Charter Announces Third Quarter 2025 Results

STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Charter Communications, Inc. (along with its subsidiaries, the "Company" or "Charter"), which operates the Spectrum brand, today reported financial and operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025.

• Third quarter total Internet customers declined by 109,000. As of September 30, 2025, Charter served 29.8 million Internet customers.
• Third quarter total mobile lines increased by 493,000. As of September 30, 2025, Charter served 11.4 million mobile lines.
• As of September 30, 2025, customer relationships totaled 31.1 million, excluding mobile-only relationships.
• Third quarter revenue of $13.7 billion declined by 0.9% year-over-year, driven by lower residential video and advertising sales revenues. Residential connectivity revenue grew 3.8% year-over-year.
• Net income attributable to Charter shareholders totaled $1.1 billion in the third quarter.
• Third quarter Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $5.6 billion declined by 1.5% year-over-year.
• Third quarter capital expenditures totaled $3.1 billion and included $1.0 billion of line extensions.
• Third quarter net cash flows from operating activities totaled $4.5 billion, compared to $3.9 billion in the prior year.
• Third quarter free cash flow¹ of $1.6 billion was consistent with the prior year period as lower cash taxes and a more favorable working capital benefit year-over-year were offset by higher capital expenditures.
• During the third quarter, Charter purchased 7.6 million shares of Charter Class A common stock and Charter Communications Holdings, LLC ("Charter Holdings") common units totaling $2.2 billion.

"We are operating well in a competitive environment, where consumer products and applications haven't yet caught up with our uniquely differentiated network capabilities," said Chris Winfrey, President and CEO of Charter. "In the meantime, our service delivery improvements are being recognized, and we are saving customers hundreds and often thousands of dollars per year with our products. And our focus is on free cash flow growth for shareholder value creation."

Key Operating Results

Third quarter total Internet customers decreased by 109,000, compared to a decline of 110,000 during the third quarter of 2024, which included the impact of disconnects related to the end of the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program in the third quarter of 2024. Spectrum Internet^® delivers the fastest Internet speeds¹ in the nation. Spectrum is evolving its connectivity network to offer symmetrical and multi-gigabit Internet speeds across its entire footprint and has launched symmetrical Internet service in several markets. Unlike competitors, Spectrum upgrades its network to serve all of its passings and can do so at a much lower cost. Spectrum Advanced WiFi provides customers an optimized home network while providing greater control of connected devices with enhanced security and privacy. Spectrum expects to complete its network evolution initiative in 2027.

During the third quarter of 2025, Charter added 493,000 total mobile lines, compared to growth of 545,000 during the third quarter of 2024. Spectrum Mobile™ is available to all new and existing Spectrum Internet customers and offers the fastest overall speeds,² with plans that include 5G access, do not require contracts and include taxes and fees in the price. Spectrum Mobile is central to Charter's converged network strategy to provide customers a differentiated connectivity experience with highly competitive, simple data plans and pricing.

Total video customers decreased by 70,000 in the third quarter of 2025, compared to a decline of 294,000 in the third quarter of 2024, with the improvement driven by new and simplified pricing and packaging launched in September 2024 and benefits from the inclusion of programmers' streaming applications in Spectrum's expanded basic packages. As of September 30, 2025, Charter had 12.6 million total video customers.

Spectrum TV Select video customers now receive up to approximately $116 per month (soon to be approximately $128 per month) of programmers' streaming application retail value at no extra cost, including the ad-supported versions of Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited, HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock, AMC+, ViX, Tennis Channel and Fox One, with Discovery+ and BET+ launching soon. This programmer streaming application inclusion is part of Charter's broader video evolution strategy to provide flexible packages with enhanced value, whether through full packages with seamless entertainment, smaller video packages or a suite of a-la-carte programmers' streaming application options for broadband customers. In October 2025, Spectrum unveiled the Spectrum App Store, an innovative digital marketplace where Spectrum TV customers can activate, manage and upgrade the streaming apps included with their video plans. The Spectrum App Store also allows Spectrum customers without a traditional TV package to purchase and manage streaming apps à la carte.

During the third quarter of 2025, total wireline voice customers declined by 200,000, compared to a decline of 288,000 in the third quarter of 2024. As of September 30, 2025, Charter had 6.2 million total wireline voice customers.

Charter continues to work with federal, state and local governments to bring Spectrum Internet to unserved and underserved communities. During the third quarter of 2025, Charter activated 124,000 subsidized rural passings. Within Charter's subsidized rural footprint, total customer relationships increased by 52,000 in the third quarter of 2025.

Third Quarter Financial Results

(in millions)

Revenues

Third quarter revenue decreased by 0.9% year-over-year to $13.7 billion, driven by lower residential video and advertising sales revenues, partly offset by higher residential mobile service and Internet revenues.

Residential revenue totaled $10.6 billion in the third quarter, a decrease of 1.1% year-over-year, driven by a year-over-year decline in residential customers of 2.1%, partly offset by a year-over-year increase in monthly residential revenue per residential customer of 1.0%.

Third quarter 2025 monthly residential revenue per residential customer totaled $122.63, an increase of 1.0% compared to the prior year period. The growth was driven by promotional rate step-ups, rate adjustments and the growth of Spectrum Mobile, partly offset by a lower mix of video customer relationships, a higher mix of lower priced video packages within Charter's video customer base and $106 million of costs allocated to programmer streaming applications and netted within video revenue versus $25 million in the prior year period.

Internet revenue grew by 1.7% year-over-year to $6.0 billion, driven by promotional rate step-ups, rate adjustments and a favorable change in bundled revenue allocation year-over-year, partly offset by a decline in Internet customers year-over-year.

Third quarter mobile service revenue totaled $954 million, an increase of 19.2% year-over-year, driven by mobile line growth, partly offset by less favorable bundled revenue allocation year-over-year.

Video revenue totaled $3.4 billion in the third quarter, a decrease of 9.3% compared to the prior year period, driven by a decline in video customers during the last year, a higher mix of lower priced video packages within Charter's video customer base, $106 million of costs allocated to programmer streaming applications and netted within video revenue and more unfavorable bundled revenue allocation year-over-year, partly offset by promotional rate step-ups and video rate adjustments that pass through programmer rate increases.

Voice revenue decreased by 7.9% year-over-year to $332 million, driven by a decline in wireline voice customers, partly offset by voice rate adjustments.

Commercial revenue increased by 0.9% year-over-year to $1.8 billion, driven by mid-market and large business revenue growth of 3.6% year-over-year, partly offset by a decline in small business revenue of 0.9%. Mid-market and large business revenue excluding wholesale increased by 4.0% year-over-year, mostly reflecting PSU growth. The year-over-year decrease in third quarter 2025 small business revenue was driven by a decline in small business customer relationships year-over-year.

Third quarter advertising sales revenue of $356 million decreased by 21.3% compared to the year-ago quarter, primarily driven by lower political revenue. Excluding political revenue in both periods, advertising sales revenue decreased by 0.5% year-over-year due to a more challenged local and national advertising market, mostly offset by higher advanced advertising revenue.

Other revenue totaled $836 million in the third quarter, an increase of 10.7% compared to the third quarter of 2024, primarily driven by higher mobile device sales.

Operating Costs and Expenses

Third quarter programming costs decreased by $152 million, or 6.5% as compared to the third quarter of 2024, reflecting fewer video customers, a higher mix of lower cost packages within Charter's video customer base and $106 million of costs allocated to programmer streaming applications and netted within video revenue versus $25 million in the prior year period, partly offset by contractual programming rate increases and renewals.

Other costs of revenue increased by $73 million, or 4.6% year-over-year, primarily driven by higher mobile service direct costs and mobile device sales, partly offset by lower franchise and regulatory fees and lower advertising sales costs given lower political revenue.

Field and technology operations expenses increased by $3 million, or 0.3% year-over-year, primarily driven by higher network utility costs, offset by lower labor expense.

Customer operations expenses decreased by $19 million, or 2.4% year-over-year, primarily due to a decrease in bad debt expense.

Marketing and residential sales expenses increased by $50 million, or 5.4% year-over-year, due to a change in sales mix to higher cost sales channels.

Other expenses increased by $8 million, or 0.7% as compared to the third quarter of 2024.

Net Income Attributable to Charter Shareholders

Net income attributable to Charter shareholders totaled $1.1 billion in the third quarter of 2025, compared to $1.3 billion in the third quarter of 2024, due to lower Adjusted EBITDA, higher other operating expense primarily due to merger and acquisition costs related to the previously announced Cox transaction and severance costs.

Net income per basic common share attributable to Charter shareholders totaled $8.50 in the third quarter of 2025 compared to $8.99 during the same period last year. The decrease was primarily the result of the factors described above, partly offset by a 6.0% decrease in basic weighted average common shares outstanding versus the prior year period.

Adjusted EBITDA

Third quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $5.6 billion declined by 1.5% year-over-year, reflecting a decline in revenue of 0.9% and a decrease in operating expenses of 0.5%.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures totaled $3.1 billion in the third quarter of 2025, an increase of $488 million compared to the third quarter of 2024, driven by higher CPE, upgrade/rebuild (primarily network evolution) and scalable infrastructure spend.

Charter continues to expect full year 2025 capital expenditures to total approximately $11.5 billion. The actual amount of capital expenditures in 2025 will depend on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the pace of Charter's network evolution and expansion initiatives, supply chain timing and growth rates in Charter's residential and commercial businesses.

Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow

During the third quarter of 2025, net cash flows from operating activities totaled $4.5 billion, an increase from $3.9 billion in the prior year. The year-over-year increase was primarily due to lower cash taxes and a favorable working capital benefit year-over-year.

Free cash flow in the third quarter of 2025 totaled $1.6 billion, an increase of $2 million compared to the third quarter of 2024. The year-over-year increase in free cash flow was primarily driven by higher net cash flows from operating activities, mostly offset by higher capital expenditures.

Liquidity & Financing

As of September 30, 2025, total principal amount of debt was $95.0 billion and Charter's credit facilities provided approximately $4.0 billion of additional liquidity in excess of Charter's $464 million cash position.

In September 2025, Charter Communications Operating, LLC ("Charter Operating") and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.25 billion of 5.850% senior secured notes due December 2035 at a price of 99.932% of the aggregate principal amount and $750 million of 6.700% senior secured notes due December 2055 at a price of 99.832% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds were used for general corporate purposes, including to repay certain indebtedness, including Charter Operating's 6.150% senior secured notes due 2026, to fund potential buybacks of Charter Class A common stock and Charter Holdings common units, and to pay related fees and expenses.

Share Repurchases

During the three months ended September 30, 2025, Charter purchased 7.6 million shares of Charter Class A common stock and Charter Holdings common units for $2.2 billion.

Webcast

Charter will host a webcast on Friday, October 31, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) related to the contents of this release.

The webcast can be accessed live via the Company's investor relations website at ir.charter.com. Participants should go to the webcast link no later than 10 minutes prior to the start time to register. The webcast will be archived at ir.charter.com two hours after completion of the webcast.

Additional Information Available on Website

The information in this press release should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and footnotes contained in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, which will be posted on the "Results & SEC Filings" section of the Company's investor relations website at ir.charter.com, when it is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). A slide presentation to accompany the conference call and a trending schedule containing historical customer and financial data will also be available in the "Results & SEC Filings" section.

Use of Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow Information

The Company uses certain measures that are not defined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") to evaluate various aspects of its business. Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, net income attributable to Charter shareholders and net cash flows from operating activities reported in accordance with GAAP. These terms, as defined by Charter, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are reconciled to net income attributable to Charter shareholders and net cash flows from operating activities, respectively, in the Addendum to this release.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income attributable to Charter shareholders plus net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock compensation expense, other income (expenses), net and other operating (income) expenses, net, such as special charges, merger and acquisition costs and (gain) loss on sale or retirement of assets. As such, it eliminates the significant non-cash depreciation and amortization expense that results from the capital-intensive nature of the Company's businesses as well as other non-cash or special items, and is unaffected by the Company's capital structure or investment activities. However, this measure is limited in that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues and the cash cost of financing. These costs are evaluated through other financial measures.     

Free cash flow is defined as net cash flows from operating activities, less capital expenditures and changes in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures.   

Management and Charter's board of directors use Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow to assess Charter's performance and its ability to service its debt, fund operations and make additional investments with internally generated funds. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA generally correlates to the leverage ratio calculation under the Company's credit facilities or outstanding notes to determine compliance with the covenants contained in the facilities and notes (all such documents have been previously filed with the SEC). For the purpose of calculating compliance with leverage covenants, the Company uses Adjusted EBITDA, as presented, excluding certain expenses paid by its operating subsidiaries to other Charter entities. The Company's debt covenants refer to these expenses as management fees, which were $350 million and $1.1 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively, and $373 million and $1.1 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively.

About Charter

Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) is a leading broadband connectivity company with services available to 58 million homes and small to large businesses across 41 states through its Spectrum brand. Founded in 1993, Charter has evolved from providing cable TV to streaming, and from high-speed Internet to a converged broadband, WiFi and mobile experience. Over the Spectrum Fiber Broadband Network and supported by our 100% U.S.-based employees, the Company offers Seamless Connectivity and Entertainment with Spectrum Internet^®, Mobile, TV and Voice products.

More information about Charter can be found at corporate.charter.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This communication includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, regarding, among other things, our plans, strategies and prospects, both business and financial.  Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations as reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations.  Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, without limitation, the factors described under "Risk Factors" from time to time in our filings with the SEC.  Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this communication may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believe," "future," "expect," "anticipate," "should," "planned," "will," "may," "intend," "estimated," "aim," "on track," "target," "opportunity," "tentative," "positioning," "designed," "create," "predict," "project," "initiatives," "seek," "would," "could," "continue," "ongoing," "upside," "increases," "grow," "focused on" and "potential," among others.  Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this communication are set forth in our annual report on Form 10-K, and in other reports or documents that we file from time to time with the SEC, and include, but are not limited to:

• our ability to sustain and grow revenues and cash flow from operations by offering Internet, mobile, video, voice, advertising and other services to residential and commercial customers, to adequately meet the customer experience demands in our service areas and to maintain and grow our customer base, particularly in the face of increasingly aggressive competition, the need for innovation and the related capital expenditures;
• the impact of competition from other market participants, including but not limited to incumbent telephone companies, direct broadcast satellite ("DBS") operators, wireless broadband and telephone providers, digital subscriber line ("DSL") providers, fiber to the home providers and providers of video content over broadband Internet connections;
• general business conditions, unemployment levels and the level of activity in the housing sector and economic uncertainty or downturn;
• our ability to develop and deploy new products and technologies including consumer services and service platforms;
• any events that disrupt our networks, information systems or properties and impair our operating activities or our reputation;
• the effects of governmental regulation on our business including subsidies to consumers, subsidies and incentives for competitors, costs, disruptions and possible limitations on operating flexibility related to, and our ability to comply with, regulatory conditions applicable to us;
• our ability to procure necessary services and equipment from our vendors in a timely manner and at reasonable costs including in connection with our network evolution and rural construction initiatives;
• our ability to obtain programming at reasonable prices or to raise prices to offset, in whole or in part, the effects of higher programming costs (including retransmission consents and distribution requirements);
• the ability to hire and retain key personnel;
• the availability and access, in general, of funds to meet our debt obligations prior to or when they become due and to fund our operations and necessary capital expenditures, either through (i) cash on hand, (ii) free cash flow, or (iii) access to the capital or credit markets;
• our ability to comply with all covenants in our indentures and credit facilities, any violation of which, if not cured in a timely manner, could trigger a default of our other obligations under cross-default provisions;
• our ability to satisfy the conditions to consummate the Liberty Broadband Combination and/or the Cox Transactions and/or to consummate the Liberty Broadband Combination and/or the Cox Transactions in a timely manner or at all;
• the risks related to us being restricted in the operation of our business while the Liberty Broadband Merger Agreement and the Cox Communications Transaction Agreement are in effect;
• other risks related to the Liberty Broadband Combination as described in the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus with respect to the Liberty Broadband Combination, filed by Charter on January 22, 2025, including the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Where You Can Find More Information" included therein; and
• other risks related to the Cox Transactions as described in the definitive proxy statement with respect to the Cox Transactions, filed by Charter on July 2, 2025, including the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Where You Can Find More Information" included therein.

All forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.  We are under no duty or obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this communication.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SOURCE Charter Communications, Inc.