NEW YORK, Jan 30, 2026, 13:22 EST — Regular session
Shares of Liberty Broadband Corp (LBRDA) climbed roughly 6% on Friday, largely tracking Charter Communications following the cable company’s report of a less severe decline in broadband subscribers than anticipated. Liberty gained 6.1% to $47.25 by midday, after hitting an intraday high of $49.90, while Charter rose 6.3%.
This shift is crucial as broadband has turned into the key metric for U.S. cable firms, facing pressure from fiber upgrades and wireless carriers selling home internet. Charter’s results often set the tone for Liberty shareholders, given how much Liberty’s value depends on Charter.
Charter struck a deal this year to acquire Liberty Broadband through an all-stock transaction. They aim to wrap it up by June 30, 2027, contingent on spinning off Liberty’s Alaska unit, GCI, among other conditions. Until then, Liberty remains a proxy for Charter and a trade tied to the deal. (Liberty Broadband Corporation)
Charter reported losing 119,000 internet customers in Q4, less than the 131,970 drop forecast by analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha. The company credited discounted bundles combining mobile and home internet for slowing churn. It gained 44,000 video subscribers and 428,000 mobile lines, though revenue slipped about 2% to $13.60 billion, falling short of the $13.73 billion estimate, according to LSEG data. CEO Chris Winfrey said the firm expects to “nearly complete our rural build-out” by 2026, expanding its reach to over 1.7 million subsidized rural “passings”—an industry term for connectable homes. Still, New Street Research’s Vikash Harlalka noted it “will be a while” before broadband subscriber trends turn significantly positive. (Reuters)
The read-through comes a day after Comcast reported a bigger-than-anticipated drop in broadband subscribers, highlighting mounting competition. The company pointed to aggressive fiber provider deals and cheaper fixed-wireless options—home internet over cellular networks—as key factors. Comcast plans to hold prices steady this year while focusing on bundling and offering free mobile lines. (Reuters)
Traders are now weighing if Charter’s bundling move marks a clear shift or just a gradual drip of change.
Broadband shrank again this quarter, and mobile net additions fell short, continuing to weigh on the sector’s growth narrative. Changes to the timeline or structure of the Charter-Liberty deal, along with the needed GCI separation before it, could also alter how Liberty’s stock moves relative to Charter’s in daily trading.
Liberty has scheduled its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call for Feb. 11 at 11:15 a.m. ET, per its investor site. That date is marked on many calendars as the next key event. Investors will be tuning in for updates on the GCI plan and any hints on whether the Charter merger timeline remains on track. (Liberty Broadband Corporation)
