Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR) AI Stock Analysis
CHTR AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchCharter Communications, Inc. is a US broadband connectivity and cable services provider serving approximately 32 million customers in 41 states. The company generated $54.40B in trailing twelve-month revenue with a profit margin of 9.0%, but maintains $95.56B in total debt against $509.0M in cash. Its shares trade at a trailing P/E of 2.9x following a 1-year return of -56.9%.
- Market cap
- $14.31B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $54.40B
- P/E
- 2.9x fwd 2.5x
- 1Y return
- -56.9% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $173.17 57.3% vs last close
Bull case
- Charter trades at a trailing P/E of 2.9x and a forward P/E of 2.5x, well below the median of its S&P 500 Communication Services peers at 20.5x and 15.4x.
- The company generated $4.42B in free cash flow and $16.08B in operating cash flow during FY2025.
- Charter repurchased $5.13B of its stock in FY2025, contributing to a 32.8% reduction in its share count over 5 years.
Bear case
- Charter holds a substantial debt load of $95.56B against $509.0M in cash and short-term investments as of June 30, 2026.
- Top-line growth has turned negative, with revenue contracting 0.6% in FY2025 and falling 1.7% year-over-year in the quarter ended June 30, 2026.
- The stock has declined sharply, posting a 1-year return of -56.9% and trading 35.2% below its 200-day average.
What Charter does
Charter Communications, Inc. operates as a provider of broadband connectivity and cable services across the United States, catering to both residential and commercial customers. The company offers subscription-based internet, video, mobile, and voice services, alongside broadband connectivity solutions including fixed internet, WiFi, and advanced security features. For commercial and carrier organizations, Charter delivers broadband internet access, data networking, fiber connectivity, video entertainment, and telephone services. Serving approximately 32 million customers across 41 states, the Stamford, Connecticut-based company also provides targeted advertising and business WiFi solutions.
Growth and profitability
Between FY2021 and FY2025, Charter's revenue expanded from $51.68B to $54.77B, reflecting a 5-year revenue CAGR of 2.6%. Annual revenue growth slowed from 7.5% in FY2021 to 0.9% in FY2024 and contracted 0.6% in FY2025. Over the same timeframe, net income shifted from $4.65B in FY2021 to $4.99B in FY2025, while gross margin expanded from 39.9% to 46.3% and operating margin rose from 21.0% to 24.4%. For the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue fell 1.7% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings grew 16.1% year-over-year, supporting trailing twelve-month EPS of $38.41.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, Charter held $509.0M in cash and short-term investments compared to $95.56B in total debt, bringing net debt to $95.05B and the debt-to-equity ratio to 5.64. The company recorded a current ratio of 0.36 and shareholders' equity of $16.95B. During FY2025, operating cash flow was $16.08B and free cash flow reached $4.42B. Cash allocation during FY2025 included $11.66B in capital expenditures and $5.13B in share buybacks, which helped drive a 32.8% reduction in share count over 5 years.
Valuation and performance
Charter trades at a trailing P/E of 2.9x and a forward P/E of 2.5x, well below the median of its S&P 500 Communication Services peers at 20.5x and 15.4x, respectively. The company's enterprise value of $109.55B corresponds to an EV to EBITDA multiple of 5.1x, below the peer group median of 11.7x, while its price-to-sales multiple is 0.3x versus the peer median of 1.9x. The stock has trailed the broader market significantly, posting a 1-year return of -56.9% compared to 16.8% for the S&P 500 (SPY).
What analysts expect
Charter holds analyst ratings consisting of 5 Strong Buy, 10 Hold, 2 Sell, and 4 Strong Sell recommendations. The mean price target of $173.17 sits 57.3% above the last close of $110.11. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project revenue of $58.89B and EPS of $40.36, representing 11.5% EPS growth. Over the last 4 quarters, Charter has beaten EPS estimates 2 times. The company's next earnings announcement is scheduled for November 6, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- High leverage is reflected by net debt of $95.05B and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.64 as of June 30, 2026.
- Short interest is elevated, with short percent of float recorded at 41.5%.
- Working capital liquidity appears constrained with a current ratio of 0.36 as of June 30, 2026.
- Quarterly performance has shown inconsistency, with Charter beating EPS estimates in only 2 of the last 4 quarters.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this CHTR AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: CHTR income statement, CHTR balance sheet, CHTR key metrics, CHTR analyst forecast, CHTR chart. See the CHTR stock overview for the latest quote and news.
CHTR AI stock analysis FAQ
What is Charter's current valuation multiple?
Charter trades at a trailing P/E of 2.9x, a forward P/E of 2.5x, and an EV to EBITDA ratio of 5.1x. These multiples are lower than the median of its S&P 500 Communication Services peers, which trade at a trailing P/E of 20.5x and an EV to EBITDA of 11.7x.
How much debt does Charter carry?
As of June 30, 2026, Charter had $95.56B in total debt and $509.0M in cash and short-term investments, resulting in net debt of $95.05B. This represents a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.64.
Does Charter pay a dividend?
Charter does not report dividend payments. Instead, the company returned capital through $5.13B in share buybacks during FY2025.
What are Wall Street analysts expecting for Charter's earnings and price?
Analysts have set a mean price target of $173.17, which is 57.3% above its last close of $110.11. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate EPS of $40.36 on revenue of $58.89B.
When does Charter report earnings next?
Charter is scheduled to report its next earnings on November 6, 2026.