Corning Inc Stock Closed Up by 4.21% on Feb 24: Key Drivers Unveiled

Corning Incorporated (GLW) experienced significant intraday upward volatility on February 24, 2026, primarily driven by a combination of a major strategic agreement, robust financial performance, bullish analyst revisions, and shifting market sentiment.

A key catalyst was the formalization of a multi-year agreement with Meta Platforms, valued at up to $6 billion, to supply optical fiber and connectivity solutions for Meta's advanced AI data centers in the United States. This deal reinforces Corning's pivotal role as a critical infrastructure provider for the expanding artificial intelligence ecosystem.

The company's strong financial results for the fourth quarter of 2025 also contributed to the positive momentum. Corning reported core earnings per share and revenue that surpassed analyst expectations. Management highlighted the success of its "Springboard" strategic plan, which focuses on high-density optical fiber solutions for AI data centers, achieving its 20% operating margin target a full year ahead of schedule. The company further upgraded its sales growth targets for the Springboard plan, signaling accelerated growth in the AI infrastructure build-out.

Furthermore, several investment banks recently issued bullish analyst upgrades and raised price targets for GLW. Firms such as UBS, Morgan Stanley, Mizuho, Susquehanna, and Citigroup reiterated "Buy" or "Outperform" ratings and significantly increased their price targets in late January and February 2026. This reflects a marked shift in investor and analyst sentiment, which now views Corning as a vital enabler of the generative AI economy rather than solely a cyclical glass manufacturer. This re-rating was further supported by unusually large volumes of call options purchased on the trading day, indicating strong bullish positioning among investors.

Technically, Corning Inc (GLW) shows a MACD (12,26,9) value of [9.99], indicating a buy signal. The RSI at 77.87 suggests buy condition and the Williams %R at -8.01 suggests oversold condition. Please monitor closely.

Corning Inc (GLW) is in the Technology Equipment industry. Its latest annual revenue is 15.63B, ranking 7 in the industry. The net profit is 1.60B, ranking 3 in the industry. Company Profile

Over the past month, multiple analysts have rated the company as BUY, with an average price target of 122.45, a high of 160.00, and a low of 91.00.

Company Specific Risks:

• Significant insider selling activity in recent months, totaling approximately $54 million, could indicate a potential lack of confidence from company executives despite positive market sentiment and recent strong financial results.
• The Display Technologies segment continues to experience persistent weakness due to lower panel manufacturer utilization rates, declining glass volume, and pricing pressures, which could impact overall revenue and profitability despite strength in other areas.
• Corning faces execution risks and potential limitations on capitalizing on demand due to ongoing supply constraints and timing issues, particularly in its optical communications segment, which could hinder revenue growth and pressure margins.
• The company's substantial exposure to the Chinese display market and the cyclical nature of its consumer electronics and automotive segments present vulnerabilities to geopolitical tensions and global macroeconomic fluctuations.