Tearsheet

Cogent Communications (CCOI)


Market Price (6/26/2026): $13.3 | Market Cap: $635.4 MilSector: Communication Services | Industry: Alternative Carriers

Cogent Communications (CCOI)


Market Price (6/26/2026): $13.3
Market Cap: $635.4 Mil
Sector: Communication Services
Industry: Alternative Carriers

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Detailed financial logic regarding cash flow yields vs trend-riding momentum.

0

Valuation becoming less expensive
P/S 6M Chg %Price/Sales change over 6 months. Declining P/S indicates valuation has become less expensive. is -39%

Attractive yield
Dividend Yield is 16%

Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include 5G & Advanced Connectivity, and Artificial Intelligence. Themes include Telecom Infrastructure, and Data Centers & Infrastructure.

Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -107%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -144%

Meaningful short interest
Short Interest % of Basic SharesShort Interest % of Basic Shares = (Short Interest Quantity) / (Basic Shares Outstanding). A high fraction of short interest can indicate potential risk of a short squeeze. is 12%

Not profitable at operating income level
Op Inc LTMOperating Income, Last Twelve Months is -80 Mil, Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is -8.3%

Debt is significant
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 401%

Weak revenue growth
Rev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -4.8%, Rev Chg QQuarterly Revenue Change % is -3.2%

Not cash flow generative
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -3.3%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -21%

Yield minus risk free rate is negative
ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is -15%

Key risks
CCOI key risks include [1] a substantial debt burden driving high leverage and persistent unprofitability, Show more.

0 Valuation becoming less expensive
P/S 6M Chg %Price/Sales change over 6 months. Declining P/S indicates valuation has become less expensive. is -39%
1 Attractive yield
Dividend Yield is 16%
2 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include 5G & Advanced Connectivity, and Artificial Intelligence. Themes include Telecom Infrastructure, and Data Centers & Infrastructure.
3 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -107%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -144%
4 Meaningful short interest
Short Interest % of Basic SharesShort Interest % of Basic Shares = (Short Interest Quantity) / (Basic Shares Outstanding). A high fraction of short interest can indicate potential risk of a short squeeze. is 12%
5 Not profitable at operating income level
Op Inc LTMOperating Income, Last Twelve Months is -80 Mil, Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is -8.3%
6 Debt is significant
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 401%
7 Weak revenue growth
Rev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -4.8%, Rev Chg QQuarterly Revenue Change % is -3.2%
8 Not cash flow generative
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -3.3%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -21%
9 Yield minus risk free rate is negative
ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is -15%
10 Key risks
CCOI key risks include [1] a substantial debt burden driving high leverage and persistent unprofitability, Show more.

CCOI in ETFs

Weight = CCOI's share of each fund

VTI0.00%
ITOT0.00%
IWM0.02%
IJR0.05%
VB0.01%
IJT0.05%
VIOV0.05%
IJS0.04%
+11 more covered ETFs

Valuation & Metrics

Price Chart

Why The Stock Moved

Qualitative Assessment

AI Analysis | Feedback

Updated on 6/24/2026

Cogent Communications (CCOI) stock has lost about 30% since 2/28/2026 because of the following key factors:

1. Significant Dividend Reduction and Financial Restructuring Efforts.

Cogent Communications drastically reduced its quarterly dividend by 98% to $0.02 per share in March 2026. This move was part of a broader financial restructuring strategy aimed at refinancing unsecured debt and addressing the company's substantial leverage, which indicated financial strain and impacted investor sentiment.

2. Persistent Revenue Misses and Declining Service Revenue.

The company reported a year-over-year revenue decline of 3.2% to $239.19 million for fiscal Q1 2026, falling short of analyst estimates of $241.31 million. This followed a miss in fiscal Q4 2025, where revenue of $240.52 million was below estimates of $252.41 million. The consolidated revenue decreases were primarily attributed to a reduction in acquired Sprint Wireline revenues.

Show more
Updated on 6/24/2026

Cogent Communications (CCOI) stock has lost about 30% since 2/28/2026 because of the following key factors:

1. Significant Dividend Reduction and Financial Restructuring Efforts.

Cogent Communications drastically reduced its quarterly dividend by 98% to $0.02 per share in March 2026. This move was part of a broader financial restructuring strategy aimed at refinancing unsecured debt and addressing the company's substantial leverage, which indicated financial strain and impacted investor sentiment.

2. Persistent Revenue Misses and Declining Service Revenue.

The company reported a year-over-year revenue decline of 3.2% to $239.19 million for fiscal Q1 2026, falling short of analyst estimates of $241.31 million. This followed a miss in fiscal Q4 2025, where revenue of $240.52 million was below estimates of $252.41 million. The consolidated revenue decreases were primarily attributed to a reduction in acquired Sprint Wireline revenues.

3. Analyst Downgrades and Reduced Price Targets.

Following recent financial results and strategic announcements, several analysts lowered their ratings and price targets for CCOI. In May 2026, UBS Group cut its price target from $21.00 to $17.00, and Royal Bank of Canada reduced its target from $22.00 to $18.00, both assigning "neutral" or "sector perform" ratings.

4. Legal Investigation and Corporate Governance Concerns.

In March 2026, The Portnoy Law Firm initiated an investigation into potential securities fraud against Cogent Communications. This investigation was prompted by the seizure of $82 million in Cogent shares, pledged as loan collateral by CEO Dave Schaeffer in August 2025, raising questions about potential mismanagement or breach of fiduciary duties by the board.

5. Elevated Capital Expenditures and Broader Telecom Industry Headwinds.

Cogent's capital expenditures in fiscal Q1 2026 reached $46 million, surpassing expectations due to ongoing equipment cost inflation, supply-chain disruptions, and increased demand for telecom infrastructure driven by AI. Concurrently, the broader telecom industry in 2026 is facing challenges such as slowing subscriber growth and increased churn, contributing to a difficult operating environment.

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Stock Movement Drivers

Fundamental Drivers

The -29.7% change in CCOI stock from 2/28/2026 to 6/25/2026 was primarily driven by a -29.8% change in the company's P/S Multiple.
(LTM values as of)22820266252026Change
Stock Price ($)18.7213.16-29.7%
Change Contribution By: 
Total Revenues ($ Mil)976968-0.8%
P/S Multiple0.90.6-29.8%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)48481.0%
Cumulative Contribution-29.7%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

2/28/2026 to 6/25/2026
ReturnCorrelation
CCOI-29.7% 
Market (SPY)7.3%37.5%
Sector (XLC)-10.3%31.0%

Fundamental Drivers

The -30.9% change in CCOI stock from 11/30/2025 to 6/25/2026 was primarily driven by a -29.2% change in the company's P/S Multiple.
(LTM values as of)113020256252026Change
Stock Price ($)19.0413.16-30.9%
Change Contribution By: 
Total Revenues ($ Mil)988968-2.0%
P/S Multiple0.90.6-29.2%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)4848-0.4%
Cumulative Contribution-30.9%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

11/30/2025 to 6/25/2026
ReturnCorrelation
CCOI-30.9% 
Market (SPY)8.1%28.7%
Sector (XLC)-7.9%18.5%

Fundamental Drivers

The -70.3% change in CCOI stock from 5/31/2025 to 6/25/2026 was primarily driven by a -68.7% change in the company's P/S Multiple.
(LTM values as of)53120256252026Change
Stock Price ($)44.3313.16-70.3%
Change Contribution By: 
Total Revenues ($ Mil)1,017968-4.8%
P/S Multiple2.10.6-68.7%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)4848-0.2%
Cumulative Contribution-70.3%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

5/31/2025 to 6/25/2026
ReturnCorrelation
CCOI-70.3% 
Market (SPY)26.0%25.6%
Sector (XLC)5.4%20.0%

Fundamental Drivers

The -75.1% change in CCOI stock from 5/31/2023 to 6/25/2026 was primarily driven by a -84.2% change in the company's P/S Multiple.
(LTM values as of)53120236252026Change
Stock Price ($)52.8513.16-75.1%
Change Contribution By: 
Total Revenues ($ Mil)60496860.2%
P/S Multiple4.10.6-84.2%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)4748-1.5%
Cumulative Contribution-75.1%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

5/31/2023 to 6/25/2026
ReturnCorrelation
CCOI-75.1% 
Market (SPY)82.6%26.3%
Sector (XLC)75.3%20.7%

Return vs. Risk

Price Returns Compared

 202120222023202420252026Total [1]
Returns
CCOI Return28%-17%41%7%-70%-37%-70%
Peers Return11%-26%-9%44%11%-2%16%
S&P 500 Return27%-19%24%23%16%7%96%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
CCOI Win Rate58%50%50%58%33%50% 
Peers Win Rate53%38%53%55%52%47% 
S&P 500 Win Rate75%42%67%75%67%50% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
CCOI Max Drawdown-10%-30%-20%-34%-79%-51% 
Peers Max Drawdown-22%-41%-39%-23%-26%-23% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-5%-25%-10%-8%-19%-9% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2021
[2] Peers: LUMN, T, VZ, CMCSA, CCI. See CCOI Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2026 data is for the year up to 6/25/2026 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

EventCCOIS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock & Fed Tightening
  % Loss-29.3%-24.5%
  % Gain to Breakeven41.4%32.4%
  Time to Breakeven111 days427 days
2020 COVID-19 Crash
  % Loss-10.4%-33.7%
  % Gain to Breakeven11.6%50.9%
  Time to Breakeven3 days140 days
Q4 2018 Fed Policy Error / Growth Scare
  % Loss-23.5%-19.2%
  % Gain to Breakeven30.6%23.8%
  Time to Breakeven100 days105 days
2014-2016 Oil Price Collapse
  % Loss-21.1%-6.8%
  % Gain to Breakeven26.8%7.3%
  Time to Breakeven42 days15 days
2011 US Debt Ceiling Crisis & European Contagion
  % Loss-22.1%-17.9%
  % Gain to Breakeven28.3%21.8%
  Time to Breakeven52 days123 days
2010 Eurozone Sovereign Debt Crisis / Flash Crash
  % Loss-32.1%-15.4%
  % Gain to Breakeven47.2%18.2%
  Time to Breakeven108 days125 days

Compare to LUMN, T, VZ, CMCSA, CCI

In The Past

Cogent Communications's stock fell 0.0% during the 2024 Yen Carry Trade Unwind. Such a loss loss requires a 0.0% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

EventCCOIS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock & Fed Tightening
  % Loss-29.3%-24.5%
  % Gain to Breakeven41.4%32.4%
  Time to Breakeven111 days427 days
Q4 2018 Fed Policy Error / Growth Scare
  % Loss-23.5%-19.2%
  % Gain to Breakeven30.6%23.8%
  Time to Breakeven100 days105 days
2014-2016 Oil Price Collapse
  % Loss-21.1%-6.8%
  % Gain to Breakeven26.8%7.3%
  Time to Breakeven42 days15 days
2011 US Debt Ceiling Crisis & European Contagion
  % Loss-22.1%-17.9%
  % Gain to Breakeven28.3%21.8%
  Time to Breakeven52 days123 days
2010 Eurozone Sovereign Debt Crisis / Flash Crash
  % Loss-32.1%-15.4%
  % Gain to Breakeven47.2%18.2%
  Time to Breakeven108 days125 days
2008-2009 Global Financial Crisis
  % Loss-85.8%-53.4%
  % Gain to Breakeven606.0%114.4%
  Time to Breakeven1533 days1085 days
Summer 2007 Credit Crunch
  % Loss-29.8%-8.6%
  % Gain to Breakeven42.5%9.5%
  Time to Breakeven2157 days47 days

Compare to LUMN, T, VZ, CMCSA, CCI

In The Past

Cogent Communications's stock fell 0.0% during the 2024 Yen Carry Trade Unwind. Such a loss loss requires a 0.0% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About Cogent Communications (CCOI)

Cogent Communications (CCOI) is a global provider of high-speed internet access, private network services, and data center colocation space. The company operates a significant fiber optic network, which enables it to deliver its services to customers across North America, Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, and Africa, positioning itself as a key infrastructure provider in the digital economy.

Cogent's main product offerings include "on-net" services, where it provides high-speed internet and private network connections directly to customers located in its 3,035 connected buildings and 54 data centers. For corporate customers not directly connected to its network, Cogent offers "off-net" services, utilizing other carriers' infrastructure for the "last mile" link. Additionally, the company provides data center colocation, allowing customers to house their own equipment within Cogent's facilities while leveraging its network connectivity.

The company primarily serves two distinct market segments: bandwidth-intensive organizations and communications service providers. Its corporate customer base includes small and medium-sized businesses such as law firms, financial services firms, healthcare providers, and educational institutions. Furthermore, Cogent caters to a wide array of other service providers, including Internet service providers, telephone companies, cable television companies, web hosting companies, and content delivery networks, by supplying essential network infrastructure and high-capacity connectivity.

AI Analysis | Feedback

Here are a few analogies to describe Cogent Communications (CCOI):

  • Cogent is like a global internet infrastructure company for businesses and other service providers, offering high-speed internet access, private networks, and data center space, similar to a business-focused AT&T or Lumen (formerly CenturyLink).

  • Imagine Cogent as a global data center operator that also provides its own high-speed internet 'backbone' for businesses and internet service providers, much like Equinix for colocation combined with a major enterprise network provider.

AI Analysis | Feedback

  • High-Speed Internet Access: Cogent provides high-speed internet connectivity to various businesses and organizations globally.
  • Private Network Services: The company offers dedicated private network solutions for secure and reliable data transmission between customer locations.
  • Data Center Colocation: Cogent provides space and facilities within its data centers for customers to house their own equipment and access its network.

AI Analysis | Feedback

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Dave Schaeffer - Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Dave Schaeffer founded Cogent Communications in August 1999 and has served as its Chief Executive Officer and President since its inception, also holding the role of Chairman of the Board. Prior to Cogent, Mr. Schaeffer successfully founded and operated six other businesses across various industries, including communications and commercial real estate. He was also the founder of Pathnet, Inc., a broadband telecommunications provider, where he served as CEO from 1995 to 1997 and as Chairman from 1997 to 1999. Under his leadership, Cogent has completed 13 acquisitions, expanding its network internationally. Mr. Schaeffer developed 46 commercial real estate properties in the Washington D.C. metro area and was involved in a regional paging carrier and a ground transportation enterprise. He was recognized as Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year® in Media, Entertainment and Telecommunications in 2019.

Thaddeus “Tad” Weed - Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Thaddeus “Tad” Weed joined Cogent in 2000. He served as Vice President and Controller before being appointed Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer in May 2004. From May 2020 to May 2022, he took on the role of Senior Vice President of Audit & Operations, returning to his position as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer in May 2022. Before joining Cogent, Mr. Weed was the Senior Vice President of Finance and Treasurer at Transaction Network Services from 1997 to 1999. He also spent ten years at Arthur Andersen LLP, where he was a Senior Audit Manager from 1987 to 1997.

Mark Andrew Harris - Vice President of Global Sales and Chief Revenue Officer

Mark Andrew Harris became Cogent Communications' Vice President of Global Sales and Chief Revenue Officer in September 2025. Mr. Harris joined Cogent in 2023 following the company's acquisition of Sprint Communications from T-Mobile, where he served as Vice President of European Sales. He had been involved with the Sprint business in various sales capacities since April 2003.

Brad Kummer - Vice President of Optical Transport Engineering and Chief Technology Officer

Brad Kummer joined Cogent in 2000. He serves as the Vice President of Optical Transport Engineering and Chief Technology Officer. Prior to joining Cogent, Dr. Kummer spent 25 years at Lucent Technologies, holding various roles in research and development and business development related to optical fibers and systems. His work at Lucent included responsibility for optical fiber systems engineering for long-haul and metropolitan dense wavelength division multiplexing systems.

Guy Banks - Vice President of Real Estate

Guy Banks joined Cogent in 2000 and holds the title of Vice President of Real Estate.

AI Analysis | Feedback

The key risks to Cogent Communications' business are:

1. High Debt and Profitability Concerns

Cogent Communications faces significant financial leverage due to a substantial debt burden, with gross debt reported at approximately $2.3 billion to $2.4 billion. This contributes to a high net leverage ratio and has resulted in negative operating cash flow and profitability metrics, including negative operating margins and net income. The company's reliance on debt financing, coupled with ongoing losses, places pressure on its cash flow and limits its ability to invest or sustain dividend payments, leading to concerns about dividend sustainability.

2. Intense Competition and Revenue Volatility

The telecommunications industry, in which Cogent operates, is highly competitive, leading to persistent pricing pressure. Cogent has experienced overall service revenue declines, attributed to changing economic conditions, currency fluctuations affecting its international business, and a deliberate strategy to shed unprofitable, low-margin legacy services acquired from the Sprint wireline business. The company's challenge is whether its high-growth segments, such as wavelength services and IPv4 leasing, can expand rapidly enough to offset these declines and achieve consistent overall revenue growth.

3. Integration Risks of the Sprint Wireline Business

The acquisition of the Sprint wireline business from T-Mobile has introduced operational complexities and a legacy customer base that has been experiencing revenue attrition. Successfully integrating this substantial fiber network and enterprise customer base, which Cogent has not traditionally served, is critical. The central question for Cogent's business is whether its high-capacity wavelength segment can scale fast enough to replace the declining legacy Sprint revenue, especially as T-Mobile IP transit payments wind down through 2027.

AI Analysis | Feedback

The increasing adoption of **Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)**, particularly 5G FWA, presents an emerging threat. As FWA technology matures and becomes more reliable and cost-effective, it offers a wireless alternative to traditional wired internet access and private network services for businesses, potentially diminishing the need for Cogent's physical network connections to multi-tenant office buildings and its "last mile" services.

Additionally, the widespread adoption of **Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architectures** poses an emerging threat. These technologies empower businesses to optimize their network traffic and reduce reliance on expensive, dedicated private network services by leveraging multiple, often lower-cost, internet connections. This trend could commoditize Cogent's private network offerings and alter how its corporate customers procure and manage their network connectivity.

AI Analysis | Feedback

Cogent Communications (symbol: CCOI) operates in several addressable markets for its main products and services.

High-Speed Internet Access

The global broadband internet access services market was valued at USD 418.65 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 883.32 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.65%. Another report indicates the global broadband services market is anticipated at USD 555.98 billion in 2025 and is expected to be worth approximately USD 1,397.93 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 9.66% from 2026 to 2035. Specifically, for North America, the dedicated internet access (DIA) services market exceeded USD 10.16 billion in revenue in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.4% from 2024 to 2028. The broader North America broadband services market was valued at USD 150.0 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to USD 380.0 billion by 2035. The U.S. broadband services market alone generated USD 74.03 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 113.83 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 7.5% from 2025 to 2030.

Private Network Services

The global private network services market was valued at USD 16.25 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 24 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 5.0% from 2023-2030. Another estimate places the global private network services market at USD 31.06 billion in 2025, projected to grow to USD 47.26 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 8.8%. The total private networks addressable market, including private wireless, is expected to grow from US$1.2 billion in 2024 to US$21 billion in 2030 at a CAGR of 62%. In North America, the private 5G networks market was valued at US$599.41 million in 2022 and is projected to reach US$8,211.43 million by 2030, at a CAGR of approximately 38.7%. The North America private 5G network market generated a revenue of USD 1,244.8 million in 2025 and is expected to reach US$50,277.2 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 59.8% from 2026.

Data Center Colocation Space Services

The global data center colocation market size was estimated at USD 69.41 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 165.45 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 16.0% from 2025 to 2030. Another report indicates the global data center colocation market is projected to grow from USD 84.05 billion in 2024 to USD 204.41 billion by 2030, at a 14.4% CAGR. For North America, the data center colocation market generated a revenue of USD 27.09 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$59.89 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 14.5% from 2025 to 2030. Another source estimates the North America data center colocation market to grow from USD 21.77 billion in 2023 to an estimated USD 56.71 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 11.20% from 2024 to 2032. North America held the largest share of the global data center colocation market in 2024, accounting for 39.0% of the revenue.

AI Analysis | Feedback

Cogent Communications (CCOI) is expected to drive future revenue growth over the next two to three years through several key areas:

  1. Growth in On-Net Services and Corporate/Enterprise Customers: Cogent's strategic focus on higher-margin on-net products, along with the significant expansion of its network and customer base through the acquisition of Sprint's wireline business, is a primary growth driver. The company has seen increased on-net revenue and corporate customer connections, with expectations for continued improvement in corporate growth. This shift towards more profitable on-net offerings, which now represent a larger percentage of total revenues, is anticipated to contribute to sustained revenue expansion.
  2. Expansion of Wavelength Services: Wavelength services represent a significant and rapidly growing revenue stream for Cogent. This offering provides high-capacity optical connections crucial for AI infrastructure, hyperscalers, and large enterprises. The company has reported substantial year-over-year increases in wavelength revenue and customer connections, with strong growth expected to continue.
  3. Growth in IPv4 Address Leasing Revenue: Cogent has identified the leasing of IPv4 addresses as a growing source of revenue. The company has experienced a significant increase in revenue from this segment.
  4. Increasing IP Network Traffic and Bandwidth Demand: The fundamental demand for high-speed Internet access and private network services continues to grow, driven by consistent increases in IP network traffic. This underlying trend for greater bandwidth consumption supports Cogent's core business and provides a sustained driver for revenue growth.

AI Analysis | Feedback

Share Repurchases

  • Cogent Communications temporarily paused its stock buyback program in November 2025 to prioritize debt reduction.
  • Prior to the pause, the company had approved a $100 million increase to its stock buyback program through 2026, purchasing 293,000 shares in Q2 and July 2025.
  • The Board of Directors authorized management to resume the stock repurchase program in November 2025.

Share Issuance

  • The number of shares outstanding for Cogent Communications was approximately 47.6 million as of March 2026.
  • Shares outstanding gradually increased from 45.9 million in 2020 to 47.6 million in 2025.

Outbound Investments

  • Cogent acquired Sprint's long-haul fiber assets, including approximately 23,500 route miles of U.S. fiber, 1.9 million square feet of facilities, and 9.9 million IPv4 addresses.
  • The company is actively pursuing the monetization of 24 surplus data centers, and in October 2025, entered into a letter of intent to sell two such data centers for $144 million in cash, with proceeds intended for debt reduction.

Capital Expenditures

  • Capital expenditures for the full year 2025 amounted to $187.6 million.
  • Capital expenditures in the latter half of 2025 were $73.3 million, a decrease of $41 million from the first half of 2025, primarily due to the completion of data center modernization and reconfiguration work in Sprint-acquired facilities.
  • The primary focus of capital expenditures included converting acquired Sprint facilities into data centers, with a total of 125 facilities converted in 2024 and the first six months of 2025.

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Peer Comparisons

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Financials

CCOILUMNTVZCMCSACCIMedian
NameCogent C.Lumen Te.AT&T Verizon .Comcast Crown Ca. 
Mkt Price13.168.3222.4246.0722.6979.5322.55
Mkt Cap0.68.3159.1193.781.634.758.1
Rev LTM96812,119125,648139,146125,2784,21368,698
Op Inc LTM-80-28525,00029,52319,1472,04510,596
FCF LTM-20844719,44219,86117,7162,72610,221
FCF 3Y Avg-18631919,47017,82614,9472,5108,729
CFO LTM-324,96640,28437,33932,2402,92518,603
CFO 3Y Avg-83,98639,12337,07329,8273,01016,906

Growth & Margins

CCOILUMNTVZCMCSACCIMedian
NameCogent C.Lumen Te.AT&T Verizon .Comcast Crown Ca. 
Rev Chg LTM-4.8%-6.8%2.7%2.8%1.4%-4.4%-1.5%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg22.0%-9.8%1.3%0.7%1.4%-12.7%1.0%
Rev Chg Q-3.2%-8.9%3.6%2.9%5.3%-4.8%-0.2%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM-0.8%-2.3%0.9%0.7%1.3%-1.2%-0.1%
Op Inc Chg LTM52.8%-155.1%3.6%1.3%-17.3%-6.5%-2.6%
Op Inc Chg 3Y Avg-67.9%-87.3%3.0%-0.8%-5.1%-5.3%-5.2%
Op Mgn LTM-8.3%-2.4%19.9%21.2%15.3%48.5%17.6%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg-14.2%2.5%19.9%21.4%17.8%49.8%18.8%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM2.4%-0.9%0.4%0.0%-1.4%-0.4%-0.2%
CFO/Rev LTM-3.3%41.0%32.1%26.8%25.7%69.4%29.4%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg-0.8%31.1%31.7%27.2%24.1%71.2%29.1%
FCF/Rev LTM-21.5%3.7%15.5%14.3%14.1%64.7%14.2%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg-18.5%2.6%15.8%13.1%12.1%59.1%12.6%

Valuation

CCOILUMNTVZCMCSACCIMedian
NameCogent C.Lumen Te.AT&T Verizon .Comcast Crown Ca. 
Mkt Cap0.68.3159.1193.781.634.758.1
P/S0.60.71.31.40.78.21.0
P/Op Inc-7.9-29.26.46.64.317.05.3
P/EBIT-12.0-7.34.76.52.917.33.8
P/E-3.7-4.87.211.24.332.75.8
P/CFO-19.61.73.95.22.511.93.2
Total Yield-10.7%-20.9%13.8%14.9%29.1%8.4%11.1%
Dividend Yield16.3%0.0%0.0%6.0%6.0%5.4%5.7%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg-11.6%-0.1%13.1%9.2%11.6%6.1%7.6%
D/E4.21.61.01.01.20.91.1
Net D/E4.01.40.91.01.00.91.0

Returns

CCOILUMNTVZCMCSACCIMedian
NameCogent C.Lumen Te.AT&T Verizon .Comcast Crown Ca. 
1M Rtn-34.1%-18.2%-10.4%-5.0%-9.8%-11.2%-10.8%
3M Rtn-26.5%23.1%-21.7%-7.8%-21.0%3.2%-14.4%
6M Rtn-40.7%7.1%-7.1%18.0%-16.9%-7.3%-7.2%
12M Rtn-71.8%93.9%-16.2%16.7%-27.6%-18.1%-17.2%
3Y Rtn-76.6%318.1%68.7%56.1%-33.9%-15.5%20.3%
1M Excs Rtn-31.9%-16.0%-8.2%-2.8%-7.6%-9.1%-8.7%
3M Excs Rtn-39.8%7.8%-33.0%-18.8%-32.6%-7.1%-25.7%
6M Excs Rtn-48.5%0.1%-12.6%12.0%-22.4%-12.7%-12.7%
12M Excs Rtn-93.1%72.7%-38.0%-5.4%-49.1%-40.0%-39.0%
3Y Excs Rtn-144.3%226.7%-0.5%-10.2%-101.7%-84.4%-47.3%

Comparison Analyses

null

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment
$ Mil20252024202320222021
On-net532545513453443
Off-net397454393146146
Wavelengths38196  
Non-core8182911
Total9761,036941600590


Price Behavior

Price Behavior
Market Price$13.16 
Market Cap ($ Bil)0.6 
First Trading Date02/05/2002 
Distance from 52W High-74.4% 
   50 Days200 Days
DMA Price$18.42$24.67
DMA Trenddowndown
Distance from DMA-28.6%-46.6%
 3M1YR
Volatility93.3%87.2%
Downside Capture427.70265.10
Upside Capture128.0252.85
Correlation (SPY)30.9%25.4%
CCOI Betas & Captures as of 5/31/2026

 1M2M3M6M1Y3Y
Beta1.420.891.921.661.620.93
Up Beta0.17-0.80-0.300.581.210.75
Down Beta0.581.292.072.692.911.14
Up Capture-41%94%261%152%39%30%
Bmk +ve Days13283667141432
Stock +ve Days11233265130392
Down Capture680%480%304%176%166%107%
Bmk -ve Days7132757109318
Stock -ve Days9183159119356

[1] Upside and downside betas calculated using positive and negative benchmark daily returns respectively
Based On 1-Year Data
Annualized
Return
Annualized
Volatility
Sharpe
Ratio
Correlation
with CCOI
CCOI-72.5%87.1%-1.04-
Sector ETF (XLC)1.3%13.5%-0.1520.3%
Equity (SPY)22.1%12.4%1.3325.6%
Gold (GLD)20.8%27.7%0.676.0%
Commodities (DBC)23.3%18.5%0.99-4.4%
Real Estate (VNQ)11.6%13.8%0.5521.9%
Bitcoin (BTCUSD)-42.9%42.5%-1.2014.4%

Smart multi-asset allocation framework can stack odds in your favor. Learn How
Based On 5-Year Data
Annualized
Return
Annualized
Volatility
Sharpe
Ratio
Correlation
with CCOI
CCOI-26.1%48.1%-0.44-
Sector ETF (XLC)6.9%20.7%0.2523.9%
Equity (SPY)13.3%17.1%0.6029.4%
Gold (GLD)17.4%18.3%0.776.5%
Commodities (DBC)7.9%19.5%0.301.5%
Real Estate (VNQ)2.8%18.9%0.0527.9%
Bitcoin (BTCUSD)9.8%54.1%0.3812.9%

Smart multi-asset allocation framework can stack odds in your favor. Learn How
Based On 10-Year Data
Annualized
Return
Annualized
Volatility
Sharpe
Ratio
Correlation
with CCOI
CCOI-6.4%41.1%-0.01-
Sector ETF (XLC)8.6%22.2%0.4430.1%
Equity (SPY)15.3%18.0%0.7336.0%
Gold (GLD)11.6%16.1%0.594.8%
Commodities (DBC)5.9%18.0%0.256.5%
Real Estate (VNQ)5.5%20.7%0.2332.0%
Bitcoin (BTCUSD)56.4%66.5%0.979.6%

Smart multi-asset allocation framework can stack odds in your favor. Learn How

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date6152026
Short Interest: Shares Quantity5.8 Mil
Short Interest: % Change Since 5312026-4.0%
Average Daily Volume0.9 Mil
Days-to-Cover Short Interest6.3 days
Basic Shares Quantity47.8 Mil
Short % of Basic Shares12.2%

Earnings Returns History

Updated 6/5/2026
Expand for More
 Forward Returns
Earnings Date1D Returns5D Returns21D Returns
5/4/2026-29.3%-28.1%-24.8%
2/20/2026-29.4%-29.5%-31.3%
11/17/20257.1%-7.1%21.8%
8/7/2025-19.5%-20.6%-13.6%
5/8/2025-7.3%-4.4%-8.1%
2/27/2025-9.5%-12.4%-22.1%
11/7/20240.8%-7.2%-6.6%
8/8/20241.9%7.1%9.9%
...
SUMMARY STATS   
# Positive10811
# Negative141613
Median Positive2.1%4.3%6.9%
Median Negative-5.4%-7.4%-13.0%
Max Positive13.0%20.5%21.8%
Max Negative-29.4%-29.5%-31.3%
Collapse to Preview
 Forward Returns
Earnings Date1D Returns5D Returns21D Returns
5/4/2026-29.3%-28.1%-24.8%
2/20/2026-29.4%-29.5%-31.3%
11/17/20257.1%-7.1%21.8%
8/7/2025-19.5%-20.6%-13.6%
5/8/2025-7.3%-4.4%-8.1%
2/27/2025-9.5%-12.4%-22.1%
11/7/20240.8%-7.2%-6.6%
8/8/20241.9%7.1%9.9%
5/9/2024-2.7%-7.4%-11.6%
2/29/20240.2%-11.2%-17.9%
11/9/20233.9%1.2%6.9%
8/10/202313.0%20.5%17.2%
5/4/2023-5.1%-11.0%-13.0%
2/23/2023-5.6%-1.3%-6.4%
11/3/20222.2%4.1%10.8%
8/4/2022-5.1%-4.5%-12.6%
4/29/2022-5.0%0.0%1.3%
2/24/2022-0.2%4.5%3.6%
11/4/20210.5%-0.9%-2.5%
8/5/20211.2%-0.9%2.3%
4/28/20216.1%13.2%10.0%
2/25/2021-4.4%-7.4%5.0%
11/5/2020-3.9%3.3%3.0%
8/6/2020-8.0%-18.6%-19.9%
SUMMARY STATS   
# Positive10811
# Negative141613
Median Positive2.1%4.3%6.9%
Median Negative-5.4%-7.4%-13.0%
Max Positive13.0%20.5%21.8%
Max Negative-29.4%-29.5%-31.3%

SEC Filings

Expand for More
Report DateFiling DateFiling
03/31/202605/04/202610-Q
12/31/202502/20/202610-K
09/30/202511/06/202510-Q
06/30/202508/07/202510-Q
03/31/202505/08/202510-Q
12/31/202402/28/202510-K
09/30/202411/07/202410-Q
06/30/202408/08/202410-Q
03/31/202405/09/202410-Q
12/31/202302/29/202410-K
09/30/202311/09/202310-Q
06/30/202308/09/202310-Q
03/31/202305/05/202310-Q
12/31/202202/24/202310-K
09/30/202211/04/202210-Q
06/30/202208/05/202210-Q
Collapse to Preview
Report DateFiling DateFiling
03/31/202605/04/202610-Q
12/31/202502/20/202610-K
09/30/202511/06/202510-Q
06/30/202508/07/202510-Q
03/31/202505/08/202510-Q
12/31/202402/28/202510-K
09/30/202411/07/202410-Q
06/30/202408/08/202410-Q
03/31/202405/09/202410-Q
12/31/202302/29/202410-K
09/30/202311/09/202310-Q
06/30/202308/09/202310-Q
03/31/202305/05/202310-Q
12/31/202202/24/202310-K
09/30/202211/04/202210-Q
06/30/202208/05/202210-Q
03/31/202205/05/202210-Q
12/31/202102/25/202210-K
09/30/202111/04/202110-Q
06/30/202108/05/202110-Q
03/31/202104/28/202110-Q
12/31/202002/26/202110-K
09/30/202011/05/202010-Q
06/30/202008/06/202010-Q
03/31/202005/07/202010-Q
12/31/201902/28/202010-K
09/30/201911/07/201910-Q
06/30/201908/08/201910-Q

Recent Forward Guidance

Updated 5/31/2026

Latest: Q1 2026 Earnings Reported 5/4/2026

Forward GuidanceGuidance Change
MetricLowMidHigh% Chg% DeltaChangePrior
Q2 2026 Dividends 0.02 0 Same NewActual: 0.02 for Q1 2026

Prior: Q4 2025 Earnings Reported 2/20/2026

null

Insider Activity

Updated 6/16/2026
Expand for More
#OwnerTitleHoldingActionFiling DatePriceSharesTransacted
Value
Value of
Held Shares
Form
1Weed, Thaddeus GerardVICE PRESIDENT, CFODirectSell616202616.794,85081,4343,322,860Form
2Kilmer, Henry WVP OF NETWORK STRATEGYDirectSell615202617.012,40040,824656,586Form
3Ferguson, Lewis HDirectSell528202620.362,80057,008429,474Form
4Kennedy, Sheryl LynnDirectSell518202616.223,30053,518166,150Form
5Kilmer, Henry WVP OF NETWORK STRATEGYDirectSell308202623.352,40056,040957,350Form
Collapse to Preview
#OwnerTitleHoldingActionFiling DatePriceSharesTransacted
Value
Value of
Held Shares
Form
1Weed, Thaddeus GerardVICE PRESIDENT, CFODirectSell616202616.794,85081,4343,322,860Form
2Kilmer, Henry WVP OF NETWORK STRATEGYDirectSell615202617.012,40040,824656,586Form
3Ferguson, Lewis HDirectSell528202620.362,80057,008429,474Form
4Kennedy, Sheryl LynnDirectSell518202616.223,30053,518166,150Form
5Kilmer, Henry WVP OF NETWORK STRATEGYDirectSell308202623.352,40056,040957,350Form
6Ferguson, Lewis HDirectSell305202623.032,20650,804470,940Form
7Kennedy, Sheryl LynnDirectSell305202622.993,30075,867232,200Form
8Weed, Thaddeus GerardVICE PRESIDENT, CFODirectSell305202622.634,850109,7564,588,232Form
9Weed, Thaddeus GerardVICE PRESIDENT, CFODirectSell1212202523.997,300175,1272,115,918Form
10Kilmer, Henry WVP OF NETWORK STRATEGYDirectSell1208202519.794,80094,992668,902Form
11Ferguson, Lewis HDirectSell1202202520.344,00081,341391,798Form
12Kilmer, Henry WVP OF NETWORK STRATEGYDirectSell120220250.002,400  Form
13Kennedy, Sheryl LynnDirectSell1111202521.342,40051,221213,675Form
14Kilmer, Henry WVP OF NETWORK STRATEGYDirectSell905202536.992,40088,7761,339,038Form
15Weed, Thaddeus GerardVICE PRESIDENT, CFODirectSell902202536.984,900181,2023,442,838Form
16Kennedy, Sheryl LynnDirectSell821202536.352,00072,700364,118Form
17Schaeffer, DaveCHAIRMAN, CEO, AND PRESIDENTDirectSell811202527.50818,90922,519,99819,171,432Form
18Schaeffer, DaveCHAIRMAN, CEO, AND PRESIDENTDirectSell808202532.601,840,66960,005,80949,423,295Form
19Schaeffer, DaveCHAIRMAN, CEO, AND PRESIDENTDirectSell616202547.1170,0003,297,609158,130,763Form
20Schaeffer, DaveCHAIRMAN, CEO, AND PRESIDENTDirectSell616202547.4055,0002,607,204162,439,254Form
21Schaeffer, DaveCHAIRMAN, CEO, AND PRESIDENTDirectSell612202547.8655,0002,632,372166,639,725Form
22Schaeffer, DaveCHAIRMAN, CEO, AND PRESIDENTDirectSell611202548.5155,0002,668,135171,571,802Form
23Schaeffer, DaveCHAIRMAN, CEO, AND PRESIDENTDirectSell610202548.6855,0002,677,490174,850,823Form
24Schaeffer, DaveCHAIRMAN, CEO, AND PRESIDENTDirectSell609202548.6455,0002,675,346177,386,223Form
25Weed, Thaddeus GerardVICE PRESIDENT, CFODirectSell609202548.044,900235,3964,707,920Form
26Kilmer, Henry WVP OF NETWORK STRATEGYDirectSell609202547.952,400115,0801,850,870Form
27Schaeffer, DaveCHAIRMAN, CEO, AND PRESIDENTDirectSell609202547.7880,0003,822,124176,855,458Form
28Schaeffer, DaveCHAIRMAN, CEO, AND PRESIDENTDirectSell606202547.3075,0003,547,316178,866,100Form
29Bubeck, JamesCHIEF REVENUE OFFICERDirectSell605202547.502,00094,9992,619,223Form
30Schaeffer, DaveCHAIRMAN, CEO, AND PRESIDENTDirectSell605202547.7675,0003,581,982184,196,095Form
31Schaeffer, DaveCHAIRMAN, CEO, AND PRESIDENTDirectSell604202546.9765,0003,052,867184,661,866Form
32Schaeffer, DaveCHAIRMAN, CEO, AND PRESIDENTDirectSell603202546.3365,0003,011,140185,149,053Form
33Schaeffer, DaveCHAIRMAN, CEO, AND PRESIDENTDirectSell602202545.9025,0001,147,425186,420,809Form
Core Cache Last Updated: 6/25/2026