Charter Communications Inc vs Paychex, Inc. — how do they compare? Charter Communications Inc trades at $157.44 (market cap $18.28B), while Paychex, Inc. trades at $121.14 (market cap $43.10B). The key difference: Paychex, Inc. is far larger — about 2.4× Charter Communications Inc's market cap, and Paychex, Inc. pays a 3.93% dividend while Charter Communications Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CHTR | PAYX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $18.28B | $43.10B |
Sector | Media | Industrials |
52-Week High | $282.74 | $140.81 |
52-Week Low | $123.31 | $85.57 |
Enterprise Value | $114.49B | $46.59B |
Dividend Yield | — | 3.93% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Charter Communications (CHTR) trades at $152.57, down 3.09% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but mixed oscillators. The stock shows low valuation multiples with a P/E of 3.97 and P/S of 0.36, supported by a 9.05% net income margin and strong operating cash flow of $16.08B in 2025. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations with EPS of $10.66 versus $9.98 estimated, though revenue declined 1.7% year-over-year. News highlights debt refinancing activities and competitive pressures in broadband.
The outlook remains cautious due to subscriber losses and fiber competition, but the extreme valuation discount and aggressive buybacks offer potential upside. Risks include high debt leverage at $93.21B long-term and persistent industry headwinds. Analyst consensus is mixed with a $166.18 price target, suggesting 9% upside from current levels.
Paychex (PAYX) trades at $120.04, down slightly by 0.07% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $1.32 exceeding the $1.31 estimate. Revenue grew to $5.57 billion in 2025, though net income margin dipped to 27.03%. Recent news highlights expansion of its WISE platform and steady small business employment trends, supporting growth prospects.
The outlook remains positive given consistent earnings outperformance and strategic initiatives, but risks include elevated valuation ratios and potential economic sensitivity. Analyst consensus is mixed with a hold-heavy rating, and the current price sits above the $114.50 target, suggesting limited near-term upside. Dividend payments provide income support, yet investors should weigh growth against premium multiples.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Charter is the product of the 2016 merger of three cable companies, each with a decades-long history in the business: Legacy Charter, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks. The firm now holds networks capable of providing television, internet access, and phone services to roughly 54 million U.S. homes and businesses, around 40% of the country. Across this footprint, Charter serves 29 million residential and 2 million commercial customer accounts under the Spectrum brand, making it the second-largest U.S. cable company behind Comcast. The firm also owns, in whole or in part, sports and news networks, including Spectrum SportsNet (long-term local rights to Los Angeles Lakers games), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles Dodgers), SportsNet New York (New York Mets), and Spectrum News NY1.
Read more on CHTR →Paychex is a leading provider of payroll, human capital management, and insurance solutions servicing small and midsize clients primarily in the United States. The company, established in 1979, services over 730,000 clients and pays over 1 in 12 U.S. private-sector workers. Alongside its traditional payroll services, Paychex offers HCM solutions such as benefits administration and time and attendance software, as well as human resources outsourcing and insurance agency services.
Read more on PAYX →