Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR) operates as a broadband connectivity and cable operator company serving residential and commercial customers. Valued at $17.9 billion by market cap, the company offers cable broadcasting, internet, voice, and mass media services.
Shares of this broadband giant have considerably underperformed the broader market over the past year. CHTR has declined 44% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 20.5%. In 2026, CHTR’s stock fell 28.1%, compared to the SPX’s 12.1% rise on a YTD basis.
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Narrowing the focus, CHTR’s underperformance looks more pronounced compared to iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF (IYZ). The exchange-traded fund has gained about 40.9% over the past year. Moreover, the ETF’s 27% returns on a YTD basis outshine the stock’s losses over the same time frame.
www.barchart.com CHTR underperformed on continued Internet subscriber declines and a YoY revenue drop. Management cited competition from fixed wireless and fiber, with CEO Christopher Winfrey noting "softer gross additions" as the primary driver while churn was stable. Going forward, management expects broadband to stabilize and return to growth via converged bundles, speed upgrades, and improved NPS, plus lower capex to over $8 billion after 2028.
On Jul. 24, CHTR shares closed down by 2.5% after reporting its Q2 results. Its EPS of $10.66 beat Wall Street expectations of $9.96. The company’s revenue was $13.53 billion, topping Wall Street forecasts of $13.52 billion.
For the current fiscal year, ending in December, analysts expect CHTR’s EPS to grow 18% to $42.72 on a diluted basis. The company’s earnings surprise history is disappointing. It missed the consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters while surpassing the forecast on another occasion.
Among the 24 analysts covering CHTR stock, the consensus is a “Hold.” That’s based on seven “Strong Buy” ratings, 13 “Holds,” and four “Strong Sells.”
www.barchart.com This configuration is less bearish than a month ago, with five analysts suggesting a “Strong Sell.”
On Aug. 21, Bernstein analyst Laurent Yoon maintained a “Hold” rating on CHTR and set a price target of $150.
The mean price target of $202.39 represents a 34.8% premium to CHTR’s current price levels. The Street-high price target of $435 suggests an ambitious upside potential of 189.7%.
On the date of publication, Neha Panjwani did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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