | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2024
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Noncash Expense [Abstract] |
Stock-Based Compensation | Note 19 Stock-Based Compensation TDS Consolidated The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense recognized during 2024, 2023 and 2022:
Year Ended December 31, | 2024 |  | 2023 |  | 2022
(Dollars in millions) |  |  |  |  |
Stock option awards | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1 |
Restricted stock unit awards | 41 |  |  | 32 |  |  | 28 |
Performance share unit awards | 28 |  |  | 7 |  |  | 11 |
Awards under Non-Employee Director compensation plan | 2 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 2 |
Total stock-based compensation, before income taxes | 71 |  |  | 41 |  |  | 42 |
Income tax benefit | (18) |  |  | (10) |  |  | (11) |
Total stock-based compensation expense, net of income taxes | $ | 53 |  |  | $ | 31 |  |  | $ | 31 |
At December 31, 2024, unrecognized compensation cost for all stock‑based compensation awards was $64 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years. The following table provides a summary of the classification of stock-based compensation expense included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the years ended:
December 31, | 2024 |  | 2023 |  | 2022
(Dollars in millions) |  |  |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative expense | $ | 63 |  |  | $ | 36 |  |  | $ | 36 |
Cost of services expense | 8 |  |  | 5 |  |  | 6 |
Total stock-based compensation expense | $ | 71 |  |  | $ | 41 |  |  | $ | 42 |
TDS’ tax benefits realized from the vesting of awards totaled $18 million in 2024. TDS (Excluding UScellular) The information in this section relates to stock‑based compensation plans using the equity instruments of TDS. Participants in these plans are employees of TDS Corporate and TDS Telecom and Non-employee Directors of TDS. Information related to plans using the equity instruments of UScellular are shown in the UScellular section following the TDS section. Under the TDS Long-Term Incentive Plans, TDS may grant fixed and performance-based incentive and non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and deferred compensation stock unit awards to key employees. TDS had reserved 24,798,000 Common Shares at December 31, 2024, for equity awards granted and to be granted under the TDS Long-Term Incentive Plans in effect. At December 31, 2024, the only types of awards outstanding are fixed non-qualified stock option awards, restricted stock unit awards, performance share awards and deferred compensation stock unit awards. TDS has also established a Non-Employee Directors’ compensation plan under which it has reserved 451,000 TDS Common Shares at December 31, 2024, for issuance as compensation to members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of TDS. TDS uses treasury stock to satisfy requirements for shares issued pursuant to its various stock-based compensation plans. Long-Term Incentive Plans – Restricted Stock Units TDS grants restricted stock unit awards to key employees that vest after three years or one-third graded vesting each year. Each outstanding restricted stock unit is convertible into one Common Share Award. The restricted stock unit awards currently outstanding were granted in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and vest in 2025, 2026 and 2027. TDS estimates the fair value of restricted stock units by reducing the grant-date price of TDS’ shares by the present value of the dividends expected to be paid on the underlying shares during the requisite service period, discounted at the appropriate risk-free interest rate, since employees are not entitled to dividends declared on the underlying shares while the restricted stock is unvested. The fair value is then recognized as compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the vesting period. A summary of TDS nonvested restricted stock units and changes during 2024 is presented in the table below:
Common Restricted Stock Units | Number |  | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at December 31, 2023 | 3,635,000 |  |  | $ | 9.76 |
Granted | 717,000 |  |  | $ | 20.12 |
Vested | (1,357,000) |  |  | $ | 12.87 |
Forfeited | (319,000) |  |  | $ | 11.50 |
Nonvested at December 31, 2024 | 2,676,000 |  |  | $ | 11.75 |
The total fair values as of the respective vesting dates of restricted stock units vested during 2024, 2023 and 2022 were $28 million, $4 million and $7 million, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value per share of the restricted stock units granted in 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $20.12, $5.23 and $15.34, respectively. Long-Term Incentive Plans – Performance Share Units TDS grants performance share units to certain TDS employees that generally vest after three years. For the 2022 grants, each recipient may be entitled to shares of TDS common stock equal to 0% to 200% of a communicated target award depending on the achievement of predetermined performance-based and market-based operating targets over three years. Performance-based operating targets for the 2022 TDS grants vary by business unit and may include Total Revenue, Return on Capital and Adjusted EBITDA. Market-based operating targets are measured against TDS’ total shareholder return relative to a defined peer group. For the 2023 TDS grants, each recipient may be entitled to shares of TDS common stock equal to 0% to 160% or 0% to 150% of a communicated target award depending on the achievement of predetermined performance-based operating targets over the performance period, which is a one-year period from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023, and, for certain grants, a market-based operating target over the performance period, which is a three-year period from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025. The performance-based operating targets for the 2023 TDS grants vary by business unit and may include UScellular’s 2023 Performance Award Payout Percentage, TDS Telecom’s 2023 Performance Award Payout Percentage, Total Revenue, Return on Capital and Adjusted EBITDA. The market-based operating target is measured against TDS’ total shareholder return relative to a defined peer group. For the 2024 TDS grants, each recipient may be entitled to shares of TDS common stock equal to 0% to 192% or 0% to 200% of a communicated target award depending on the achievement of predetermined performance-based operating targets over the performance period, which is a one or two-year period from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024 or 2025, and, for certain grants, a market-based operating target over the performance period, which is a three-year period from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2026. The performance-based operating targets for the 2024 TDS grants vary by business unit and may include UScellular’s 2024 Performance Award Payout Percentage, TDS Telecom’s 2024 Performance Award Payout Percentage, Total Revenue, Broadband Net Additions and Adjusted EBITDA. The market-based operating target is measured against TDS’ total shareholder return relative to a defined peer group. Performance shares accumulate dividend equivalents, which are forfeitable if the performance metrics are not achieved. If the predetermined performance-based and market-based operating targets are met, the units granted in 2022, 2023 and 2024 will vest in 2025, 2026 and 2027, respectively. TDS estimates fair value of performance-based operating targets using TDS’ closing stock price on the date of grant. An estimate of the number of performance units expected to vest based upon achieving the performance-based operating targets is made and the fair value is expensed on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Each reporting period during the performance period these estimates are reviewed and stock compensation expense is adjusted accordingly to reflect the new estimates of total units expected to vest. If any part of the performance share units do not vest as a result of the established performance-based operating targets not being achieved, the related stock compensation expense is reversed. TDS estimates the market-based operating target’s fair value using an internally developed valuation model. This estimated fair value approximated TDS’ closing stock price at the date of grant for market-based share units granted in 2024, 2023 and 2022. This market-based operating target value determined at the date of grant is expensed on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period and the stock compensation expense is not adjusted during the performance period for the subsequent changes in the value of the market-based unit awards and will not be reversed even if the market-based operating target is not achieved. TDS modified certain performance share unit awards in 2023, which resulted in the recognition of $2 million of incremental expense in 2023. A summary of TDS nonvested performance share units and changes during 2024 is presented in the table below:
Common Performance Share Units | Number |  | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at December 31, 2023 | 2,201,000 |  |  | $ | 12.17 |
Granted | 468,000 |  |  | $ | 20.26 |
Vested | (192,000) |  |  | $ | 23.61 |
Change in units based on approved performance factors | 69,000 |  |  | $ | 23.76 |
Forfeited | (500,000) |  |  | $ | 16.80 |
Accumulated dividend equivalents | 31,000 |  |  | $ | 11.22 |
Nonvested at December 31, 2024 | 2,077,000 |  |  | $ | 12.48 |
The total fair value of performance share units that vested during 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $3 million, $5 million and $5 million, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value per share of the performance share units granted in 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $20.26, $7.14 and $17.42, respectively. Long-Term Incentive Plan – Stock Options TDS' last stock option grant occurred in 2021. Stock options outstanding at December 31, 2024, expire between 2025 and 2031. A summary of TDS stock options and changes during 2024 is presented in the tables and narrative below.
Common Share Options | Number of Options |  | Weighted Average Exercise Prices |  | Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in millions) |  | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years)
Outstanding at December 31, 2023 | 2,517,000 |  |  | $ | 26.72 |  |  |  |  |
Exercised | (357,000) |  |  | $ | 25.69 |  |  |  |  |
Forfeited | (4,000) |  |  | $ | 25.36 |  |  |  |  |
Expired | (543,000) |  |  | $ | 26.88 |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding at December 31, 2024 | 1,613,000 |  |  | $ | 26.90 |  |  | $ | 12 |  |  | 2.9
(1,613,000 exercisable) |  |  | $ | 26.90 |  |  | $ | 12 |  |  | 2.9
The aggregate intrinsic value at December 31, 2024, presented in the table above represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value (the difference between TDS’ closing stock prices and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been received by option holders had all options been exercised on December 31, 2024. Long-Term Incentive Plans – Deferred Compensation Stock Units Certain TDS employees may elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of their annual bonuses and to receive a company matching contribution on the amount deferred. All bonus compensation that is deferred by employees electing to participate is immediately vested and is deemed to be invested in TDS Common Share units. Participants receive a 25% stock unit match for amounts deferred up to 50% of their total annual bonus and a 33% match for amounts that exceed 50% of their total annual bonus; such matching contributions also are deemed to be invested in TDS Common Share units and vest over three years. Compensation of Non-Employee Directors TDS issued 49,000, 81,000 and 51,000 Common Shares under its Non-Employee Director plan in 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Dividend Reinvestment Plans TDS had reserved 2,075,000 Common Shares at December 31, 2024, for issuance under Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plans and 561,000 Series A Common Shares for issuance under the Series A Common Share Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan. These plans enabled holders of TDS’ Common Shares to reinvest cash dividends in Common Shares and holders of Series A Common Shares to reinvest cash dividends in Series A Common Shares. The purchase price of the shares is 95% of the market value, based on the average of the daily high and low sales prices for TDS’ Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange for the ten trading days preceding the date on which the purchase is made. These plans are considered non-compensatory plans; therefore, no compensation expense is recognized for stock issued under these plans. UScellular The information in this section relates to stock‑based compensation plans using the equity instruments of UScellular. Participants in these plans are employees of UScellular and Non-employee Directors of UScellular. Information related to plans using the equity instruments of TDS are shown in the previous section. UScellular has established the following stock‑based compensation plans: Long-Term Incentive Plans and a Non-Employee Director compensation plan. Under the UScellular Long-Term Incentive Plans, UScellular may grant fixed and performance-based incentive and non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and deferred compensation stock unit awards to key employees. At December 31, 2024, the only types of awards outstanding are fixed non-qualified stock option awards, restricted stock unit awards, performance share awards and deferred compensation stock unit awards. Under the Non-Employee Director compensation plan, UScellular may grant Common Shares to members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of UScellular or TDS. At December 31, 2024, UScellular had reserved 13,035,000 Common Shares for equity awards granted and to be granted under the Long-Term Incentive Plans and 480,000 Common Shares for issuance under the Non-Employee Director compensation plan. UScellular uses treasury stock to satisfy requirements for Common Shares issued pursuant to its various stock-based compensation plans. Long-Term Incentive Plans – Restricted Stock Units UScellular grants restricted stock unit awards to key employees that generally vest after two years, three years or one-third graded vesting each year. Each outstanding restricted stock unit is convertible into one Common Share Award. The restricted stock unit awards currently outstanding were granted in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and vest in 2025, 2026 and 2027. UScellular modified certain restricted stock unit awards in 2024, which resulted in the recognition of $4 million of incremental expense in 2024. UScellular estimates the fair value of restricted stock units based on the closing market price of UScellular shares on the date of grant. The fair value is then recognized as compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the vesting period. A summary of UScellular nonvested restricted stock units and changes during 2024 is presented in the table below:
Common Restricted Stock Units | Number |  | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at December 31, 2023 | 2,548,000 |  |  | $ | 27.26 |
Granted | 728,000 |  |  | $ | 35.67 |
Vested | (782,000) |  |  | $ | 31.98 |
Forfeited | (56,000) |  |  | $ | 27.68 |
Nonvested at December 31, 2024 | 2,438,000 |  |  | $ | 29.01 |
The total fair value of restricted stock units that vested during 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $28 million, $12 million and $9 million, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value per share of the restricted stock units granted in 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $35.67, $21.15 and $30.35, respectively. Long-Term Incentive Plans – Performance Share Units UScellular grants performance share units to key employees that generally vest after three years. UScellular modified certain performance share unit awards in 2023, which resulted in the recognition of $10 million and $4 million of incremental expense in 2024 and 2023, respectively. UScellular modified certain performance share unit awards in 2024, which resulted in the recognition of $6 million of incremental expense in 2024. For the 2022 grants, each recipient may be entitled to shares of UScellular common stock equal to 75% to 200% of a communicated target award depending on the achievement of a predetermined Return on Capital target over the performance period, which is a three-year period from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024. For the 2023 grants, each recipient may be entitled to shares of UScellular common stock equal to 0% to 150% of a communicated target award depending on the achievement of a predetermined Return on Capital target over the performance period, which is a one-year period from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023. For the 2024 grants, each recipient may be entitled to shares of UScellular common stock equal to 0% to 175% of a communicated target award depending on the achievement of predetermined Return on Capital and Simple Free Cash Flow targets over the performance period, which is a one-year period from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024. The performance share units currently outstanding were granted in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and will vest in 2025, 2026 and 2027, respectively. Additionally, UScellular granted performance share units during 2020 to a newly appointed President and Chief Executive Officer. The recipient may be entitled to shares of UScellular common stock equal to 100% of the communicated target award depending on the achievement of predetermined performance-based operating targets over the performance period, which is any two calendar-year period commencing no earlier than January 1, 2021 and ending no later than December 31, 2026. Performance-based operating targets include Average Total Revenue Growth and Average Annual Return on Capital. If one, or both, of the performance targets are not satisfied, the award will be forfeited. UScellular estimates the fair value of performance share units using UScellular’s closing stock price on the date of grant. An estimate of the number of performance share units expected to vest based upon achieving the performance-based operating targets is made and the aggregate fair value is expensed on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Each reporting period, during the performance period, the estimate of the number of performance share units expected to vest is reviewed and stock compensation expense is adjusted as appropriate to reflect the revised estimate of the aggregate fair value of the performance share units expected to vest. A summary of UScellular’s nonvested performance share units and changes during 2024 is presented in the table below:
Common Performance Share Units | Number |  | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at December 31, 2023 | 1,457,000 |  |  | $ | 27.37 |
Granted | 409,000 |  |  | $ | 36.59 |
Vested | (263,000) |  |  | $ | 20.06 |
Change in units based on approved performance factors | 114,000 |  |  | $ | 23.06 |
Forfeited | (109,000) |  |  | $ | 21.35 |
Nonvested at December 31, 2024 | 1,608,000 |  |  | $ | 31.91 |
The total fair value of performance share units that vested during 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $9 million, $7 million and $6 million, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value per share of the performance share units granted in 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $36.59, $21.26 and $31.35, respectively. Long-Term Incentive Plans – Stock Options UScellular's last stock option grant occurred in 2016. Stock options outstanding, and the related weighted average exercise price, at December 31, 2024 and 2023 were 41,000 units at $45.51 and 112,000 units at $44.34, respectively. All stock options are exercisable and expire between 2025 and 2026. Long-Term Incentive Plans – Deferred Compensation Stock Units Certain UScellular employees may elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of their annual bonuses and to receive a company matching contribution on the amount deferred. All bonus compensation that is deferred by employees electing to participate is immediately vested and is deemed to be invested in UScellular Common Share stock units. The amount of UScellular's matching contribution is a 33% match for the amount of their total annual bonus that is deferred into the program. Matching contributions are also deemed to be invested in UScellular Common Share stock units and vest over three years. Compensation of Non-Employee Directors UScellular issued 20,000, 36,000 and 22,000 Common Shares in 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, under its Non-Employee Director compensation plan.

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