UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
______________
FORM 10-Q
______________
(Mark One) | | | | | |
☒ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 20222023
or | | | | | |
☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the Transition Period From to
Commission File Number: 001-33664
Charter Communications, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Delaware | | 84-1496755 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| |
400 Washington Blvd. | Stamford | Connecticut | 06902 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
(203) 905-7801
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: | | | | | | | | |
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Class A Common Stock $.001 Par Value | CHTR | NASDAQ Global Select Market |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer x Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company ☐ Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No x
Number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2022: 155,672,2812023: 147,920,285
Number of shares of Class B common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2022:2023: 1
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 20222023
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q is for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022.2023. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you directly to those documents. In this quarterly report, “Charter,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Charter Communications, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This quarterly report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, regarding, among other things, our plans, strategies and prospects, both business and financial including, without limitation, the forward-looking statements set forth in Part I, Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this quarterly report. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations as reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, without limitation, the factors described under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our most recent Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this quarterly report may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “planned,” “will,” “may,” “intend,” “estimated,” “aim,” “on track,” “target,” “opportunity,” “tentative,” “positioning,” “designed,” “create,” “predict,” “project,” “initiatives,” “seek,” “would,” “could,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “upside,” “increases,” “grow,” “focused on” and “potential,” among others. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this quarterly report are set forth in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, in our annual report on Form 10-K, and in other reports or documents that we file from time to time with the SEC, and include, but are not limited to:
•our ability to sustain and grow revenues and cash flow from operations by offering Internet, video, voice, mobile, advertising and other services to residential and commercial customers, to adequately meet the customer experience demands in our service areas and to maintain and grow our customer base, particularly in the face of increasingly aggressive competition, the need for innovation and the related capital expenditures;
•the impact of competition from other market participants, including but not limited to incumbent telephone companies, direct broadcast satellite ("DBS") operators, wireless broadband and telephone providers, digital subscriber line (“DSL”) providers, fiber to the home providers and providers of video content over broadband Internet connections;
•general business conditions, unemployment levels and the level of activity in the housing sector and economic uncertainty or downturn, including the impacts of the Novel Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic to sales opportunities from residential move activity, our customers, our vendors and local, state and federal governmental responses to the pandemic;downturn;
•our ability to obtain programming at reasonable prices or to raise prices to offset, in whole or in part, the effects of higher programming costs (including retransmission consents and distribution requirements);
•our ability to develop and deploy new products and technologies including consumer services and service platforms;
•any events that disrupt our networks, information systems or properties and impair our operating activities or our reputation;
•the effects of governmental regulation on our business including subsidies to consumers, subsidies and incentives for competitors, costs, disruptions and possible limitations on operating flexibility related to, and our ability to comply with, regulatory conditions applicable to us;
•the ability to hire and retain key personnel;
•our ability to procure necessary services and equipment from our vendors in a timely manner and at reasonable costs;costs including in connection with our network evolution and rural construction initiatives;
•the availability and access, in general, of funds to meet our debt obligations prior to or when they become due and to fund our operations and necessary capital expenditures, either through (i) cash on hand, (ii) free cash flow, or (iii) access to the capital or credit markets; and
•our ability to comply with all covenants in our indentures and credit facilities, any violation of which, if not cured in a timely manner, could trigger a default of our other obligations under cross-default provisions.
All forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. We are under no duty or obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this quarterly report.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in millions, except share data)
| | | September 30, 2022 | | December 31, 2021 | | September 30, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
| | (unaudited) | | | | (unaudited) | | |
ASSETS | ASSETS | | ASSETS | |
CURRENT ASSETS: | CURRENT ASSETS: | | CURRENT ASSETS: | |
Cash and cash equivalents | Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 480 | | | $ | 601 | | Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 571 | | | $ | 645 | |
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $230 and $157, respectively | 2,841 | | | 2,579 | | |
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $256 and $219, respectively | | Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $256 and $219, respectively | 2,932 | | | 2,921 | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 433 | | | 386 | | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 613 | | | 451 | |
Total current assets | Total current assets | 3,754 | | | 3,566 | | Total current assets | 4,116 | | | 4,017 | |
| INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES: | INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES: | | INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES: | |
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $35,414 and $34,253, respectively | 35,005 | | | 34,310 | | |
Customer relationships, net of accumulated amortization of $15,177 and $14,180, respectively | 3,073 | | | 4,060 | | |
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $36,885 and $36,164, respectively | | Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $36,885 and $36,164, respectively | 38,617 | | | 36,039 | |
Customer relationships, net of accumulated amortization of $16,285 and $15,478, respectively | | Customer relationships, net of accumulated amortization of $16,285 and $15,478, respectively | 1,983 | | | 2,772 | |
Franchises | Franchises | 67,363 | | | 67,346 | | Franchises | 67,396 | | | 67,363 | |
Goodwill | Goodwill | 29,563 | | | 29,562 | | Goodwill | 29,672 | | | 29,563 | |
Total investment in cable properties, net | Total investment in cable properties, net | 135,004 | | | 135,278 | | Total investment in cable properties, net | 137,668 | | | 135,737 | |
| OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS | OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS | 4,911 | | | 3,647 | | OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS | 4,898 | | | 4,769 | |
| Total assets | Total assets | $ | 143,669 | | | $ | 142,491 | | Total assets | $ | 146,682 | | | $ | 144,523 | |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | | | | LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | | | |
CURRENT LIABILITIES: | CURRENT LIABILITIES: | | CURRENT LIABILITIES: | |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 10,073 | | | $ | 9,461 | | Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 10,626 | | | $ | 10,555 | |
Current portion of long-term debt | Current portion of long-term debt | 1,522 | | | 2,997 | | Current portion of long-term debt | 1,999 | | | 1,510 | |
Total current liabilities | Total current liabilities | 11,595 | | | 12,458 | | Total current liabilities | 12,625 | | | 12,065 | |
| LONG-TERM DEBT | LONG-TERM DEBT | 95,510 | | | 88,564 | | LONG-TERM DEBT | 95,800 | | | 96,093 | |
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES | DEFERRED INCOME TAXES | 19,153 | | | 19,096 | | DEFERRED INCOME TAXES | 18,996 | | | 19,058 | |
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES | OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES | 5,061 | | | 4,217 | | OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES | 4,517 | | | 4,758 | |
| SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY: | SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY: | | SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY: | |
Class A common stock; $0.001 par value; 900 million shares authorized; | Class A common stock; $0.001 par value; 900 million shares authorized; | | Class A common stock; $0.001 par value; 900 million shares authorized; | |
173,847,120 and 172,741,236 shares issued, respectively | — | | | — | | |
153,308,940 and 152,651,396 shares issued, respectively | | 153,308,940 and 152,651,396 shares issued, respectively | — | | | — | |
Class B common stock; $0.001 par value; 1,000 shares authorized; | Class B common stock; $0.001 par value; 1,000 shares authorized; | | Class B common stock; $0.001 par value; 1,000 shares authorized; | |
1 share issued and outstanding | 1 share issued and outstanding | — | | | — | | 1 share issued and outstanding | — | | | — | |
Preferred stock; $0.001 par value; 250 million shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding | Preferred stock; $0.001 par value; 250 million shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding | — | | | — | | Preferred stock; $0.001 par value; 250 million shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding | — | | | — | |
Additional paid-in capital | Additional paid-in capital | 26,950 | | | 26,725 | | Additional paid-in capital | 24,460 | | | 23,940 | |
Accumulated deficit | Accumulated deficit | (8,816) | | | (12,675) | | Accumulated deficit | (11,322) | | | (14,821) | |
Treasury stock at cost; 18,174,839 and no shares, respectively | (9,245) | | | — | | |
Treasury stock at cost; 5,388,655 and no shares, respectively | | Treasury stock at cost; 5,388,655 and no shares, respectively | (2,040) | | | — | |
Total Charter shareholders’ equity | Total Charter shareholders’ equity | 8,889 | | | 14,050 | | Total Charter shareholders’ equity | 11,098 | | | 9,119 | |
Noncontrolling interests | Noncontrolling interests | 3,461 | | | 4,106 | | Noncontrolling interests | 3,646 | | | 3,430 | |
Total shareholders’ equity | Total shareholders’ equity | 12,350 | | | 18,156 | | Total shareholders’ equity | 14,744 | | | 12,549 | |
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 143,669 | | | $ | 142,491 | | Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 146,682 | | | $ | 144,523 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
1
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(dollars in millions, except per share data)
Unaudited
| | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
REVENUES | REVENUES | $ | 13,550 | | | $ | 13,146 | | | $ | 40,348 | | | $ | 38,470 | | REVENUES | $ | 13,584 | | | $ | 13,550 | | | $ | 40,896 | | | $ | 40,348 | |
| COSTS AND EXPENSES: | COSTS AND EXPENSES: | | COSTS AND EXPENSES: | |
Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below) | Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below) | 8,247 | | | 7,958 | | | 24,574 | | | 23,551 | | Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below) | 8,299 | | | 8,247 | | | 25,115 | | | 24,574 | |
Depreciation and amortization | Depreciation and amortization | 2,177 | | | 2,270 | | | 6,711 | | | 7,065 | | Depreciation and amortization | 2,130 | | | 2,177 | | | 6,508 | | | 6,711 | |
Other operating (income) expenses, net | 202 | | | (9) | | | 141 | | | 284 | | |
Other operating (income) expense, net | | Other operating (income) expense, net | 29 | | | 202 | | | (19) | | | 141 | |
| | 10,626 | | | 10,219 | | | 31,426 | | | 30,900 | | | 10,458 | | | 10,626 | | | 31,604 | | | 31,426 | |
Income from operations | Income from operations | 2,924 | | | 2,927 | | | 8,922 | | | 7,570 | | Income from operations | 3,126 | | | 2,924 | | | 9,292 | | | 8,922 | |
| OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES): | OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES): | | OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES): | |
Interest expense, net | Interest expense, net | (1,160) | | | (1,016) | | | (3,329) | | | (3,003) | | Interest expense, net | (1,306) | | | (1,160) | | | (3,869) | | | (3,329) | |
Other income (expenses), net | Other income (expenses), net | (37) | | | (157) | | | 65 | | | (237) | | Other income (expenses), net | (15) | | | (37) | | | (204) | | | 65 | |
| | (1,197) | | | (1,173) | | | (3,264) | | | (3,240) | | | (1,321) | | | (1,197) | | | (4,073) | | | (3,264) | |
| Income before income taxes | Income before income taxes | 1,727 | | | 1,754 | | | 5,658 | | | 4,330 | | Income before income taxes | 1,805 | | | 1,727 | | | 5,219 | | | 5,658 | |
Income tax expense | Income tax expense | (360) | | | (347) | | | (1,194) | | | (844) | | Income tax expense | (369) | | | (360) | | | (1,187) | | | (1,194) | |
Consolidated net income | Consolidated net income | 1,367 | | | 1,407 | | | 4,464 | | | 3,486 | | Consolidated net income | 1,436 | | | 1,367 | | | 4,032 | | | 4,464 | |
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (182) | | | (190) | | | (605) | | | (442) | | Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (181) | | | (182) | | | (533) | | | (605) | |
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders | Net income attributable to Charter shareholders | $ | 1,185 | | | $ | 1,217 | | | $ | 3,859 | | | $ | 3,044 | | Net income attributable to Charter shareholders | $ | 1,255 | | | $ | 1,185 | | | $ | 3,499 | | | $ | 3,859 | |
| EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHARTER SHAREHOLDERS: | EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHARTER SHAREHOLDERS: | | EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHARTER SHAREHOLDERS: | |
Basic | Basic | $ | 7.51 | | | $ | 6.69 | | | $ | 23.51 | | | $ | 16.33 | | Basic | $ | 8.42 | | | $ | 7.51 | | | $ | 23.30 | | | $ | 23.51 | |
Diluted | Diluted | $ | 7.38 | | | $ | 6.50 | | | $ | 23.06 | | | $ | 15.78 | | Diluted | $ | 8.25 | | | $ | 7.38 | | | $ | 22.94 | | | $ | 23.06 | |
| Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic | Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic | 157,971,109 | | | 181,925,180 | | | 164,189,703 | | | 186,380,681 | | Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic | 149,004,322 | | | 157,971,109 | | | 150,169,275 | | | 164,189,703 | |
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted | Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted | 160,638,186 | | | 187,166,071 | | | 167,351,777 | | | 197,316,667 | | Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted | 152,019,159 | | | 160,638,186 | | | 152,495,273 | | | 167,351,777 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
2
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(dollars in millions)
Unaudited
| | | Class A Common Stock | Class B Common Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Accumulated Deficit | Treasury Stock | Total Charter Shareholders’ Equity | Non-controlling Interests | Total Shareholders’ Equity | | Class A Common Stock | Class B Common Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Accumulated Deficit | Treasury Stock | Total Charter Shareholders’ Equity | Non-controlling Interests | Total Shareholders’ Equity |
BALANCE, December 31, 2021 | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 26,725 | | $ | (12,675) | | $ | — | | $ | 14,050 | | $ | 4,106 | | $ | 18,156 | | |
BALANCE, December 31, 2022 | | BALANCE, December 31, 2022 | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 23,940 | | $ | (14,821) | | $ | — | | $ | 9,119 | | $ | 3,430 | | $ | 12,549 | |
Consolidated net income | Consolidated net income | — | | — | | — | | 1,203 | | — | | 1,203 | | 186 | | 1,389 | | Consolidated net income | — | | — | | — | | 1,021 | | — | | 1,021 | | 162 | | 1,183 | |
Stock compensation expense | Stock compensation expense | — | | — | | 147 | | — | | — | | 147 | | ��� | | 147 | | Stock compensation expense | — | | — | | 208 | | — | | — | | 208 | | — | | 208 | |
Exercise of stock options | Exercise of stock options | — | | — | | 1 | | — | | — | | 1 | | — | | 1 | | Exercise of stock options | — | | — | | 2 | | — | | — | | 2 | | — | | 2 | |
Purchases of treasury stock | — | | — | | — | | — | | (3,333) | | (3,333) | | — | | (3,333) | | |
Purchases of treasury stock, including excise tax | | Purchases of treasury stock, including excise tax | — | | — | | — | | — | | (920) | | (920) | | — | | (920) | |
Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax | Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax | — | | — | | (197) | | — | | — | | (197) | | (156) | | (353) | | Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax | — | | — | | (40) | | — | | — | | (40) | | (68) | | (108) | |
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax | Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax | — | | — | | 189 | | — | | — | | 189 | | (250) | | (61) | | Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax | — | | — | | 28 | | — | | — | | 28 | | (37) | | (9) | |
Distributions to noncontrolling interest | Distributions to noncontrolling interest | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | (2) | | (2) | | Distributions to noncontrolling interest | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | (3) | | (3) | |
BALANCE, March 31, 2022 | — | | — | | 26,865 | | (11,472) | | (3,333) | | 12,060 | | 3,884 | | 15,944 | | |
BALANCE, March 31, 2023 | | BALANCE, March 31, 2023 | — | | — | | 24,138 | | (13,800) | | (920) | | 9,418 | | 3,484 | | 12,902 | |
Consolidated net income | Consolidated net income | — | | — | | — | | 1,471 | | — | | 1,471 | | 237 | | 1,708 | | Consolidated net income | — | | — | | — | | 1,223 | | — | | 1,223 | | 190 | | 1,413 | |
Stock compensation expense | Stock compensation expense | — | | — | | 104 | | — | | — | | 104 | | — | | 104 | | Stock compensation expense | — | | — | | 168 | | — | | — | | 168 | | — | | 168 | |
Exercise of stock options | Exercise of stock options | — | | — | | 4 | | — | | — | | 4 | | — | | 4 | | Exercise of stock options | — | | — | | 3 | | — | | — | | 3 | | — | | 3 | |
Purchases of treasury stock | — | | — | | — | | — | | (3,687) | | (3,687) | | — | | (3,687) | | |
Purchases of treasury stock, including excise tax | | Purchases of treasury stock, including excise tax | — | | — | | — | | — | | (330) | | (330) | | — | | (330) | |
Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax | Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax | — | | — | | (256) | | — | | — | | (256) | | (238) | | (494) | | Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax | — | | — | | (16) | | — | | — | | (16) | | (34) | | (50) | |
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax | Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax | — | | — | | 183 | | — | | — | | 183 | | (244) | | (61) | | Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax | — | | — | | (6) | | — | | — | | (6) | | 7 | | 1 | |
Distributions to noncontrolling interest | Distributions to noncontrolling interest | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | (5) | | (5) | | Distributions to noncontrolling interest | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | (80) | | (80) | |
BALANCE, June 30, 2022 | — | | — | | 26,900 | | (10,001) | | (7,020) | | 9,879 | | 3,634 | | 13,513 | | |
BALANCE, June 30, 2023 | | BALANCE, June 30, 2023 | — | | — | | 24,287 | | (12,577) | | (1,250) | | 10,460 | | 3,567 | | 14,027 | |
Consolidated net income | Consolidated net income | — | | — | | — | | 1,185 | | — | | 1,185 | | 182 | | 1,367 | | Consolidated net income | — | | — | | — | | 1,255 | | — | | 1,255 | | 181 | | 1,436 | |
Stock compensation expense | Stock compensation expense | — | | — | | 109 | | — | | — | | 109 | | — | | 109 | | Stock compensation expense | — | | — | | 164 | | — | | — | | 164 | | — | | 164 | |
| Purchases of treasury stock | — | | — | | — | | — | | (2,225) | | (2,225) | | — | | (2,225) | | |
Exercise of stock options | | Exercise of stock options | — | | — | | 16 | | — | | — | | 16 | | — | | 16 | |
Purchases of treasury stock, including excise tax | | Purchases of treasury stock, including excise tax | — | | — | | — | | — | | (790) | | (790) | | — | | (790) | |
Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax | Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax | — | | — | | (155) | | — | | — | | (155) | | (179) | | (334) | | Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax | — | | — | | (25) | | — | | — | | (25) | | (44) | | (69) | |
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax | Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax | — | | — | | 96 | | — | | — | | 96 | | (127) | | (31) | | Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax | — | | — | | 18 | | — | | — | | 18 | | (23) | | (5) | |
Distributions to noncontrolling interest | Distributions to noncontrolling interest | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | (49) | | (49) | | Distributions to noncontrolling interest | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | (35) | | (35) | |
BALANCE, September 30, 2022 | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 26,950 | | $ | (8,816) | | $ | (9,245) | | $ | 8,889 | | $ | 3,461 | | $ | 12,350 | | |
BALANCE, September 30, 2023 | | BALANCE, September 30, 2023 | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 24,460 | | $ | (11,322) | | $ | (2,040) | | $ | 11,098 | | $ | 3,646 | | $ | 14,744 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
3
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(dollars in millions)
Unaudited
| | | Class A Common Stock | Class B Common Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Accumulated Deficit | Treasury Stock | Total Charter Shareholders’ Equity | Non-controlling Interests | Total Shareholders’ Equity | | Class A Common Stock | Class B Common Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Accumulated Deficit | Treasury Stock | Total Charter Shareholders’ Equity | Non-controlling Interests | Total Shareholders’ Equity |
BALANCE, December 31, 2020 | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 29,000 | | $ | (5,195) | | $ | — | | $ | 23,805 | | $ | 6,476 | | $ | 30,281 | | |
BALANCE, December 31, 2021 | | BALANCE, December 31, 2021 | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 26,725 | | $ | (12,675) | | $ | — | | $ | 14,050 | | $ | 4,106 | | $ | 18,156 | |
Consolidated net income | Consolidated net income | — | | — | | — | | 807 | | — | | 807 | | 114 | | 921 | | Consolidated net income | — | | — | | — | | 1,203 | | — | | 1,203 | | 186 | | 1,389 | |
Stock compensation expense | Stock compensation expense | — | | — | | 134 | | — | | — | | 134 | | — | | 134 | | Stock compensation expense | — | | — | | 147 | | — | | — | | 147 | | — | | 147 | |
Exercise of stock options | Exercise of stock options | — | | — | | 9 | | — | | — | | 9 | | — | | 9 | | Exercise of stock options | — | | — | | 1 | | — | | — | | 1 | | — | | 1 | |
Purchases of treasury stock | Purchases of treasury stock | — | | — | | — | | — | | (3,652) | | (3,652) | | — | | (3,652) | | Purchases of treasury stock | — | | — | | — | | — | | (3,333) | | (3,333) | | — | | (3,333) | |
Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax | Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax | — | | — | | (237) | | — | | — | | (237) | | (192) | | (429) | | Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax | — | | — | | (197) | | — | | — | | (197) | | (156) | | (353) | |
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax | Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax | — | | — | | 131 | | — | | — | | 131 | | (175) | | (44) | | Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax | — | | — | | 189 | | — | | — | | 189 | | (250) | | (61) | |
Distributions to noncontrolling interest | Distributions to noncontrolling interest | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | (39) | | (39) | | Distributions to noncontrolling interest | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | (2) | | (2) | |
BALANCE, March 31, 2021 | — | | — | | 29,037 | | (4,388) | | (3,652) | | 20,997 | | 6,184 | | 27,181 | | |
BALANCE, March 31, 2022 | | BALANCE, March 31, 2022 | — | | — | | 26,865 | | (11,472) | | (3,333) | | 12,060 | | 3,884 | | 15,944 | |
Consolidated net income | Consolidated net income | — | | — | | — | | 1,020 | | — | | 1,020 | | 138 | | 1,158 | | Consolidated net income | — | | — | | — | | 1,471 | | — | | 1,471 | | 237 | | 1,708 | |
Stock compensation expense | Stock compensation expense | — | | — | | 100 | | — | | — | | 100 | | — | | 100 | | Stock compensation expense | — | | — | | 104 | | — | | — | | 104 | | — | | 104 | |
Exercise of stock options | Exercise of stock options | — | | — | | 17 | | — | | — | | 17 | | — | | 17 | | Exercise of stock options | — | | — | | 4 | | — | | — | | 4 | | — | | 4 | |
Purchases of treasury stock | Purchases of treasury stock | — | | — | | — | | — | | (3,516) | | (3,516) | | — | | (3,516) | | Purchases of treasury stock | — | | — | | — | | — | | (3,687) | | (3,687) | | — | | (3,687) | |
Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax | Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax | — | | — | | (279) | | — | | — | | (279) | | (213) | | (492) | | Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax | — | | — | | (256) | | — | | — | | (256) | | (238) | | (494) | |
Preferred unit conversion and change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax | Preferred unit conversion and change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax | — | | — | | 1,003 | | — | | — | | 1,003 | | (1,333) | | (330) | | Preferred unit conversion and change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax | — | | — | | 183 | | — | | — | | 183 | | (244) | | (61) | |
Distributions to noncontrolling interest | Distributions to noncontrolling interest | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | (32) | | (32) | | Distributions to noncontrolling interest | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | (5) | | (5) | |
BALANCE, June 30, 2021 | — | | — | | 29,878 | | (3,368) | | (7,168) | | 19,342 | | 4,744 | | 24,086 | | |
BALANCE, June 30, 2022 | | BALANCE, June 30, 2022 | — | | — | | 26,900 | | (10,001) | | (7,020) | | 9,879 | | 3,634 | | 13,513 | |
Consolidated net income | Consolidated net income | — | | — | | — | | 1,217 | | — | | 1,217 | | 190 | | 1,407 | | Consolidated net income | — | | — | | — | | 1,185 | | — | | 1,185 | | 182 | | 1,367 | |
Stock compensation expense | Stock compensation expense | — | | — | | 98 | | — | | — | | 98 | | — | | 98 | | Stock compensation expense | — | | — | | 109 | | — | | — | | 109 | | — | | 109 | |
Exercise of stock options | Exercise of stock options | — | | — | | 17 | | — | | — | | 17 | | — | | 17 | | Exercise of stock options | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
Purchases of treasury stock | Purchases of treasury stock | — | | — | | — | | — | | (3,666) | | (3,666) | | — | | (3,666) | | Purchases of treasury stock | — | | — | | — | | — | | (2,225) | | (2,225) | | — | | (2,225) | |
Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax | Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax | — | | — | | (197) | | — | | — | | (197) | | (148) | | (345) | | Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax | — | | — | | (155) | | — | | — | | (155) | | (179) | | (334) | |
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax | Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax | — | | — | | 219 | | — | | — | | 219 | | (290) | | (71) | | Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax | — | | — | | 96 | | — | | — | | 96 | | (127) | | (31) | |
BALANCE, September 30, 2021 | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 30,015 | | $ | (2,151) | | $ | (10,834) | | $ | 17,030 | | $ | 4,496 | | $ | 21,526 | | |
Distributions to noncontrolling interest | | Distributions to noncontrolling interest | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | (49) | | (49) | |
BALANCE, September 30, 2022 | | BALANCE, September 30, 2022 | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 26,950 | | $ | (8,816) | | $ | (9,245) | | $ | 8,889 | | $ | 3,461 | | $ | 12,350 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
4
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in millions)
Unaudited
| | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | | | | CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | | | |
Consolidated net income | Consolidated net income | $ | 4,464 | | | $ | 3,486 | | Consolidated net income | $ | 4,032 | | | $ | 4,464 | |
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flows from operating activities: | Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flows from operating activities: | | Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flows from operating activities: | |
Depreciation and amortization | Depreciation and amortization | 6,711 | | | 7,065 | | Depreciation and amortization | 6,508 | | | 6,711 | |
Stock compensation expense | Stock compensation expense | 360 | | | 332 | | Stock compensation expense | 540 | | | 360 | |
Noncash interest income, net | (12) | | | (20) | | |
Noncash interest, net | | Noncash interest, net | 13 | | | (12) | |
Deferred income taxes | Deferred income taxes | 165 | | | 668 | | Deferred income taxes | (46) | | | 165 | |
Other, net | Other, net | (113) | | | 279 | | Other, net | 212 | | | (113) | |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions: | Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions: | | Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions: | |
Accounts receivable | Accounts receivable | (262) | | | (106) | | Accounts receivable | (11) | | | (262) | |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | Prepaid expenses and other assets | (96) | | | (127) | | Prepaid expenses and other assets | (534) | | | (96) | |
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other | Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other | (79) | | | 436 | | Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other | (136) | | | (79) | |
Net cash flows from operating activities | Net cash flows from operating activities | 11,138 | | | 12,013 | | Net cash flows from operating activities | 10,578 | | | 11,138 | |
| CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | | CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | |
Purchases of property, plant and equipment | Purchases of property, plant and equipment | (6,456) | | | (5,563) | | Purchases of property, plant and equipment | (8,259) | | | (6,456) | |
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures | Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures | 284 | | | (51) | | Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures | 110 | | | 284 | |
Other, net | Other, net | (174) | | | (148) | | Other, net | (334) | | | (174) | |
Net cash flows from investing activities | Net cash flows from investing activities | (6,346) | | | (5,762) | | Net cash flows from investing activities | (8,483) | | | (6,346) | |
| CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | | CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | |
Borrowings of long-term debt | Borrowings of long-term debt | 21,528 | | | 15,263 | | Borrowings of long-term debt | 14,591 | | | 21,528 | |
Repayments of long-term debt | Repayments of long-term debt | (15,659) | | | (9,651) | | Repayments of long-term debt | (14,385) | | | (15,659) | |
Payments for debt issuance costs | Payments for debt issuance costs | (71) | | | (76) | | Payments for debt issuance costs | (18) | | | (71) | |
Purchase of treasury stock | Purchase of treasury stock | (9,245) | | | (10,834) | | Purchase of treasury stock | (2,021) | | | (9,245) | |
Proceeds from exercise of stock options | Proceeds from exercise of stock options | 5 | | | 43 | | Proceeds from exercise of stock options | 21 | | | 5 | |
Purchase of noncontrolling interest | Purchase of noncontrolling interest | (1,379) | | | (1,500) | | Purchase of noncontrolling interest | (254) | | | (1,379) | |
Distributions to noncontrolling interest | Distributions to noncontrolling interest | (56) | | | (71) | | Distributions to noncontrolling interest | (118) | | | (56) | |
Other, net | Other, net | (36) | | | 40 | | Other, net | 15 | | | (36) | |
Net cash flows from financing activities | Net cash flows from financing activities | (4,913) | | | (6,786) | | Net cash flows from financing activities | (2,169) | | | (4,913) | |
| NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (121) | | | (535) | | NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (74) | | | (121) | |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period | CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period | 601 | | | 1,001 | | CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period | 645 | | | 601 | |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period | CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period | $ | 480 | | | $ | 466 | | CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period | $ | 571 | | | $ | 480 | |
| CASH PAID FOR INTEREST | CASH PAID FOR INTEREST | $ | 3,251 | | | $ | 3,038 | | CASH PAID FOR INTEREST | $ | 3,666 | | | $ | 3,251 | |
CASH PAID FOR TAXES | CASH PAID FOR TAXES | $ | 882 | | | $ | 99 | | CASH PAID FOR TAXES | $ | 1,149 | | | $ | 882 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
5
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
1. Organization and Basis of Presentation
Organization
Charter Communications, Inc. (together with its controlled subsidiaries, “Charter,” or the “Company”) is a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator. Over an advanced high-capacity, two-way telecommunicationscommunications network, the Company offers a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business services including Spectrum Internet®, TV, Mobile and Voice. For small and medium-sized companies, Spectrum Business® delivers the same suite of broadband products and services coupled with special features and applications to enhance productivity, while for larger businesses and government entities, Spectrum Enterprise® provides highly customized, fiber-based solutions. Spectrum Reach® delivers tailored advertising and production for the modern media landscape. The Company also distributes award-winning news coverage and sports programming to its customers through Spectrum Networks.
Charter is a holding company whose principal asset is a controlling equity interest in Charter Communications Holdings, LLC (“Charter Holdings”), an indirect owner of Charter Communications Operating, LLC (“Charter Operating”) under which substantially all of the operations reside. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions among consolidated entities have been eliminated.
The Company’s operations are managed and reported to its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), the Company’s chief operating decision maker, on a consolidated basis. The CEO assesses performance and allocates resources based on the consolidated results of operations. Under this organizational and reporting structure, the Company has one reportable segment.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures typically included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K have been condensed or omitted for this quarterly report. The accompanying consolidated financial statements are unaudited and are subject to review by regulatory authorities. However, in the opinion of management, such financial statements include all adjustments, which consist of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Areas involving significant judgments and estimates include capitalization of labor and overhead costs, pension benefits and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2023 presentation.
Comprehensive income equaled net income attributable to Charter shareholders for the three and nine months ended September 30, 20222023 and 2021.
2. Investments
In June 2022, the Company and Comcast Corporation ("Comcast") entered into a 50/50 joint venture to develop and offer a next-generation streaming platform on a variety of streaming devices and smart TVs. Comcast licensed its streaming platform and hardware to the joint venture and contributed the retail business for XClass TVs and Xumo, a streaming service it acquired in 2020. The Company's investment is approximately $981 million with $175 million paid in June 2022 and with the remaining non-cancelable required contributions to be paid over multiple years and recorded as accrued obligations as of September 30, 2022. The Company accounts for the investment as an equity method investment and records investment income (loss) on its share of the joint venture income (loss).
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
3.2. Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities consist of the following as of September 30, 20222023 and December 31, 2021:2022:
| | | September 30, 2022 | | December 31, 2021 | | September 30, 2023 | | December 31, 2022 |
Accounts payable – trade | Accounts payable – trade | $ | 740 | | | $ | 724 | | Accounts payable – trade | $ | 771 | | | $ | 952 | |
Deferred revenue | Deferred revenue | 525 | | | 461 | | Deferred revenue | 542 | | | 511 | |
Accrued liabilities: | Accrued liabilities: | | Accrued liabilities: | |
Programming costs | Programming costs | 1,979 | | | 2,036 | | Programming costs | 1,736 | | | 1,914 | |
Labor | Labor | 1,206 | | | 1,304 | | Labor | 1,179 | | | 1,314 | |
Capital expenditures | Capital expenditures | 1,546 | | | 1,281 | | Capital expenditures | 1,898 | | | 1,792 | |
Interest | Interest | 1,189 | | | 1,099 | | Interest | 1,368 | | | 1,165 | |
Taxes and regulatory fees | Taxes and regulatory fees | 711 | | | 592 | | Taxes and regulatory fees | 647 | | | 667 | |
Property and casualty | Property and casualty | 499 | | | 490 | | Property and casualty | 477 | | | 505 | |
Operating lease liabilities | Operating lease liabilities | 291 | | | 269 | | Operating lease liabilities | 291 | | | 295 | |
Other | Other | 1,387 | | | 1,205 | | Other | 1,717 | | | 1,440 | |
| | $ | 10,073 | | | $ | 9,461 | | | $ | 10,626 | | | $ | 10,555 | |
4. Long-Term3. Total Debt
A summary of our debt as of September 30, 20222023 and December 31, 20212022 is as follows:
| | | | September 30, 2022 | | | December 31, 2021 | | | September 30, 2023 | | | December 31, 2022 |
| | | Principal Amount | | Carrying Value | | Fair Value | | | Principal Amount | | Carrying Value | | Fair Value | | | Principal Amount | | Carrying Value | | Fair Value | | | Principal Amount | | Carrying Value | | Fair Value |
Senior unsecured notes | Senior unsecured notes | | $ | 26,650 | | | $ | 26,564 | | | $ | 21,760 | | | | $ | 23,950 | | | $ | 23,882 | | | $ | 24,630 | | Senior unsecured notes | | $ | 27,250 | | | $ | 27,165 | | | $ | 23,083 | | | | $ | 26,650 | | | $ | 26,567 | | | $ | 22,426 | |
| Senior secured notes and debentures(a) | Senior secured notes and debentures(a) | | 56,724 | | | 57,112 | | | 45,620 | | | | 56,525 | | | 57,011 | | | 64,346 | | Senior secured notes and debentures(a) | | 55,855 | | | 56,201 | | | 44,541 | | | | 56,841 | | | 57,213 | | | 46,905 | |
| Credit facilities(b) | Credit facilities(b) | | 13,413 | | | 13,356 | | | 12,824 | | | | 10,723 | | | 10,668 | | | 10,665 | | Credit facilities(b) | | 14,483 | | | 14,433 | | | 14,175 | | | | 13,877 | | | 13,823 | | | 13,467 | |
| | | $ | 96,787 | | | $ | 97,032 | | | $ | 80,204 | | | | $ | 91,198 | | | $ | 91,561 | | | $ | 99,641 | | | | $ | 97,588 | | | $ | 97,799 | | | $ | 81,799 | | | | $ | 97,368 | | | $ | 97,603 | | | $ | 82,798 | |
(a)Includes the Company's £625 million and £650 million fixed-rate British pound sterling denominated notes (the “Sterling Notes”) remeasured(remeasured at $762 million and $755 million as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, using the exchange rate at the respective dates.dates) and the Company's £650 million aggregate principal amount of Sterling Notes (remeasured at $793 million and $786 million as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, using the exchange rate at the respective dates).
(b)The Company has availability under the Charter Operating credit facilities of approximately $4.6$3.3 billion as of September 30, 2022.2023.
The estimated fair value of the Company’s senior unsecured and secured notes and debentures as of September 30, 20222023 and December 31, 20212022 is based on quoted market prices in active markets and is classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy, while the estimated fair value of the Company’s credit facilities is based on quoted market prices in inactive markets and is classified within Level 2.
In January 2022,February 2023, CCO Holdings, LLC ("CCO Holdings") and CCO Holdings Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.2$1.1 billion of 4.750%7.375% senior unsecured notes due February 2032March 2031 at par. The net proceeds were used for general corporate purposes, including to fundrepaying certain indebtedness, funding buybacks of Charter Class A common stock and Charter Holdings common units to repay certain indebtedness and to pay related fees and expenses.
In March 2022,February 2023, Charter Operating entered into an amendment to its credit agreement to replace London Interbank Offering Rate ("LIBOR") as the benchmark rate applicable to the Term B loans with Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.400% senior secured notes due April 2033 at a price of 99.634% of the aggregate principal amount, $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.250% senior secured notes due April 2053 at a price of 99.300% of the aggregate principal amount and $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.500% senior secured notes due April 2063 at a price of 99.255% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds were used for general corporate purposes, including to fundin
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
buybacks of Charter Class A common stock and Charter Holdings common units, to repay certain indebtedness and to pay related fees and expenses.
In May and June 2022, Charter Operating and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. redeemed all of their outstanding 4.464% senior notes due July 2022.
In May 2022,March 2023, Charter Operating entered into ananother amendment to its credit agreement (the "Amendment") to: (i) upsize term A loans by $2.3 billion to $6.05 billion and extend the maturity to August 31, 2027 from March 31, 2023 and February 1, 2025, (ii) create and borrowincur a new trancheTerm B-3 loan with an aggregate principal amount of $500$750 million maturing in 2030 concurrently with the cancelation of term A-6 loans maturing August 31, 2028, (iii) increase the sizecertain of Charter Operating's revolving credit facilityexisting Term B-1 and extendB-2 loans, among other amendments. Pricing on the maturity date to August 31, 2027 from March 31, 2023 and February 1, 2025 and (iv) make certain other amendments to the credit agreement. The Company used a portion of the proceeds from the Amendment to repay all of the term A-2 loans, term A-4 loans and borrowings under the revolving credit facility outstanding prior to the effective date of the Amendment.
new Term B-3 loan is SOFR plus 2.25%. After giving effect to the Amendment: (i)amendments, the aggregate principal amount of term A-5Term B-1 loans outstanding as of September 30, 2022 is $6.0$2.3 billion with a pricing of Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR")unchanged at SOFR plus 1.25%, (ii)1.75% and the aggregate principal amount of term A-6Term B-2 loans outstanding as of September 30, 2022 is $494 million$3.1 billion with a pricing ofunchanged at SOFR plus 1.50% and (iii)1.75%.
As of July 1, 2023, the aggregate amount of the revolving credit facility increased toUnited Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, ceased publishing remaining U.S. Dollar LIBOR rates. The Charter Operating senior secured floating rate notes due 2024 (the "Floating Rate Notes") used LIBOR as a total capacity of $5.5 billion andbenchmark for establishing the interest rate of the Floating Rate Notes. As of July 1, 2023, SOFR is being used as the benchmark changed from London Interbank Offering Rate ("LIBOR") to SOFR, with a pricingreplacement for calculations of SOFR plus 1.25%. The aggregate principalthe amount of term B-1 loans (maturing Aprilinterest payable on the Floating Rate Notes with respect to interest periods with interest determination dates occurring after June 30, 2025) and term B-2 loans (maturing February 1, 2027) outstanding as of September 30, 2022 are $2.4 billion and $3.7 billion, respectively, with LIBOR-based pricing unchanged.
The Amendment also removed mandatory prepayment requirements upon asset sales and property or casualty insurance recoveries, made changes to the affirmative covenants, including changes to the financial reporting covenants, and made changes to the negative covenants, including removal of certain negative covenants in their entirety.
In August 2022, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.5 billion of 6.375% senior unsecured notes due September 2029 at par. The net proceeds were used for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock and Charter Holdings common units, to repay certain indebtedness and to pay related fees and expenses.2023.
Losses on extinguishment of debt are recorded in other income (expenses), net in the consolidated statements of operations and consistedfor the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $3 million as a result of the following.Charter Operating credit facility refinancing and Charter Operating notes redemption.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
CCO Holdings notes redemption | $ | — | | | $ | (71) | | | $ | — | | | $ | (146) | |
Charter Operating credit facility refinancing | — | | | — | | | (2) | | | — | |
Time Warner Cable, LLC notes redemption | — | | | 2 | | | — | | | 2 | |
Charter Operating notes redemption | — | | | — | | | (1) | | | — | |
| $ | — | | | $ | (69) | | | $ | (3) | | | $ | (144) | |
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
5.4. Common Stock
The following represents the Company's purchase of Charter Class A common stock and the effect on the consolidated statements of cash flows during the three and nine months ended September 30, 20222023 and 2021.2022.
| | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| | Shares | | $ | | Shares | | $ | | Shares | | $ | | Shares | | $ | | Shares | | $ | | Shares | | $ | | Shares | | $ | | Shares | | $ |
Share buybacks | Share buybacks | 5,006,943 | | | $ | 2,218 | | | 4,738,842 | | | $ | 3,584 | | | 17,597,370 | | | $ | 9,065 | | | 15,442,417 | | | $ | 10,450 | | Share buybacks | 1,833,928 | | | $ | 776 | | | 5,006,943 | | | $ | 2,218 | | | 5,092,677 | | | $ | 1,963 | | | 17,597,370 | | | $ | 9,065 | |
Income tax withholding | Income tax withholding | 14,595 | | | 7 | | | 104,949 | | | 82 | | | 304,070 | | | 180 | | | 572,869 | | | 384 | | Income tax withholding | 15,261 | | | 7 | | | 14,595 | | | 7 | | | 148,075 | | | 58 | | | 304,070 | | | 180 | |
Exercise cost | Exercise cost | 43,916 | | | 116,961 | | | 273,399 | | | 612,474 | | | Exercise cost | 94,111 | | | 43,916 | | | 147,903 | | | 273,399 | | |
| | 5,065,454 | | | $ | 2,225 | | | 4,960,752 | | | $ | 3,666 | | | 18,174,839 | | | $ | 9,245 | | | 16,627,760 | | | $ | 10,834 | | | 1,943,300 | | | $ | 783 | | | 5,065,454 | | | $ | 2,225 | | | 5,388,655 | | | $ | 2,021 | | | 18,174,839 | | | $ | 9,245 | |
Share buybacks above include shares of Charter Class A common stock purchased from Liberty Broadband Corporation (“Liberty Broadband”) as follows.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
Number of shares purchased | 1,724,540 | | | 1,200,547 | | | 4,952,224 | | | 3,962,155 | |
Amount of shares purchased | $ | 796 | | | $ | 880 | | | $ | 2,602 | | | $ | 2,642 | |
In October 2022, the Company purchased from Liberty Broadband an additional 0.5 million shares of Charter Class A common stock for approximately $183 million. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Number of shares purchased | — | | | 1,724,540 | | | 120,149 | | | 4,952,224 | |
Amount of shares purchased | $ | — | | | $ | 796 | | | $ | 42 | | | $ | 2,602 | |
As of September 30, 2022,2023, Charter had remaining board authority to purchase an additional $680$672 million of Charter’s Class A common stock and/or Charter Holdings common units, excluding purchases from Liberty Broadband. The Company also withholds shares of its Class A common stock in payment of income tax withholding owed by employees upon vesting of equity awards as well as exercise costs owed by employees upon exercise of stock options.
In 2021,2022, Charter’s board of directors approved the retirement of the then currently held treasury stock and those shares were retired as of December 31, 2021.2022. The Company accounts for treasury stock using the cost method and includes treasury stock as a component of total shareholders’ equity.
6.5. Noncontrolling Interests
Noncontrolling interests represents consolidated subsidiaries of which the Company owns less than 100%. The Company is a holding company whose principal asset is a controlling equity interest in Charter Holdings, the indirect owner of the
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
Company’s cable systems. Noncontrolling interests on the Company’s balance sheet consist primarily of Advance/Newhouse Partnership's (“A/N”) equity interests in Charter Holdings, which is comprised of a common ownership interest and prior to June 18, 2021, a convertible preferred ownership interest.
Net income of Charter Holdings attributable to A/N’s common noncontrolling interest for financial reporting purposes is based on the weighted average effective common ownership interest of approximately 11% during 2022, and 7% prior to conversion ofwas $181 million and $532 million for the preferred unitsthree and 11% after conversion during 2021,nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, and was $182 million and $604 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, and $190 million and $371 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. Net income of Charter Holdings attributable to A/N's preferred noncontrolling interest for financial reporting purposes is based on the preferred dividend which was $70 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. In June 2021, the Company caused the conversion of all of A/N's Charter Holdings convertible preferred units into Charter Holdings common units.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
The following table represents Charter Holdings' purchase of Charter Holdings common units from A/N and the effect on total shareholders' equity during the three and nine months ended September 30, 20222023 and 2021.2022.
| | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Number of units purchased | Number of units purchased | 836,655 | | | 565,972 | | | 2,557,256 | | | 2,270,660 | | Number of units purchased | 196,409 | | | 836,655 | | | 677,584 | | | 2,557,256 | |
| Amount of units purchased | Amount of units purchased | $ | 385 | | | $ | 410 | | | $ | 1,379 | | | $ | 1,500 | | Amount of units purchased | $ | 78 | | | $ | 385 | | | $ | 254 | | | $ | 1,379 | |
Decrease in noncontrolling interest based on carrying value | Decrease in noncontrolling interest based on carrying value | $ | (179) | | | $ | (148) | | | $ | (573) | | | $ | (553) | | Decrease in noncontrolling interest based on carrying value | $ | (44) | | | $ | (179) | | | $ | (146) | | | $ | (573) | |
Decrease in additional paid-in-capital, net of tax | Decrease in additional paid-in-capital, net of tax | $ | (155) | | | $ | (197) | | | $ | (608) | | | $ | (713) | | Decrease in additional paid-in-capital, net of tax | $ | (25) | | | $ | (155) | | | $ | (81) | | | $ | (608) | |
Total shareholders' equity was also adjusted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 20222023 and 20212022 due to the changes in Charter Holdings' ownership including the impact of the preferred unit conversion in June 2021 as follows.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
Decrease in noncontrolling interest | $ | (127) | | | $ | (290) | | | $ | (621) | | | $ | (1,798) | |
Increase in additional paid-in-capital, net of tax | $ | 96 | | | $ | 219 | | | $ | 468 | | | $ | 1,353 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Increase (decrease) in noncontrolling interest | $ | (23) | | | $ | (127) | | | $ | (53) | | | $ | (621) | |
Increase (decrease) in additional paid-in-capital, net of tax | $ | 18 | | | $ | 96 | | | $ | 40 | | | $ | 468 | |
7.6. Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Cross-currency derivative instruments are used to manage foreign exchange risk on the Sterling Notes by effectively converting £1.275 billion aggregate principal amount of fixed-rate British pound sterling denominated debt, including annual interest payments and the payment of principal at maturity, to fixed-rate U.S. dollar denominated debt. The fair value of the Company's cross-currency derivatives, which are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy, was $772$516 million and $290$570 million and is included in other long-term liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 20222023 and December 31, 2021,2022, respectively.
The effect of financial instruments are recorded in other income (expenses), net in the consolidated statements of operations and consisted of the following.
| | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Change in fair value of cross-currency derivative instruments | Change in fair value of cross-currency derivative instruments | $ | (322) | | | $ | (111) | | | $ | (482) | | | $ | (133) | | Change in fair value of cross-currency derivative instruments | $ | 6 | | | $ | (322) | | | $ | 54 | | | $ | (482) | |
Foreign currency remeasurement of Sterling Notes to U.S. dollars | Foreign currency remeasurement of Sterling Notes to U.S. dollars | 129 | | | 47 | | | 304 | | | 26 | | Foreign currency remeasurement of Sterling Notes to U.S. dollars | 64 | | | 129 | | | (14) | | | 304 | |
Loss on financial instruments, net | $ | (193) | | | $ | (64) | | | $ | (178) | | | $ | (107) | | |
Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net | | Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net | $ | 70 | | | $ | (193) | | | $ | 40 | | | $ | (178) | |
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
8.7. Revenues
The Company’s revenues by product line are as follows:
| | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Internet | Internet | $ | 5,571 | | | $ | 5,363 | | | $ | 16,585 | | | $ | 15,670 | | Internet | $ | 5,776 | | | $ | 5,571 | | | $ | 17,227 | | | $ | 16,585 | |
Video | Video | 4,379 | | | 4,502 | | | 13,209 | | | 13,224 | | Video | 4,004 | | | 4,379 | | | 12,446 | | | 13,209 | |
Voice | Voice | 391 | | | 409 | | | 1,180 | | | 1,202 | | Voice | 379 | | | 391 | | | 1,117 | | | 1,180 | |
Mobile service | | Mobile service | 581 | | | 435 | | | 1,617 | | | 1,237 | |
Residential revenue | Residential revenue | 10,341 | | | 10,274 | | | 30,974 | | | 30,096 | | Residential revenue | 10,740 | | | 10,776 | | | 32,407 | | | 32,211 | |
| Small and medium business | Small and medium business | 1,082 | | | 1,062 | | | 3,221 | | | 3,116 | | Small and medium business | 1,085 | | | 1,095 | | | 3,270 | | | 3,257 | |
Enterprise | Enterprise | 673 | | | 656 | | | 2,003 | | | 1,930 | | Enterprise | 698 | | | 673 | | | 2,070 | | | 2,003 | |
Commercial revenue | Commercial revenue | 1,755 | | | 1,718 | | | 5,224 | | | 5,046 | | Commercial revenue | 1,783 | | | 1,768 | | | 5,340 | | | 5,260 | |
| Advertising sales | Advertising sales | 481 | | | 391 | | | 1,324 | | | 1,146 | | Advertising sales | 384 | | | 481 | | | 1,123 | | | 1,324 | |
Mobile | 750 | | | 535 | | | 2,166 | | | 1,546 | | |
Other | Other | 223 | | | 228 | | | 660 | | | 636 | | Other | 677 | | | 525 | | | 2,026 | | | 1,553 | |
| | $ | 13,550 | | | $ | 13,146 | | | $ | 40,348 | | | $ | 38,470 | | | $ | 13,584 | | | $ | 13,550 | | | $ | 40,896 | | | $ | 40,348 | |
As of September 30, 20222023 and December 31, 2021,2022, accounts receivable, net on the consolidated balance sheets includes approximately $492$651 million and $391$577 million of current equipment installment plan receivables, respectively, and other noncurrent assets includes approximately $225$547 million and $189$261 million of noncurrent equipment installment plan receivables, respectively.
9.8. Operating Costs and Expenses
Operating costs and expenses, exclusive of items shown separately in the consolidated statements of operations, consist of the following for the periods presented:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
Programming | $ | 2,871 | | | $ | 2,983 | | | $ | 8,820 | | | $ | 8,949 | |
Regulatory, connectivity and produced content | 587 | | | 634 | | | 1,742 | | | 1,902 | |
Costs to service customers | 1,982 | | | 1,899 | | | 5,801 | | | 5,530 | |
Marketing | 861 | | | 788 | | | 2,493 | | | 2,280 | |
Mobile | 846 | | | 607 | | | 2,403 | | | 1,765 | |
Other | 1,100 | | | 1,047 | | | 3,315 | | | 3,125 | |
| $ | 8,247 | | | $ | 7,958 | | | $ | 24,574 | | | $ | 23,551 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Programming | $ | 2,595 | | | $ | 2,871 | | | $ | 8,134 | | | $ | 8,820 | |
Other costs of revenue | 1,385 | | | 1,202 | | | 4,080 | | | 3,495 | |
Costs to service customers | 2,142 | | | 2,066 | | | 6,306 | | | 6,022 | |
Sales and marketing | 912 | | | 925 | | | 2,753 | | | 2,669 | |
Other expense | 1,265 | | | 1,183 | | | 3,842 | | | 3,568 | |
| $ | 8,299 | | | $ | 8,247 | | | $ | 25,115 | | | $ | 24,574 | |
Programming costs consist primarily of costs paid to programmers for basic, premium, digital, video on demand and pay-per-view programming. Regulatory, connectivityOther costs of revenue include costs directly related to providing Internet, video, voice and produced contentmobile services including mobile device costs, represent payments to franchise and regulatory authorities, costs directly related to providing video, Internet and voice services as well as payments for sports, local and news content produced by the Company. IncludedCompany and direct costs associated with selling advertising. Also included in regulatory, connectivity and produced contentother costs isof revenue are content acquisition costs for the Los Angeles Lakers’ basketball games and Los Angeles Dodgers’ baseball games, which are recorded as games are exhibited over the contract period. Costs to service customers include costs related to field operations, network operations and customer careoperations for the Company’s products, including mobile, sold to non-bulk residential and SMBsmall and medium business ("SMB") customers including internal and third-party labor for the non-capitalizable portion of installations, service and repairs, maintenance, bad debt expense, billing and collection, occupancy and vehicle costs. Sales and
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
vehicle costs. Marketingmarketing costs represent the costs of selling and marketing our Internet, video, voice and mobile services to current and potential non-bulk residential and commercialSMB customers, including labor costs. Mobile costs represent costs associated with the Company's mobile service such as device and service costs, marketing, sales and commissions, retail stores, personnel costs, taxes, among others.cost. Other expense includes corporate overhead, advertising sales expenses, indirect costs associated with the Company’s enterprise business customersSpectrum Enterprise, Spectrum Reach and regional sportsSpectrum Networks businesses, including sales and news networks, property taxmarketing and insurancebad debt expenses as well as costs associated with selling to and servicing bulk properties. Other expense also includes corporate overhead and stock compensation expense, among others.
10.9. Other Operating (Income) Expenses,Expense, Net
Other operating (income) expenses,expense, net consist of the following for the periods presented:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
Special charges, net | $ | 199 | | | $ | (7) | | | $ | 135 | | | $ | 242 | |
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net | 3 | | | (2) | | | 6 | | | 42 | |
| $ | 202 | | | $ | (9) | | | $ | 141 | | | $ | 284 | |
Special charges, net | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Special charges, net | $ | 19 | | | $ | 199 | | | $ | (23) | | | $ | 135 | |
Loss on disposal of assets, net | 10 | | | 3 | | | 4 | | | 6 | |
| $ | 29 | | | $ | 202 | | | $ | (19) | | | $ | 141 | |
Special charges, net for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 primarily includes litigation settlements and the nine months ended September 30, 2022 also includes a $54 million gain related to the settlement of a multiemployer pension plan. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, special charges, net includes net amounts of litigation settlements including the $220 million settlement with Sprint Communications Company L.P. and T-Mobile USA, Inc., and employee termination costs.
11.10. Other Income (Expenses), Net
Other income (expenses), net consist of the following for the periods presented:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
Loss on extinguishment of debt (see Note 4) | $ | — | | | $ | (69) | | | $ | (3) | | | $ | (144) | |
Loss on financial instruments, net (see Note 7) | (193) | | | (64) | | | (178) | | | (107) | |
Net periodic pension benefits (costs) | 207 | | | (15) | | | 241 | | | 176 | |
Gain (loss) on equity investments, net | (51) | | | (9) | | | 5 | | | (162) | |
| $ | (37) | | | $ | (157) | | | $ | 65 | | | $ | (237) | |
Net periodic pension benefits | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Loss on extinguishment of debt (see Note 3) | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | (3) | |
Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net (see Note 6) | 70 | | | (193) | | | 40 | | | (178) | |
Net periodic pension benefits | 2 | | | 207 | | | 5 | | | 241 | |
Gain (loss) on equity investments, net | (87) | | | (51) | | | (249) | | | 5 | |
| $ | (15) | | | $ | (37) | | | $ | (204) | | | $ | 65 | |
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, and nine months ended September 30, 2021, settlements for lump-sum distributions to pension plan participants exceeded the estimated annual interest cost of the plans. As a result, the pension liability and pension asset values were reassessed utilizing remeasurement date assumptions in accordance with the Company's mark-to-market pension accounting policy to record gains and losses in the period in which a remeasurement event occurs. NetTherefore, net periodic pension benefits includes a $189 million remeasurement gain recorded during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and a $155 million remeasurement gain recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 which werewas primarily driven by changes in the discount rate offset by losses to record assets to fair value.
Gain (loss)Loss on equity investments, net
Gain (loss) on equity investments, net includes impairments on equity investments of approximately $165 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars2023 is primarily related to our joint venture in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
Xumo, a next generation streaming platform jointly owned with Comcast Corporation.
12.11. Stock Compensation Plans
Charter’s stock incentive plans provide for grants of nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, performance units and performance shares, share awards, phantom stock, restricted stock units and restricted stock. Directors, officers and other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, as well as others performing consulting services for the Company, are eligible for grants under the stock incentive plans.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
Charter granted the following equity awards for the periods presented.
| | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Stock options | Stock options | 50,700 | | | 36,900 | | | 1,455,100 | | | 1,278,700 | | Stock options | 9,500 | | | 50,700 | | | 4,266,700 | | | 1,455,100 | |
Restricted stock | Restricted stock | — | | | — | | | 6,800 | | | 4,600 | | Restricted stock | — | | | — | | | 10,300 | | | 6,800 | |
Restricted stock units | Restricted stock units | 175,600 | | | 8,900 | | | 618,700 | | | 363,100 | | Restricted stock units | 10,900 | | | 175,600 | | | 1,546,800 | | | 618,700 | |
Stock options and restricted stock units generally cliff vest three years from the date of grant. Certain stock options and restricted stock units vest based on achievement of stock price hurdles. Stock options generally expire ten years from the grant date and restricted stock units have no voting rights. Restricted stock generally vests one year from the date of grant.
As of September 30, 2022,2023, total unrecognized compensation remaining to be recognized in future periods totaled $268$472 million for stock options, $2 million for restricted stock and $329$524 million for restricted stock units and the weighted average period over which they are expected to be recognized is twothree years for stock options, seven months for restricted stock and two years for restricted stock units.
The Company recorded stock compensation expense of $164 million and $540 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, and $109 million and $360 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, and $98 million and $332 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, which is included in operating costs and expenses.
13.12. Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Charter shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share considers the impact of potentially dilutive securities using the treasury stock and if-converted methods and is based on the weighted average number of shares used for the basic earnings per share calculation, adjusted for the dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, equity awards with market conditions and Charter Holdings convertible preferred units and common units. Charter Holdings common units of 18 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 19 million and 20 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, and 23 million and 18 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share as their effect would have been antidilutive.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
The following is the computation of diluted earnings per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 20222023 and 2021.2022.
| | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Numerator: | Numerator: | | | | | | | | Numerator: | | | | | | | |
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders | Net income attributable to Charter shareholders | $ | 1,185 | | | $ | 1,217 | | | $ | 3,859 | | | $ | 3,044 | | Net income attributable to Charter shareholders | $ | 1,255 | | | $ | 1,185 | | | $ | 3,499 | | | $ | 3,859 | |
Effect of dilutive securities: | | |
| Charter Holdings convertible preferred units | — | | | — | | | — | | | 70 | | |
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders after assumed conversions | $ | 1,185 | | | $ | 1,217 | | | $ | 3,859 | | | $ | 3,114 | | |
| | Denominator: | Denominator: | | Denominator: | |
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic | Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic | 157,971,109 | | | 181,925,180 | | | 164,189,703 | | | 186,380,681 | | Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic | 149,004,322 | | | 157,971,109 | | | 150,169,275 | | | 164,189,703 | |
Effect of dilutive securities: | Effect of dilutive securities: | | Effect of dilutive securities: | |
Assumed exercise or issuance of shares relating to stock plans | Assumed exercise or issuance of shares relating to stock plans | 2,667,077 | | | 5,240,891 | | | 3,162,074 | | | 5,158,105 | | Assumed exercise or issuance of shares relating to stock plans | 3,014,837 | | | 2,667,077 | | | 2,325,998 | | | 3,162,074 | |
| Weighted average Charter Holdings convertible preferred units | — | | | — | | | — | | | 5,777,881 | | |
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted | Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted | 160,638,186 | | | 187,166,071 | | | 167,351,777 | | | 197,316,667 | | Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted | 152,019,159 | | | 160,638,186 | | | 152,495,273 | | | 167,351,777 | |
| Basic earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders | Basic earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders | $ | 7.51 | | | $ | 6.69 | | | $ | 23.51 | | | $ | 16.33 | | Basic earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders | $ | 8.42 | | | $ | 7.51 | | | $ | 23.30 | | | $ | 23.51 | |
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders | Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders | $ | 7.38 | | | $ | 6.50 | | | $ | 23.06 | | | $ | 15.78 | | Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders | $ | 8.25 | | | $ | 7.38 | | | $ | 22.94 | | | $ | 23.06 | |
13. Contingencies
14.
Contingencies
On April 27, 2022, Entropic Communications, LLC (“Entropic”) filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas alleging that Charter infringed six patents relating to the deployment of certain set-top boxes, cable modems and cable modem termination systems. Entropic seeks monetary damages, including future license fees. Trial is scheduled for December 4, 2023. On February 10, 2023, Entropic filed a separate lawsuit against Charter in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The lawsuit alleges infringement of two patents that also relate to the deployment of certain set-top boxes and cable modems. Entropic seeks monetary damages. Trial is scheduled for October 7, 2024. On February 10, 2023, Entropic filed two more lawsuits against Charter in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The two lawsuits allege infringement of a total of twelve patents that relate to certain set-top boxes. Entropic seeks monetary damages, including future license fees. The two cases have been consolidated for pre-trial purposes. The first trial is scheduled for December 9, 2024. While the Company is vigorously defending these suits and is unable to predict the outcome of the Entropic lawsuits, the Company does not expect that the litigation will have a material effect on its operations, financial condition, or cash flows.
In March 2020, Charter Communications, LLC (“CC, LLC”), an indirect subsidiary of the Company, was named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed in Dallas, Texas relatedaddition to the fatal stabbing of an individual in her home by an off duty CC, LLC technician: William Goff, as Personal Representative of Betty Jo McClain Thomas, deceased, et al. v. Roy James Holden, Jr. and Charter Communications, LLC, Case No. CC-20-01579-E, pending in County Court at Law No. 5 for Dallas County, Texas. The complaint alleged that CC, LLC was responsible for Mrs. Thomas' death. Following a two phase trial,Entropic litigation described above, the jury returned a verdict finding CC, LLC ninety percent at fault for Mrs. Thomas’ death, and awarded compensatory damages of $375 million to plaintiffs and then awarded $7.0 billion in punitive damages to plaintiffs on July 26, 2022. On October 7, 2022, plaintiffs filed a motion for a judgment that proposed a reduced total award of $1.144 billion. The trial judge signed the judgment, and CC, LLC posted a $25 million bond to stay the judgment pending appeals. CC, LLC will continue to vigorously defend this lawsuit including pursuing all available appeals.
The Company has considered various factors, including the legal and factual circumstances of the case, the trial record, the jury verdicts, the status of the proceedings, applicable law, the views of legal counsel, the court’s rulings in advance of and during the trial, along with post-trial motions of the parties in determining the various grounds for appeal that the Company expects to vigorously pursue and the likelihood of a successful appeal. Based on these factors, the Company has concluded that a loss from this case is not probable and reasonably estimable. Therefore, the Company has not accrued a liability for the adverse verdict in its financial statements as of September 30, 2022.
The Company is a defendant or co-defendant in several lawsuits involving alleged infringement of various intellectual property relating to various aspects of its businesses. Other industry participants are also defendants in certain of these cases or related cases. In the event that a court ultimately determines that the Company infringes on any intellectual property, the Company may be subject to substantial damages and/or an injunction that could require the Company or its vendors to modify certain products and services the Company offers to its subscribers, as well as negotiate royalty or license agreements with respect to the
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
intellectual property at issue. While the Company believes the lawsuits are without merit and intends to defend the actions vigorously, no assurance can be given that any adverse outcome would not be material to the Company’s operations, consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity. The Company cannot predict the outcome of any such claims nor can it reasonably estimate a range of possible loss.
The Company is party to other lawsuits, claims and regulatory inquiries that arise in the ordinary course of conducting its business. The ultimate outcome of these other legal matters pending against the Company cannot be predicted, and although such lawsuits and claims are not expected individually to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity, such lawsuits could have, in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Whether or not the
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
Company ultimately prevails in any particular lawsuit or claim, litigation can be time consuming and costly and injure the Company’s reputation.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
General
Charter Communications, Inc. (together with its controlled subsidiaries, “Charter”) is a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator serving more than 32 million customers in 41 states through our Spectrum brand. Over an advanced high-capacity, two-way telecommunicationscommunications network, we offer a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business services including Spectrum Internet, TV, Mobile and Voice. For small and medium-sized companies, Spectrum Business delivers the same suite of broadband products and services coupled with special features and applications to enhance productivity, while for larger businesses and government entities, Spectrum Enterprise provides highly customized, fiber-based solutions. Spectrum Reach delivers tailored advertising and production for the modern media landscape. We also distribute award-winning news coverage and sports programming to our customers through Spectrum Networks.
Charter is a holding company whose principal asset is a controlling equity interest in Charter Communications Holdings, LLC (“Charter Holdings”), an indirect owner of Charter Communications Operating, LLC (“Charter Operating”) under which substantially all of the operations reside. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions among consolidated entities have been eliminated.
Overview
In 2022,During the third quarter of 2023, we remain focused on driving customer relationship growth. Residentialadded 594,000 mobile lines, 63,000 Internet customers and 8,000 residential and small and medium business ("SMB") customer relationships, increased by 17,000which excludes mobile-only customer relationships. We spent $512 million and $1.4 billion on our subsidized rural construction initiative during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, and activated approximately 78,000 and 190,000 subsidized rural passings, respectively. Our mobile line and Internet customer additions in the third quarter of 2022were supported by our Spectrum One offering, which brings together Spectrum Internet, Advanced WiFi and 192,000 from September 30, 2021Unlimited Spectrum Mobile to September 30, 2022, which excludes mobile-only customers. offer consumers fast, reliable and secure online connections on their favorite devices at home and on-the-go in a high-value package and was further supported by growth in our legacy and new subsidized rural markets.
We continue to see lower customer move rates and switching behavior among providers, which has reduced our selling opportunities. Our rural construction initiative is underway which we expect will expand our footprint by approximately 1 million homes and businesses over the next six years, and we expect to participate in additional government subsidy programs that would further expand our footprint. We continue to evolveupgrade our network to provide increasedhigher Internet speeds and reliability and invest in our products and customer service platforms. We currently offer Spectrum Internet products with speeds up to 1 Gbps across our entire footprint.footprint and we plan to upgrade our network to provide multi-gigabit speeds. Our Advanced WiFi, a managed WiFi service that provides customers an optimized home network while providing greater control of their connected devices with enhanced security and privacy, is available to nearly all Internet customers. We continue to invest in our ability to provide a differentiated Internet connectivity experience for our mobile and fixed Internet customers with theincreasing availability of over 500,000 out of homeout-of-home WiFi access points across our footprint. In October, we introduced Spectrum One, which brings together Spectrum Internet, Advanced WiFi and Unlimited Spectrum Mobile™, to offer consumers faster, more reliable and secure online connections on their favorite devices at home and on the go in a high-value package. In addition, we continue to work towards the construction of our own 5G mobile data-only network in targeted areas of our footprint leveraging the Citizensour Citizen Broadband Radio Service (“CBRS”("CBRS") Priority Access Licenses (“PALs”) purchased in 2020.Licenses.
We also continue to evolve our video product. In September 2023, we entered into a new affiliation agreement with Disney which provides a template for a new programming affiliation approach where we partner with content providers to provide access to both linear and app-based direct-to-consumer content. In October 2023, we began deploying Xumo Stream Boxes to new video customers. The Xumo Stream Box combines a live TV experience with access to hundreds of direct-to-consumer TV apps and features unified search and discovery along with a curated content offering based on the customer's interests and subscriptions. By continually improving our product set and offering consumers the opportunity to save money by switching to our services, we believe we can continue to penetrate our expanding footprint and attract more spend onsell additional products forto our existing customers. DuringWe are also beginning to see benefits from the nine months ended September 30, 2022,targeted investments we added 1,113,000 mobile linesare making in employee wages and 239,000 Internet customers,benefits inside of our operations to build employee skill sets and fortenure, as well as the quarter ended September 30, 2022, we added 396,000 mobile linescontinued investments in digitization of our customer service platforms and 75,000 Internet customers.proactive maintenance, all with the goal of improving the customer experience, reducing transactions and driving customer growth and retention.
We believe Spectrum-branded mobile services will drive higher sales of our core products, create longer customer lives and increase profitability and cash flow over time. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, our mobile product line increased revenues by $750 million and $2.2 billion, respectively, reduced Adjusted EBITDA by approximately $96 million and $237 million, respectively, and reduced free cash flow by approximately $208 million and $768 million, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, our mobile product line increased revenues by $535 million and $1.5 billion, respectively, reduced Adjusted EBITDA by approximately $72 million and $219 million, respectively, and reduced free cash flow by approximately $145 million and $606 million, respectively. Mobile Adjusted EBITDA may continue to be negative primarily as a result of growth-related sales and marketing and other customer acquisition costs for mobile services, and depending on the pace of that growth. We also expect to continue to see negative free cash flow from the timing of device-related cash flows when we sell devices to customers pursuant to equipment installment plans and capital expenditures related to CBRS build-out.
We realized revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and income from operations during the periods presented as follows (in millions; all percentages are calculated using whole numbers; minor differences may exist due to rounding):
| | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2022 | | 2021 | | % Change | | 2022 | | 2021 | | % Change | | 2023 | | 2022 | | % Change | | 2023 | | 2022 | | % Change |
Revenues | Revenues | $ | 13,550 | | | $ | 13,146 | | | 3.1 | % | | $ | 40,348 | | | $ | 38,470 | | | 4.9 | % | Revenues | $ | 13,584 | | | $ | 13,550 | | | 0.2 | % | | $ | 40,896 | | | $ | 40,348 | | | 1.4 | % |
Adjusted EBITDA | Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 5,412 | | | $ | 5,286 | | | 2.4 | % | | $ | 16,134 | | | $ | 15,251 | | | 5.8 | % | Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 5,449 | | | $ | 5,412 | | | 0.7 | % | | $ | 16,321 | | | $ | 16,134 | | | 1.2 | % |
Income from operations | Income from operations | $ | 2,924 | | | $ | 2,927 | | | (0.1) | % | | $ | 8,922 | | | $ | 7,570 | | | 17.9 | % | Income from operations | $ | 3,126 | | | $ | 2,924 | | | 6.9 | % | | $ | 9,292 | | | $ | 8,922 | | | 4.2 | % |
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income attributable to Charter shareholders plus net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net interest expense, net, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock compensation expense, other income (expenses), net and other operating (income) expenses, net, such as special charges and (gain) loss on sale or retirement of assets. See “Use of Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow” for further information on Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow.
Growth in total revenue was primarily due to growth in our residential Internet mobile and commercial customers and price adjustments.residential mobile lines partly offset by lower residential video and advertising sales revenues. Adjusted EBITDA growth and changes in income from operations were impacted by growth in revenue and increases in operating costs and expenses, primarily mobile,other costs of revenue and costs to service customers and marketing.partly offset by a decrease in programming expense.
The following table summarizes our customer statistics for Internet, video, voice and mobile as of September 30, 20222023 and 20212022 (in thousands except per customer data and footnotes).
| | | Approximate as of | | Approximate as of |
| | September 30, | | September 30, |
| | 2022 (a) | | 2021 (a) | | 2023 (a) | | 2022 (a) |
Customer Relationships (b) | Customer Relationships (b) | | | | Customer Relationships (b) | | | |
Residential | Residential | 29,946 | | | 29,823 | | Residential | 30,012 | | | 29,946 | |
SMB | SMB | 2,195 | | | 2,126 | | SMB | 2,224 | | | 2,195 | |
Total Customer Relationships | Total Customer Relationships | 32,141 | | | 31,949 | | Total Customer Relationships | 32,236 | | | 32,141 | |
| Monthly Residential Revenue per Residential Customer (c) | Monthly Residential Revenue per Residential Customer (c) | $ | 115.16 | | | $ | 115.15 | | Monthly Residential Revenue per Residential Customer (c) | $ | 119.28 | | | $ | 120.00 | |
Monthly SMB Revenue per SMB Customer (d) | Monthly SMB Revenue per SMB Customer (d) | $ | 164.89 | | | $ | 167.29 | | Monthly SMB Revenue per SMB Customer (d) | $ | 162.94 | | | $ | 166.84 | |
| Internet | Internet | | Internet | |
Residential | Residential | 28,320 | | | 27,965 | | Residential | 28,606 | | | 28,320 | |
SMB | SMB | 2,008 | | | 1,934 | | SMB | 2,043 | | | 2,008 | |
Total Internet Customers | Total Internet Customers | 30,328 | | | 29,899 | | Total Internet Customers | 30,649 | | | 30,328 | |
| Video | Video | | Video | |
Residential | Residential | 14,642 | | | 15,287 | | Residential | 13,751 | | | 14,642 | |
SMB | SMB | 649 | | | 604 | | SMB | 628 | | | 649 | |
Total Video Customers | Total Video Customers | 15,291 | | | 15,891 | | Total Video Customers | 14,379 | | | 15,291 | |
| Voice | Voice | | Voice | |
Residential | Residential | 7,929 | | | 8,784 | | Residential | 6,960 | | | 7,929 | |
SMB | SMB | 1,287 | | | 1,273 | | SMB | 1,296 | | | 1,287 | |
Total Voice Customers | Total Voice Customers | 9,216 | | | 10,057 | | Total Voice Customers | 8,256 | | | 9,216 | |
| Mobile Lines (e) | Mobile Lines (e) | | Mobile Lines (e) | |
Residential | Residential | 4,516 | | | 3,085 | | Residential | 6,987 | | | 4,516 | |
SMB | SMB | 161 | | | 99 | | SMB | 233 | | | 161 | |
Total Mobile Lines | Total Mobile Lines | 4,677 | | | 3,184 | | Total Mobile Lines | 7,220 | | | 4,677 | |
| Enterprise Primary Service Units ("PSUs") (f) | Enterprise Primary Service Units ("PSUs") (f) | 282 | | 269 | | Enterprise Primary Service Units ("PSUs") (f) | 298 | | 282 | |
(a)We calculate the aging of customer accounts based on the monthly billing cycle for each account. On that basis, as of September 30, 20222023 and 2021,2022, customers include approximately 151,700143,300 and 119,200151,700 customers, respectively, whose accounts were over 60 days past due, approximately 55,50053,400 and 21,10055,500 customers, respectively, whose accounts were over 90 days past due and approximately 149,300261,700 and 31,800149,300 customers, respectively, whose accounts were over 120 days past due. Bad debt expense associated with these past due accounts has been reflected in our consolidated statements of operations. The increase in accounts past due accountsmore than 120 days is predominately due to pre-existing and incremental unsubsidized amounts of customers’ bills for those customers participating in government assistance programs, including video services. These customers are downgraded to a fully subsidized Internet-only service.
(b)Customer relationships include the number of customers that receive one or more levels of service, encompassing Internet, video, voice and voicemobile services, without regard to which service(s) such customers receive. Customers who reside in residential multiple dwelling units (“MDUs”) and that are billed under bulk contracts are counted based on the number of billed units within each bulk MDU. Total customer relationships exclude enterprise and mobile-only customer relationships.
(c)Monthly residential revenue per residential customer is calculated as total residential quarterly revenue divided by three divided by average residential customer relationships during the respective quarter and excludes mobile revenue andmobile-only customers.
(d)Monthly SMB revenue per SMB customer is calculated as total SMB quarterly revenue divided by three divided by average SMB customer relationships during the respective quarter and excludes mobile revenue andmobile-only customers.
(e)Mobile lines include phones and tablets which require one of our standard rate plans (e.g., "Unlimited" or "By the Gig"). Mobile lines exclude wearables and other devices that do not require standard phone rate plans.
(f)Enterprise PSUs represent the aggregate number of fiber service offerings counting each separate service offering at each customer location as an individual PSU.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
For a discussion of our critical accounting policies and the means by which we develop estimates therefore, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our 20212022 Annual Report on Form 10-K. There have been no material changes from the critical accounting policies described in our Form 10-K.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth the consolidated statements of operations for the periods presented (dollars in millions, except per share data):
| | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Revenues | Revenues | $ | 13,550 | | | $ | 13,146 | | | $ | 40,348 | | | $ | 38,470 | | Revenues | $ | 13,584 | | | $ | 13,550 | | | $ | 40,896 | | | $ | 40,348 | |
| Costs and Expenses: | Costs and Expenses: | | Costs and Expenses: | |
Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below) | Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below) | 8,247 | | | 7,958 | | | 24,574 | | | 23,551 | | Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below) | 8,299 | | | 8,247 | | | 25,115 | | | 24,574 | |
Depreciation and amortization | Depreciation and amortization | 2,177 | | | 2,270 | | | 6,711 | | | 7,065 | | Depreciation and amortization | 2,130 | | | 2,177 | | | 6,508 | | | 6,711 | |
Other operating (income) expenses, net | 202 | | | (9) | | | 141 | | | 284 | | |
Other operating (income) expense, net | | Other operating (income) expense, net | 29 | | | 202 | | | (19) | | | 141 | |
| | 10,626 | | | 10,219 | | | 31,426 | | | 30,900 | | | 10,458 | | | 10,626 | | | 31,604 | | | 31,426 | |
Income from operations | Income from operations | 2,924 | | | 2,927 | | | 8,922 | | | 7,570 | | Income from operations | 3,126 | | | 2,924 | | | 9,292 | | | 8,922 | |
| Other Income (Expenses): | Other Income (Expenses): | | Other Income (Expenses): | |
Interest expense, net | Interest expense, net | (1,160) | | | (1,016) | | | (3,329) | | | (3,003) | | Interest expense, net | (1,306) | | | (1,160) | | | (3,869) | | | (3,329) | |
Other income (expenses), net | Other income (expenses), net | (37) | | | (157) | | | 65 | | | (237) | | Other income (expenses), net | (15) | | | (37) | | | (204) | | | 65 | |
| | (1,197) | | | (1,173) | | | (3,264) | | | (3,240) | | | (1,321) | | | (1,197) | | | (4,073) | | | (3,264) | |
| Income before income taxes | Income before income taxes | 1,727 | | | 1,754 | | | 5,658 | | | 4,330 | | Income before income taxes | 1,805 | | | 1,727 | | | 5,219 | | | 5,658 | |
Income tax expense | Income tax expense | (360) | | | (347) | | | (1,194) | | | (844) | | Income tax expense | (369) | | | (360) | | | (1,187) | | | (1,194) | |
Consolidated net income | Consolidated net income | 1,367 | | | 1,407 | | | 4,464 | | | 3,486 | | Consolidated net income | 1,436 | | | 1,367 | | | 4,032 | | | 4,464 | |
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (182) | | | (190) | | | (605) | | | (442) | | Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (181) | | | (182) | | | (533) | | | (605) | |
| Net income attributable to Charter shareholders | Net income attributable to Charter shareholders | $ | 1,185 | | | $ | 1,217 | | | $ | 3,859 | | | $ | 3,044 | | Net income attributable to Charter shareholders | $ | 1,255 | | | $ | 1,185 | | | $ | 3,499 | | | $ | 3,859 | |
| EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHARTER SHAREHOLDERS: | EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHARTER SHAREHOLDERS: | | EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHARTER SHAREHOLDERS: | |
Basic | Basic | $ | 7.51 | | | $ | 6.69 | | | $ | 23.51 | | | $ | 16.33 | | Basic | $ | 8.42 | | | $ | 7.51 | | | $ | 23.30 | | | $ | 23.51 | |
Diluted | Diluted | $ | 7.38 | | | $ | 6.50 | | | $ | 23.06 | | | $ | 15.78 | | Diluted | $ | 8.25 | | | $ | 7.38 | | | $ | 22.94 | | | $ | 23.06 | |
| Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic | Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic | 157,971,109 | | | 181,925,180 | | | 164,189,703 | | | 186,380,681 | | Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic | 149,004,322 | | | 157,971,109 | | | 150,169,275 | | | 164,189,703 | |
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted | Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted | 160,638,186 | | | 187,166,071 | | | 167,351,777 | | | 197,316,667 | | Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted | 152,019,159 | | | 160,638,186 | | | 152,495,273 | | | 167,351,777 | |
Revenues. Total revenues grew $404$34 million and $1.9 billion$548 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022,2023, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 20212022 primarily due to increasesgrowth in the number of residential Internet mobile and commercial customers and price adjustments.residential mobile lines partly offset by lower residential video and advertising sales revenues as well as $68 million of total customer credits related to the temporary loss of Disney programming during the third quarter of 2023.
Revenues by service offering were as follows (dollars in millions; all percentages are calculated using whole numbers; minor differences may exist due to rounding):
| | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2022 | | 2021 | | % Change | | 2022 | | 2021 | | % Change | | 2023 | | 2022 | | % Change | | 2023 | | 2022 | | % Change |
Internet | Internet | $ | 5,571 | | | $ | 5,363 | | | 3.9 | % | | $ | 16,585 | | | $ | 15,670 | | | 5.8 | % | Internet | $ | 5,776 | | | $ | 5,571 | | | 3.7 | % | | $ | 17,227 | | | $ | 16,585 | | | 3.9 | % |
Video | Video | 4,379 | | | 4,502 | | | (2.7) | % | | 13,209 | | | 13,224 | | | (0.1) | % | Video | 4,004 | | | 4,379 | | | (8.6) | % | | 12,446 | | | 13,209 | | | (5.8) | % |
Voice | Voice | 391 | | | 409 | | | (4.6) | % | | 1,180 | | | 1,202 | | | (1.9) | % | Voice | 379 | | | 391 | | | (3.0) | % | | 1,117 | | | 1,180 | | | (5.3) | % |
Mobile service | | Mobile service | 581 | | | 435 | | | 33.8 | % | | 1,617 | | | 1,237 | | | 30.7 | % |
Residential revenue | Residential revenue | 10,341 | | | 10,274 | | | 0.7 | % | | 30,974 | | | 30,096 | | | 2.9 | % | Residential revenue | 10,740 | | | 10,776 | | | (0.3) | % | | 32,407 | | | 32,211 | | | 0.6 | % |
| Small and medium business | Small and medium business | 1,082 | | | 1,062 | | | 1.9 | % | | 3,221 | | | 3,116 | | | 3.4 | % | Small and medium business | 1,085 | | | 1,095 | | | (0.9) | % | | 3,270 | | | 3,257 | | | 0.4 | % |
Enterprise | Enterprise | 673 | | | 656 | | | 2.6 | % | | 2,003 | | | 1,930 | | | 3.8 | % | Enterprise | 698 | | | 673 | | | 3.7 | % | | 2,070 | | | 2,003 | | | 3.3 | % |
Commercial revenue | Commercial revenue | 1,755 | | | 1,718 | | | 2.2 | % | | 5,224 | | | 5,046 | | | 3.5 | % | Commercial revenue | 1,783 | | | 1,768 | | | 0.8 | % | | 5,340 | | | 5,260 | | | 1.5 | % |
| Advertising sales | Advertising sales | 481 | | | 391 | | | 22.9 | % | | 1,324 | | | 1,146 | | | 15.6 | % | Advertising sales | 384 | | | 481 | | | (20.3) | % | | 1,123 | | | 1,324 | | | (15.2) | % |
Mobile | 750 | | | 535 | | | 40.2 | % | | 2,166 | | | 1,546 | | | 40.1 | % | |
Other | Other | 223 | | | 228 | | | (2.1) | % | | 660 | | | 636 | | | 3.7 | % | Other | 677 | | | 525 | | | 28.8 | % | | 2,026 | | | 1,553 | | | 30.4 | % |
| | $ | 13,550 | | | $ | 13,146 | | | 3.1 | % | | $ | 40,348 | | | $ | 38,470 | | | 4.9 | % | | $ | 13,584 | | | $ | 13,550 | | | 0.2 | % | | $ | 40,896 | | | $ | 40,348 | | | 1.4 | % |
The increase in Internet revenues from our residential customers is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):
| | | Three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to three months ended September 30, 2021 Increase / (Decrease) | | Nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2021 Increase / (Decrease) | | Three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to three months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) | | Nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) |
Increase related to rate and product mix changes | Increase related to rate and product mix changes | $ | 124 | | | $ | 490 | | Increase related to rate and product mix changes | $ | 146 | | | $ | 499 | |
Increase in average residential Internet customers | Increase in average residential Internet customers | 84 | | | 425 | | Increase in average residential Internet customers | 59 | | | 143 | |
| | $ | 208 | | | $ | 915 | | | $ | 205 | | | $ | 642 | |
The increase related to rate and product mix was primarily due to reduced bundle discountspromotional rate step-ups and promotional roll-off.rate adjustments, partly offset by lower bundled revenue allocation. Residential Internet customers grew by 355,000286,000 customers from September 30, 20212022 to September 30, 2022.2023.
Video revenues consist primarily of revenues from basic and digital video services provided to our residential customers, as well as franchise fees, equipment service fees and video installation revenue. The decrease in video revenues is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):
| | | Three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to three months ended September 30, 2021 Increase / (Decrease) | | Nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2021 Increase / (Decrease) | | Three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to three months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) | | Nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) |
Decrease in average residential video customers | Decrease in average residential video customers | $ | (178) | | | $ | (423) | | Decrease in average residential video customers | $ | (232) | | | $ | (699) | |
Increase related to rate and product mix changes | 55 | | | 408 | | |
Change related to rate and product mix changes | | Change related to rate and product mix changes | (143) | | | (64) | |
| | | $ | (123) | | | $ | (15) | | | $ | (375) | | | $ | (763) | |
Residential video customers decreased by 645,000891,000 from September 30, 20212022 to September 30, 2022.2023. The increasechange related to rate and product mix was primarily due to price adjustments and promotional roll-off and was partly offsetaffected by a higher mix of lower cost video packages within our video customer base.base and $63 million of customer credits related to the temporary loss of Disney programming in the third quarter of 2023, offset by the pass-through of programming cost increases and promotional rate step-ups.
The decrease in voice revenues from our residential customers is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):
| | | Three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to three months ended September 30, 2021 Increase / (Decrease) | | Nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2021 Increase / (Decrease) | | Three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to three months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) | | Nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) |
Decrease in average residential voice customers | Decrease in average residential voice customers | $ | (38) | | | $ | (97) | | Decrease in average residential voice customers | $ | (46) | | | $ | (136) | |
Increase related to rate | 20 | | | 75 | | |
Increase related to rate adjustments | | Increase related to rate adjustments | 34 | | | 73 | |
| | $ | (18) | | | $ | (22) | | | $ | (12) | | | $ | (63) | |
Residential wireline voice customers decreased by 855,000969,000 customers from September 30, 20212022 to September 30, 2022.2023.
The increase in mobile service revenues from our residential customers is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to three months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) | | Nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) |
Increase in average residential mobile lines | $ | 239 | | | $ | 656 | |
Decrease related to rate | (93) | | | (276) | |
| $ | 146 | | | $ | 380 | |
Residential mobile lines increased by 2,471,000 mobile lines from September 30, 2022 to September 30, 2023. The decrease related to rate is primarily related to the Spectrum One offering and is partly offset by higher bundled revenue allocation.
The change in SMB revenues is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):
| | | Three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to three months ended September 30, 2021 Increase / (Decrease) | | Nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2021 Increase / (Decrease) | | Three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to three months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) | | Nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) |
Increase in SMB customers | Increase in SMB customers | $ | 36 | | | $ | 124 | | Increase in SMB customers | $ | 16 | | | $ | 66 | |
Decrease related to rate and product mix changes | Decrease related to rate and product mix changes | (16) | | | (19) | | Decrease related to rate and product mix changes | (26) | | | (53) | |
| | $ | 20 | | | $ | 105 | | | $ | (10) | | | $ | 13 | |
SMB customers grew by 69,00029,000 from September 30, 20212022 to September 30, 2022.2023. The decrease related to rate and product mix changes were primarily due to a higher mix of lower priced video packages and a lower number of voice lines per SMB customer relationship.
Enterprise revenues increased $17$25 million and $73$67 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022,2023, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 20212022 primarily due to an increase in Internet PSUs partly offset by a $16 million one-time benefit incurred during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 as well as lower wholesale PSUs. Enterprise PSUs increased 13,00016,000 from September 30, 20212022 to September 30, 2022.2023.
Advertising sales revenues consist primarily of revenues from commercial advertising customers, programmers and other vendors, as well as local cable and advertising on regional sports and news channels. Advertising sales revenues increased $90decreased $97 million and $178$201 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022,2023, respectively, as compared to the corresponding periods in 20212022 primarily due to an increasea decrease in political ad revenue.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, mobile revenues included approximately $303 million and $894 million of device revenues, respectively, and approximately $447 million and $1.3 billion of service revenues, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, mobile revenues included approximately $201 million and $643 million of device revenues, respectively, and approximately $334 million and $903 million of service revenues, respectively. The increases in revenues are a result of an increase of 1,493,000 mobile lines from September 30, 2021 to September 30, 2022.
Other revenues consist of revenue from mobile and video device sales, processing fees, regional sports and news channels (excluding intercompany charges or advertising sales on those channels), subsidy revenue, home shopping, video device sales, wire maintenance fees and other miscellaneous revenues. Other revenues decreased $5increased $152 million and increased $24$473 million during the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2022,2023, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 2021. The increase during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the corresponding prior period in 2021 is primarily due to subsidy revenue related to our rural construction initiative and an increase in processing feeshigher mobile device sales partially offset by a decrease in sales of video devices.lower processing fees.
Operating costs and expenses. The increase in our operating costs and expenses, exclusive of items shown separately in the consolidated statements of operations, are attributable to the following (dollars in millions):
| | | Three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to three months ended September 30, 2021 Increase / (Decrease) | | Nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2021 Increase / (Decrease) | | Three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to three months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) | | Nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) |
Programming | Programming | $ | (112) | | | $ | (129) | | Programming | $ | (276) | | | $ | (686) | |
Regulatory, connectivity and produced content | (47) | | | (160) | | |
Other costs of revenue | | Other costs of revenue | 183 | | | 585 | |
Costs to service customers | Costs to service customers | 83 | | | 271 | | Costs to service customers | 76 | | | 284 | |
Marketing | 73 | | | 213 | | |
Mobile | 239 | | | 638 | | |
Sales and marketing | | Sales and marketing | (13) | | | 84 | |
Other | Other | 53 | | | 190 | | Other | 82 | | | 274 | |
| | $ | 289 | | | $ | 1,023 | | | $ | 52 | | | $ | 541 | |
Programming costs were approximately $2.9$2.6 billion and $3.0$2.9 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, representing 31% and 2021, representing 35% and 37% of total operating costs and expenses, respectively, and $8.8$8.1 billion and $8.9$8.8 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, representing 32% and 2021, representing 36% and 38% of total operating costs and expenses, respectively. Programming costs consist primarily of costs paid to programmers for basic, digital, premium, video on demand, and pay-per-view programming. Programming costs decreased as a result of fewer customers, and a higher mix of lower cost video packages within our video customer base along with favorable one-time impactsand a $61 million benefit related to the temporary loss of Disney programming during the third quarter of 2023, partly offset by contractual rate adjustments, including renewals and increases in amounts paid for retransmission consent. We expect programming rates per customer will continue to increase due to a variety of factors, including annual increases imposed by programmers with additional selling power as a result of media and broadcast station groups consolidation, increased demands by owners of broadcast stations for payment for retransmission consent or linking carriage of other services to retransmission consent, and additional programming. We have been unable to fully pass these increases on to our customers and do not expect to be able to do so in the future without a potential loss of customers.
Regulatory, connectivity and produced content decreased $47Other costs of revenue increased $183 million and $160$585 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022,2023, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 20212022 primarily due to lowerhigher mobile device sales and higher other mobile direct costs of video devices solddue to customers andan increase in mobile lines, partially offset by lower regulatory pass-through fees. Regulatory, connectivityfees and producedoriginal content for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the corresponding prior period also decreased due to lower sports rights costs as a result of more basketball games during 2021 as compared to 2022 as the prior period had additional games due to the delayed start of the 2020 - 2021 NBA season as a result of COVID-19.costs.
Costs to service customers increased $83$76 million and $271$284 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022,2023, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 20212022 primarily due to higher bad debtadjustments to job structure, pay and higher fuel costs offset bybenefits to build a more skilled and longer tenured workforce resulting in lower labor costs as a resultfrontline employee attrition compared to 2022, and additional activity to support the accelerated growth of productivity improvements driven by improved network performance and digital self-service platforms.Spectrum Mobile.
Marketing increased $73Sales and marketing costs decreased $13 million and $213increased $84 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022,2023, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 2021 primarily due to higher labor costs associated with higher staffing levels and our commitment to a minimum $20 per hour wage in 2022 as well as insourcing of inbound sales and retention call centers.
Mobile costs of $846 million and $2.4 billion for2022. The increase during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively,2023 compared to the prior year period is primarily due to higher staffing across sales channels and $607 million and $1.8 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, were comprisedaccelerated growth of mobile device costs and mobile service, customer acquisition and operating costs. The increase is attributable to an increase in the number of mobile lines.Spectrum Mobile.
The increase in other expense is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):
| | | Three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to three months ended September 30, 2021 Increase / (Decrease) | | Nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2021 Increase / (Decrease) | | Three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to three months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) | | Nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) |
Stock compensation expense | | Stock compensation expense | $ | 55 | | | 180 | |
Corporate costs | Corporate costs | $ | 9 | | | $ | 67 | | Corporate costs | 22 | | | 57 | |
Advertising sales expense | 27 | | | 54 | | |
Stock compensation expense | 11 | | | 28 | | |
Costs to sell and service bulk properties | | Costs to sell and service bulk properties | 11 | | | 36 | |
Enterprise | Enterprise | 11 | | | 28 | | Enterprise | 2 | | | 26 | |
Property tax and insurance | | Property tax and insurance | 4 | | | (18) | |
Other | Other | (5) | | | 13 | | Other | (12) | | | (7) | |
| | $ | 53 | | | $ | 190 | | | $ | 82 | | | $ | 274 | |
Stock compensation expense increased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the corresponding prior periods primarily due to an increase in equity awards granted. Corporate and enterprise costs increased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the corresponding prior periods in 2022 primarily due to higher labor costs. Property tax and insurance expense decreased during the nine months ended September 30, 20222023 compared to the corresponding prior periodperiods primarily dueas a result of an adjustment related to higher labor costs and computer and software expense. Advertising sales expense increased due to higher costs of sales fees driven by higher political revenue and higher labor costs.favorable development on prior year workers' compensation claims.
Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense decreased by $93$47 million and $354$203 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022,2023, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 20212022 primarily due to certain assets acquired in acquisitions becoming fully depreciated partly offset by an increase in depreciation as a result of more recent capital expenditures.
Other operating (income) expenses,expense, net. The change in other operating (income) expenses,expense, net is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):
| | | Three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to three months ended September 30, 2021 Increase / (Decrease) | | Nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2021 Increase / (Decrease) | | Three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to three months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) | | Nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) |
Special charges, net | Special charges, net | $ | 206 | | | $ | (107) | | Special charges, net | $ | (180) | | | $ | (158) | |
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net | 5 | | | (36) | | |
Loss on disposal of assets, net | | Loss on disposal of assets, net | 7 | | | (2) | |
| | $ | 211 | | | $ | (143) | | | $ | (173) | | | $ | (160) | |
See Note 109 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements” for more information.
Interest expense, net. Net interest expense increased by $144$146 million and $326$540 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022,2023, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 2021.2022. The increase in net interest expense is the result of an increase in weighted average interest rates as well as an increase in weighted average debt outstanding of approximately $8.4$1.2 billion and $9.0$2.7 billion during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022,2023, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 2021 as well as an increase in weighted average interest rates.2022. The increase in weighted average debt outstanding is primarily due to an increase in the issuance of notes throughout 2021 and 2022.Charter Operating credit facilities.
Other income (expenses), net. The change in other income (expenses), net is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to three months ended September 30, 2021 Increase / (Decrease) | | Nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2021 Increase / (Decrease) |
Loss on extinguishment of debt (see Note 4) | $ | 69 | | | $ | 141 | |
Loss on financial instruments, net (see Note 7) | (129) | | | (71) | |
Net periodic pension benefits (costs) | 222 | | | 65 | |
Gain (loss) on equity investments, net | (42) | | | 167 | |
| $ | 120 | | | $ | 302 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to three months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) | | Nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) |
Loss on extinguishment of debt (see Note 3) | $ | — | | | $ | 3 | |
Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net (see Note 6) | 263 | | | 218 | |
Net periodic pension benefits | (205) | | | (236) | |
Gain (loss) on equity investments, net | (36) | | | (254) | |
| $ | 22 | | | $ | (269) | |
See Note 1110 and the Notes referenced above to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements” for more information.
Income tax expense. We recognized income tax expense of $369 million and $1.2 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, and $360 million and $1.2 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, and $347 million and $844 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. The increase is primarily a result of decreased recognition of excess tax benefits resulting from share-based compensation during 2021 and the change in pretax income.
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest for financial reporting purposes represents Advance/Newhouse Partnership's (“A/N”) portion of Charter Holdings’ net income based on its effective common unit ownership interest and the preferred dividend of $70 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.interest. For more information, see Note 65 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders. Net income attributable to Charter shareholders decreased $32increased $70 million and increased $815decreased $360 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively,2023 compared to the corresponding periods in 2021,2022, respectively, primarily as a result of the factors described above.
Use of Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow
We use certain measures that are not defined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"(“GAAP”) to evaluate various aspects of our business. Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, net income attributable to Charter shareholders and net cash flows from operating activities reported in accordance with GAAP. These terms, as defined by us, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are reconciled to net income attributable to Charter shareholders and net cash flows from operating activities, respectively, below.
Adjusted EBITDA eliminates the significant non-cash depreciation and amortization expense that results from the capital-intensive nature of our businesses as well as other non-cash or special items, and is unaffected by our capital structure or investment activities. However, this measure is limited in that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues and our cash cost of financing. These costs are evaluated through other financial measures.
Free cash flow is defined as net cash flows from operating activities, less capital expenditures and changes in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures.
Management and Charter’s board of directors use Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow to assess our performance and our ability to service our debt, fund operations and make additional investments with internally generated funds. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA generally correlates to the leverage ratio calculation under our credit facilities or outstanding notes to determine compliance with the covenants contained in the facilities and notes (all such documents have been previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)). For the purpose of calculating compliance with leverage covenants, we use Adjusted EBITDA, as presented, excluding certain expenses paid by our operating subsidiaries to other Charter entities. Our debt covenants refer to these expenses as management fees, which were $345 million and $1.1 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, and $342 million and $1.0 billion for
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, and $337 million and $979 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively.
A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow to net income attributable to Charter shareholders and net cash flows from operating activities, respectively, is as follows (dollars in millions):
| | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders | Net income attributable to Charter shareholders | $ | 1,185 | | | $ | 1,217 | | | $ | 3,859 | | | $ | 3,044 | | Net income attributable to Charter shareholders | $ | 1,255 | | | $ | 1,185 | | | $ | 3,499 | | | $ | 3,859 | |
Plus: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest | Plus: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest | 182 | | | 190 | | | 605 | | | 442 | | Plus: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest | 181 | | | 182 | | | 533 | | | 605 | |
Interest expense, net | Interest expense, net | 1,160 | | | 1,016 | | | 3,329 | | | 3,003 | | Interest expense, net | 1,306 | | | 1,160 | | | 3,869 | | | 3,329 | |
Income tax expense | Income tax expense | 360 | | | 347 | | | 1,194 | | | 844 | | Income tax expense | 369 | | | 360 | | | 1,187 | | | 1,194 | |
Depreciation and amortization | Depreciation and amortization | 2,177 | | | 2,270 | | | 6,711 | | | 7,065 | | Depreciation and amortization | 2,130 | | | 2,177 | | | 6,508 | | | 6,711 | |
Stock compensation expense | Stock compensation expense | 109 | | | 98 | | | 360 | | | 332 | | Stock compensation expense | 164 | | | 109 | | | 540 | | | 360 | |
Other expenses, net | 239 | | | 148 | | | 76 | | | 521 | | |
Other, net | | Other, net | 44 | | | 239 | | | 185 | | | 76 | |
Adjusted EBITDA | Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 5,412 | | | $ | 5,286 | | | $ | 16,134 | | | $ | 15,251 | | Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 5,449 | | | $ | 5,412 | | | $ | 16,321 | | | $ | 16,134 | |
| Net cash flows from operating activities | Net cash flows from operating activities | $ | 3,757 | | | $ | 4,263 | | | $ | 11,138 | | | $ | 12,013 | | Net cash flows from operating activities | $ | 3,944 | | | $ | 3,757 | | | $ | 10,578 | | | $ | 11,138 | |
Less: Purchases of property, plant and equipment | Less: Purchases of property, plant and equipment | (2,406) | | | (1,861) | | | (6,456) | | | (5,563) | | Less: Purchases of property, plant and equipment | (2,961) | | | (2,406) | | | (8,259) | | | (6,456) | |
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures | Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures | 156 | | | 74 | | | 284 | | | (51) | | Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures | 114 | | | 156 | | | 110 | | | 284 | |
Free cash flow | Free cash flow | $ | 1,507 | | | $ | 2,476 | | | $ | 4,966 | | | $ | 6,399 | | Free cash flow | $ | 1,097 | | | $ | 1,507 | | | $ | 2,429 | | | $ | 4,966 | |
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Introduction
This section contains a discussion of our liquidity and capital resources, including a discussion of our cash position, sources and uses of cash, access to credit facilities and other financing sources, historical financing activities, cash needs, capital expenditures and outstanding debt.
Recent Events
In August 2022,February 2023, CCO Holdings, LLC ("(“CCO Holdings"Holdings”) and CCO Holdings Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.5$1.1 billion of 6.375%7.375% senior unsecured notes due September 2029March 2031 at par. The net proceeds were used for general corporate purposes, including to fundrepaying certain indebtedness, funding buybacks of Charter Class A common stock and Charter Holdings common units to repay certain indebtedness and to pay related fees and expenses.
In February 2023, Charter Operating entered into an amendment to its credit agreement to replace London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) as the benchmark rate applicable to the Term B loans with Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) and in March 2023, Charter Operating entered into another amendment to its credit agreement to incur a new Term B-3 loan with an aggregate principal amount of $750 million maturing in 2030 concurrently with the cancelation of certain of Charter Operating's existing Term B-1 and B-2 loans, among other amendments. Pricing on the new Term B-3 loan is SOFR plus 2.25%. After giving effect to the amendments, the aggregate principal amount of Term B-1 loans is $2.3 billion with pricing unchanged at SOFR plus 1.75% and the aggregate principal amount of Term B-2 loans is $3.1 billion with pricing unchanged at SOFR plus 1.75%.
As of July 1, 2023, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, ceased publishing remaining U.S. Dollar LIBOR rates. The Charter Operating senior secured floating rate notes due 2024 (the "Floating Rate Notes") used LIBOR as a benchmark for establishing the interest rate of the Floating Rate Notes. As of July 1, 2023, SOFR is being used as the benchmark replacement for calculations of the amount of interest payable on the Floating Rate Notes with respect to interest periods with interest determination dates occurring after June 30, 2023.
Overview of Our Contractual Obligations and Liquidity
We have significant amounts of debt. The principal amount of our debt as of September 30, 20222023 was $96.8$97.6 billion, consisting of $13.4$14.5 billion of credit facility debt, $56.7$55.9 billion of investment grade senior secured notes and $26.7$27.3 billion of high-yield senior unsecured notes. Our business requires significant cash to fund principal and interest payments on our debt.
Our projected cash needs and projected sources of liquidity depend upon, among other things, our actual results, and the timing and amount of our expenditures. As we continue to grow our market penetration of our mobile product, we will continue to experience negative working capital impacts from the timing of device-related cash flows when we sell devices to customers pursuant to equipment installment plans. Further, in 2022, Charter has becomebecame a meaningful federal cash tax payer as the majority of our net operating losses have been utilized. Free cash flow was $1.1 billion and $2.4 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, and $1.5 billion and $5.0 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, and $2.5 billion and $6.4 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. See the table below for factors impacting free cash flow during the three and nine months ended September 30, 20222023 compared to the corresponding prior periods. As of September 30, 2022,2023, the amount available under our credit facilities was approximately $4.6$3.3 billion and cash on hand was approximately $480$571 million. We expect to utilize free cash flow, cash on hand and availability under our credit facilities as well as future refinancing transactions to further extend the
maturities of our obligations. The timing and terms of any refinancing transactions will be subject to market conditions among other considerations. Additionally, we may, from time to time, and depending on market conditions and other factors, use cash on hand and the proceeds from securities offerings or other borrowings to retire our debt through open market purchases, privately negotiated purchases, tender offers or redemption provisions. We believe we have sufficient liquidity from cash on hand, free cash flow and Charter Operating’s revolving credit facility as well as access to the capital markets to fund our projected cash needs.
We continue to evaluate the deployment of our cash on hand and anticipated future free cash flow including to invest in our business growth and other strategic opportunities, including expanding the capacity of our network theevolution and expansion of our network through our rural broadband construction initiative,initiatives, the build-out and deployment of our CBRS spectrum, and mergers and acquisitions as well as stock repurchases and dividends. Charter's target leverage of net debt to the last twelve months Adjusted EBITDA remains at 4 to 4.5 times Adjusted EBITDA, and up to 3.5 times Adjusted EBITDA at the Charter Operating first lien level. Our leverage ratio was 4.5 times Adjusted EBITDA as of September 30, 2022.2023. As Adjusted EBITDA grows, we expect to increase the total amount of our indebtedness to maintain leverage within Charter's target leverage range. Excluding purchases from Liberty Broadband Corporation (“Liberty Broadband”) discussed below, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, Charter purchased in the public market approximately 1.8 million and 5.0 million shares of Charter Class A common stock, respectively, for approximately $776 million and $1.9 billion, respectively, and during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, Charter purchased in the public market approximately 3.3 million and 12.6 million shares of Charter Class A common stock, respectively, for approximately $1.4 billion and $6.5 billion, respectively, and during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, Charter purchased in the public market approximately 3.5 million and 11.5 million shares of Charter Class A common stock, respectively, for approximately $2.7 billion and $7.8 billion, respectively. Since the beginning of its buyback program in September 2016 through September 30, 2022,2023, Charter has purchased approximately 145.7155.1 million shares of Class A common stock and Charter Holdings common units for approximately $67.2$70.7 billion, including purchases from Liberty Broadband and A/N discussed below.
In February 2021, Charter and Liberty Broadband entered into a letter agreement (the “LBB Letter Agreement”). The LBB Letter Agreement implements Liberty Broadband’s obligations under the Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement among Charter, Liberty Broadband and A/N, dated as of May 23, 2015 (as amended, the “Stockholders Agreement”) to participate in share repurchases by Charter. Under the LBB Letter Agreement, Liberty Broadband will sell to Charter, generally on a monthly basis, a number of shares of Charter Class A common stock representing an amount sufficient for Liberty Broadband’s ownership of Charter to be reduced such that it does not exceed the ownership cap then applicable to Liberty Broadband under the Stockholders Agreement at a purchase price per share equal to the volume weighted average price per share paid by Charter for shares repurchased during such immediately preceding calendar month other than (i) purchases from A/N, (ii) purchases in privately negotiated transactions or (iii) purchases for the withholding of shares of Charter Class A common stock pursuant to equity compensation programs of Charter. Charter purchased from Liberty Broadband 0.1 million shares of Charter Class A common stock for approximately $42 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023, and 1.7 million and 5.0 million shares of Charter Class A common stock for approximately $796 million and $2.6 billion during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, and 1.2 million and 4.0 million shares of Charter Class A common stock for approximately $880 million and $2.6 billion during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. In October 2022, Charter purchased from Liberty Broadband an additional 0.5 million shares of Charter Class A common stock for approximately $183 million.
In December 2016, Charter and A/N entered into a letter agreement, as amended in December 2017 (the "A/“A/N Letter Agreement"Agreement”), that requires A/N to sell to Charter or to Charter Holdings, on a monthly basis, a number of shares of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units that represents a pro rata participation by A/N and its affiliates in any repurchases of shares of Charter Class A common stock from persons other than A/N effected by Charter during the
immediately preceding calendar month, at a purchase price equal to the average price paid by Charter for the shares repurchased from persons other than A/N during such immediately preceding calendar month. A/N and Charter both have the right to terminate or suspend the pro rata repurchase arrangement on a prospective basis. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, Charter Holdings purchased from A/N 0.2 million and 0.7 million Charter Holdings common units for approximately $78 million and $254 million, respectively, and during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, Charter Holdings purchased from A/N 0.8 million and 2.6 million Charter Holdings common units for approximately $385 million and $1.4 billion, respectively, and during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, Charter Holdings purchased from A/N 0.6 million and 2.3 million Charter Holdings common units for approximately $410 million and $1.5 billion, respectively.
As of September 30, 2022,2023, Charter had remaining board authority to purchase an additional $680$672 million of Charter’s Class A common stock and/or Charter Holdings common units, excluding purchases from Liberty Broadband. Although Charter expects to continue to buy back its common stock consistent with its leverage target range, Charter is not obligated to acquire any particular amount of common stock, and the timing of any purchases that may occur cannot be predicted and will largely depend on market conditions and other potential uses of capital. Purchases may include open market purchases, tender offers or negotiated transactions.
As possible acquisitions, swaps or dispositions arise, we actively review them against our objectives including, among other considerations, improving the operational efficiency, geographic clustering of assets, product development or technology capabilities of our business and achieving appropriate return targets, and we may participate to the extent we believe these possibilities present attractive opportunities. However, there can be no assurance that we will actually complete any acquisitions, dispositions or system swaps, or that any such transactions will be material to our operations or results.
Free Cash Flow
Free cash flow decreased $969$410 million and $1.4$2.5 billion during the three and nine months ended September 30, 20222023 compared to the corresponding prior periods in 20212022 due to the following (dollars in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to three months ended September 30, 2021 Increase / (Decrease) | | Nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2021 Increase / (Decrease) |
Increase in capital expenditures | $ | (545) | | | $ | (893) | |
Increase in cash paid for taxes, net | (383) | | | (789) | |
Increase in cash paid for interest, net | (57) | | | (209) | |
Increase in Adjusted EBITDA | 126 | | | 883 | |
Changes in working capital, excluding change in accrued interest and taxes | 96 | | | (38) | |
Other, net | (206) | | | (387) | |
| $ | (969) | | | $ | (1,433) | |
Free cash flow was reduced by $208 million and $768 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, and $145 million and $606 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, due to mobile impacts negatively affecting working capital, capital expenditures and Adjusted EBITDA. The increase in capital expenditures is primarily due to the rural construction initiative of $525 million and $1.1 billion during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively. Cash paid for taxes, net increased as Charter has become a meaningful federal cash tax payer in 2022. Other, net for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 includes the payment of litigation settlements including the payment of a previously recorded litigation settlement with Sprint Communications Company L.P. and T-Mobile USA, Inc for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. See Note 10 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements” for more information. | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to three months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) | | Nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2022 Increase / (Decrease) |
Increase in capital expenditures | $ | (555) | | | $ | (1,803) | |
Changes in working capital, excluding mobile devices | (114) | | | (529) | |
Increase in cash paid for interest, net | (131) | | | (403) | |
Decrease (increase) in cash paid for taxes, net | 169 | | | (255) | |
Changes in working capital, mobile devices | 4 | | | (170) | |
Increase in Adjusted EBITDA | 37 | | | 187 | |
Other, net | 180 | | | 436 | |
| $ | (410) | | | $ | (2,537) | |
Limitations on Distributions
Distributions by our subsidiaries to a parent company for payment of principal on parent company notes are restricted under CCO Holdings indentures governing CCO Holdings' indebtedness, unless there is no default under the applicable indenture, and unless CCO Holdings' leverage ratio test is met at the time of such distribution. As of September 30, 2022,2023, there was no default under any of these indentures, and CCO Holdings met its leverage ratio test based on September 30, 20222023 financial results. There can be no assurance that CCO Holdings will satisfy its leverage ratio test at the time of the contemplated distribution.
In addition to the limitation on distributions under the various indentures, distributions by our subsidiaries may be limited by applicable law, including the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, under which our subsidiaries may only make distributions if they have “surplus” as defined in the act.
Historical Operating, Investing, and Financing Activities
Cash and Cash Equivalents. We held $480$571 million and $601$645 million in cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 20222023 and December 31, 2021,2022, respectively.
Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $875$560 million during the nine months ended September 30, 20222023 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2021,2022, primarily due to negative changes in working capital and an increase in cash paid for interest and taxes, changes in working capital, the payment of litigation settlements and higher cash paid for interest,partly offset by an increase in Adjusted EBITDA of $883 million.$187 million and the payment of litigation settlements in 2022.
Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities was $6.3$8.5 billion and $5.8$6.3 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 20222023 and 2021,2022, respectively. The increase in cash used was primarily due to an increase in capital expenditures offset byand changes in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures that increased by $335 million.expenditures.
Financing Activities. Net cash used in financing activities decreased $1.9$2.7 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 20222023 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 20212022 primarily due to a decrease in the purchase of treasury stock and noncontrolling interest and an increasepartly offset by a decrease in the amount by which borrowings of long-term debt exceeded repayments.
Capital Expenditures
We have significant ongoing capital expenditure requirements. Capital expenditures were $3.0 billion and $8.3 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, and $2.4 billion and $6.5 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, and $1.9 billion and $5.6 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. The increase was primarily due to an increase in line extensions in connection with our subsidized rural construction initiative and continued residential and commercial network expansion. The increase in capital expenditures excluding line extensions was primarily driven by higher spend on network evolution, support capital and customer premise equipment, partly offset by a decrease in support capital. The increase in line extensions was primarily due to the rural construction initiative.particularly Xumo Stream boxes. See the table below for more details.
We currently expect full year 2022 cable2023 capital expenditures, excluding line extensions, to be approximately $7.2 billion. We continue to expect 2023 line extensions capital expenditures associated with our rural construction initiative, to be between $7.1 billion and $7.3total approximately $4 billion. The actual amount of our capital expenditures in 20222023 will depend on a number of factors including, further spend relatedbut not limited to, product development,the pace of our network evolution and expansion initiatives, supply chain timing and growth rates of bothin our residential and commercial businesses, supply chain timing and the pace of rural construction.businesses.
Our capital expenditures are funded primarily from cash flows from operating activities and borrowings on our credit facility. In addition, our accrued liabilities related to capital expenditures increased by $284$110 million and decreased by $51$284 million for the nine months ended September 30, 20222023 and 2021,2022, respectively.
The following tables present our major capital expenditures categories in accordance with National Cable and Telecommunications Association (“NCTA”) disclosure guidelines for the three and nine months ended September 30, 20222023 and 2021.2022. These disclosure guidelines are not required disclosures under GAAP, nor do they impact our accounting for capital expenditures under GAAP (dollars in millions):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
Customer premise equipment (a) | $ | 577 | | | $ | 513 | | | $ | 1,606 | | | $ | 1,496 | |
Scalable infrastructure (b) | 418 | | | 375 | | | 1,178 | | | 1,223 | |
Line extensions (c) | 826 | | | 392 | | | 2,062 | | | 1,191 | |
Upgrade/rebuild (d) | 208 | | | 178 | | | 535 | | | 484 | |
Support capital (e) | 377 | | | 403 | | | 1,075 | | | 1,169 | |
Total capital expenditures | $ | 2,406 | | | $ | 1,861 | | | $ | 6,456 | | | $ | 5,563 | |
| | | | | | | |
Of which: Commercial services | $ | 369 | | | $ | 353 | | | $ | 1,110 | | | $ | 1,083 | |
| | | | | | | |
Capital expenditures included in total related to: | | | | | | | |
Core cable (f) | $ | 1,785 | | | $ | 1,742 | | | $ | 5,077 | | | $ | 5,208 | |
Mobile | 96 | | | 119 | | | 265 | | | 355 | |
Rural construction initiative (g) | 525 | | | — | | | 1,114 | | | — | |
Total capital expenditures | $ | 2,406 | | | $ | 1,861 | | | $ | 6,456 | | | $ | 5,563 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2023 | | 2022 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
Customer premise equipment (a) | $ | 659 | | | $ | 577 | | | $ | 1,772 | | | $ | 1,606 | |
Scalable infrastructure (b) | 308 | | | 413 | | | 1,015 | | | 1,156 | |
Upgrade/rebuild (c) | 509 | | | 218 | | | 1,190 | | | 566 | |
Support capital (d) | 420 | | | 372 | | | 1,245 | | | 1,068 | |
Capital expenditures, excluding line extensions | 1,896 | | | 1,580 | | | 5,222 | | | 4,396 | |
| | | | | | | |
Subsidized rural construction line extensions | 498 | | | 427 | | | 1,398 | | | 897 | |
Other line extensions | 567 | | | 399 | | | 1,639 | | | 1,163 | |
Total line extensions (e) | 1,065 | | | 826 | | | 3,037 | | | 2,060 | |
Total capital expenditures | $ | 2,961 | | | $ | 2,406 | | | $ | 8,259 | | | $ | 6,456 | |
| | | | | | | |
Of which: | | | | | | | |
Commercial services | $ | 403 | | | $ | 369 | | | $ | 1,179 | | | $ | 1,110 | |
Subsidized rural construction initiative (f) | $ | 512 | | | $ | 440 | | | $ | 1,444 | | | $ | 937 | |
Mobile | $ | 76 | | | $ | 96 | | | $ | 235 | | | $ | 265 | |
(a)Customer premise equipment includes costs incurredequipment and devices located at the customer residencecustomer's premise used to secure new customersdeliver our Internet, video and revenue generating units, including customervoice services (e.g., modems, routers and set-top boxes), as well as installation costs and customer premise equipment (e.g., digital receivers and cable modems).costs.
(b)Scalable infrastructure includes costs, not related to customer premise equipment or our network, to secure growth of new customers and revenue generating units, or provide service enhancements (e.g., headend equipment).
(c)Upgrade/rebuild includes costs to modify or replace existing fiber/coaxial cable networks, including our network evolution initiative which started in 2022.
(d)Support capital includes costs associated with the replacement or enhancement of non-network assets (e.g., back-office systems, non-network equipment, land and buildings, vehicles, tools and test equipment).
(e)Line extensions include network costs associated with entering new service areas (e.g., fiber/coaxial cable, amplifiers, electronic equipment, make-ready and design engineering).
(d)Upgrade/rebuild includes costs to modify or replace existing fiber/coaxial cable networks, including betterments.
(e)Support capital includes costs associated with the replacement or enhancement of non-network assets due to technological and physical obsolescence (e.g., non-network equipment, land, buildings and vehicles).
(f)Core cable represents total capital expenditures excluding mobile and rural construction initiative capital expenditures.
(g)The subsidized rural construction initiative subcategory includes expenditures associated with our Rural Construction Initiativeprojects for which we are receiving subsidies from federal, state and local governments (for which separate reporting was initiated in 2022), excluding customer premise equipment and installation.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
See Note 2422 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20212022 for a discussion of recently issued accounting standards. There have been no material changes from the recently issued accounting standards described in our Form 10-K.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
There have been no material changes to the interest rate risk as previously disclosed in Part II, Item 7A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.2022. See Note 43 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements” for a discussion of notes issued during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022.2023.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our design and operation of disclosure controls and procedures with respect to the information generated for use in this quarterly report. The
evaluation was based upon reports and certifications provided by a number of executives. Based on, and as of the date of that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurances that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based upon the evaluation, we believe that our controls provide such reasonable assurances.
During the quarter ended September 30, 2022,2023, there was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
See Note 1420 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 for a discussion of legal proceedings, as updated by Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements” of our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 and as further updated by Note 13 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements” for Legal Proceedings.of this quarterly report.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20212022 includes "Risk Factors" under Item 1A of Part I. There have been no material changes from the risk factors described in our Form 10-K.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer
The following table presents Charter’s purchases of equity securities completed during the third quarter of 20222023 (dollars in millions, except per share amounts):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased (1) | Average Price Paid per Share | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (2) | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (2) |
July 1 - 31, 2022 | 1,726,497 | $464.89 | 1,724,115 | $1,103 |
August 1 - 31, 2022 | 1,585,356 | $458.11 | 1,540,855 | $1,182 |
September 1 - 30, 2022 | 1,753,601 | $407.61 | 1,741,973 | $680 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased (1) | Average Price Paid per Share | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (2) | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (2) |
July 1 - 31, 2023 | 206,069 | $383.28 | 194,440 | $465 |
August 1 - 31, 2023 | 988,538 | $422.51 | 916,847 | $943 |
September 1 - 30, 2023 | 748,693 | $436.37 | 722,641 | $672 |
(1)Includes 2,382, 44,50111,629, 71,691 and 11,62826,052 shares withheld from employees for the payment of taxes and exercise costs upon the exercise of stock options or vesting of other equity awards for the months of July, August and September 2022,2023, respectively.
(2)During the three months ended September 30, 2022,2023, Charter purchased approximately 5.01.8 million shares of its Class A common stock for approximately $2.2 billion, which includes 1.7 million Charter class A common shares purchased from Liberty Broadband pursuant to the LBB Letter Agreement at an average price per unit of $461.73, or $796$776 million. Charter Holdings purchased 0.80.2 million Charter Holdings common units from A/N at an average price per unit of $460.59,$399.19, or $385$78 million, during the three months ended September 30, 2022.2023. As of September 30, 2022,2023, Charter had remaining board authority to purchase an additional $680$672 million of Charter’s Class A common stock and/or Charter Holdings common units, excluding purchases from Liberty Broadband. In addition to open market purchases including pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 plans adopted from time to time, Charter may also buy shares of Charter Class A common stock, from time to time, pursuant to private transactions outside of its Rule 10b5-1 plan and any such repurchases may also trigger the repurchases from A/N pursuant to and to the extent provided in the A/N Letter Agreement or Liberty Broadband pursuant to the LBB Letter Agreement.
Item 5. Other Information.
On October 27, 2022, Charter24, 2023, we amended and David G. Ellen, Senior Executive Vice President of Charter, entered into an amended employment agreementrestated our Bylaws (the “Amendment”“Bylaws”) to amendupdate the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Mr. Ellen and Charter, dated asDirector Emeritus provision therein to remove the position of July 1, 2021 (the “Employment Agreement” and together with the Amendment, the “Amended Agreement”). Pursuant to the Amended Agreement, Mr. Ellen has agreed to remain employed by Charter through November 30, 2023 as Senior Executive Vice President. Mr. Ellen and Charter may mutually agree to terminate the Amended Agreement before such date in addition to the other termination events provided for in the Amended Agreement. Mr. Ellen’s compensation will remain the same as provided for under the Employment Agreement. Pursuant to the Amendment, Mr. Ellen will be entitled to certain additional compensation upon the expiration of the extended term or upon termination earlier upon mutual agreement between Mr. Ellen and Charter.Chairman Emeritus.
A copy of the Amendment is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.6. The foregoing description of the Amended Employment Agreementamendment to the Bylaws does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amendment that is filedamended and restated Bylaws, attached hereto as Exhibit 10.63.1 and the previously filed Employment Agreement that is incorporated herein by reference herein as Exhibit 10.5.
Item 6. Exhibits.
See Exhibit Index.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Charter Communications, Inc. has duly caused this quarterly report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. |
| Registrant |
| | | |
| By: | | /s/ Kevin D. Howard |
| | | Kevin D. Howard |
Date: October 28, 202227, 2023 | | | Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller |
Exhibit Index
| | | | | | | | |
Exhibit | | Description |
| | |
4.13.1 | | |
4.2 | | |
4.3 | | |
10.1 | | Exchange and Registration RightsEmployment Agreement, dated as of August 9, 2022, relating to the 6.375% Senior Notes due 2029, among CCO Holdings, LLC, CCO Holdings Capital Corp.15, 2023, by and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as representative of the several Purchasers (as defined therein)between Charter Communications, Inc. and David G. Ellen (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Charter Communications, Inc. on August 15, 2022). |
10.2 | | |
10.3 | | |
10.4 | | |
10.5 | | |
10.6 | | |
31.1 | | |
31.2 | | |
32.1 | | |
32.2 | | |
101 | | The following financial information from Charter Communications, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022,2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 28, 2022,27, 2023, formatted in iXBRL (inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language) includes: (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations; (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (vi) the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. |
104 | | Cover Page, formatted in iXBRL and contained in Exhibit 101. |