New York, Jan 30, 2026, 2:54 PM EST — Regular session
Charter Communications shares climbed on Friday following a narrower-than-anticipated decline in broadband subscribers, relieving some strain on its main business. The stock gained 8% to $206.76 in afternoon trading, having surged nearly 12% earlier in the day.
Broadband losses have become the key metric for U.S. cable, as fixed-wireless home internet delivered via cellular networks and fresh fiber deployments steadily erode what was once a cable-dominated market.
Investors are closely monitoring whether combining mobile and home internet services can cut churn, despite the heavier reliance on discounts and perks to retain customers.
Comcast revealed on Thursday a sharper-than-anticipated drop in broadband subscribers, highlighting ongoing pressures in the industry. The company lost 181,000 broadband customers in Q4, and analysts see no significant growth returning before 2027.
Charter reported a loss of 119,000 internet customers in Q4, beating analysts’ forecast of a 131,970 drop, per Visible Alpha. Mobile line additions came in at 428,000, though that fell short of expectations. CEO Chris Winfrey said, “In 2026, we’ll nearly complete our rural build-out, providing us with over 1.7 million new subsidized rural passings.” Revenue slipped about 2% to $13.60 billion, missing estimates. New Street Research’s Vikash Harlalka noted, “We think it will be a while before we see a major improvement in Charter’s broadband subscriber trends.” Reuters
A recent filing revealed revenue dipped 2.3% year-over-year to $13.6 billion, while adjusted EBITDA, a key operating profit measure, edged down 1.2% to $5.7 billion. Net income attributable to shareholders dropped to $1.3 billion. The company pointed to weaker operating profit and merger and acquisition expenses linked to its Cox Communications deal. Charter also projected capital spending around $11.4 billion in 2026 as it pushes forward with network upgrades and expansion.
“Passings” is industry jargon for the number of homes and businesses a network can access. It’s key because expanding into rural areas increases the potential customer base—but also raises costs upfront, before anyone actually signs up.
Still, the relief trade has its boundaries. Charter’s revenue came in below expectations, mobile line additions lagged forecasts, and fierce competition keeps companies spending and discounting to hold onto market share.
Next week, all eyes will be on whether the stock can maintain its gains as analysts update their models post-results. Investors will also track if the rate of internet customer losses continues to slow in the first quarter.
The company’s annual report for 2025 (Form 10-K) is the next major catalyst. Investors will be digging into it for clearer insights on spending strategies and the broadband outlook as 2026 approaches.
