Charter Communications, Inc.
CHTR · NASDAQ
Analyst ratings
hold · 12 ratings
| Date | Firm | Action | Rating | Price target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 14, 2026 | BNP Paribas | Maintains | Underperform | $120.00 |
| July 8, 2026 | Barclays | Maintains | Underweight | $130.00 |
| July 7, 2026 | Wells Fargo | Maintains | Underweight | $160.00 |
| July 2, 2026 | Goldman Sachs | Maintains | Sell | $125.00 |
| July 1, 2026 | B of A Securities | Maintains | Buy | $200.00 |
| June 29, 2026 | Citigroup | Maintains | Buy | $190.00 |
| April 28, 2026 | Citigroup | Maintains | Buy | $230.00 |
| April 27, 2026 | RBC Capital | Maintains | Sector Perform | $220.00 |
| April 23, 2026 | Benchmark | Maintains | Buy | $435.00 |
| February 3, 2026 | Deutsche Bank | Maintains | Hold | $235.00 |
| February 2, 2026 | Goldman Sachs | Maintains | Sell | $185.00 |
| February 2, 2026 | Wells Fargo | Maintains | Underweight | $200.00 |
| February 2, 2026 | Benchmark | Maintains | Buy | $455.00 |
| January 16, 2026 | Bernstein | Maintains | Market Perform | $240.00 |
| January 13, 2026 | Wells Fargo | Downgrades | Underweight | $180.00 |
| December 22, 2025 | UBS | Maintains | Neutral | $233.00 |
| November 3, 2025 | Citigroup | Maintains | Buy | $310.00 |
| November 3, 2025 | RBC Capital | Maintains | Sector Perform | $265.00 |
| November 3, 2025 | Barclays | Maintains | Underweight | $200.00 |
| November 3, 2025 | Wells Fargo | Maintains | Equal-Weight | $240.00 |
| November 3, 2025 | Benchmark | Maintains | Buy | $425.00 |
| November 3, 2025 | Bernstein | Downgrades | Market Perform | $280.00 |
| October 3, 2025 | Keybanc | Maintains | Overweight | $430.00 |
| September 24, 2025 | B of A Securities | Maintains | Buy | $355.00 |
| September 10, 2025 | Bernstein | Maintains | Outperform | $350.00 |
Cox Communications acquisition: Value-creating merger or dangerous leverage trap?
The $34.5 billion Cox acquisition, cleared by both the FCC and DOJ, is expected to generate $800 million in synergies and create the nation's largest cable operator. Combined with Network Evolution completion by 2027, the deal could reignite subscriber growth and restore investor confidence in Charter's long-term competitive positioning.
Charter already carries $93.21 billion in long-term debt at a leverage ratio of 4.15x, and the Cox acquisition piles on an additional $34.5 billion in obligations. With free operating cash flow already constrained by record capex of $11.4 billion, the elevated debt load heightens execution risk and limits financial flexibility.
Broadband subscriber losses: Temporary headwind or structural decline?
Despite the alarming Q1 2026 loss of 120,000 broadband subscribers, Charter's $11.4 billion capital expenditure plan to modernize its network by 2027 is designed to restore competitiveness. Analysts maintaining a Buy consensus with a $196.20 price target believe network upgrades will reverse subscriber erosion over the medium term.
Charter shed 120,000 broadband subscribers in Q1 2026, exceeding analyst expectations of 100,000 losses, while EPS of $9.17 missed the $10.63 estimate. Intensifying competition from fixed wireless and fiber providers signals a structural deterioration in Charter's core broadband business that capital spending alone may not resolve.
Valuation: Deep value opportunity or value trap with unresolved risks?
Charter trades at extremely low valuation multiples, including a P/E of 3.55 and EV/EBITDA of 5.3, alongside strong operating cash flow of $16.08 billion in 2025. With an analyst consensus Buy rating and a $196.20 price target implying substantial upside, the stock is seen as deeply undervalued relative to its cash-generating capacity.
Charter's Financhill Stock Score stands at just 20/100 — 60% below its historic median — with the stock trading well below its 50-day, 200-day moving averages and a MACD of -3.17 signaling persistent selling pressure. Analysts at Goldman Sachs and Barclays have issued Sell ratings, reflecting skepticism that low multiples justify the structural risks.