In a Verizon-Charter Deal, Analysts See One Massive Pile of Debt

Verizon Communications Inc. is said to have given thought to buying Charter Communications Inc., a deal that would create the biggest U.S. wireless and internet provider.

But many in the finance world are focused on another superlative a Charter tie-up could lead to: the world’s biggest corporate debtor. And that’s causing some credit analysts to wonder how Verizon could finance such a massive deal, while also achieving its goal of reducing debt, let alone avoiding a blow to its credit metrics that could jeopardize its investment-grade rating.

“You’re getting into very big numbers,” Stephen Flynn, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst, said. “It’s ...