CLAIM #14447 · Charter Communications Inc (CHTR) · 2026Q1 earnings call · Apr 24, 2026 · due Dec 31, 2026
“We continue to expect that our calendar year 2026 cash tax payments will total between $500 million and $800 million.”
Jessica Fischer · CFO
How to check this claim
Look at: Calendar year 2026 cash tax payments
It came true if: Between $500 million and $800 million
Where: Company cash flow statement / management commentary on cash taxes (10-K or Q4 2026 earnings call)
In context
“ditures, on its own, from approximately $11.7 billion in 2025 to less than $8 billion in 2028, is equivalent to over $28 of free cash flow per share based on today's share count. If we take consensus 2026 free cash flow and substitute our expected 2028 CapEx for 2026 CapEx, our current stock price would imply a free cash flow multiple of only about 3.8x, and a free cash flow yield of over 25%. Turning to first quarter free cash flow on Slide 12. First quarter free cash totaled $1.4 billion, about $200 million lower than last year, given accelerated timing of capital expenditures in the year, lower EBITDA and higher cash paid for interest year-over-year, partly offset by a less unfavorable change in cable working capital. Turning to cash taxes. First quarter cash taxes totaled $64 million. We continue to expect that our calendar year 2026 cash tax payments will total between $500 million and $800 million. We finished the first quarter with $94 billion in debt principal. Our weighted average cost of debt remains at an attractive 5.2%, and our current run rate annualized cash interest is $4.9 billion. During the quarter, we repurchased 4.3 million Charter shares, totaling $963 million at an average price of $225 per share. As of the end of the first quarter, our ratio of net debt to last 12-month adjusted EBITDA remained at 4.15x, and stood at 4.22x pro forma for the pending Liberty Broadband transaction. During the pendency of the Cox deal, we plan to be at or slightly under 4.25x leverage pro forma for the Liberty transaction. Following the close of those transactions, we will target the low end of the 3.5 to 3.75x range, which we expect to achieve within 3 years following close. Even with”
Verify independently
SEC filings for CHTR ↗ · Claim quote is verbatim from the 2026Q1 earnings call.