Lumen and Charter Cut Third-Quarter Capital Spending in 2026

Lumen Technologies and Charter Communications both spent less on capital projects in the third quarter of 2026 than in the same period in 2025; over the first nine months, Lumen’s total edged lower while Charter’s actual total rose.

Lumen’s capital expenditures were $872 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2026, compared with $1.041 billion in the third quarter of 2025. For the first nine months, Lumen spent $2.717 billion, slightly below the $2.723 billion total for the same period in 2025.

Charter’s actual capital expenditures totaled $3.027 billion in the third quarter, down from $3.051 billion in the third quarter of 2025. Its actual spending for the first nine months rose to $8.753 billion from $8.324 billion in the same period of 2025.

On a pro forma basis, Charter’s third-quarter spending was $3.235 billion, compared with $3.642 billion in 2025. Its nine-month pro forma total was $9.924 billion, down from $10.052 billion in 2025.