Free cash flow
Charter Communications, Inc. Free cash flow increased by 240.1% to $1.45B in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric declined by 21.1%, from $1.84B to $1.45B. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Free cash flow shows a downward trend with a -15.3% CAGR. This is a positive signal — higher values indicate stronger performance for this metric.
Analysis
How to read this metric
An increase suggests improved operational efficiency or reduced capital intensity, providing more flexibility for capital allocation. A decrease may indicate higher investment in R&D or infrastructure, or potential challenges in converting earnings into cash.
Detailed definition
Free cash flow represents the cash generated by a company after accounting for cash outflows to support operations and m...
Peer comparison
Large-cap medical device and pharmaceutical peers typically maintain strong, positive free cash flow, though levels vary based on the intensity of R&D spending and the lifecycle stage of major product lines.
free_cash_flowHistorical Data
| Q2 '21 | Q3 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q4 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | Q1 '26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $2.12B | $2.40B | $2.15B | $1.79B | $1.54B | $1.35B | $867.00M | $859.00M | $477.00M | $983.00M | $999.00M | $421.00M | $1.00B | $1.34B | $398.00M | $1.84B | $726.00M | $1.43B | $426.00M | $1.45B |
| QoQ Change | — | +13.4% | -10.3% | -16.9% | -13.9% | -12.3% | -35.8% | -0.9% | -44.5% | +106.1% | +1.6% | -57.9% | +137.5% | +34.2% | -70.3% | +361.6% | -60.5% | +96.8% | -70.2% | +240.1% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | -27.2% | -43.8% | -59.7% | -52.0% | -69.0% | -27.2% | +15.2% | -51.0% | +109.6% | +36.5% | -60.2% | +336.3% | -27.4% | +6.5% | +7.0% | -21.1% |
Free cash flow at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Charter Communications, Inc.'s free cash flow?
- Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR) reported free cash flow of $1.45B in Q1 2026.
- How has Charter Communications, Inc.'s free cash flow changed year-over-year?
- Charter Communications, Inc.'s free cash flow decreased by 21.1% year-over-year, from $1.84B to $1.45B.
- What is the long-term trend for Charter Communications, Inc.'s free cash flow?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Charter Communications, Inc.'s free cash flow has grown at a -15.3% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $8.60B to $4.42B.
- What does free cash flow mean?
- The cash remaining after a company pays for its operating expenses and capital investments.