Simple Concepts Research Group

Here’s Why Investors Are Betting On US Cellular (NYSE: USM)

by | Mar 22, 2022 | 52 Week Lows, Stock Picks


us cellular corporation usm stock valuation

US Cellular Corp. (USM) Company Overview & Stock Price Forecast

This article provides a brief analysis and stock rating for US Cellular (USM) including an updated stock price target. Additional data on the company’s earnings yield, price/earnings ratio, return on invested capital and YTD performance are discussed as well.

US Cellular Fundamentals

USM Stock Rating

Stock Price Target: $37.91

In the section below, we discuss the earnings yield, P/E, return on invested capital and YTD performance for US Cellular in comparison to the Wireless Telecom industry and the S&P 500.

US Cellular is a Small Cap company with a Market Cap of $2.61B.

How are investors using US Cellular earnings yield to assess the company?

US Cellular (USM)_ Earnings Yield in Comparison to the Wireless Telecom Industry, S&P 500 and 10 Year Treasury Rate

The earnings yield is used to show the percentage of a company’s earnings per share. Investors typically use earnings yield to determine which assets are underpriced or overpriced relative to other variables, like sector, industry or bond yields. Simply put, the earnings yield of a company can be used to assess how expensive a company is in relation to the earnings that are generated. When valuing companies, the SIS Research Group does not utilize the inverse P/E ratio to calculate the earnings yield. Instead, we use an adjusted earning yield calculation to capture variation amongst companies (i.e. debt and tax rates).

The current earnings yield for US Cellular is 18.28%, in comparison to 3.93% for the S&P 500 and -0.72% for the 10-year treasury bond. The median earnings yield for the Wireless Telecom industry is 12.84%.

What does US Cellular Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E) tell investors about the company?

US Cellular (USM)_ Price-to-Earnings, Price-to-Sales and Price-to-Book Value in Comparison to the Wireless Telecom Industry and the S&P 500

The price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) is a relatively popular metric used by investors and analysts for valuing a company’s stock. The P/E ratio can be used to show how a stock’s valuation compares to other companies and the total market. Investors use the P/E ratio to determine what the market is willing to pay today based on a company’s past or future earnings. A high P/E ratio could mean that a stock’s price is too high relative to earnings, which could be a signal that a stock is currently overvalued. In turn, a low P/E ratio could indicate that a company’s current stock price is low relative to earnings. 

US Cellular is currently trading at a P/E of 17.07. The P/E for the Wireless Telecom industry is 20.94 and the P/E for the S&P 500 is 25.45.

What is the current Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S) for US Cellular?

The Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S) looks at a company’s market cap and revenue to determine valuation. The P/S ratio is calculated by taking a company’s market cap and dividing by the total sales or revenue. The P/S ratio gives an idea of how much the market values every dollar of a company’s sales and can be effective in valuing unprofitable growth stocks or companies that are currently undergoing special situations or challenges. A lower the P/S ratio can be an indicator of good value.

US Cellular is currently trading at a P/S of 0.64. The P/S for the Wireless Telecom industry is 1.70 and the P/S for the S&P 500 is 2.95.

How does US Cellular Price-to-BookRatio (P/B) compare to the Wireless Telecom industry?

Price-to-book value (P/B) is the ratio of the market value of a company’s shares divided by its book value of equity (the value of it’s assets on the books). The book value is the difference between the book value of assets and liabilities. Typically, investors use the P/B ratio to assess if a stock is valued properly (a value of one means that the stock price is trading in line with the book value of the company). A company with a high P/B ratio could mean the stock price is overvalued as well as the converse.

US Cellular P/B ratio is 0.57. The P/B for the Wireless Telecom industry is 1.92 and the P/B for the S&P 500 is 4.54.

How attractive is US Cellular Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) to investors?

US Cellular (USM)_ Return on Invested Capital in Comparison to the Wireless Telecom Industry and the S&P 500

Investors use the return on invested capital (ROIC) to assess how efficient a company is at turning capital into profits. The ROIC is the amount of money a company makes on it’s investments that is above the average cost of debt and equity.

Investors can use the ROIC to provide context for metrics like the (P/E) ratio. For instance, when used in isolation a low P/E ratio could suggest a company is oversold but the decline could be because a company is no longer generating value for shareholders. Conversely, companies that consistently generate high rates of ROIC can plausibly trade at a premium compared to other stocks, even if their P/E ratios are high.

US Cellular ROIC is currently 1.96% in comparison to 3.93% for the Wireless Telecom industry and 9.10% for the S&P 500.

US Cellular (USM)_ Price Target & 52-Week Price Range

How has USM stock performed over the past year? What is the current analyst price target?

Over the past 52 weeks, US Cellular has traded between the range of $25.44 and $39.96.

The current Analyst Price Target for US Cellular is $37.91.

What is US Cellular YOY Performance in comparison to its industry and the total market?

The YOY performance for US Cellular is -15.65%. The Wireless Telecom industry has a YOY performance of -0.47% in comparison to the YOY S&P 500 performance of 21.19%.

US Cellular (USM)_ YOY Performance in Comparison to the Wireless Telecom Industry and the S&P 500

Recent Financial Results (Q4, 2021)

  • Total operating revenues of $1.06B for the fourth quarter of 2021, versus $1.07B for the same period one year ago
  • Total operating revenues of $4.12B and $4.03B for the years ended 2021 and 2020
  • Net income attributable to shareholders and related diluted earnings per share were $27M and $0.31, respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to $5M and $0.06, respectively, in the same period one year ago

Stock Price Target: $37.91


Company Overview

USM Stock Rating

United States Cellular Corporation provides wireless telecommunications services in the United States. The company offers wireless services, including voice, messaging, and data services. It also provides devices, such as smartphones and other handsets, tablets, wearables, mobile hotspots, routers, and internet of things devices.

The company was incorporated in 1983 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. United States Cellular Corporation is a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. The current CEO is Laurent Therivel.

Be sure to add US Cellular (USM) to your Watch List and if you haven’t done so already, check in on the performance of our Current Portfolio. Keep it simple and always do your due diligence.

This material is provided for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. The information contained herein should not solely be used for the formation of an investment decision, whether you are a long term or short term investor.