New York, Jan 28, 2026, 20:06 EST — Market closed
- Corning shares dropped nearly 5% to $104.28, weighed down by earnings and guidance that couldn’t keep Tuesday’s rally alive
- The stock surged roughly 15% the previous day after securing a fiber-optic supply deal with Meta valued at up to $6 billion
- Attention turns to order timing, profit margins, and if AI-driven data-center spending will hold steady into next week
Shares of Corning Incorporated dropped roughly 5% to $104.28 after Wednesday’s close, shedding part of the previous session’s strong rally as traders booked profits and adjusted positions ahead of Thursday’s market open.
The pullback is significant as Corning’s stock now behaves more like that of an AI-infrastructure supplier than a traditional glassmaker. Investors are wrestling with whether the spike in data-center construction signals lasting demand for optical cable and connectivity—or if it’s merely a temporary surge that might fade.
Corning on Wednesday predicted first-quarter sales would top estimates, driven by steady demand for its fiber-optic products, which account for nearly 40% of its revenue. Yet, the stock slipped more than 4% during the session. This came after a roughly 15% surge on Tuesday, following Corning’s announcement of a multiyear deal with Meta Platforms worth up to $6 billion. Morningstar analyst William Kerwin noted the strong forecast was “probably baked in after yesterday’s announcement.” (Reuters)
Corning reported a 14% increase in fourth-quarter core sales, reaching $4.41 billion, with core earnings per share jumping 26% to $0.72. For the full year 2025, core sales climbed 13% to $16.41 billion. The company forecasted first-quarter core sales between $4.2 billion and $4.3 billion, with core EPS projected at $0.66 to $0.70. “Core” reflects Corning’s adjusted figures excluding items they say skew true demand. CEO Wendell Weeks described the current stage as “a highly profitable launch point for future growth.” CFO Ed Schlesinger added that Corning is stepping into 2026 with “exciting momentum.” ([Corning Investor Relations][2])
The Meta contract remains the short-term focus for investors. Corning and Meta revealed a multiyear deal valued at up to $6 billion. Corning will provide optical fiber, cable, and connectivity products, while boosting capacity in North Carolina—most notably at its Hickory optical cable plant, where Meta will serve as the anchor customer. Joel Kaplan from Meta commented, “Building the most advanced data centers in the U.S. requires world-class partners and American manufacturing.” (Corning)
Traders want one thing right now: timing. How fast will those Meta orders boost Corning’s optical revenue? And as Corning scales up production, how much extra manufacturing cost will show up first?
Meta’s earnings release after the bell sharpened focus on that issue. The company expects capital expenditures—including finance leases—to hit between $115 billion and $135 billion in 2026. It also forecast total expenses for the full year of 2026 at $162 billion to $169 billion, highlighting infrastructure costs as a major factor. ([Meta Investor][4])
The downside is easy to outline. If major clients delay deployments, reorder spending priorities, or push suppliers on pricing as new capacity hits the market, Corning’s optical growth could falter fast. Meanwhile, other segments would still track consumer electronics and display cycle trends.
Investors will be closely tracking Corning’s optical order book in the coming week, looking for clearer signals. Attention will also fall on progress at its North Carolina facility. Meanwhile, all eyes remain on whether the stock’s AI-driven premium can withstand a turbulent couple of days.
Thursday’s U.S. session (Jan. 29) will put traders to the test: they’ll balance Meta’s spending forecast against Corning’s guidance to gauge if Wednesday’s dip was just a breather or the beginning of a bigger selloff.
[2]: https://investor.corning.com/news-and-events/news/news-details/2026/Corning-Announces-Outstanding-2025-Financial-Results-1–Upgrades-Springboard-Plan-for-Faster-Sales-Growth-on-Significantly-Enhanced-Financial-Profile/default.aspx “
Corning Incorporated – Corning Announces Outstanding 2025 Financial Results (1) – Upgrades Springboard Plan for Faster Sales Growth on Significantly Enhanced Financial Profile
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[4]: https://investor.atmeta.com/investor-news/press-release-details/2026/Meta-Reports-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-2025-Results/default.aspx “
Meta – Meta Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results
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