Wrapping up Q3 earnings, we look at the numbers and key takeaways for the wireless, cable and satellite stocks, including Altice (NYSE: ATUS) and its peers.

The massive physical footprints of cell phone towers, fiber in the ground, or satellites in space make it challenging for companies in this industry to adjust to shifting consumer habits. Over the last decade-plus, consumers have ‘cut the cord’ to their landlines and traditional cable subscriptions in favor of wireless communications and streaming video. These trends do mean that more households need cell phone plans and high-speed internet. Companies that successfully serve customers can enjoy high retention rates and pricing power since the options for mobile and internet connectivity in any geography are usually limited.

The 8 wireless, cable and satellite stocks we track reported a slower Q3. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 5.6% since the latest earnings results.

Altice (NYSE: ATUS)

Based in Long Island City, Altice USA (NYSE: ATUS) is a telecommunications company offering cable, internet, telephone, and television services across the United States.

Altice reported revenues of $2.11 billion, down 5.4% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 1.4%. Overall, it was a softer quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income and EPS estimates.

Dennis Mathew, Altice USA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: "In the third quarter, we delivered record gross margin performance and improved operational efficiencies, reaffirmed our full-year Adjusted EBITDA outlook, continued to elevate our customer and network experience, and achieved a milestone of over 700 thousand fiber customers. At the same time, we faced intense competition and a sustained low-growth environment, which resulted in softer broadband subscriber trends. Looking ahead, we are sharpening our go-to-market and base management strategies to strengthen our broadband performance and improve our revenue trajectory in this highly competitive landscape. We remain unwavering in our discipline and focus as we continue to build a more resilient business, positioned for sustainable, long-term growth and enhanced value for our shareholders. "

Altice delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 14.5% since reporting and currently trades at $1.84.

Read our full report on Altice here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Best Q3: Sirius XM (NASDAQ: SIRI)

Known for its commercial-free music channels, Sirius XM (NASDAQ: SIRI) is a broadcasting company that provides satellite radio and online radio services across North America.

Sirius XM reported revenues of $2.16 billion, flat year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 0.8%. The business had a satisfactory quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but a miss of analysts’ pandora subscribers estimates.

The market seems content with the results as the stock is up 2.3% since reporting. It currently trades at $21.55.

Is now the time to buy Sirius XM? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Weakest Q3: WideOpenWest (NYSE: WOW)

Initially started in Denver as a cable television provider, WideOpenWest (NYSE: WOW) provides high-speed internet, cable, and telephone services to the Midwest and Southeast regions of the U.S.

WideOpenWest reported revenues of $144 million, down 8.9% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 1.1%. Still, it was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income and EBITDA estimates.

WideOpenWest delivered the slowest revenue growth in the group. The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $5.19.

Read our full analysis of WideOpenWest’s results here.

Charter (NASDAQ: CHTR)

Operating as Spectrum, Charter (NASDAQ: CHTR) is a leading telecommunications company offering cable television, high-speed internet, and voice services across the United States.

Charter reported revenues of $13.67 billion, flat year on year. This number was in line with analysts' estimates and a miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

The stock is down 13.4% since reporting and currently trades at $202.65.

Read our full, actionable report on Charter here, it’s free for active Edge members.

AT&T (NYSE: T)

Founded by Alexander Graham Bell, AT&T (NYSE: T) is a multinational telecomm conglomerate providing a range of communications and internet services.

AT&T reported revenues of $30.71 billion, up 1.6% year on year. This print met analysts’ expectations. More broadly, it was a mixed quarter as it also logged a narrow beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates but a miss of analysts’ Mobility revenue estimates.

AT&T achieved the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 1.6% since reporting and currently trades at $25.61.

Read our full, actionable report on AT&T here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Market Update

Thanks to the Fed’s series of rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has cooled significantly from its post-pandemic highs, drawing closer to the 2% goal. This disinflation has occurred without severely impacting economic growth, suggesting the success of a soft landing. The stock market thrived in 2024, spurred by recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November), and a notable surge followed Donald Trump’s presidential election win in November, propelling indices to historic highs. Nonetheless, the outlook for 2025 remains clouded by potential trade policy changes and corporate tax discussions, which could impact business confidence and growth. The path forward holds both optimism and caution as new policies take shape.

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