Stock fact sheet · data as of
Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. (CCOI): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Communication Services · Telecommunications Services · United States · Speculative / Distressed
Is CCOI undervalued?
CCOI has a margin of safety of 99%: the stock closed at 8.35 on 16 Oct 2026 against a GLS average fair value of 650.62. 1 of the 2 valuation models that produced a number sit above the price. Our screens treat a discount this large as a strong starting point for a cash-secured put, not as a verdict - the fair value is a model output, and a wide gap can mean the models are missing something the market knows.
Only 2 of the nine models produced a value (DCF, DDM); the others need a dividend, positive free cash flow or positive book value the company does not have yet, so the average rests on a narrow base.
The nightly engine files CCOI under Speculative / Distressed - negative earnings or a Piotroski score of 3 or less - which caps its Wheel Score at 45 and keeps it out of the Sunday Scan.
Nine valuation models for CCOI
Each model turns the latest filed numbers into a value per share; the GLS fair value is the simple average of the ones that produce a positive number. The last two rows are shown for reference and never enter the average. The Quote page lets you switch any model off and add your own margin of safety.
| Model | Value | vs price | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCF | 1,300.07 | +15470% | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital |
| Graham Number | - | - | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share; no value tonight |
| Graham Growth | - | - | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields; no value tonight |
| Lynch | - | - | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25%; no value tonight |
| GLS Growth | - | - | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year; no value tonight |
| 10 Cap | - | - | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10%; no value tonight |
| Payback Time | - | - | Eight years of compounded free cash flow: the price at which the business pays for itself; no value tonight |
| DDM | 1.18 | -86% | Dividend discount model: next year's dividend ÷ (10% − 3% growth); needs a dividend |
| EPV | - | - | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth; no value tonight |
| Zombie (liquidation) | -52.97 | -734% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 16.40 | +96% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
Financial health is average - CCOI passes 5 of the nine Piotroski tests, which falls one point short of the Sunday Scan's "6 or more" rule. The Financials tab on the Quote page shows which tests fail. The GLS Moat score is low at 1.0 out of 10, which says the ten-year record of revenue, earnings, margins and returns on capital has been inconsistent - growth and shocks rather than steady compounding.
Returns on capital are thin or negative - ROIC -6.4%, ROE 285.3%, ROA -5.9% - with debt at -45.91 times equity and negative free cash flow.
The dividend yield is 0.96% with a payout ratio of -65% - a small yield that leaves most of the earnings in the business. Revenue comes mainly from On net 58%, Off net 36%, Wavelength Services 6% (quarter Q2 FY2026).
Institutional ownership scores 10/10, insider activity 1/10 and Congressional trading 5/10 on the GLS smart-money scales; the last recorded insider buy was on 30 Sep 2026.
| Piotroski F-score | 5 / 9 | ROIC | -6.4% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 1.0 / 10 | ROE | 285.3% |
| Debt / equity | -45.91 | ROA | -5.9% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | -33.4% | Payout ratio | -65% |
| Institutions | 10 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 1 · 5 / 10 |
Wheel Score 45: Weak
CCOI scores 45 out of 100 on the Wheel Score, in the Weak band (under 50), capped at 45 because the engine files it as Speculative / Distressed. Value 25/25, Health 11/20, Moat 2/15, Premium 6/20, Stability 13/20. The score is not a judgement on the company; it says the price, quality and premium do not line up for selling puts on it today.
Implied volatility is 117% on the near-the-money contracts 20-60 days out - above the 60% ceiling of the sweet spot. Premiums are large, but the Wheel Score tapers the Premium points (6 of 20) because volatility this high usually comes with a reason. Chain open interest is 36,012 contracts across all expiries - enough for the wheel at normal size.
Volume runs at 1.3M shares a day on a market cap of $428M, with a beta of 0.79 - a low beta, so day-to-day moves are smaller than the market's; the Stability part of the Wheel Score gives that 13 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 25 / 25 | 99% margin of safety | |
| Health | 11 / 20 | Piotroski 5/9 | |
| Moat | 2 / 15 | moat 1.0/10 | |
| Premium | 6 / 20 | implied volatility 117% | |
| Stability | 13 / 20 | 1.3M shares/day, $428M cap, beta 0.79 |
The Wheel Score ranks ~7,400 US stocks for selling cash-secured puts and covered calls; it is updated nightly and is not a recommendation. The walkthrough lesson shows how the score fits into a trade, start to finish.
Upcoming events
The next earnings report is due on 5 Nov 2026 (before the open), 20 days away; a 30-45-day put sold today would expire after it, which is worth weighing against the premium.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
Similar stocks in Telecommunications Services
The 12 companies below are the closest to Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. by market cap within the Telecommunications Services industry, each with its own fact sheet; the Compare page puts up to eight of them side by side.
| Stock | Close | Fair value | MoS | Wheel | Mkt cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATNI ATN International, Inc. | 25.86 | 84.76 | +69% | 67Good | $398M |
| TMUSZ T-Mobile US, Inc. 5.5 % Notes 2025-01.03.70 | 17.80 | 79.07 | +77% | 31No options | $356M |
| OOMA Ooma, Inc. | 20.48 | 16.31 | -26% | 50Fair | $565M |
| SHEN Shenandoah Telecommunications Company | 10.42 | 1.62 | -544% | 39Weak | $577M |
| GOGO Gogo Inc. | 2.25 | 14.88 | +85% | 45Weak | $305M |
| TSAT Telesat Corporation | 44.23 | - | - | 41Weak | $668M |
| OPTU Optimum Communications, Inc. | 0.9583 | 15.10 | +94% | 45Weak | $261M |
| LICT LICT Corporation | 13,000.00 | 8,752.47 | -49% | 27No options | $249M |
| GLIBA Liberty Capital Corporation | 20.37 | 18.35 | -11% | 29No options | $814M |
| GLIBK Liberty Capital Corporation | 20.60 | 17.84 | -15% | 45Weak | $823M |
| GLIBB Liberty Capital Corporation | 21.00 | 16.96 | -24% | 24No options | $839M |
| SIFY Sify Technologies Limited | 12.18 | - | - | 38Weak | $882M |
⚖ Compare CCOI with 7 of them All Communication Services stocks →
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about CCOI
Is CCOI undervalued right now?
By the GLS models, yes: at 8.35 the stock is 99% below the average fair value of 650.62 (data as of 16 Oct 2026). Whether the discount is deserved is the question to research next.
What is the Wheel Score of CCOI and what does it mean?
CCOI scores 45 out of 100 (Weak). The Wheel Score blends the margin of safety (25 points), Piotroski health (20), the GLS moat (15), the option premium on offer (20) and trading stability (20) into one number that ranks stocks for the wheel strategy - selling cash-secured puts, then covered calls if assigned. 80 and above is Prime, 65-79 Good, 50-64 Fair, under 50 Weak.
What is the GLS fair value for CCOI?
650.62 per share as of 16 Oct 2026 - the simple average of the 2 valuation models (out of nine: DCF, Graham Number, Graham Growth, Lynch, GLS Growth, 10 Cap, Payback Time, DDM and EPV) that produced a positive value. The models run every night on the latest filings; the Quote page lets you switch any of them off and add a margin of safety of your own.
When does Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 5 Nov 2026 (before the open), 20 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does CCOI have listed options, and how liquid are they?
Yes. The nightly snapshot found 164 listed contracts with 36,012 open interest across all expiries and implied volatility of 117% on the near-the-money contracts. The Options scanner lists the cash-secured put and covered call set-ups with premium and annualised yield worked out.