On Tuesday morning, Charter Communications (CHTR) announced its plan to acquire Bright House Networks. Here’s what the deal means for mutual fund investors.
Cable provider Charter Communications announced that it has agreed to acquire Bright House Networks in a $10.4 billion cash and stock deal. The acquisition will allow the company to expand its customer based, primarily in Florida.
According to Charter’s CEO, “Bright House Networks provides Charter with important operating, financial and tax benefits, as well as strategic flexibility. Bright House has built outstanding cable systems in attractive markets that are either complete, or contiguous with the New Charter footprint. This acquisition enhances our scale, and solidifies New Charter as the second largest cable operator in the US.”
Cable Companies Are Losing Customers to Internet-Based TV
Cable companies have struggled recently as they compete with internet based TV programs like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Previously, the company had attempted to purchase Time Warner Cable (TWC).
The company is up almost 19% in the last year, outperforming some of its peers as well as the S&P 500.
Mutual Funds to Watch
Investors interested in CHTR may also consider the following mutual funds as an alternative to investing directly in the stock. The funds below currently hold the largest stakes in the company.
| Symbol | Mutual Fund | Stake |
|---|---|---|
| VMCIX | Vanguard Mid Cap | 1.35% |
| VTSMX | Vanguard Total Stock Mkt Idx | 1.27% |
| FLVCX | Vanguard Extended Market Idx | 0.70% |
The Bottom Line
The funds listed above allow investors to gain exposure to CHTR while remaining diversified. Investors interested in CHTR should also consider Time Warner Cable (TWC).
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