Crown Castle: The 2026 Reset Paves The Way For A Re-Rating

Crown Castle is reaffirmed as a Buy, with risks looking priced in and a strong, improving business returning to its core US cell tower operations. Q1 2026 saw solid AFFO and revenue beats, with a $1 billion buyback program and $7 billion in debt repayments expected from the fiber sale and a ~4.86% dividend yield. Guidance anticipates a 5% decline in site rental revenue but 1% AFFO growth (+2% per share), with cost reductions and litigation recovery potential supporting long-term value, alongside the industry's investments.