Analyst Ratings January 27, 2026

Mizuho Affirms Outperform on Corning After Multiyear Meta Fiber Agreement

Analysts highlight a sizeable supply pact with Meta and recent quarterly beats as central to Corning's optical segment momentum

By Maya Rios GLW
Mizuho Affirms Outperform on Corning After Multiyear Meta Fiber Agreement
GLW

Mizuho has maintained an Outperform rating and a $97.00 price target for Corning (NYSE:GLW) following the company's announcement of a multiyear fiber-optic supply agreement with Meta. The contract, disclosed by Corning as potentially worth up to $6 billion and possibly spread over five years, joins strong third-quarter results and fresh analyst support from UBS, reinforcing the company's positioning in data center-related optical infrastructure.

Key Points

  • Mizuho reaffirmed an Outperform rating and a $97.00 price target on Corning following the company's announced fiber-optic agreement with Meta.
  • Corning disclosed a multiyear contract with Meta that could be worth up to $6 billion and may be spread over the next five years, coinciding with strong Q3 2025 financial results.
  • UBS raised its price target to $109 and projects Optical segment sales growth of 9% in 2026 and 16% in 2027, reflecting increased demand from data center expansion.

Mizuho on Monday reiterated an Outperform rating for Corning (NYSE:GLW) and left its price target at $97.00 in the wake of Corning's disclosure of a fiber-optic arrangement with Meta. The stock, trading around $110 at the time of the update, has posted a 95.35% total return over the past 12 months according to InvestingPro data.

Corning described the agreement as a multiyear contract that could be worth as much as $6 billion, with work potentially distributed across the next five years. The company noted the deal in its filings, identifying the arrangement as a significant commercial opportunity for Corning's glass and ceramics technologies.

Mizuho's note on the announcement observed that the Meta contract does not appear to be structured as a bare fiber expansion, although the initial disclosure provided only limited technical detail on the exact nature of the fiber-optic supply and connectivity work. Given Corning's earnings release and guidance update scheduled for the following day, Mizuho indicated it does not expect the firm to disclose additional specifics about the Meta agreement ahead of the earnings call.

The potential Meta business complements Corning's existing telecommunications infrastructure customer base at a time when demand for advanced fiber-optic solutions has increased across the technology sector. Corning reported robust revenue performance recently, and the Meta deal could further support the company's optical segment growth.

In related company developments, Corning released third-quarter 2025 results that slightly topped consensus estimates. GAAP earnings per share were $0.67, compared with Wall Street's forecast of $0.66, while revenue came in at $4.27 billion versus an anticipated $4.24 billion. The company highlighted the multiyear agreement with Meta Platforms, valuing the deal at up to $6 billion to supply optical fiber and connectivity solutions for Meta's U.S. data centers.

As part of the arrangement, Corning will expand manufacturing capabilities in North Carolina, with Meta serving as the anchor customer for that capacity. The expansion was presented as part of Corning's broader effort to scale production to meet increasing demand from data center operators and other telecommunications infrastructure customers.

UBS has separately adjusted its outlook on Corning, raising its price target to $109 from $100 and maintaining a Buy rating. UBS cited strong growth in Corning's optical segment driven by data center expansion, and the firm projects a 9% increase in Optical segment sales in 2026 and a 16% rise in 2027. Together, the recent results, the Meta agreement and UBS's revised estimates underscore Corning's strategic position in the fiber-optic market amid continuing demand for data center infrastructure.

Risks

  • Limited public detail about the technical structure of the Meta agreement - the announcement did not clearly specify whether it included bare fiber expansion, creating uncertainty about scope and margin implications.
  • Timing of additional disclosures - Mizuho does not expect more information on the Meta deal prior to Corning's scheduled earnings call, which could delay clarity for investors.
  • Execution and manufacturing scale-up risk tied to Corning's planned expansion in North Carolina, where delays or cost pressures could affect the realization of the projected optical segment growth.

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