GLW

We rate CORNING INC /NY (GLW) as a Hold with a composite score of 61.6/100 at a current price of $152.28. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling for existing holders. Our factors are split, and the overall profile suggests patience is warranted.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in momentum (85th percentile) and stability (62th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in investment (33th percentile) and quality (56th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a Narrow Moat rating (64/100), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation.

Key items to watch: balance sheet deleveraging progress; sustainability of the current growth rate. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

CORNING INC /NY holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Manufacturing sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 61.6/100 places it at rank #540 in our full 7,333-stock universe. With a $70.3B market capitalization, CORNING INC /NY operates at meaningful scale within the Manufacturing sector, providing competitive advantages in distribution, procurement, and customer reach.

The near-term outlook is constructive, with revenue growing at 26% and momentum in the 85th percentile confirming positive market sentiment and institutional accumulation. The combination of strong top-line growth and favorable price dynamics suggests the company is executing well on its growth strategy. Investment factor at the 33th percentile indicates reinvestment patterns that investors should monitor for sustainability.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 35% (-7.0pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 13% (+11.5pp vs sector) and net margins of 6.7%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 19%. This conversion rate is typical for the sector, suggesting a standard cost structure without notable efficiency advantages or disadvantages.

At a current price of $152.28, CORNING INC /NY is trading near fair value based on current fundamentals. Our value factor score of 59/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. Valuation metrics are mixed, with no strong signal of mispricing in either direction.

The stock currently trades at a P/E of 112.9x (a 408% premium to the sector median of 22.3x), EV/EBITDA of 62.7x (at a premium), P/B of 9.7x, P/S of 8.1x. The above-sector P/E multiple suggests the market is pricing in superior growth or quality, which our analysis finds only partially justified by current fundamentals.

We assign a High uncertainty rating to CORNING INC /NY. Key risk factors include significant leverage (152% debt-to-equity), elevated valuation multiple (P/E 112.9x) that leaves limited margin for error. The wide range of potential outcomes widens our fair value estimate and increases the possibility of permanent capital impairment. Investors considering this name should size positions accordingly and demand a meaningful margin of safety before initiating.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: significant leverage (152% debt-to-equity); elevated valuation multiple (P/E 112.9x) that leaves limited margin for error. Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 62th percentile and quality factor at the 56th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

Key risk mitigants include: above-average stability (62th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics; large-cap scale ($70.3B) provides resilience. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile warrants caution and disciplined position management.

We rate CORNING INC /NY's capital allocation as Poor. Key concerns include elevated leverage (152% D/E). Exemplary capital allocators generate ROE above 20% and maintain conservative leverage — CORNING INC /NY significantly underperforms these benchmarks, raising questions about management's ability to create shareholder value.

Investors should scrutinize management's reinvestment decisions and balance sheet trajectory before committing capital. Poor capital allocation often compounds over time: overlevered balance sheets limit strategic flexibility, while low returns on capital destroy shareholder value. We would need to see sustained improvement in profitability metrics and balance sheet discipline before considering an upgrade.

In summary, CORNING INC /NY receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 61.6/100 (rank #540 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a Narrow Moat (64/100, trend: stable), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 59/100.

Our analysis supports a neutral stance on CORNING INC /NY. While the quantitative profile is not weak enough to warrant selling, it lacks the multi-factor strength required for a buy recommendation. Existing holders should maintain positions and monitor for catalysts — either fundamental improvement or valuation compression — that would shift the risk-reward balance.