Charter Communications (CHTR) is getting hit after reporting first-quarter 2026 results on April 24, 2026 that underscored pressure in its core broadband business. While revenue came in slightly ahead of expectations, earnings missed estimates, and investors reacted sharply to continued customer losses and weaker profitability trends, pushing the stock sharply lower in the latest session.

Charter posted Q1 EPS of $9.17 versus the $9.91 consensus estimate, while revenue was $13.6 billion versus $13.55 billion expected. Operationally, Spectrum Internet customers declined by 120,000 in the quarter, reinforcing concerns that fiber and fixed-wireless competition is continuing to erode the traditional cable broadband base. The company also reported Adjusted EBITDA of $5.6 billion (down 2.2% year over year) and free cash flow of $1.4 billion (down from $1.6 billion a year ago), alongside higher capital expenditures of $2.9 billion.

Beyond the headline EPS shortfall, the market is treating the quarter as a read-through that near-term fundamentals remain challenged: declining internet customers, revenue down 1.0% year over year, and lower EBITDA and free cash flow. Even with mobile lines rising by 368,000 in the quarter to 12.1 million total, investors appear to be prioritizing the trajectory of broadband net adds and cash generation, given Charter’s capital intensity and leverage sensitivity.