GLW Corning Incorporated - Fundamental Analysis
NEUTRAL
GLW Stock | Fundamental Analysis & Investment Insights
NYSE
•
Technology
•
Electronic Components
Current Price
$82.06
Analyst Target
$92.75
+13.0% Upside
52W High
$92.57
52W Low
$37.31
At a glance
Key valuation, profitability, growth, and risk metrics.
Updated Nov 16, 2025
Market cap
$70.61B
P/E
52.6
ROE
12.7%
Profit margin
9.2%
Debt/Equity
0.77
Dividend yield
1.36%
AI Analysis
Powered by advanced machine learning algorithms
Confidence Score
72%
Analysis Accuracy
Corning Incorporated (GLW) trades at a premium valuation with strong recent price momentum—up 78.8% over the past year and 154.6% over five years—reflecting solid execution and cyclical tailwinds in display and optical communications. The company has delivered consistent earnings beats over the last four quarters, with accelerating YoY EPS growth of 24.1% and robust 20.9% revenue growth, outpacing the sector average. However, elevated valuation metrics, including a P/E of 52.60 and forward P/E of 35.52, imply significant optimism already priced in, while insider selling activity over the past six months raises caution. Relative to peers like TE Connectivity and Synopsys, GLW exhibits stronger growth than some but lags in profitability and return metrics, creating a mixed fundamental picture despite healthy balance sheet leverage and dividend stability.
Key Strengths
Revenue growth of 20.9% YoY outpaces the Technology sector average of 19.36% and peer group, indicating strong demand across key end markets.
Consistent earnings beat streak: 3 out of the last 4 quarters beat estimates, with an average surprise of 3.79% and accelerating YoY EPS growth of 24.1%.
Solid financial leverage profile with Debt/Equity of 0.77, in line with sector average of 0.78, suggesting prudent capital structure management.
Attractive dividend yield of 1.36% supported by a sustainable 71.79% payout ratio, offering modest income appeal in a growth-oriented tech context.
Superior long-term price performance: +154.6% over 5 years and +161.6% over 3 years, reflecting strong investor confidence and operational execution.
Key Risks
Elevated valuation with P/E of 52.60 and Price/Book of 5.75, significantly above historical norms and implying limited margin of safety despite growth.
Weak profitability relative to peers: profit margin of 9.16% lags sector average of 18.03%, and ROE of 12.74% trails peer median, indicating lower capital efficiency.
Insider selling pressure: $18.17M in net insider sales over the last 6 months, including CFO and CTO transactions, signaling potential lack of confidence at the top.
Low liquidity cushion: Quick Ratio of 0.74 suggests constrained short-term liquidity, below the ideal threshold of 1.0, increasing vulnerability to demand shocks.
Forward P/E of 35.52 remains high even for a growth stock, leaving the stock exposed to multiple contraction if growth slows or macro conditions deteriorate.
AI Fair Value Estimate
Based on comprehensive analysis
$88.5
+7.8% above current price
Performance Snowflake
Multi-dimensional analysis across 5 key categories
Overall
69
Strong
54
76
78
66
70
AI Verdict
GLW presents a balanced profile with strong recent growth and earnings execution offset by stretched valuations and weaker profitability versus peers; while priced for continued success, the stock lacks the margin of safety or transformative catalysts to justify a full bullish stance despite positive analyst sentiment and solid long-term returns.
Key drivers: Accelerating revenue and earnings growth in a recovering tech cycle, Premium valuation metrics relative to historical and peer levels, Insider selling pressure contrasting with bullish analyst outlook
Confidence
75%
Value
54/100
While GLW’s P/E is below the sector’s sky-high average of 116.22, its lower profitability (9.16% margin vs 18.03%) and ROE (12.74% vs 25.90%) suggest it is more richly valued on a fundamentals-adjusted basis than headline multiples imply.
Positives
- Forward P/E of 35.52 is lower than current P/E of 52.60, suggesting some de-rating of near-term expectations
- P/S of 4.73 is reasonable given 20.9% revenue growth, especially compared to unprofitable or high-multiple peers
Watchpoints
- Current P/E of 52.60 is well above both the sector average (116.22) and earnings growth rate, raising sustainability concerns
- Price/Book of 5.75 implies rich intangible asset valuation, particularly for a capital-intensive industrial tech firm
Future
76/100
With strong year-over-year growth and positive price momentum over 3Y and 1Y horizons, GLW is positioned to benefit from structural trends in connectivity and durable materials, though recent 1M and 1W declines suggest short-term profit-taking after a steep run-up.
Positives
- 20.9% YoY revenue growth and 24.1% EPS growth indicate strong momentum in display, optical, and automotive segments
- Analyst target price of $92.75 implies 13% upside, aligned with continued growth in 5G, AI infrastructure, and durable glass demand
Watchpoints
- Lack of Q/Q growth data limits visibility into near-term inflection trends
- High forward multiple leaves little room for error if macro or supply chain risks re-emerge
Past
78/100
GLW has demonstrated reliable earnings quality over 25 quarters, with only three meaningful misses, while delivering exceptional long-term shareholder returns—though margin progression and ROIC data gaps limit full confidence in sustained profitability improvement.
Positives
- Consistent earnings delivery: 21 out of 25 quarters beat or met estimates, with notable acceleration post-2020
- Impressive 5Y share price return of +154.6%, outperforming most peers including CDNS and SNPS
Watchpoints
- Earnings surprises have moderated from highs of +76% in 2020 to single digits recently, suggesting normalization
- Operating margin of 14.56% has not expanded significantly despite revenue growth, limiting operating leverage
Health
66/100
GLW’s leverage is in line with peers like TEL and MRVL, but the low quick ratio and lack of cash flow transparency introduce liquidity concerns not evident in stronger peers such as Synopsys or Cadence.
Positives
- Debt/Equity of 0.77 is in line with sector average and manageable given stable cash flows
- Current Ratio of 1.56 indicates sufficient current assets to cover liabilities
Watchpoints
- Quick Ratio of 0.74 is below 1.0, indicating limited liquid assets to meet short-term obligations without inventory liquidation
- Missing Total Cash, Total Debt, and Free Cash Flow data prevents full assessment of cash runway and refinancing risk
Dividend
70/100
GLW’s dividend offers a small but stable income stream in a growth-tech context, with a payout ratio that leaves room for maintenance even if earnings fluctuate, though lack of long-term yield data limits full assessment.
Positives
- Dividend yield of 1.36% is modest but competitive within the tech sector, where many firms do not pay dividends
- Payout ratio of 71.79% is sustainable given stable earnings and capital intensity
Watchpoints
- No data on dividend growth history or consistency, limiting visibility into policy strength
- Yield remains below broader market average, reducing appeal for income-focused investors
Stock Price & Analyst Targets
Real-time price movements and analyst price targets
Current Price
$82.06
Analyst Target
$92.75
Upside/Downside
+13.0%
Multi-Horizon Performance vs Peers
Price momentum across 5Y → 1W horizons for GLW and closest competitors.
Updated 2025-11-14
| Company | 5Y | 3Y | 1Y | 6M | 1M | 1W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
GLW
Corning Incorporated
Primary
|
+154.6% | +161.6% | +78.8% | +72.4% | -4.9% | -3.7% |
|
TEL
TE Connectivity plc
Peer
|
+132.0% | +96.8% | +57.4% | +45.9% | +6.6% | -2.1% |
|
SNPS
Synopsys, Inc.
Peer
|
+75.3% | +16.6% | -28.9% | -24.2% | -10.6% | -0.9% |
|
MRVL
Marvell Technology, Inc.
Peer
|
+103.8% | +95.7% | -4.4% | +35.8% | -2.7% | -4.9% |
|
CDNS
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
Peer
|
+174.2% | +86.6% | +3.9% | -2.1% | -2.8% | -3.1% |
Positive values indicate cumulative gains over the specified period. Comparables pulled from the same sector to highlight whether momentum is stock-specific or industry-wide.
Historical Performance Trends
Long-term financial metrics and growth patterns
Revenue & Net Income
Profit & Operating Margins
Return on Equity (ROE)
Quarterly Revenue Growth
Historical data shows last 12 quarters (3 years)
Valuation Metrics
Key valuation ratios and pricing indicators
P/E Ratio
52.6
Forward P/E
35.52
PEG Ratio
N/A
P/B Ratio
5.75
P/S Ratio
4.73
EV/Revenue
5.25
EV/EBITDA
23.1
Market Cap
$70.61B
Profitability
Profit margins and return metrics
Profit Margin
9.16%
Operating Margin
14.56%
Gross Margin
35.98%
ROE
12.74%
ROA
4.42%
Growth
Revenue and earnings growth rates
Revenue Growth
+20.9%
Earnings Growth
N/A
Q/Q Revenue Growth
N/A
Q/Q Earnings Growth
N/A
Financial Health
Balance sheet strength and liquidity metrics
Debt/Equity
0.77
Moderate
Current Ratio
1.56
Good
Quick Ratio
0.74
Poor
Cash/Share
$1.92
Quarterly Earnings History
EPS performance vs analyst estimates
2026-01-28
$N/A
2025-10-28
$0.67
+0.8% surprise
2025-07-29
$0.6
+5.1% surprise
2025-04-29
$0.54
+5.4% surprise
Technology Sector Comparison
Comparing GLW against 38 companies in the Technology sector
(13 bullish, 18 neutral, 1 bearish)
P/E Ratio
52.6
This Stock
vs
114.31
Sector Avg
-54.0%
(Discount)
Return on Equity (ROE)
12.74%
This Stock
vs
25.54%
Sector Avg
-50.1%
(Below Avg)
Profit Margin
9.16%
This Stock
vs
17.79%
Sector Avg
-48.5%
(Weaker)
Debt to Equity
0.77
This Stock
vs
0.78
Sector Avg
-1.9%
(Lower)
Revenue Growth
20.9%
This Stock
vs
19.4%
Sector Avg
+7.7%
(Growing)
Current Ratio
1.56
This Stock
vs
1.97
Sector Avg
-21.2%
(Weaker)
Similar Companies
Peer comparison within the same industry
| Company | AI Rating | Market Cap | P/E | ROE | Profit Margin | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
GLW
Corning Incorporated
|
NEUTRAL | $70.61B | 52.6 | 12.7% | 9.2% | $82.06 | |
|
TEL
TE Connectivity plc
|
BULLISH | $69.82B | 38.47 | 14.6% | 10.7% | $237.33 | |
|
SNPS
Synopsys, Inc.
|
NEUTRAL | $73.17B | 52.61 | 6.5% | 31.0% | $389.83 | |
|
MRVL
Marvell Technology, Inc.
|
NEUTRAL | $75.45B | - | -0.7% | -1.4% | $86.45 | |
|
CDNS
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
|
BULLISH | $86.01B | 81.38 | 21.7% | 20.4% | $314.93 |
Recent Insider Trading
Insider buy and sell transactions from the last 6 months
| Date | Insider | Position | Transaction | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-31 | SCHLESINGER EDWARD A | Chief Financial Officer | Option Exercise | 8,844 | $299,988 |
| 2025-10-31 | SCHLESINGER EDWARD A | Chief Financial Officer | Sale | 20,893 | $1,906,486 |
| 2025-10-31 | STEVERSON LEWIS A | Officer | Sale | 23,142 | $2,060,765 |
| 2025-10-30 | AMIN JAYMIN | Chief Technology Officer | Gift | 2,650 | - |
| 2025-10-29 | BECKER STEFAN | Officer | Sale | 12,100 | $1,104,535 |
| 2025-10-29 | MUSSER ERIC S. | Retired | Sale | 100,000 | $9,017,340 |
| 2025-09-30 | MUSSER ERIC S. | Retired | Stock Award | 1,657 | - |
| 2025-09-17 | AMIN JAYMIN | Chief Technology Officer | Option Exercise | 7,931 | $159,363 |
| 2025-09-17 | AMIN JAYMIN | Chief Technology Officer | Sale | 17,721 | $1,367,698 |
| 2025-09-15 | WEEKS WENDELL P. | Chief Executive Officer | Gift | 40,000 | - |
| 2025-09-04 | WRIGHTON MARK S | Retired | Gift | 4,467 | - |
| 2025-09-04 | MUSSER ERIC S. | President | Sale | 20,000 | $1,404,624 |
| 2025-08-12 | ZHANG JOHN Z | Officer | Sale | 1,212 | $79,425 |
| 2025-08-11 | MUSSER ERIC S. | President | Option Exercise | 21,997 | $370,402 |
| 2025-08-11 | MUSSER ERIC S. | President | Sale | 18,850 | $1,231,184 |
Insider transactions can signal confidence or concerns about company prospects
Wall Street Analysts
Professional analyst ratings and price targets
Consensus
BUY
12 analysts
Citigroup
2025-10-29
Buy
Buy
Argus Research
2025-10-29
Buy
Buy
UBS
2025-10-29
Buy
Buy
JP Morgan
2025-10-29
Overweight
Overweight
Susquehanna
2025-10-29
Positive
Positive
Barclays
2025-10-29
Equal-Weight
Equal-Weight
Morgan Stanley
2025-10-10
Equal-Weight
Equal-Weight
Mizuho
2025-10-03
Outperform
Outperform
Citigroup
2025-09-24
Buy
Buy
UBS
2025-09-23
Buy
Buy