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Charter Communications, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 24 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue fell 1.7% year-over-year: Revenue was $13.5 billion, down from $13.8 billion, driven by lower residential video revenue, partly offset by mobile service and higher mobile device sales. Source
  • Mobile lines added 406,000: Mobile lines grew by 406,000 in the quarter to 12.5 million. Mobile service revenue rose 18.9% on line growth and rate adjustments. Source
  • Internet customers declined 172,000: Internet customers fell to 29.4 million, a larger decline than the 116,000 of a year earlier. Internet revenue fell 3.2%. Source
  • Programming costs fell 9.7%: Programming costs fell $218 million, or 9.7%, including $251 million of streaming app costs netted within video revenue, against $67 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 4.3%: Adjusted EBITDA was $5.4 billion, down 4.3%, or 3.2% excluding transition expenses. The margin was 40.3% against 41.4% a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year capex guidance held: Management kept its full year 2026 capital expenditure figure of about $11.4 billion, which excludes Cox transaction impacts. Source
  • Free cash flow down $77 million: Free cash flow was $969 million, down $77 million, from an unfavorable change in accrued capital expenditure expenses, partly offset by higher operating cash flow. Source

“We operate in a competitive environment across all of our products, and our strategy for growing connectivity services is simple -- deliver the best products, at the best overall value, with the best service,”

Chris Winfrey, President and CEO of Charter

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026, excluding the Cox transactionapproximately $11.4 billionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The $1,000 savings guarantee now covers new or existing Internet customers switching two or more mobile lines. The first quarter release limited it to customers signing up. Source
  • New: Netflix ad-supported and ad-free versions became purchasable through the Spectrum App Store from June 2026. Source
  • New: Discovery+ is now in the list of included streaming apps. The first quarter release said Discovery+ was launching soon. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue fell 1.7% year-over-year: Revenue was $13.5 billion, down from $13.8 billion, driven by lower residential video revenue, partly offset by mobile service and higher mobile device sales. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose on fewer shares: Diluted EPS was $10.66 against $9.18. Net income attributable to Charter shareholders was $1.3 billion, down 0.7%. Management tied the EPS rise mainly to fewer shares. Source
  • Debt gain offset lower EBITDA: A gain on debt extinguishment from open market repurchases offset lower Adjusted EBITDA in net income for the quarter. Source

Segments and revenue lines

  • Residential revenue down 3.5%: Residential revenue was $10.4 billion, down 3.5%, with residential customers down 1.8% and monthly residential revenue per customer down 1.8%. Source
  • Commercial revenue rose 1.5%: Commercial revenue reached $1.9 billion. Mid-market and large business rose 2.8%, mostly on PSU growth, and small business rose 0.7%. Source
  • Advertising rose on political revenue: Advertising sales rose 12.3% to $416 million, mainly from political revenue. Excluding political in both periods, advertising sales fell 4.6%. Source

“As the nation’s leading provider of converged connectivity services, Spectrum will have additional scale to develop new products with industry and technology partners.”

Chris Winfrey, President and CEO of Charter

Products and customers

  • Mobile lines added 406,000: Mobile lines grew by 406,000 in the quarter to 12.5 million. Mobile service revenue rose 18.9% on line growth and rate adjustments. Source
  • Internet customers declined 172,000: Internet customers fell to 29.4 million, a larger decline than the 116,000 of a year earlier. Internet revenue fell 3.2%. Source
  • Video and voice losses narrowed: Video customers fell 21,000 against 80,000 a year earlier, helped by simpler pricing and streaming apps in expanded basic packages. Wireline voice customers fell 178,000. Source

Costs and operating expenses

  • Programming costs fell 9.7%: Programming costs fell $218 million, or 9.7%, including $251 million of streaming app costs netted within video revenue, against $67 million a year earlier. Source
  • Other cost of revenue rose 11.3%: Other costs of revenue rose $186 million, or 11.3%, mainly on mobile device sales, mobile service direct costs and political advertising costs. Source
  • Cox transition costs recorded: Transition expenses were $65 million, incurred to prepare for Cox integration. Total operating costs and expenses were flat at $8.1 billion. Source

“And by saving customers money with Spectrum products, serviced by 100% US-based employees -- we will drive customer and shareholder value for years to come.”

Chris Winfrey, President and CEO of Charter

Margins and pricing

  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 4.3%: Adjusted EBITDA was $5.4 billion, down 4.3%, or 3.2% excluding transition expenses. The margin was 40.3% against 41.4% a year earlier. Source
  • Residential revenue per customer slipped: Monthly residential revenue per customer was $117.52, down 1.8%. Excluding streaming app costs netted in video revenue, the decline was 0.1%. Source
  • Small business revenue per customer up: Monthly small business revenue per customer rose 1.4% to $165.27, partly offset by a 0.8% decline in small business customer relationships. Source

Demand and subscriber base

  • Customer relationships total 31.5 million: Customer relationships were 31.5 million and connectivity customers 30.4 million at June 30. Penetration of estimated passings fell to 53.4% from 55.7%. Source
  • Rural subsidized activations continued: Charter activated 127,000 subsidized rural passings in the quarter, and customer relationships in that rural footprint rose by 47,000. Source
  • Seriously past-due accounts declined: Customers more than 60 days past due were about 84,000 at June 30, 2026, against 99,400 a year earlier. Source

Capital expenditures

  • Capex flat at $2.9 billion: Capital expenditures were $2.9 billion, in line with the prior year. Line extensions were lower and upgrade/rebuild spend, mainly network evolution, was higher. Source
  • Full-year capex guidance held: Management kept its full year 2026 capital expenditure figure of about $11.4 billion, which excludes Cox transaction impacts. Source
  • Spend depends on several factors: Management said 2026 capital expenditures depend on the pace of network evolution, supply chain timing and growth rates in residential and commercial businesses. Source

Cash flow and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow rose 9.0%: Net cash flows from operating activities were $3.9 billion, up from $3.6 billion, mainly on lower cash taxes, partly offset by lower Adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Free cash flow down $77 million: Free cash flow was $969 million, down $77 million, from an unfavorable change in accrued capital expenditure expenses, partly offset by higher operating cash flow. Source
  • Buybacks and notes repurchased: Charter bought 4.0 million Class A shares for $838 million. It also bought $1.2 billion of notes in principal for $1.0 billion in cash. Source
  • Debt and liquidity position: Debt principal was $93.8 billion at June 30, with $509 million of cash and about $3.7 billion of additional credit facility liquidity. Source

Product and network strategy

  • Network moving to symmetrical speeds: Charter is evolving its connectivity network to offer symmetrical and multi-gigabit Internet speeds across its footprint, with symmetrical service launched in several markets. Source
  • Invincible WiFi router launched: The Invincible WiFi router, launched in February 2026, combines WiFi 7 with 5G cellular and battery backup to keep customers connected during outages. Source
  • Mobile positioned as converged core: Management describes Spectrum Mobile as central to the converged network strategy, with simple data plans and pricing for customers. Source

Coming up, as management said on 24 July 2026

  • Cox transaction closing: Management expects to deliver Spectrum's strategy to Cox customers and communities once the transaction closes. No closing date is given. Source
  • Network evolution to finish 2027: Spectrum expects to finish its network evolution initiative in 2027. Source
  • Form 10-Q to be filed: The Form 10-Q for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 will be posted on the investor relations website when filed with the SEC. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total mobile lines Source12.5 million (406,000 net additions in the quarter)
Internet customers Source29.4 million (172,000 net decline in the quarter)
Video customers Source12.5 million (21,000 net decline in the quarter)
Wireline voice customers Source5.7 million (178,000 decline in the quarter)
Monthly residential revenue per residential customer Source$117.52 (down 1.8%)
Capital expenditures Source$2.9 billion

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management says it operates in a competitive environment across all of its products. Source
  • Operational: Field and technology costs rose on higher vehicle fuel costs and medical expenses. Source
  • Operational: Management says 2026 capital expenditures depend on network pace, supply chain timing and growth rates. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management continues to expect the $11.4 billion capex figure it gave earlier in the year. Source
  • Not stated: Management says it continues its work with governments on rural and underserved community Internet access. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.