NYSE$GLW

Corning Inc · Q4 2020 earnings

Q4 2020 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Corning reported strong Q4 2020 results with growth in all segments.

Corning Incorporated reported outstanding fourth-quarter results, with each of its businesses growing sales and profits year over year. The company achieved 17% year-over-year core sales growth in Q4 and expanded margins in the second half of the year. Free cash flow for the quarter was $464 million, contributing to a total of $948 million for the full year. Corning expects continued momentum across all businesses in 2021.

  • GAAP sales reached $3.4 billion with an EPS of $0.28.
  • Core sales were $3.3 billion, reflecting an 11% sequential increase and a 17% year-over-year rise.
  • Core EPS stood at $0.52, marking a 21% sequential increase and a 13% year-over-year increase.
  • The company's strong execution across its focused portfolio led to sales and net income growth in all segments.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$3.33B

Previous: $2.85B+16.7%
EPS (adj)

$0.52

Previous: $0.46+13.0%
Core Op Margin

19.4%

No prior period
Free Cash Flow

$464M

No prior period
Net Income

$252M

Previous: $32M+687.5%
Operating Income

$476M

Previous: $147M+223.8%
Gross Profit

$1.21B

Previous: $854M+42.0%
Cash & Equivalents

$2.67B

Previous: $2.43B+9.8%
Total Assets

$30.8B

Previous: $28.9B+6.5%
Stock-Based Comp

$80M

Previous: $13M+515.4%

Revenue & EPS history

Corning · Revenue · Quarterly

$3.33B

Q4 2020+16.7%vs Q4 2019
Beat estimate in 14 of 16 quarters(88%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Corning · $2.64B total across 4 segments · Q4 2020

  • Optical Comm
    $976M+8.1%
  • Display
    $841M+5.8%
  • Specialty Materials
    $545M+20.3%
  • Life Sciences
    $274M+7.0%

Forward guidance

Corning anticipates accelerated year-over-year growth in Q1 2021, projecting core sales between $3.0 billion and $3.2 billion, and EPS between $0.40 and $0.44.

Tailwinds

  • Expects year-over-year growth to accelerate in Q1 2021.
  • Focus on operational excellence.
  • Focus on cash-flow generation.
  • Focus on prudent capital allocation.
  • Expects continued momentum across all businesses in 2021.

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q4 2020

Historical avgQ4 2020

+0.1%

Avg return

Earnings day

-0.1%

Avg return

5 days after

+2.1%

Avg return

30 days after

49%

36 / 73 earnings

Positive

+14.9%

Q4 2021

Best reaction

-9.9%

Q2 2014

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q1 2026-0.8%-5.8%+9.0%
Q4 2025-5.0%+0.6%+37.0%
Q3 2025-3.3%-0.3%-6.5%
Q2 2025-1.9%+1.2%+6.0%
Q1 2025+0.8%+3.8%+13.3%
Q4 2024-2.8%+0.2%-2.1%
Q3 2024+2.6%+3.2%+2.9%
Q2 2024-6.3%-8.8%-1.9%
Q1 2024+5.3%+6.1%+16.3%
Q4 2023+4.3%+3.5%+3.5%
Q3 2023-0.6%-1.3%+4.6%
Q2 2023+3.6%+1.7%-3.7%
Q1 2023-4.2%-1.3%-7.8%
Q4 2022-3.1%-1.8%-5.2%
Q3 2022+0.2%+0.5%+4.9%
Q2 2022+4.2%+6.6%+3.9%
Q1 2022+4.8%+2.2%+2.3%
Q4 2021+14.9%+19.1%+16.4%
Q3 2021-8.3%-7.9%+1.1%
Q2 2021-0.5%+1.9%-2.1%
Q1 2021-3.7%-4.0%-6.0%
Q4 2020-2.0%-3.4%+2.9%
Q3 2020-7.4%-6.7%+8.9%
Q2 2020+3.2%+1.2%+4.9%
Q1 2020+3.9%-4.5%+6.6%
Q4 2019-1.1%-3.9%-14.8%
Q3 2019-0.7%-3.4%-4.1%
Q2 2019-9.8%-14.1%-18.7%
Q1 2019-4.2%-5.2%-13.5%
Q4 2018+10.4%+9.0%+14.7%
Q3 2018-1.7%-0.5%-0.4%
Q2 2018+12.7%+10.4%+10.6%
Q1 2018-1.6%-1.0%-0.6%
Q4 2017-8.8%-8.7%-17.1%
Q3 2017+5.1%+5.0%+6.0%
Q2 2017-8.2%-9.3%-10.8%
Q1 2017+3.2%+4.8%+7.4%
Q4 2016+7.7%+7.7%+11.3%
Q3 2016-3.6%-5.1%+1.3%
Q2 2016+2.7%+2.7%+4.4%
Q1 2016-8.0%
Q4 2015+6.9%
Q3 2015+8.7%
Q2 2015+0.5%
Q1 2015-4.6%
Q4 2014+1.3%
Q3 2014+5.5%
Q2 2014-9.9%
Q1 2014+0.6%
Q4 2013-5.8%
Q3 2013-2.4%
Q2 2013-1.3%
Q1 2013+8.4%
Q4 2012-1.2%
Q3 2012-9.8%
Q4 2011+1.7%
Q2 2012-7.0%
Q1 2012+7.1%
Q3 2011+8.4%
Q2 2011-2.3%
Q1 2011-0.9%
Q4 2010-1.9%
Q3 2010+0.3%
Q2 2010+5.5%
Q1 2010+1.0%
Q4 2007+1.1%
Q2 2009+1.1%
Q4 2009+1.1%
Q3 2008-0.1%
Q3 2009-0.1%
Q1 2009+0.2%
Q4 2008+0.2%
Q2 2008+0.2%

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