Core Viewpoint - The Zacks Premium service provides tools and resources to help investors make informed decisions and improve their investment confidence through various rankings and scores [1][2]. Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are indicators that rate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum methodologies, assisting investors in selecting stocks likely to outperform the market in the next 30 days [2][3]. - Stocks are rated from A to F, with A being the highest score indicating a better chance of outperforming [3]. Value Score - The Value Score identifies attractive and discounted stocks using ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow [3]. Growth Score - The Growth Score focuses on a company's financial strength and future outlook, analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks with sustainable growth [4]. Momentum Score - The Momentum Score helps investors capitalize on price trends, using factors like one-week price change and monthly earnings estimate changes to identify optimal buying times [5]. VGM Score - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for investors who utilize multiple investing strategies [6]. Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that leverages earnings estimate revisions to assist investors in building successful portfolios [7]. - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have produced an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8]. Stock Selection Strategy - To maximize returns, investors should focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B [10]. - Stocks with a 3 (Hold) rank should also have Style Scores of A or B to ensure potential upside [10]. Company Spotlight: Charter Communications - Charter Communications is the second-largest cable operator in the U.S., serving approximately 30.1 million customers through its Spectrum brand as of December 31, 2024 [12]. - The company holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and a VGM Score of A, making it a strong candidate for growth investors [12][13]. - Charter is forecasted to achieve year-over-year earnings growth of 13.1% for the current fiscal year, with upward revisions in earnings estimates from analysts [13].

Company Performance - Charter Communications (CHTR) has returned 14% year-to-date, outperforming the average gain of 5.2% in the Consumer Discretionary sector [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CHTR's full-year earnings has increased by 4.3% over the past three months, indicating improved analyst sentiment and a stronger earnings outlook [3] Industry Comparison - Charter Communications belongs to the Cable Television industry, which currently ranks 163 in the Zacks Industry Rank, and this group has seen an average loss of 0.6% year-to-date, highlighting CHTR's superior performance [5] - In contrast, Legacy Education Inc. (LGCY), another stock in the Consumer Discretionary sector, has a year-to-date return of 9.4% and belongs to the Schools industry, which is ranked 21 and has gained 7.5% this year [4][6] Sector Ranking - The Consumer Discretionary sector, which includes Charter Communications, is ranked 10 in the Zacks Sector Rank, which evaluates 16 different sector groups based on the average Zacks Rank of individual stocks [2] - Charter Communications currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a favorable position among its peers [3]

Economic Overview - U.S. consumers have regained confidence in the economy following a trade truce between the United States and China, leading to a sharp market rebound [1][2] - Consumer confidence jumped to 98 in May, up 12.3 points from April, significantly exceeding the consensus estimate of 87 [4] - The present situation index increased by 4.8 points to 135.9, while the expectations index surged by 17.4 points to 72.8 [5] Consumer Sentiment - Positive sentiment is attributed to the easing of trade tensions, with 44% of investors believing stocks will rise over the next 12 months, a 6.4% increase from April [5][6] - The labor market outlook improved, with 19.2% expecting more job availability in the next six months [5] Stock Recommendations - Recommended consumer discretionary stocks include Netflix, Inc. (NFLX), JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (JAKK), Kontoor Brands, Inc. (KTB), Fox Corporation (FOX), and Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR) due to positive earnings estimate revisions [2][3] - Each of these stocks carries a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) or 1 (Strong Buy) [3] Company Insights - **Netflix, Inc. (NFLX)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 27.7% for the current year, with a 3% improvement in earnings estimates over the past 60 days [8][9] - **JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (JAKK)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 12.7%, with a 3.1% improvement in earnings estimates [10][11] - **Kontoor Brands, Inc. (KTB)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 9.6%, with a 2.9% improvement in earnings estimates [12][13] - **Fox Corporation (FOX)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 32.36%, with a 2% improvement in earnings estimates [14] - **Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 13.2%, with a 4.5% improvement in earnings estimates [15][16]

Charter Communications (CHTR) recently announced that the Spectrum TV App is now available on LG and VIZIO smart TVs, expanding the app’s reach to more than 90% of connected TVs in the United States. The launch allows customers to stream live TV and on-demand content directly through the Spectrum TV App without a cable box, offering a streamlined and flexible viewing experience.This move is part of Spectrum’s continued strategy to enhance accessibility and convenience for its video customers. By broadening ...

Economic Indicators - The U.S. Consumer Confidence Index rebounded to 98 in May, significantly above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 86, after five months of decline [1] - The Present Situation Index rose to 135.9 in May from 131.1 in April, while the Expectations Index climbed to 72.8 from 55.4, although it remains below the recession threshold of 80 [4] - 44% of respondents expect stocks to rise over the next 12 months, up from 37.6% in April, and 19.2% expect more jobs in the next six months, compared to 13.9% in April [5] Consumer Discretionary Stocks - Investment in consumer discretionary stocks is expected to be fruitful, with five stocks highlighted: Netflix Inc. (NFLX), The Walt Disney Co. (DIS), Charter Communications Inc. (CHTR), Roku Inc. (ROKU), and Roblox Corp. (RBLX), all carrying a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [3] Netflix Inc. (NFLX) - NFLX beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in Q1 2025, maintaining healthy engagement levels despite trade-related challenges [8] - The company launched its Ad Suite in the U.S. on April 1, with plans for international expansion, which is expected to drive subscriber and ARPU growth [9] - NFLX has an expected revenue growth rate of 14% and earnings growth rate of 27.7% for the current year, with a 3% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last 60 days [11] The Walt Disney Co. (DIS) - DIS reported steady Q2 fiscal 2025 results with year-over-year revenue and earnings growth, driven by domestic parks and experiences [12] - The company expects double-digit percentage operating income growth in fiscal 2025, with ESPN achieving significant viewership growth [13] - DIS has an expected revenue growth rate of 3.8% and earnings growth rate of 15.1% for the current year, with a 4.6% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in the last 30 days [15] Charter Communications Inc. (CHTR) - CHTR's Q1 performance benefited from a 33.5% year-over-year increase in mobile service revenues, adding 514K new mobile lines [16] - The launch of satellite-based services through a collaboration with Skylo is expected to drive growth [17] - CHTR has an expected revenue growth rate of 0.3% and earnings growth rate of 13.2% for the current year, with a 5.1% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in the last 30 days [19] Roku Inc. (ROKU) - ROKU benefits from increased user engagement, with the Roku OS being the 1 selling TV OS in the U.S. and streaming hours on The Roku Channel up 82% year over year [20] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 10.5% and earnings growth rate of 80.9% for the current year, with a 39.3% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in the last 30 days [21] Roblox Corp. (RBLX) - RBLX operates an online entertainment platform, offering tools for users to explore and create 3D digital worlds [22] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 22.5% and earnings growth rate of 2.1% for the current year, with a 4.1% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in the last 30 days [23]

Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the 'long' context, investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.Even ...

19 May 2025 | 6:07AM EDT Charter Communications Inc. (CHTR): Announces agreement to acquire Cox; takeaways with industry context Key takeaways: Per the company, the announced merger (if consummated) will provide Charter with significantly increased scale tied to network, procurement, and other operating costs - with ~$500 mn in announced cost synergies. On a standalone basis, we see no change to the competitive challenges the company faces in the medium term. The company expects the transaction to be potent ...

Core Viewpoint - BofA Securities analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich maintains a Buy rating on Charter Communications, Inc. with a price target of $450, following the announcement of a merger with Cox Communications valued at $34.5 billion, which includes an equity purchase consideration of $21.9 billion and the assumption of $12.6 billion in Cox debt and lease obligations [1][2]. Group 1: Merger Details - The $21.9 billion equity consideration consists of $11.9 billion in common units, $6 billion in preferred units, and $4 billion in cash [2]. - The pro forma economic ownership of the combined entity will be 67% Charter, 23% Cox, and 10% Advance/Newhouse, with the transaction implying a ~6.44x EV/2025E EBITDA multiple before synergies [2]. - With an estimated $500 million in synergies, the EBITDA multiple is expected to drop below 6x by year three [2]. Group 2: Market Expansion - The merger will expand Charter's reach to 69.5 million passings, 37.6 million customers, and 35.9 million broadband subscribers, allowing for a more aggressive pursuit of mid-sized commercial and enterprise markets [3]. - Charter will be able to apply its pricing and packaging strategy across an additional 12.3 million passings [3]. Group 3: Regulatory Environment - The deal is not expected to face significant regulatory hurdles and is likely to close in mid-2026, as the companies do not have overlapping footprints [4]. - The merger's scale is only slightly larger than Comcast's 64 million passings, and the regulatory approval for the Time Warner Cable/Charter deal in 2015/2016 took less than 12 months [4]. Group 4: Competitive Landscape - Comcast is unlikely to present a competing bid due to a more challenging regulatory path [5]. - The merger is anticipated to enhance revenue growth across broadband, video, and mobile, improve margins, increase free cash flow, and reduce leverage, despite potential integration challenges [5].

Core Viewpoint - The merger between Charter Communications and Cox Communications, valued at $34.5 billion including debt, is set to create a significant player in the U.S. cable and broadband industry, enhancing competition against Comcast [1][2]. Deal Overview - Charter will pay $21.9 billion in equity and assume approximately $12.6 billion of Cox's debt, with Cox receiving $4 billion in cash, $6 billion in convertible preferred units, and about 33.6 million common units, representing roughly 23% ownership in the combined entity [3]. - The merged entity will operate under the Cox Communications name, while the consumer-facing brand will remain Spectrum, with headquarters in Stamford, CT [4]. Market Impact - The merger will expand Charter's footprint to approximately 46 states, reaching nearly 70 million homes and businesses, with a combined customer base of 38 million [5]. - The deal is expected to generate approximately $500 million in annualized cost synergies within three years of closing [6]. Analyst Sentiment - Following the merger announcement, analysts have turned bullish on Charter, with Oppenheimer upgrading the stock to Outperform and setting a price target of $500, citing expectations for significant share buybacks and increased free cash flow by 2027 [8]. - Pivotal Research raised its price target on Charter to $600 from $540, viewing the acquisition as attractive and likely to accelerate growth, with no major regulatory hurdles anticipated [9]. ETFs to Consider - Key communication services ETFs that may benefit from the merger include: - Vanguard Communication Services ETF (VOX), with AUM of $4.5 billion and a Zacks ETF Rank 3 [10][11]. - Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC), with $21.5 billion in assets and a Zacks ETF Rank 1 [12]. - iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF (IYZ), with AUM of $399.9 million and a Zacks ETF Rank 3 [13]. - Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (FCOM), with $1.5 billion in assets and a Zacks ETF Rank 3 [14].

Company Overview - Charter Communications is the second largest cable operator in the United States and a leading broadband communications company providing video, Internet, and voice services [11] - The company served approximately 30.1 million customers in 41 states through its Spectrum brand as of December 31, 2024 [11] Investment Ratings - Charter Communications holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [11] - The company has a VGM Score of A, indicating strong overall performance across value, growth, and momentum metrics [11][12] Growth Potential - Charter Communications has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 13.2% for the current fiscal year [12] - Three analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2025, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $1.68 to $39.58 per share [12] - The company boasts an average earnings surprise of 5.1%, indicating a positive trend in earnings performance [12]