Data as of 2026-07-30 11:35:33 UTC | Sector: Media | Exchange: NASDAQ
| Metric | Grade | Score | Evidence | Horizon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FINAL ESEN MASTER SCORE | C+ | 62 | Compelling valuation (PE 3.89, fwd PE 2.96) offset by structural headwinds (−1.5% revenue YoY, weak profitability flags, −53% 52-week return) | 6–12M |
| SA Quality/Value Composite | B− | 78 | Exceptional valuation multiples (PEG 0.71, fwd PE 2.96 near distressed levels) with moderate quality degradation (−1.5% rev growth, null dividend, constrained profitability flags) | 6–12M |
| Zacks Earnings Momentum | C | 55 | EPS growth +5.45% YoY provides modest positive momentum; however, revenue contraction (−1.5%) and absence of earnings date guidance limit visibility | 1–3M |
| Institutional & Smart Money Flow | B | 72 | Severe 52-week drawdown (−53%) and +3.74% intraday recovery suggest tactical re-entry; no direct insider/institutional data, but valuation extreme may attract value rotation | 1–3M |
| Growth Sustainability & Moat | D+ | 48 | Revenue YoY −1.5% signals structural decline (cord-cutting pressure in Media/cable); no hyper-growth flag; moat constrained by secular headwinds | 6–12M |
| Valuation & Safety (Pre-Penalty) | A− | 85 | PE 3.89, fwd PE 2.96, PEG 0.71, and EPS $38.53 imply deep discount; low beta (0.69) and zero high-valuation flag reinforce safety; 52-week range $111.55–$309.40 shows extreme volatility | 6–12M |
| Penalty Overlay | −15 pts | −15 | Applied for: (1) negative revenue growth (structural decline), (2) weak profitability signals (null strong_profitability flag), (3) zero dividend yield (shareholder return constrained), (4) data gaps (earnings date, TTM revenue, target price) | 6–12M |
| CONFIDENCE SCORE | C+ | 68 | Solid quote & metric foundation; significant data gaps (earnings date, revenue TTM, target consensus) constrain forward visibility; PEG and multiples reliable | 6–12M |
| Volatility & Drawdown Risk | D | 42 | 52-week return −53%; intraday swing +3.74% on modest volume; beta 0.69 offers some downside cushion, but historical range ($111.55–$309.40 = 177% spread) reflects extreme regime shifts | 1–3M |
| Crowding Risk Flag | B | 70 | Severe drawdown suggests mean-reversion interest; low valuation multiples typically attract value/contrarian positioning; no explicit short-squeeze or retail herding data | 1–3M |
Charter Communications operates in the Media sector (cable/broadband/content). The −1.5% revenue decline reflects secular cord-cutting and traditional media compression, a structural headwind shared across legacy cable operators (Comcast, Dish Network, Charter peers). However, CHTR's PE 3.89 and PEG 0.71 are among the lowest in Media, suggesting significant discount to intrinsic value relative to earnings quality. The −53% 52-week return and low beta (0.69) suggest institutional capitulation, now attracting value and mean-reversion interest. Absence of dividend reinforces shareholder return constraints, typical of leveraged cable operators.
Near-term momentum is moderately positive: +3.74% intraday recovery, deeply oversold technical setup (−53% YTD), and PEG 0.71 suggest mean-reversion and tactical value rotation. However, limited earnings visibility (no announced earnings date) and volatile intraday swings (avg volume 3.63M) indicate retail/short-covering volatility. Institutional re-entry may occur on stabilization signals. Risk: revenue deterioration surprises, default concerns on leveraged balance sheet (data gap).
Structural headwinds (−1.5% revenue YoY, cord-cutting) likely persist, but EPS growth +5.45% and PEG 0.71 imply margin expansion or cost discipline offsetting volume loss. Valuation multiple (PE 3.89) remains deeply discounted; recovery to sector median (PE 12–15) would yield 3–4x upside, though hinges on stabilizing revenue or M&A/strategic optionality. Critical unknowns: forward guidance, debt refinancing plans, broadband growth acceleration. Conservative investors should await earnings clarity; opportunistic value players may nibble on further weakness near $111.55 52-week low.
Available: Real-time quote, core metrics (PE, EPS, beta, 52-week range, PEG), market cap, sector/industry classification.
Constrained: Earnings date (no forward visibility), TTM revenue (computed metrics only), dividend/yield, analyst target consensus, balance sheet/leverage detail, insider ownership, institutional flows.
Assessment Impact: Forward-looking risk (valuation re-rating, debt service, guidance) cannot be precisely modeled; analysis relies on historical metrics and multiples. Confidence score reflects this: 68/100.
Quarterly earnings data not available in current feed. Assessment based on available TTM metrics.
| Metric | Value | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| EPS (TTM) | $38.53 | Strong absolute level |
| EPS Growth YoY | +5.45% | Modest single-digit growth |
| Revenue Growth YoY | −1.5% | Declining |
| Forward P/E | 3.19x | Implies modest forward EPS growth |
Revenue contraction of −1.5% YoY with modest EPS growth of +5.45% suggests operational challenges despite earnings accretion, likely driven by cost control rather than top-line expansion. Forward P/E of 3.19x reflects low growth expectations.
Detailed margin and cash flow data not available in current feed. Assessment based on earnings quality indicators.
| Metric | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Profitability | $38.53 TTM | High absolute earnings per share |
| Gross Margin | Data not disclosed | Coverage constrained |
| Operating Margin | Data not disclosed | Coverage constrained |
| Net Margin | Data not disclosed | Coverage constrained |
| Free Cash Flow | Data not disclosed | Coverage constrained |
| Quality Flag | Neutral | No strong profitability flag raised |
While EPS generation remains robust at $38.53 TTM, revenue decline of −1.5% YoY and absence of disclosed margin data create visibility gaps. Unable to assess profitability trends, cash conversion, or return on capital without detailed financial statements.
Balance sheet and debt data not available in current feed. Media sector typically carries material leverage.
| Item | Value | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Cash & Equivalents | Not disclosed | Limited visibility |
| Total Debt | Not disclosed | Limited visibility |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | Not disclosed | Limited visibility |
| Current Ratio | Not disclosed | Limited visibility |
| Interest Coverage | Not disclosed | Limited visibility |
| Balance Sheet Flag | No weakness flagged | Fundamental system found no red flag |
No explicit balance sheet weakness flags raised by fundamental metrics. However, absence of disclosed debt, cash, and liquidity data prevents detailed leverage and coverage assessment. Media sector peers typically operate with meaningful debt; assume Charter carries standard telecom/cable leverage absent contrary evidence.
| Metric | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Trailing P/E | 4.11x | Extremely attractive |
| Forward P/E | 3.19x | Ultra-low |
| PEG Ratio | 0.755x | Growth-adjusted P/E below 1.0; suggests undervaluation relative to 5.45% EPS growth |
| Price / Sales | Data not disclosed | Limited visibility |
| EV / EBITDA | Data not disclosed | Limited visibility |
| 52W Performance | −41.81% | Significant drawdown |
Trading at 4.1x trailing and 3.2x forward P/E with PEG of 0.755x signals meaningful undervaluation on earnings basis. However, extreme multiples compression (−41.8% YoY) reflects market concerns about revenue deterioration, capital intensity, and secular headwinds in cable/broadband sectors. Valuation appears cheap on earnings but may be "cheap for a reason."
Analyst consensus, rating, and price target data not available in current feed.
| Item | Status | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Consensus Rating | Not available | Data gap |
| Avg Target Price | Not available | Data gap |
| Upside / Downside | Not available | Data gap |
| Target Dispersion | Not available | Data gap |
| Earnings Revisions | Not available | Data gap |
Analyst consensus, target prices, and sentiment data are not available in current feed. Professional research coverage constrained. Market−driven valuation (4.1x P/E) reflects investor skepticism about growth and competitive positioning rather than Wall Street guidance.
Institutional ownership, insider activity, and short interest data not available in current feed.
| Risk Factor | Status | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| High Valuation Flag | Not triggered | Low |
| Hyper-Growth Flag | Not applicable | N/A |
| Weak Balance Sheet Flag | Not triggered | Low |
| Institutional Ownership Trend | Data not disclosed | Limited visibility |
| Insider Activity | Data not disclosed | Limited visibility |
| Short Interest | Data not disclosed | Limited visibility |
| Sector Headwinds | Moderate | Medium |
| Revenue Contraction | −1.5% YoY | Medium |
No explicit balance sheet weakness, but top-line contraction (−1.5% YoY) in a capital-intensive industry poses reinvestment and competitive concerns. 52-week decline of −41.8% suggests market repricing of cable/broadband sector exposure, cord-cutting dynamics, and execution risk. Institutional positioning and insider activity data unavailable for triangulation.
Data coverage gaps and sector headwinds limit conviction. Valuation is deeply discounted but reflective of structural challenges.
| Short (1–3M) Neutral Price stabilization uncertain; no near-term catalysts visible. |
Medium (6–12M) Cautious Depends on revenue stabilization and margin defense execution. |
Long (2Y+) Speculative Secular cable/broadband headwinds persist; turnaround uncertain. |
- Valuation: Extreme discount (4.1x P/E, 0.75x PEG) reflects market skepticism, not margin of safety.
- Growth Profile: Revenue −1.5% YoY; EPS +5.45% via cost control, not operational leverage.
- Quality: Strong earnings generation ($38.53 EPS) masked by declining revenue and limited financial transparency.
- Risk/Reward: Deep value setup attractive to contrarians; suitable only for investors with high conviction on sector recovery and balance sheet stability (assume moderate leverage typical of cable operators).
- Recommendation: HOLD / AVOID pending full quarterly earnings release and management guidance on revenue stabilization. Current data gaps preclude high-conviction buy.
CHTR Systematic Research
Charter Communications presents a distinctive valuation anomaly in the cable and media infrastructure sector, trading at a P/E ratio of 3.97 against a market cap of $19.4 billion—substantially below historical sector multiples. The company's price of $144.98 represents a 49% decline from its 52-week high of $285.96, creating a technical setup where systematic screening models flag potential mean-reversion opportunities based on fundamental metrics that remain robust despite market sentiment.
The equity demonstrates exceptional profitability characteristics, with ROE reaching 30.43% despite revenue contraction of 1.5% year-over-year. This margin expansion appears sustainable given the operating margin of 23.67% and net margin of 9.05%, both supported by a gross margin structure of 46.94%. Earnings per share of $38.53 grew 5.45% annually even as top-line growth turned negative, indicating effective cost management and operational leverage in the cable distribution model.
Key structural considerations include:
- Price-to-sales ratio of 0.36 ranks among the lowest in media infrastructure, suggesting asset value exceeds market recognition
- Book value per share of $126.78 implies the equity trades at just 1.14x tangible assets, creating downside protection from an asset-based perspective
- Debt-to-equity of 6.05 and current ratio of 0.39 reflect capital-intensive infrastructure requirements and aggressive shareholder return programs, typical for mature cable operators
Relative to peers including Liberty Latin America (CCZ), EchoStar (ECHO), and Sirius XM (SIRI), Charter's beta of 0.69 indicates lower systematic risk exposure, while its valuation discount appears pronounced across multiple metrics in the model's quantitative framework.
Analysis updated monthly based on systematic screening of fundamentals, profitability, growth, and peer positioning.