"Charter Communications: Stock Plunge and Broadband Losses"

Charter Communications Inc. experienced its worst one-day stock drop in history after reporting a net loss of 61,000 broadband subscribers, contrary to analyst expectations, and facing increased competition from wireless and fiber providers. The company's forecast for capital expenditures also spooked investors. Analysts suggest that Charter needs to shift investor focus to its financial performance rather than subscriber numbers, with some downgrading the stock and revising price targets due to concerns about the challenging broadband environment and distant free-cash-flow inflection.