Charter Communications Stock Falls Nearly 50% in Past Year, Underperforming Nasdaq

Aanchal Sugandh Wed, September 9, 2026 at 11:05 PM PDT | 3 min read

Tickers: CHTR | ^IXIC

Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR) is a telecommunications company that delivers broadband and communications services under its Spectrum brand. Its portfolio spans internet, WiFi, mobile, video, and voice services, as well as business connectivity, fiber solutions, advertising, and media offerings.

Charter serves both residential and business customers, while also catering to communities such as apartment complexes, student housing, and senior living facilities. The company's substantial operating footprint has helped it reach a market cap of nearly $17.4 billion, placing it comfortably above the $10 billion threshold used to define large-cap stocks.

Stock Performance vs. Nasdaq

That scale, however, has not translated into strong stock-market performance. Charter's shares are currently trading 53.2% below their 52-week high of $285.82, reached in September 2025.

The weakness has persisted in the near term as well:

• Past three months: CHTR stock declined 1.1%, while the Nasdaq Composite ($NASX) gained 2.2%.
• Past 52 weeks: CHTR stock plunged 49.2%, while the index gained approximately 20%.
• Year-to-date (YTD): CHTR stock is down 35.9%, compared with a roughly 13% increase for the benchmark.

Technical Indicators

CHTR stock is also under pressure from a technical perspective:

• 200-day moving average: The stock has been trading below its 200-day moving average of $181.59 since the end of April.
• 50-day moving average: The stock fell below its 50-day moving average at the end of April, briefly moved back above that level in August, but has since fallen below the 50-day moving average of $143.27 once again.

Structural Challenges in Broadband

Charter's stock decline points to a deepening structural challenge in broadband rather than one disappointing quarter.

• Q1 FY2026: Results missed on earnings, and the company lost 120,000 internet customers — more than twice the 59,000 decline recorded during the year-earlier period.
• Q2 FY2026: Charter lost 172,000 internet customers, compared with 116,000 shed during the year-earlier period, while also issuing a weaker profit outlook.

Management has acknowledged the challenge, with CEO Chris Winfrey citing fierce competition from fiber and fixed wireless, as well as households increasingly relying solely on mobile service.

Merger and Financial Concerns

Charter's $34.5 billion merger with Cox Communications is adding investor concern, bringing integration risks and near-term costs to an already pressured business. Declining free cash flow and falling broadband average revenue per user (ARPU) further cloud its long-term growth outlook as the industry continues losing ground nationally to fiber and 5G home internet.

Comparison with AT&T

Compared with Charter's steeper slide, rival AT&T Inc. (T) has held up far better:

• Past 52 weeks: AT&T shares have plunged just 14.5%, a much smaller decline by comparison.
• Year-to-date: AT&T has gained 1.3%, marking a sharp contrast in performance between the two telecom peers this year.

Wall Street Outlook

Wall Street is approaching Charter with caution. The 24 analysts covering its stock have assigned it an overall rating of "Hold." The average price target stands at $202.78, representing potential upside of 51.5% from current levels.

On the date of publication, Aanchal Sugandh did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned.