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Cogent Communications (CCOI)
NASDAQ:CCOI
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Cogent Comms (CCOI) AI Stock Analysis

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CCOI

Cogent Comms

(NASDAQ:CCOI)

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Underperform 40 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:40Underperform
Price Target:
$23.50
▲(6.24% Upside)
Cogent Comms' overall stock score is primarily impacted by its weak financial performance and bearish technical indicators. While there are some positive aspects such as high dividend yield and growth in specific services, the company's high leverage and declining revenues pose significant risks. The earnings call provided some optimism for future growth, but current challenges overshadow these prospects.
Positive Factors
Wavelength Services Growth
The significant growth in wavelength services positions Cogent to capture a larger market share, enhancing its competitive edge and long-term revenue prospects.
EBITDA Margin Expansion
Improved EBITDA margins indicate operational efficiency and potential for sustained profitability, strengthening financial health over time.
Data Center Monetization
Monetizing data centers will provide liquidity and reduce leverage, enhancing financial stability and strategic flexibility.
Negative Factors
High Leverage
High leverage limits financial flexibility and increases risk, potentially impacting long-term growth and investment capacity.
Revenue Decline
Declining revenue trends raise concerns about market competitiveness and demand, challenging long-term growth prospects.
Dividend Reduction
Dividend cuts may signal financial strain, affecting investor confidence and potentially limiting future capital raising capabilities.

Cogent Comms (CCOI) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Cogent Comms Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCogent Communications Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides high-speed Internet access, private network, and data center colocation space services in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, and Africa. The company offers on-net Internet access and private network services to law firms, financial services firms, and advertising and marketing firms, as well as heath care providers, educational institutions and other professional services businesses, other Internet service providers, telephone companies, cable television companies, Web hosting companies, media service providers, mobile phone operators, content delivery network companies, and commercial content and application service providers. It also provides Internet access and private network services to customers that are not located in buildings directly connected to its network; and on-net services to customers located in buildings that are physically connected to its network. In addition, the company offers off-net services to corporate customers using other carriers' circuits to provide the last mile portion of the link from the customers' premises to the network. Further, it operates data centers that allow its customers to collocate their equipment and access the network. The company operates 54 data centers and provides facilities to 3,035 buildings and on-net services to 1,817 to multi-tenant office buildings. It serves primarily to small and medium-sized businesses, communications service providers, and other bandwidth-intensive organizations. Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Washington, the District of Columbia.
How the Company Makes MoneyCogent Communications generates revenue primarily through the sale of Internet access and data services. The company's key revenue streams include monthly recurring charges from customers for bandwidth and connectivity services, as well as one-time setup fees for new installations. Cogent also earns revenue from colocation services, where customers pay for space and power within its data centers to house their servers and equipment. Additionally, strategic partnerships with other telecommunications providers and content delivery networks enhance its service offerings and expand its customer base, contributing to its overall earnings. The company's focus on providing competitive pricing and high-quality service helps retain customers and attract new business, further solidifying its revenue model.

Cogent Comms Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 06, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 26, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mixed picture. While there were significant achievements such as strong growth in wavelength services and EBITDA, there were notable challenges, including a dividend cut, revenue decline, and increased net leverage. The inability to quickly convert installed wavelengths to revenue also poses a challenge. Overall, the call reflects a balance of positive achievements and significant challenges.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Increase in Wavelength Services Revenue
Wavelength services revenue increased by approximately 93% year-over-year and 12% sequentially, with aspirations to capture 25% of the long-haul wavelength market in North America.
EBITDA Growth and Margin Expansion
EBITDA increased sequentially to $48.8 million, with an EBITDA margin increase of 50 basis points to 20.2%. The adjusted EBITDA was $73.8 million, and the adjusted EBITDA margin increased sequentially by 70 basis points to 30.5%.
Increase in IPv4 Leasing Revenue
IPv4 leasing revenue increased by 14.1% sequentially to $17.5 million and by 55.5% year-over-year.
Data Center Monetization
Entered into a nonbinding letter of intent to sell two data centers for $144 million, with plans to monetize all 24 data centers.
Negative Updates
Dividend Reduction
Quarterly dividend was reduced to $0.02 per share to redirect capital towards reducing leverage.
Revenue Decline
Total revenue for the quarter declined by $4.3 million or 1.7%. Corporate revenues decreased by 9.5% year-over-year and 3.5% sequentially.
Increase in Net Leverage Ratio
Net leverage ratio increased slightly from 6.61 last quarter to 6.65 this quarter.
Challenges in Customer Acceptance of Wavelength Services
Despite an increase in installed wavelengths, customer acceptance and billing have not kept pace with installations, affecting revenue recognition.
Company Guidance
During the Cogent Communications Holdings Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call, the company provided detailed guidance on its financial strategy and operational metrics. Cogent announced a reduction in its quarterly dividend to $0.02 per share, aimed at bolstering financial flexibility and reducing leverage, with a target net leverage ratio of 4x EBITDA. The company reported a gross debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 7.45, down from 7.74, and a net leverage ratio slightly up to 6.65 from 6.61. Cogent's wavelength services revenue reached $10.2 million, marking a 93% year-over-year increase, while IPv4 leasing revenue increased by 14.1% sequentially. The company also highlighted an agreement to sell two data centers for $144 million and aims to monetize all 24 of its data centers. Additionally, Cogent's EBITDA increased to $48.8 million, with a margin improvement to 20.2%, and it anticipates long-term annual revenue growth rates between 6% and 8%. The company remains optimistic about capturing a 25% market share in the North American long-haul wavelength market in the next three years.

Cogent Comms Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Cogent Comms faces significant financial challenges, including declining revenues, high leverage, and negative profitability. While there are some operational efficiencies and improvements in free cash flow, the overall financial health is concerning, with risks stemming from high debt levels and negative returns.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
Cogent Comms shows a declining revenue trend with a negative revenue growth rate of -1.40% TTM. The company has struggled with profitability, evidenced by negative net profit and EBIT margins. However, the gross profit margin remains relatively stable, indicating some operational efficiency. The EBITDA margin is positive, suggesting potential for operational improvements.
Balance Sheet
30
Negative
The balance sheet reveals high leverage with a debt-to-equity ratio of 49.18 TTM, indicating significant financial risk. The return on equity is negative, reflecting poor profitability relative to shareholder equity. The equity ratio is low, suggesting limited financial stability and high reliance on debt financing.
Cash Flow
40
Negative
Cash flow analysis shows a negative operating cash flow, indicating challenges in generating cash from operations. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio is positive, suggesting some ability to cover net losses. The free cash flow growth rate is positive, indicating some improvement in cash generation.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue745.59M1.04B940.92M599.60M589.80M568.10M
Gross Profit240.19M394.27M396.69M371.45M363.46M348.95M
EBITDA167.11M161.69M1.56B229.29M218.72M156.28M
Net Income-194.71M-204.07M1.27B5.15M48.19M6.22M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets3.15B3.17B3.21B1.01B984.56M1.00B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments226.29M198.49M75.09M223.78M319.61M371.30M
Total Debt2.65B2.34B1.83B1.36B1.26B1.21B
Total Liabilities3.19B2.95B2.60B1.53B1.36B1.29B
Stockholders Equity-39.17M222.85M609.56M-518.63M-373.10M-293.17M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-186.70M-203.64M-112.29M94.74M100.34M84.37M
Operating Cash Flow9.95M-8.64M17.34M173.71M170.26M140.32M
Investing Cash Flow-96.64M21.49M76.73M-78.97M-69.92M-55.95M
Financing Cash Flow-1.41M105.92M-257.85M-144.85M-140.82M-116.00M

Cogent Comms Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price22.12
Price Trends
50DMA
39.32
Negative
100DMA
41.32
Negative
200DMA
49.75
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-3.58
Positive
RSI
15.64
Positive
STOCH
1.92
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CCOI, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 22.12 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 39.82, below the 50-day MA of 39.32, and below the 200-day MA of 49.75, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -3.58 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 15.64 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 1.92 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for CCOI.

Cogent Comms Risk Analysis

Cogent Comms disclosed 42 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Cogent Comms reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Cogent Comms Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
68
Neutral
$1.27B16.7927.60%0.45%2.13%18.44%
64
Neutral
$1.76B14.6822.59%3.46%7.30%21.31%
60
Neutral
$48.67B4.58-11.27%4.14%2.83%-41.78%
55
Neutral
$3.61B-0.97
49
Neutral
$4.07B1.73%0.41%-22.79%79.90%
49
Neutral
$440.52M-42.79%-8.70%16.20%
40
Underperform
$1.15B-136.94%16.13%-6.48%-588.01%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CCOI
Cogent Comms
22.12
-52.44
-70.33%
IDT
IDT
51.49
0.48
0.94%
IRDM
Iridium Communications
16.49
-13.19
-44.44%
LBTYA
Liberty Global A
10.92
0.24
2.25%
TDS
Telephone & Data Systems
38.72
6.26
19.29%
WOW
Wideopenwest
5.13
-0.55
-9.68%

Cogent Comms Corporate Events

Cogent Communications’ Q3 2025 Financial Performance Overview
Nov 7, 2025

Cogent Communications, a multinational Tier 1 facilities-based Internet Service Provider (ISP), specializes in offering high-speed Internet access, Ethernet transport, optical wavelength, optical transport, and colocation services through its all-optical IP network backbone across 302 global markets.

Cogent Communications’ Earnings Call: Mixed Results and Strategic Shifts
Nov 7, 2025

The recent earnings call for Cogent Communications painted a mixed picture of the company’s current financial health and future prospects. While there were notable achievements such as significant growth in wavelength services and EBITDA, challenges like a dividend cut, revenue decline, and increased net leverage were also highlighted. The call reflected a balance of positive achievements and significant hurdles that the company needs to address moving forward.

Executive/Board Changes
Cogent Comms Announces Leadership Change in Sales
Neutral
Aug 15, 2025

On August 11, 2025, Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. announced the upcoming retirement of James Bubeck as Vice President of Global Sales and Chief Revenue Officer, effective September 2, 2025. Mark Andrew Harris, who joined the company in 2023 following its acquisition of Sprint Communications, will assume the role, potentially impacting the company’s sales strategy and market presence.

The most recent analyst rating on (CCOI) stock is a Sell with a $65.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Cogent Comms stock, see the CCOI Stock Forecast page.

Cogent Communications’ Earnings Call: Growth Amid Challenges
Aug 12, 2025

Cogent Communications’ recent earnings call painted a picture of mixed sentiments, with notable achievements in certain areas overshadowed by ongoing challenges. The company reported robust growth in wavelength revenues and improved liquidity through strategic debt restructuring. However, these positives were tempered by a sequential revenue decline, price pressures, and high leverage, which could impact the company’s ability to sustain dividend growth without additional borrowings.

Cogent Communications Reports Q2 2025 Earnings
Aug 8, 2025

Cogent Communications, a multinational Tier 1 facilities-based Internet Service Provider, specializes in high-speed Internet access, Ethernet transport, optical wavelength, optical transport, and colocation services across 302 global markets.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Nov 07, 2025