Corning (NYSE:GLW) Issues Earnings Results

Corning (NYSE:GLW) released 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 net margin of 9.16% and a return on equity of 18.12%. The firm had revenue of $4.41 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.35 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.57 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter 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 Trading Down 1.7%

NYSE:GLW traded down $1.72 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $102.56. 2,164,517 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,924,039. The firm has a market capitalization of $87.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 64.82, a P/E/G ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.13. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $88.96 and its 200-day moving average is $79.46. Corning has a 12-month low of $37.31 and a 12-month high of $113.99. The company has a current ratio of 1.56, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62.

Insider Buying and Selling at Corning

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GLW. Sunbelt Securities Inc. increased its position in shares of Corning by 13.5% during the third quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 11,012 shares of the electronics maker’s stock worth $903,000 after acquiring an additional 1,314 shares during the period. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Corning by 35.7% in the third quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 29,636 shares of the electronics maker’s stock valued at $2,431,000 after purchasing an additional 7,796 shares during the period. Advisory Services Network LLC grew its stake in Corning by 3.7% in the third quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 82,837 shares of the electronics maker’s stock worth $6,795,000 after purchasing an additional 2,961 shares in the last quarter. Apexium Financial LP purchased a new position in Corning during the 3rd quarter worth $298,000. Finally, Hancock Whitney Corp bought a new stake in Corning during the 3rd quarter valued at $320,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 69.80% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have commented on GLW. Mizuho boosted their price target on shares of Corning from $97.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday. Wall Street Zen upgraded Corning from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Weiss Ratings lowered Corning from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Fox Advisors downgraded Corning from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Argus increased their target price on Corning from $68.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $103.08.

Key Stories Impacting Corning

Here are the key news stories impacting Corning this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Meta deal — Corning signed a multiyear agreement to supply fiber‑optic cable to support U.S. AI data‑center buildout, potentially worth up to $6 billion through 2030; this is the main catalyst behind the rally. Corning and Meta announce multiyear, up to $6bln agreement
• Positive Sentiment: Q4 beat and strong revenue growth — Corning reported $0.72 EPS (above consensus) and $4.41B revenue, up ~14% YoY, driven by Optical Communications strength (Gen‑AI/data‑center demand). This underpins raised guidance and investor confidence. GLW Tops Q4 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Upgraded outlook & strategic plan — Management raised its Springboard plan and issued Q1 FY2026 EPS guidance (0.660–0.700) with sales expected above estimates, signaling sustainable demand for optical products. Corning Announces Outstanding 2025 Financial Results — Upgrades Springboard Plan
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrades — Susquehanna raised its price target to $125 with a “positive” rating and JPMorgan raised its target to $115 (overweight), reinforcing buy-side sentiment and providing additional upside catalysts. Susquehanna raises GLW price target to $125
• Neutral Sentiment: Media coverage / bullish notes — Multiple outlets (CNBC, Forbes, MSN) are highlighting the Meta deal and earnings momentum; these amplify investor attention but don’t guarantee sustained gains. CNBC: Corning’s Meta deal and earnings tell us this stock is nowhere near done going up
• Neutral Sentiment: Manufacturing expansion implications — Coverage notes Corning will expand capacity to meet Meta demand; this is growth‑supportive but requires capital and execution. Corning (GLW) Stock: $6 Billion Meta Deal Drives Manufacturing Expansion
• Negative Sentiment: Short‑term pullback / profit taking — Despite record highs, shares experienced intraday slippage after the earnings print as some investors locked in gains; expect volatility around execution updates. Corning slips after Q4 results, guidance; updates Springboard plan

About Corning

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.