Charter Communications (NASDAQ:CHTR) shares climbed on Friday after the cable giant reported fourth-quarter earnings that surpassed analyst expectations, even as the company continued to lose high-speed internet subscribers to wireless competitors.
The results suggest that Charter’s push into mobile services and cost-management efforts are helping to cushion the blow from a cooling broadband market.
The Stamford, Connecticut-based company reported adjusted earnings of $10.34 per share for the quarter, comfortably beating the $9.86 consensus estimate.
While revenue fell 2.3% to $13.6 billion—missing the $13.73 billion projected by Wall Street—investors focused on the company’s resilient profitability and aggressive share buybacks.
Charter repurchased approximately $5.4 billion of its own stock throughout 2025.
Operationally, Charter's "Spectrum" brand is navigating a split reality.
The company lost 119,000 internet customers in the quarter, as fixed-wireless offerings from mobile carriers continue to lure away budget-conscious consumers.
However, its own mobile segment remains a bright spot, adding 428,000 lines to reach a total of 11.8 million.