Corning (NYSE:GLW) Announces Earnings Results

Corning (NYSE:GLW) announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The electronics maker reported $0.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.01, Briefing.com reports. Corning had a return on equity of 18.12% and a net margin of 9.16%.The business had revenue of $4.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.35 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.57 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 13.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Corning updated its Q1 2026 guidance to 0.660-0.700 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from Corning’s conference call:

• Corning upgraded its Springboard plan to add $11 billion in incremental annualized sales by end‑2028 (up from $8B) and now targets an internal +$6.5 billion by end‑2026 with a high‑confidence +$5.75 billion.
• Fourth‑quarter results were strong: sales rose 14% to $4.41B, EPS increased 26% to $0.72, operating margin reached 20.2% (hitting the Springboard target a year early), and full‑year free cash flow was $1.72B.
• Corning announced a multi‑year, up to $6 billion agreement with Meta to supply Gen‑AI high‑density fiber/cable/connectivity and said similar large customer deals will support U.S. manufacturing expansions, often structured with customer prepayments and long‑term commitments.
• Management plans about $1.7 billion of 2026 CapEx and is ramping Hemlock solar/polysilicon capacity, which is causing a temporary profit drag (Q1 EPS impact ~<$0.05) and is pressuring near‑term segment earnings during scale‑up.

Corning Stock Performance

NYSE GLW traded down $2.81 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $106.93. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 7,965,773 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,627,171. Corning has a twelve month low of $37.31 and a twelve month high of $113.99. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $88.50 and its 200-day moving average price is $79.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.56. The firm has a market cap of $91.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 67.71, a P/E/G ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 1.13.

Insider Activity at Corning

In related news, EVP Lewis A. Steverson sold 23,142 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.05, for a total value of $2,060,795.10. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 17,575 shares in the company, valued at $1,565,053.75. This trade represents a 56.84% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Edward A. Schlesinger sold 20,893 shares of Corning stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.25, for a total value of $1,906,486.25. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 66,959 shares in the company, valued at $6,110,008.75. This represents a 23.78% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.32% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. JPL Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Corning in the third quarter valued at $33,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Corning in the second quarter valued at about $38,000. Wexford Capital LP purchased a new stake in Corning during the third quarter worth about $104,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc purchased a new position in Corning in the second quarter valued at about $119,000. Finally, Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych PZU SA increased its holdings in Corning by 16.8% in the third quarter. Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych PZU SA now owns 1,600 shares of the electronics maker’s stock valued at $131,000 after buying an additional 230 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.80% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting Corning

Here are the key news stories impacting Corning this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Meta signed a multiyear deal to buy up to $6 billion of Corning fiber‑optic cable through 2030 — a direct, large-volume win tied to AI data‑center buildouts that should boost multi‑year revenue visibility. Meta Enters Up to $6 Billion Data-Center Fiber-Optic Cable Deal With Corning
• Positive Sentiment: Q4 results beat: Corning reported $0.72 EPS (vs. ~$0.71 consensus) and $4.41B revenue (vs. ~$4.35B), with revenue +13.9% YoY and healthy margins—results that validate the growth thesis. Corning quarterly earnings data and materials
• Positive Sentiment: Management reported record full‑year 2025 results and upgraded its Springboard plan for faster sales growth, signaling improved execution and a stronger financial profile. Corning Announces Outstanding 2025 Financial Results
• Positive Sentiment: Company set Q1 FY2026 EPS guidance of $0.66–$0.70 (around/above consensus) and revenue guidance ~$4.2–$4.3B; Corning also said Q1 sales are expected above estimates thanks to resilient optical‑fiber demand. Corning forecasts first-quarter sales above estimates
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst and media pieces highlight Corning’s AI/data‑center exposure and the Meta deal as primary drivers of a recent rally; these discuss whether current shares fully reflect long‑term upside. Corning Stock’s AI Surge: After The Meta Blockbuster, Is GLW Still A Buy?
• Negative Sentiment: Some near‑term profit‑taking and volatility followed the earnings release and record rally; a report noted shares slid from intraday record highs as investors digested valuations after the surge. Glassmaker Clears Q4 Views Following $6 Billion Meta Deal

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Corning from $82.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Oppenheimer set a $100.00 price target on Corning and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Argus upped their price objective on Corning from $68.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Mizuho set a $97.00 target price on Corning in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Barclays increased their price target on shares of Corning from $65.00 to $83.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Corning presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $96.42.

Corning Company Profile

Corning Incorporated is a global manufacturer specializing in specialty glass, ceramics and related materials and technologies. Headquartered in Corning, New York, the company supplies engineered materials and components used across multiple industries, including consumer electronics, telecommunications, automotive emissions control, pharmaceutical and life sciences, and industrial and scientific applications. Corning emphasizes materials science and precision manufacturing to develop durable, high-performance glass and ceramic products.

Key product lines include specialty display glass used by television and mobile-device manufacturers, cover glass marketed under well-known trade names for smartphones and tablets, and optical fiber and cable and related hardware for telecommunications networks.