Core Viewpoint - A lawsuit has been filed against Charter Communications, Inc. and certain senior executives for potential violations of federal securities laws, particularly related to the impact of the Affordable Connectivity Program's termination on the company's customer base and earnings [1][2]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, captioned Sandoval v. Charter Communications, Inc., No. 1:25-cv-06747, with claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [2]. - Investors have until October 14, 2025, to request to be appointed to lead the case [2]. Group 2: Company Background - Charter is a leading broadband and cable operator that participated in the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provided funding to subsidize high-speed internet plans for low-income households [3]. - The ACP ended in June 2024 due to a lack of federal funding, leading to customer declines for Charter [3]. Group 3: Financial Impact - During the relevant period, Charter claimed to have successfully managed the risks associated with the end of the ACP, stating that the impact was behind them [4]. - However, the company continued to experience declines in internet customers and revenue, contradicting its earlier statements [4]. - In Q2 2025, Charter reported a decrease of 117,000 total internet customers, including approximately 50,000 disconnects related to the ACP's end, nearly double the disconnects from the previous quarter [5]. - Following this announcement, Charter's stock price fell by $70.25 per share, or 18.4%, from $380.00 on July 24, 2025, to $309.75 on July 25, 2025 [5].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a Sell rating for Charter Communications Inc. (CHTR) due to ongoing competitive challenges from both high-end fiber competitors and low-end fixed wireless services [2][12]. Core Insights - Charter Communications has announced an agreement to acquire Cox Communications in a cash and stock transaction valued at $34.5 billion, which is expected to provide significant scale benefits and approximately $500 million in annualized cost synergies [1][3]. - The acquisition is projected to be accretive to free cash flow per share, with Cox being acquired at an EV/EBITDA multiple of 6.4x, while Charter currently trades at 6.5x [1][3]. - The combined entity will have a broadband customer base of 35.9 million, making it the largest cable operator by passings at 69.5 million, surpassing Comcast's 64 million [3]. Transaction Details - The acquisition is expected to close in mid-2026, with Cox owning 23% of the combined entity's shares at the time of closure [3]. - Charter anticipates revenue and EBITDA growth from the deal, driven by churn reduction and enhanced competition for national business customers [3]. - Cox currently has 5.9 million broadband customers with a penetration rate of 48%, while Charter has 30 million broadband customers with a 53% penetration rate [3]. Financial Metrics - The report sets a 12-month price target for Charter at $315, indicating a downside potential of 26.3% from the current price of $427.25 [11][15]. - Revenue forecasts for Charter are projected to be $55.1 billion in 2024, with EBITDA expected to reach $22.6 billion [15]. - Charter's free cash flow yield is estimated at 6.8% for 2025, with a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 4.1x [15].