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Edge16 Oct 2026
Winner, Winner: The Chicken McNugget Story
How a 1940s breeding contest, a Cornell food scientist, and a hedge by Ray Dalio helped McDonald's turn the Chicken McNugget into a fast-food icon.
Optimum Communications
Optimum Communications (OPTU) investor relations material
Optimum Communications Q2 2026 earnings summary
Complete event summary combining all related documents: earnings call transcript, report, and slide presentation.Q2 2026 earnings summary6 Aug, 2026
Executive summary
Q2 2026 revenue was $2.02 billion, down 5.8%–6% year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA of $786 million and margin expanding to 38.8%.
Net loss attributable to stockholders was ($291.8) million, or ($0.67) per diluted share, with a net income margin of -13.9%.
Gross margin reached a record 71%, up 180 basis points year-over-year.
Broadband subscriber net losses improved sequentially to 40,000, with 4 million broadband subscribers at quarter-end.
Mobile lines grew by 50,000, reaching 724,000, a 33%–40% year-over-year increase.
Financial highlights
Revenue declined 5.8%–6% year-over-year to $2.02B, with residential revenue down 6.7% and business services up 1.2%.
Adjusted EBITDA declined 2.2% year-over-year, but margin expanded by 140 basis points.
Residential ARPU declined 1.1% year-over-year to $132.22, while convergence ARPU rose 2.4% to $79.80.
Cash capital expenditures were $320 million in Q2, down 16.6% year-over-year, representing 15.8% of revenue.
Free cash flow was negative, with net cash flows from operating activities at $228.1 million and a free cash flow deficit of ($91.9) million.
Outlook and guidance
Expect total revenue to decline mid-single digits for full year 2026, excluding divestitures.
Adjusted EBITDA expected to decline low- to mid-single digits for full year 2026.
Capital expenditures projected between $1.2 billion and $1.5 billion for 2026, with higher spend in the second half.
Management is prioritizing financial foundation strengthening, operational simplification, and deleveraging.
Substantial doubt exists about the ability to continue as a going concern due to $6.3B in debt maturing in 2027 and insufficient committed financing.
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Latest events from Optimum Communications
- $2.88B net loss on a $2.7B impairment, margin up, but debt and competition raise concern.OPTU
Q1 2026 - Proxy covers director elections, auditor ratification, and executive compensation changes.OPTUProxy filing
- Annual meeting to elect directors and ratify auditor, with board support for all proposals.OPTUProxy filing
- Disciplined growth, new product strategies, and financial optimization drive transformation.OPTUNSR/BCG Global Connectivity Leaders Conference - New York
- Q4 2025 Adjusted EBITDA rose 7.7% as cost controls and fiber growth offset revenue declines.OPTUQ4 2025
- Revenue fell 3.6% as fiber and mobile grew, but net leverage stayed elevated at 7.2x.OPTUQ2 2024
- Fiber and mobile growth accelerated, but revenue and earnings declined amid high debt.OPTUQ3 2024
- AI-driven efficiency, local strategies, and new products fuel growth amid fierce competition.OPTUBank of America’s 2024 Media, Communications and Entertainment Conference
- Record fiber and mobile growth offset revenue and EBITDA declines; net loss widened in Q1 2025.OPTUQ1 2025
Next Optimum Communications earnings date
Q3 202612 Nov, 2026
Optimum Communications
Next Optimum Communications earnings date
Q3 202612 Nov, 2026
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Frequently asked questions
All-Encompassing Telecommunications
Altice USA, often just referred to as Altice, is a communications and video service provider operating, as its name suggests, in the United States. The company's operations encompass various offerings including high-speed internet, pay television, telephony services, and more. Altice is headquartered in NYC, and its shares are listed on the NYSE.
European Origin
Altice USA's foundation traces back to Europe. The Altice Group, founded by Patrick Drahi in 2001, began its journey in the telecommunications world from the other side of the Atlantic. Altice made its entry into the US market through a series of acquisitions and quickly became established in the country. While the company shares a name with its European counterpart, the two companies act independently of each other.
Diverse Offerings for a Broad Audience
Altice has a diverse range of services available for both individual consumers and businesses. The company's broadband segment supplies enable millions of Americans to stay connected to the web by providing high-speed internet access. A focus on improving and expanding broadband infrastructure has enabled the company to supply more robust connectivity, including fiber-optic networks that provide faster speeds and more reliable connections. Altice also provides telephone services for Americans, providing both domestic and international calling.
Moving into the streaming world
Beyond just internet services, Altice USA has made significant inroads into the pay television segment. Offering hundreds of channels, they ensure that viewers have access to a plethora of entertainment, news, and sports content. Altice has expanded its services to include streaming solutions and digital platforms, ensuring that its audience, whether they prefer traditional TV or the flexibility of streaming, has its preferred option available.
A Highly Competitive Market
Altice USA operates in a highly competitive market together with companies such as T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, and several more offering broadband, and telephony services. The company therefore works to keep pace with evolving consumer demands and technological changes, adapting its offerings and strategies to maintain its position in the market.