Core Thesis - Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. (CCOI) is viewed as a deep-value investment opportunity despite its high leverage and transitional status in the telecom sector, with significant assets and growth potential being underappreciated [2][5]. Financial Overview - As of September 18th, CCOI's share price was $37.92, with trailing and forward P/E ratios of 94.04 and 5.00k respectively [1]. - The company has $2.3 billion in debt and has experienced net losses, raising concerns about its financial health [2]. Strategic Developments - A key event for Cogent was the acquisition of Sprint's wireline assets from T-Mobile for $1, which included extensive fiber assets and a $700 million subsidy over 54 months, enhancing Cogent's service capabilities [3]. - The acquisition has allowed Cogent to reactivate dormant assets into high-margin optical wavelength services and data centers, expanding its operational footprint significantly [3]. Growth Catalysts - Cogent benefits from a tax shield through 2030, which is expected to enhance cash generation from EBITDA [4]. - The company plans to monetize 24 non-core data centers and 38 million IPv4 addresses, potentially generating $1.8–$2.6 billion, which could eliminate net debt and reduce interest costs [4]. - The wavelength business is projected to reach $500 million in revenue by 2028, with gross margins near 90%, contributing to long-term EBITDA growth towards $500 million and free cash flow of $278 million [4]. Market Positioning - Despite concerns over CEO share sales, these actions are not fundamentally linked to the company's performance, as Cogent focuses on high-margin wavelengths and data center interconnects [5]. - The combination of asset monetization, debt reduction, and growth in optical transport positions Cogent as a compelling investment with a favorable risk/reward profile [5]. Historical Context - The stock price of CCOI has depreciated approximately 48.06% since a previous bullish thesis was published in January 2025, yet the underlying network and operational capabilities remain intact [6].

Financial Performance - Service revenue for Q2 2025 was $246.2 million, a decrease of 0.3% from Q1 2025 and a decrease of 5.5% from Q2 2024 [2] - EBITDA increased by 10.8% to $48.5 million for Q2 2025 from Q1 2025 and increased by 78.8% from $27.1 million for Q2 2024 [1][14] - GAAP gross profit decreased by 0.3% to $33.5 million for Q2 2025, but increased by 10.7% from Q2 2024 [8] - Non-GAAP gross profit decreased by 0.8% to $109.3 million for Q2 2025, while it increased by 4.4% from Q2 2024 [10] Revenue Breakdown - On-net revenue was $132.3 million for Q2 2025, an increase of 2.1% from Q1 2025 but a decrease of 6.0% from Q2 2024 [4] - Off-net revenue was $102.2 million for Q2 2025, a decrease of 4.8% from Q1 2025 and a decrease of 8.3% from Q2 2024 [5] - Wavelength revenue was $9.1 million for Q2 2025, an increase of 27.2% from Q1 2025 and an increase of 149.8% from Q2 2024 [6][15] - Revenue from leasing IPv4 addresses was $15.3 million for Q2 2025, an increase of 6.3% from Q1 2025 and an increase of 40.1% from Q2 2024 [15] Customer Metrics - Total customer connections decreased by 7.8% from June 30, 2024, to 118,730 as of June 30, 2025 [18] - On-net customer connections increased by 0.02% from June 30, 2024, to 87,407 as of June 30, 2025 [18] - Off-net customer connections decreased by 19.9% from June 30, 2024, to 26,239 as of June 30, 2025 [18] - Wavelength customer connections increased by 11.1% sequentially from Q1 2025 [18] Dividend and Stock Buyback - Cogent approved an increase of $0.005 per share to its regular quarterly dividend for a total of $1.015 per share for Q3 2025, marking the fifty-second consecutive quarterly dividend increase [21] - In Q2 2025, Cogent purchased 229,507 shares of its common stock for $11.5 million at an average price of $50.18 per share under its buyback program [23] - An additional 63,487 shares were purchased in July 2025 for $3.1 million at an average price of $48.13 per share [23] Strategic Developments - The acquisition of Sprint has allowed Cogent to construct a wavelength network, expanding its product offerings to include optical wavelength services [20] - As of June 30, 2025, Cogent was offering optical wavelength services in 938 data centers across the United States, Mexico, and Canada [20]