Charter Communications slips as Cox deal timing and leverage concerns resurface

Charter Communications (CHTR) is down 4.1% today. Here is some analysis on what might have caused this price movement.

Analysis: The day’s drop appears tied to renewed investor focus on merger-execution risk after the recent federal approval of Charter’s planned Cox Communications acquisition. With multiple state-level reviews still pending and the transaction expected to add meaningful leverage, the stock may be seeing post-rally profit-taking and a higher risk premium.

Details:

Federal regulators approved Charter’s proposed Cox Communications deal in late February, but the transaction still needs clearance from state regulators before it can close.

Charter has warned California regulators that delays could push the deal past a federal clearance deadline (September 15, 2026), potentially forcing a refiling and extending the timeline.

In its merger-related disclosures, Charter has highlighted that failure to meet closing conditions could delay or prevent completion and that the transaction would involve significant financing needs, including cash consideration and the assumption of Cox Communications’ debt.

This could be because traders are repricing the combined company’s balance-sheet and regulatory timeline risks after the initial optimism from the FCC decision.

Sources:

SEC, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Broadband Breakfast

Disclaimer: This price movement analysis was generated with the help of AI. Please double-check the information provided for mistakes.

$CHTR Insider Trading Activity

$CHTR insiders have traded $CHTR stock on the open market 1 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 0 have been purchases and 1 have been sales.

Here’s a breakdown of recent trading of $CHTR stock by insiders over the last 6 months:

DAVID C MERRITT sold 1,200 shares for an estimated $271,416

To track insider transactions, check out Quiver Quantitative's insider trading dashboard.

$CHTR Hedge Fund Activity

We have seen 334 institutional investors add shares of $CHTR stock to their portfolio, and 602 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.

Here are some of the largest recent moves:

CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS removed 6,511,392 shares (-71.3%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $1,359,253,080
CAPITAL RESEARCH GLOBAL INVESTORS added 3,626,135 shares (+304.9%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $756,955,681
DODGE & COX added 2,801,671 shares (+23.7%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $584,848,821
VOYAGER GLOBAL MANAGEMENT LP added 1,725,000 shares (+1380.0%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $360,093,750
UBS AM, A DISTINCT BUSINESS UNIT OF UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC removed 1,709,783 shares (-72.0%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $356,917,201
FIRST EAGLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC added 1,617,148 shares (+119.6%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $337,579,645
STATE STREET CORP removed 1,384,824 shares (-17.4%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $289,082,010

To track hedge funds' stock portfolios, check out Quiver Quantitative's institutional holdings dashboard.

$CHTR Government Contracts

We have seen $673,215 of award payments to $CHTR over the last year.

Here are some of the awards which we have have seen pay out the most over the last year:

CABLE TV: $181,283
ANALOG TO DIGITAL CABLE TV CONVERSION/PROGRAMMING: $104,280
COMMERCIAL INTERNET SERVICES: $50,855
S4: SPECTRUM - FY26 INMATE CABLE TV SERVICE: $48,060
S4 CABLE TV FOR INMATES 1/1/25-4/15/25 FY 2025: $41,400

To track government contracts to publicy traded companies, check out Quiver Quantitative's government contracts dashboard.

$CHTR Analyst Ratings

Wall Street analysts have issued reports on $CHTR in the last several months. We have seen 3 firms issue buy ratings on the stock, and 1 firms issue sell ratings.

Here are some recent analyst ratings:

Wells Fargo issued a "Underweight" rating on 02/02/2026
Benchmark issued a "Buy" rating on 02/02/2026
Citigroup issued a "Buy" rating on 11/03/2025
B of A Securities issued a "Buy" rating on 09/24/2025

To track analyst ratings and price targets for $CHTR, check out Quiver Quantitative's $CHTR forecast page.

$CHTR Price Targets

Multiple analysts have issued price targets for $CHTR recently. We have seen 11 analysts offer price targets for $CHTR in the last 6 months, with a median target of $240.0.

Here are some recent targets:

Bryan Kraft from Deutsche Bank set a target price of $235.0 on 02/03/2026
Steven Cahall from Wells Fargo set a target price of $200.0 on 02/02/2026
Matthew Harrigan from Benchmark set a target price of $455.0 on 02/02/2026
Michael Ng from Goldman Sachs set a target price of $185.0 on 02/02/2026
Laurent Yoon from Bernstein set a target price of $240.0 on 01/16/2026
John Hodulik from UBS set a target price of $233.0 on 12/22/2025
Jonathan Atkin from RBC Capital set a target price of $265.0 on 11/03/2025

This article is not financial advice. See Quiver Quantitative's disclaimers for more information. Note that there may be inaccuracies due to mistakes in ticker-mapping, and other anomalies.