Crown Castle (NYSE: CCI) to cut 20% of staff, take $30M restructuring hit

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Crown Castle Inc. reported that it issued a press release with its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025, and posted related supplemental materials on its website.

The company also approved a restructuring plan for its towers business and corporate functions that will reduce employee headcount in continuing operations by about 20%. Crown Castle expects approximately $30 million in total restructuring charges, with about $20 million in largely cash severance and other termination benefits in the first quarter of 2026 and up to $10 million of additional cash costs for office consolidation and information technology contract downsizing. These actions are expected to be largely completed by the second quarter of 2026, with related payments completed by the end of the first quarter of 2027, and the company does not expect to record any tax benefit from these charges due to its REIT status.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Significant restructuring charges with no tax benefit: Crown Castle expects approximately $30 million in restructuring costs tied to a 20% workforce reduction, largely cash-based, and does not expect to record any tax benefit due to its REIT status, directly pressuring near-term earnings and cash flows.

Insights

Equity analyst – REITs & infrastructure

Crown Castle launches 20% workforce cut with $30M restructuring costs.

Crown Castle Inc. is undertaking a sizable restructuring focused on its towers and corporate operations, cutting headcount in continuing operations by roughly 20%. The plan is tied to improving efficiency and effectiveness in the towers business and represents a meaningful organizational change.

The company estimates total restructuring charges of about $30 million, including roughly $20 million of mainly cash severance and other one-time termination benefits in Q1 2026, and up to $10 million in additional cash costs from office consolidation and IT license reductions. As a REIT, Crown Castle does not expect any tax benefit from these charges, so the impact flows directly through earnings.

The restructuring actions are expected to be substantially completed by Q2 2026, with related payments completed by the end of Q1 2027. The company highlights execution risks, including legal requirements in various jurisdictions, potential challenges in terminating contracts, and the impact of workforce reductions on operations and talent retention, so actual costs and timing could differ materially from current estimates.

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 4, 2026

Crown Castle Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

001-16441

76-0470458

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

8020 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77024

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (713) 570-3000

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐						Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐						Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐						Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐						Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class			Trading Symbol(s)			Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value			CCI			New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

ITEM 2.02 — RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

On February 4, 2026, Crown Castle Inc. ("Company") issued a press release disclosing its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025. A copy of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

ITEM 2.05 — COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH EXIT OR DISPOSAL ACTIVITIES

On February 4, 2026, the Company initiated a restructuring plan ("Plan") as part of the Company's efforts to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of its towers business.

The Plan primarily includes reducing the Company's tower and corporate employee headcount recorded in continuing operations (as reported in the Company's consolidated statement of operations) by approximately 20%.

In connection with the Plan, the Company estimates it will incur aggregate restructuring charges of approximately $30 million, most of which the Company expects to incur in the first and second quarters of 2026. With respect to the employee headcount reductions, the Company estimates it will incur restructuring charges of approximately $20 million in the first quarter of 2026, substantially all of which would be cash expenditures, consisting primarily of employee severance and other one-time termination benefits. In addition, the Company estimates it will incur up to $10 million in other cash charges related to its headcount realignment actions, such as consolidating office space and downsizing certain information technology license-based contracts.

The actions associated with the Plan are expected to be substantially completed by the second quarter of 2026 and payments are expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2027.

Charges related to the Plan will be reported in "Restructuring charges" in the Company's consolidated statement of operations. Because of its status as a REIT, the Company does not expect to record any tax benefit associated with the charges recorded in connection with the Plan.

The implementation of the Plan and the timing and estimated charges noted above are subject to certain assumptions and risks, including those described below. The Company may incur other charges or cash expenditures not currently contemplated due to unanticipated events that may occur, including in connection with the implementation of the Plan. Should underlying assumptions prove incorrect or risks materialize, actual amounts and timing may differ materially from those expected.

Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K ("Form 8-K") contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts are hereby identified as forward-looking statements. In addition, words such as "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "plan," "intend," "believe," "expect," "will," "likely," "predicted," "positioned," "continue," "target," "seek," "focus" and any variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements about the Plan, including plans, projections, expectations and estimates regarding headcount reduction and associated realignment, including the timing of the foregoing actions, and associated charges related to the Plan and the timing associated therewith. Such forward-looking statements should, therefore, be considered in light of various risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including legal requirements in various jurisdictions, the risk that the Company may not be able to implement the Plan as currently anticipated or within the timing currently anticipated, the impact of the employee restructuring and office space consolidation on the Company's business and on the Company's ability to attract, recruit and retain qualified and experienced employees, the risk that the Company's cost saving measures may not be successful, the risk of unanticipated difficulties in terminating certain contracts and arrangements, the risk of unanticipated charges not currently contemplated that may occur as a result of the Plan, prevailing market conditions, risk factors described in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other factors. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those expected. Unless legally required, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ITEM 7.01 — REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

The press release referenced in Item 2.02 above refers to certain supplemental information that was posted as a supplemental information package on the Company's website on February 4, 2026. The supplemental information package is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.2.

ITEM 9.01 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.						Description
99.1						Press Release dated February 4, 2026
99.2						Supplemental Information Package for period ended December 31, 2025
104						Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document

The information in Items 2.02 and 7.01 of this Form 8-K and Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 attached hereto are furnished as part of this Form 8-K and shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information or exhibits be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

CROWN CASTLE INC.

By:

/s/ Edward B. Adams, Jr.

Name:

Edward B. Adams, Jr.

Title:

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Date: February 4, 2026

FAQ

What did Crown Castle Inc. (CCI) disclose in its latest 8-K filing?

Crown Castle disclosed it issued a press release with fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 financial results and related supplemental materials, and announced a restructuring plan in its towers and corporate operations involving a 20% headcount reduction and approximately $30 million of estimated restructuring charges over 2026.

How large is Crown Castle’s planned workforce reduction in the restructuring plan?

Crown Castle plans to reduce tower and corporate employee headcount in continuing operations by approximately 20%. This reduction is part of a broader restructuring plan aimed at enhancing efficiency and effectiveness within its towers business and corporate functions, and will drive associated severance and related costs.

What restructuring charges does Crown Castle (CCI) expect from its 20% headcount cut?

Crown Castle expects aggregate restructuring charges of about $30 million. Approximately $20 million, largely cash, should occur in first-quarter 2026 for severance and other termination benefits, with up to $10 million in additional cash costs tied to office consolidation and downsizing certain information technology license-based contracts.

Over what timeframe will Crown Castle’s restructuring actions and payments occur?

The company expects actions under the restructuring plan to be substantially completed by the second quarter of 2026. Related payments, including severance and other cash charges such as office consolidation and IT contract downsizing, are expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2027.

Will Crown Castle receive any tax benefit from its restructuring charges?

Crown Castle does not expect to record any tax benefit from the restructuring charges. Because the company operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT), the approximately $30 million of restructuring costs are expected to impact earnings without an offsetting income tax benefit.

Where can investors find Crown Castle’s detailed Q4 and full-year 2025 financial results?

Detailed fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results are contained in a press release furnished as Exhibit 99.1, with additional supplemental financial information in an information package posted on Crown Castle’s website and furnished as Exhibit 99.2 under Regulation FD in the same 8-K filing.

What risks did Crown Castle highlight regarding its restructuring plan?

Crown Castle noted risks including legal requirements in different jurisdictions, potential difficulties implementing workforce reductions and office consolidations, challenges in terminating contracts, impacts on attracting and retaining employees, and the possibility of additional unanticipated charges or timing changes that could materially differ from current estimates.