Charter Stock Sinks As Internet Subscriber Losses Worsen; Could A Comcast Merger Be The Next Move? — SkimNews
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- Charter reported third-quarter revenue up 9% year over year to $14.9 billion, yet shares fell 5% in early Friday trading after wider internet subscriber losses, extending a 43% drop in 2026 to date.
- Charter closed its $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox in August, expanding to 45 states; its pro forma results showed 233,000 internet losses—156,000 at legacy Charter and 77,000 at legacy Cox—leaving 34.3 million customers as of September 30.
- Charter added 1.8 million wireless sign-ups over the past year, reaching 13.5 million wireless customers as of September 30 and making wireless a comparative bright spot.
- Charter lost 77,000 video customers in the quarter versus 121,000 a year earlier, leaving 13.8 million; Spectrum’s aggressive streaming integration stemmed the decline more than at many operators.
- Chris Winfrey unveiled a $2 billion cost-cut plan and reaffirmed $1 billion in merger-related synergies, but investors seemed underwhelmed.
- Comcast is about to split NBCUniversal from its connectivity business, which faces similar headwinds.
- Gregory Williams said investors may not get constructive until broadband subscriber losses find a “resting place”; the TD Cowen analyst identified a Comcast-Charter tie-up as a possible next catalyst that may need to occur sooner given midterm-election results.
Why it matters: For Charter shareholders, the $34.5 billion Cox deal still came with 233,000 broadband losses in pro forma results: the stock fell 5% Friday and is down 43% in 2026. The promised $2 billion in cost cuts and $1 billion in merger synergies did not quell investor concerns, leaving subscriber stabilization as management’s clearest test.
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