Corning Inc. (GLW) stock — is it a good business?

Corning Inc. (GLW) stock — is it a good business? — InspectStocks

Just reported

Q3 2026 results

From Corning's results release of October 27, 2026; its quarterly report has since been filed.

Revenue
Actual
$4.86B
+18% y/y
+7.8% q/q
Guided
—
No guide given
EPS, GAAP
Actual
$0.78
+56% y/y
+22% q/q
Guided
—
No guide given
Operating income, GAAP
Actual
$911M
+55% y/y
+31% q/q
Guided
—
No guide given

Set against the company's own guidance and the same quarter a year earlier, not analysts' estimates, which we do not hold. Adjusted figures are the company's own non-GAAP measures, as stated in the release.

The full earnings report →

How it makes money

Optical Communications: optical fiber, cable and network connections40%
Display Products: glass substrates for flat-panel screens19%
Specialty Materials: protective glass, specialty glass and optics14%
Automotive Products: emissions-control ceramics, filters and vehicle glass11%
Life Science Products: laboratory supplies and cell-culture products6%
Polycrystalline silicon products6%

Shares of revenue are estimates for year ended 2025-12-31, not figures from a filing.

Competes with

What it sells6

Optical fiber, cable and network connection products
Light-carrying glass fibers, cables, connectors and related equipment used to build carrier networks, business networks and data centers.
Display glass substrates
Thin, precisely made sheets of glass used by screen makers to build television, computer and handheld-device displays.
Gorilla Glass and specialty optics
Durable glass used as a cover on mobile devices, along with specialized glass and optical parts for semiconductor equipment and other uses.

Show 3 more

Automotive ceramics, filters and glass
Ceramic parts and filters used in vehicle exhaust systems to control emissions, plus technical glass and optical products for vehicle interiors and exteriors.
Laboratory products
Lab vessels, glassware, plastic supplies, cell-culture products, media and equipment used in research, testing and drug manufacturing.
Polysilicon and solar products
High-purity polysilicon for solar and electronics manufacturing, as well as solar wafers and modules.

Who buys it6

Telecommunications carriers buy fiber, cable and network connection products for communications networks.
Cloud and data-center operators buy fiber, cable and connections for data-center networks; Corning also described agreements with Amazon and Meta and a partnership with NVIDIA on optical products.
Display-panel makers buy glass sheets for screens; makers of phones, computers and televisions use the panels in their devices.

Show 3 more

Vehicle and engine makers, and companies that build vehicle exhaust systems, buy or specify emissions-control parts; vehicle companies also buy Corning technical glass.
Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, contract manufacturers, testing laboratories, hospitals and research institutions buy laboratory products, often through distributors.
Solar manufacturers and electronics companies buy polysilicon and related solar products.

What it stands on, and what could break it

What the business leans on

1The Optical Communications and Display businesses account for a large part of Corning's profits and cash flow, tying results to demand and pricing in those markets.
2Corning reports a concentrated customer base. Some major capacity investments are supported by long-term customer agreements, and loss or reduced orders from key customers could affect sales and cash flow.
3Manufacturing depends on steady supplies of materials, utilities and specialized equipment; some inputs or equipment come from sole or limited sources, and some raw materials face export restrictions.

What could go wrong

1A fall in prices, sales volumes or market share in Optical Communications or Display could materially reduce company profits and cash flow.
2The loss of, or reduced orders from, one or more key customers could lower sales and cash flow because Corning has a concentrated customer base.
3Supply shortages, trade restrictions or interruptions at Corning's facilities or suppliers could delay shipments, increase costs or leave the company with excess inventory.

Full financial statements →

About Corning Inc.

Corning develops and manufactures specialized glass, ceramics and products that carry or manage light. Its products include glass for display screens and mobile-device covers, fiber-optic cables for communications networks, vehicle emissions-control parts and laboratory supplies. It sells to businesses such as network operators, device makers, vehicle suppliers, pharmaceutical companies and research laboratories.

Head office: Corning, New York, United States
Founded: 1851 (business origins)
Employees: approximately 67,200 (year ended 2025-12-31, high)
Listed on: NYSE
Financial year ends: December 31

Built from Corning Inc.’s own filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Figures are as reported, with per-share history restated onto today’s share basis. This describes a business — it is not investment advice and not a recommendation to buy or sell anything.

Just reported

Q3 2026 results

From Corning's results release of October 27, 2026; its quarterly report has since been filed.

Revenue
Actual
$4.86B
+18% y/y
+7.8% q/q
Guided
—
No guide given
EPS, GAAP
Actual
$0.78
+56% y/y
+22% q/q
Guided
—
No guide given
Operating income, GAAP
Actual
$911M
+55% y/y
+31% q/q
Guided
—
No guide given

The full earnings report →

Keep exploring

The themes Corning is part of, the highest-graded companies in its industry, and the companies in its sector whose grade rose recently.

The theme it is part of

Highest-graded in Electronic Components

Graded A or B and worth $2B or more: A first, then the largest.

Grade rose recently in Technology

Rose to A or B on a filing in the last 90 days, worth $2B or more: largest first.

How it makes money

Optical Communications: optical fiber, cable and network connections40%
Display Products: glass substrates for flat-panel screens19%
Specialty Materials: protective glass, specialty glass and optics14%
Automotive Products: emissions-control ceramics, filters and vehicle glass11%
Life Science Products: laboratory supplies and cell-culture products6%
Polycrystalline silicon products6%

Shares of revenue are estimates for year ended 2025-12-31, not figures from a filing.

Competes with

What it sells6

Optical fiber, cable and network connection products
Light-carrying glass fibers, cables, connectors and related equipment used to build carrier networks, business networks and data centers.
Display glass substrates
Thin, precisely made sheets of glass used by screen makers to build television, computer and handheld-device displays.
Gorilla Glass and specialty optics
Durable glass used as a cover on mobile devices, along with specialized glass and optical parts for semiconductor equipment and other uses.

Show 3 more

Automotive ceramics, filters and glass
Ceramic parts and filters used in vehicle exhaust systems to control emissions, plus technical glass and optical products for vehicle interiors and exteriors.
Laboratory products
Lab vessels, glassware, plastic supplies, cell-culture products, media and equipment used in research, testing and drug manufacturing.
Polysilicon and solar products
High-purity polysilicon for solar and electronics manufacturing, as well as solar wafers and modules.

Who buys it6

Telecommunications carriers buy fiber, cable and network connection products for communications networks.
Cloud and data-center operators buy fiber, cable and connections for data-center networks; Corning also described agreements with Amazon and Meta and a partnership with NVIDIA on optical products.
Display-panel makers buy glass sheets for screens; makers of phones, computers and televisions use the panels in their devices.

Show 3 more

Vehicle and engine makers, and companies that build vehicle exhaust systems, buy or specify emissions-control parts; vehicle companies also buy Corning technical glass.
Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, contract manufacturers, testing laboratories, hospitals and research institutions buy laboratory products, often through distributors.
Solar manufacturers and electronics companies buy polysilicon and related solar products.

What it stands on, and what could break it

What the business leans on

1The Optical Communications and Display businesses account for a large part of Corning's profits and cash flow, tying results to demand and pricing in those markets.
2Corning reports a concentrated customer base. Some major capacity investments are supported by long-term customer agreements, and loss or reduced orders from key customers could affect sales and cash flow.
3Manufacturing depends on steady supplies of materials, utilities and specialized equipment; some inputs or equipment come from sole or limited sources, and some raw materials face export restrictions.

What could go wrong

1A fall in prices, sales volumes or market share in Optical Communications or Display could materially reduce company profits and cash flow.
2The loss of, or reduced orders from, one or more key customers could lower sales and cash flow because Corning has a concentrated customer base.
3Supply shortages, trade restrictions or interruptions at Corning's facilities or suppliers could delay shipments, increase costs or leave the company with excess inventory.

Full financial statements →

About Corning Inc.

Head office: Corning, New York, United States
Founded: 1851 (business origins)
Employees: approximately 67,200 (year ended 2025-12-31, high)
Listed on: NYSE
Financial year ends: December 31

Q3 2026 results

Revenue

EPS, GAAP

Operating income, GAAP

How it makes money

Competes with

What it sells6

Who buys it6

What it stands on, and what could break it

What the business leans on

What could go wrong

About Corning Inc.

Q3 2026 results

Revenue

EPS, GAAP

Operating income, GAAP

Keep exploring

The theme it is part of

Highest-graded in Electronic Components

Grade rose recently in Technology

How it makes money

Competes with

What it sells6

Who buys it6

What it stands on, and what could break it

What the business leans on

What could go wrong

About Corning Inc.

Keep exploring

The theme it is part of

Highest-graded in Electronic Components

Grade rose recently in Technology

AI networking & optics

Corning Inc.

Growth & cash — 5 of 5

Business trend

Share price and grade over time

Q3 2026 results

Revenue

EPS, GAAP

Operating income, GAAP

How it makes money

Competes with

What it sells6

Who buys it6

What it stands on, and what could break it

What the business leans on

What could go wrong

About Corning Inc.

Q3 2026 results

Revenue

EPS, GAAP

Operating income, GAAP

Keep exploring

The theme it is part of

Highest-graded in Electronic Components

Grade rose recently in Technology

How it makes money

Competes with

What it sells6

Who buys it6

What it stands on, and what could break it

What the business leans on

What could go wrong

About Corning Inc.

Keep exploring

The theme it is part of

Highest-graded in Electronic Components

Grade rose recently in Technology

AI networking & optics

Corning Inc.

Past performance

Growth & cash — 5 of 5

Business trend

Share price and grade over time