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Crown Castle (CCI)
NYSE:CCI
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Crown Castle (CCI) AI Stock Analysis

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CCI

Crown Castle

(NYSE:CCI)

Rating:52Neutral
Price Target:
$106.00
â–²(3.59% Upside)
Crown Castle's overall stock score reflects financial challenges with high leverage and negative profitability. Despite this, positive operating cash flow and attractive dividend yield provide some support. The increased guidance and operational efficiencies noted in the earnings call are positive, but technical analysis remains inconclusive due to lack of data.
Positive Factors
Cost Management
Cost-cutting efforts are ahead of plan, providing upside potential in valuation.
Financial Performance
CCI reported second-quarter results that exceeded estimates, driven by increased revenues and lower operating costs.
Guidance and Forecasts
The company increased its 2025 guidance metrics due to slightly increased revenues and lower operating costs and interest expense.
Negative Factors
Leadership and Management
Analyst stays on the sidelines with the CEO search ongoing and time until the fiber sale closes.
Market Position
The company is now a domestic-only tower exposure post the fiber divestiture, which is expected to close in the first half of 2026.

Crown Castle (CCI) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Crown Castle Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCrown Castle International Corp. (CCI) is a leading provider of shared communications infrastructure in the United States, specializing in the development, ownership, and management of cell towers and fiber optic networks. The company operates in two primary segments: Towers and Fiber. Crown Castle's core products and services include leasing space on its towers to wireless carriers, providing fiber solutions for small cells, and offering related services to enhance connectivity for data and telecommunications.
How the Company Makes MoneyCrown Castle generates revenue primarily through long-term leases of its tower infrastructure to wireless carriers, which pay monthly rental fees for the right to install their equipment on the towers. These leases typically have multi-year terms and include escalators that increase the rental fees over time, providing a steady and predictable revenue stream. Additionally, CCI earns revenue from fiber leasing and small cell solutions, which cater to the growing demand for high-capacity data networks, especially in urban areas. The company also benefits from strategic partnerships with major telecom operators and municipal governments, which facilitate the expansion of its network infrastructure. Factors contributing to its earnings include the increasing demand for mobile data, the rollout of 5G technology, and the expansion of its fiber optic network to support enhanced connectivity needs.

Crown Castle Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Segment
Revenue by Segment
Breaks down revenue across different business segments, revealing where the company is generating the most sales and potential areas for growth or concern.
Chart InsightsCrown Castle's Towers segment has experienced a gradual revenue decline since 2023, likely impacted by Sprint cancellations. However, the latest earnings call reveals optimism with a 4.7% organic growth in the tower business, excluding Sprint's impact, and increased leasing activity. The Fiber segment shows volatility but remains stable. The company is enhancing operational efficiencies and has raised its 2025 outlook, indicating strategic resilience. Despite challenges, Crown Castle is focused on capital allocation and dividend growth, leveraging free cash flow for share repurchases while maintaining financial flexibility.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Crown Castle Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jul 23, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: -6.74%|
Next Earnings Date:Oct 15, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call reflected a strong performance in the second quarter with increased guidance and improved operational efficiencies. However, the impact of Sprint cancellations and non-cash revenue reductions were notable challenges. The company is making progress on its strategic priorities and capital allocation framework.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Increased 2025 Guidance
The company increased its full-year 2025 outlook, driven by higher demand for assets and improved operating efficiency, indicating strong financial performance.
Operational Efficiency Improvements
Improved margins in the services business by reducing operating costs and reduced full-year 2025 overhead costs by $10 million.
Solid Second Quarter Results
Delivered higher-than-expected second quarter results with 4.7% organic growth, a $6 million increase in services activity, and a $37 million decrease in SG&A.
Capital Allocation Framework Implementation
Progress on implementing the capital allocation framework by reducing the dividend per share to increase financial flexibility.
Higher Leasing Activity
Higher leasing activity driven by increased network capacity needs from wireless customers, suggesting robust demand.
Negative Updates
Sprint Cancellations Impact
An unfavorable $51 million impact from Sprint cancellations affected site rental revenues, adjusted EBITDA, and AFFO.
Non-Cash Revenue Reductions
A $34 million reduction in non-cash straight-line revenues and a $16 million decrease in non-cash amortization of prepaid rent impacted financial results.
Ongoing Regulatory Challenges
Continued processing of regulatory requirements for the sale of the small cell and fiber solutions businesses, indicating potential delays and complexities.
Company Guidance
During the Crown Castle earnings call for the second quarter of 2025, the company provided updated guidance, indicating an increase in their full year outlook. This is attributed to higher leasing and services activity, driven by a 4.7% organic growth in the tower business, excluding the impact of Sprint cancellations. Adjusted EBITDA and AFFO projections were raised by $25 million and $35 million, respectively. The company also announced a $10 million increase to site rental revenues and a $10 million decrease in overhead expenses. Crown Castle highlighted operational efficiencies, including a $37 million year-over-year decrease in SG&A due to staffing level reductions and office closures. Additionally, they plan to invest between $150 million and $250 million in annual net capital expenditures, focusing on tower modifications, land purchases, and technology enhancements. Following the anticipated sale of their small cell and fiber solutions businesses, they aim to grow the dividend in line with AFFO, excluding amortization of prepaid rent, maintaining a payout ratio of 75% to 80%. The company also plans to utilize free cash flow for share repurchases while maintaining an investment-grade credit rating.

Crown Castle Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Crown Castle is experiencing financial distress with declining revenues, negative profitability margins, and high leverage. The balance sheet shows substantial financial risk due to negative equity and high debt levels. However, the ability to generate positive operating cash flow provides some relief.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
Crown Castle's income statement reflects a challenging financial period. The TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) revenue shows a significant decline compared to the previous year. Gross profit margin is relatively high; however, EBIT and EBITDA margins are negative due to substantial losses, indicating operational inefficiencies. Additionally, the net profit margin is deeply negative, reflecting considerable financial strain.
Balance Sheet
30
Negative
The balance sheet highlights high financial leverage with a negative stockholders' equity, resulting in a negative debt-to-equity ratio. This suggests potential solvency issues. The company's assets are primarily financed by debt, posing significant risk. The equity ratio is negative, further underscoring financial instability.
Cash Flow
55
Neutral
Cash flow analysis indicates relatively stable operating cash flow, though free cash flow has decreased. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is strong, given the net losses. However, the decline in free cash flow growth rate raises concerns about future liquidity. Despite the challenges, the company maintains positive operating cash flow, which is a critical strength amidst financial adversity.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue5.42B6.57B6.98B6.99B6.34B5.84B
Gross Profit3.78B4.72B5.00B4.92B4.35B3.89B
EBITDA3.36B-1.24B4.10B4.07B3.46B3.35B
Net Income-4.64B-3.90B1.50B1.68B1.10B1.06B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets31.64B32.74B38.53B38.92B39.04B38.77B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments255.00M119.00M105.00M156.00M292.00M232.00M
Total Debt29.57B29.61B28.81B27.96B27.01B25.42B
Total Liabilities33.02B32.87B32.15B31.47B30.78B29.31B
Stockholders Equity-1.38B-133.00M6.38B7.45B8.26B9.46B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.50B1.72B1.70B1.57B1.50B1.43B
Operating Cash Flow2.16B2.94B3.13B2.88B2.73B3.06B
Investing Cash Flow-1.09B-1.22B-1.52B-1.35B-1.33B-1.74B
Financing Cash Flow-2.01B-1.71B-1.65B-1.67B-1.31B-1.27B

Crown Castle Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price102.33
Price Trends
50DMA
103.22
Negative
100DMA
102.04
Positive
200DMA
97.78
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.08
Positive
RSI
41.89
Neutral
STOCH
5.95
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CCI, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 102.33 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 106.81, below the 50-day MA of 103.22, and above the 200-day MA of 97.78, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.08 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 41.89 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 5.95 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for CCI.

Crown Castle Risk Analysis

Crown Castle disclosed 30 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Crown Castle 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

Crown Castle Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
71
Outperform
$23.41B26.79-14.67%1.92%1.82%71.39%
64
Neutral
$95.81B74.2866.09%3.25%-9.52%-48.20%
63
Neutral
$6.82B13.38-0.62%7.30%3.67%-27.09%
56
Neutral
$1.61B28.40-3.72%2.82%1.95%353.63%
52
Neutral
$45.19B33.81-234.10%5.63%-17.95%-398.78%
* Real Estate Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CCI
Crown Castle
102.33
-1.83
-1.76%
AMT
American Tower
204.62
-11.50
-5.32%
SBAC
SBA Communications
217.99
4.20
1.96%
UNIT
Uniti Group
6.75
0.33
5.14%

Crown Castle Corporate Events

Dividends
Crown Castle Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend Announcement
Positive
Aug 6, 2025

On August 6, 2025, Crown Castle announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.0625 per common share, payable on September 30, 2025, to stockholders of record as of September 15, 2025. This announcement reflects Crown Castle’s ongoing commitment to providing returns to its shareholders through regular dividends, reinforcing its stable financial position in the communications infrastructure industry.

The most recent analyst rating on (CCI) stock is a Hold with a $115.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Crown Castle stock, see the CCI Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Crown Castle Appoints New CEO Christian H. Hillabrant
Positive
Aug 4, 2025

Crown Castle announced the appointment of Christian H. Hillabrant as President and CEO, effective September 15, 2025, succeeding Daniel K. Schlanger, who will transition to Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer. Hillabrant brings over three decades of experience in digital infrastructure and telecommunications, previously serving as CEO of Vantage Towers AG. His leadership is expected to drive Crown Castle’s strategy as a pure-play U.S. tower company, focusing on operational excellence and value creation. This transition marks a significant step in Crown Castle’s strategic direction, with implications for its market positioning and stakeholder value.

The most recent analyst rating on (CCI) stock is a Hold with a $115.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Crown Castle stock, see the CCI Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and Strategy
Crown Castle Releases 2024 Sustainability Report
Positive
Jul 30, 2025

On July 30, 2025, Crown Castle Inc. released its 2024 Sustainability Report and updated its sustainability website, emphasizing its commitment to creating long-term stakeholder value by maximizing existing assets and minimizing environmental impact. The report highlights significant achievements, including a Total Recordable Incident Rate five times lower than the US average, progress towards carbon neutrality with 93% of electricity sourced from renewable contracts, and governance enhancements such as stockholder rights and voting reforms.

The most recent analyst rating on (CCI) stock is a Hold with a $98.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Crown Castle stock, see the CCI Stock Forecast page.

M&A TransactionsBusiness Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Crown Castle Reports Strong Q2 2025 Results
Positive
Jul 23, 2025

On July 23, 2025, Crown Castle Inc. reported its second-quarter results for 2025, showing strong operational performance and increased leasing activity, which led to an improved full-year outlook. The company highlighted a 4.7% organic growth in site rental revenues, excluding Sprint cancellations, and a $10 million reduction in overhead costs. Crown Castle is progressing with the sale of its small cells and fiber solutions businesses, expected to close in the first half of 2026, aiming to maximize shareholder value and improve financial flexibility.

The most recent analyst rating on (CCI) stock is a Hold with a $115.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Crown Castle stock, see the CCI Stock Forecast page.

Dividends
Crown Castle Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend
Positive
May 21, 2025

On May 21, 2025, Crown Castle announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.0625 per common share, payable on June 30, 2025, to stockholders of record as of June 13, 2025. This decision reflects Crown Castle’s ongoing commitment to returning value to its shareholders, reinforcing its stable financial position within the communications infrastructure industry.

The most recent analyst rating on (CCI) stock is a Hold with a $115.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Crown Castle stock, see the CCI Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Crown Castle Streamlines Governance at Annual Meeting
Neutral
May 21, 2025

At the Annual Meeting on May 21, 2025, Crown Castle‘s stockholders made several key decisions. They elected nine directors, ratified PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors for 2025, approved executive compensation, and amended the company’s charter to remove supermajority vote requirements and outdated provisions, reflecting a move towards more streamlined governance.

The most recent analyst rating on (CCI) stock is a Hold with a $115.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Crown Castle stock, see the CCI Stock Forecast page.

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: Aug 07, 2025