- Corning Inc (NYSE:GLW) reported fourth-quarter FY21 core sales growth of 12% year-on-year to $3.71 billion, above the consensus of $3.59 billion.
- Display Technologies sales grew 12% Y/Y to $942 million due to a favorable glass pricing environment.
- Optical Communications sales rose 24% Y/Y to $1.2 billion as 5G, broadband, and cloud computing continue to drive growth across the segment.
- Specialty Materials sales declined 5% Y/Y to $518 million. Life Sciences sales rose 16% Y/Y to $317 million.
- Environmental Technologies sales declined 21% Y/Y to $353 million, reflecting lower production levels in the automotive industry due to the semiconductor chip shortage.
- Margin: The core gross margin contracted 180 basis points Q/Q to 36.5%. The below-normal automotive production, seasonally lower sales in Specialty Materials, and inflationary headwinds reduced profitability.
- Core EPS of $0.54 beat the consensus of $0.52.
- Corning generated $425 million in free cash flow.
- Outlook: Corning sees Q1 FY22 core sales of $3.5 billion - $3.7 billion, above the consensus of $3.42 billion. It sees core EPS of $0.48 - $0.53 versus the consensus of $0.48.
- Corning sees FY22 sales of $15 billion and profit to grow faster than sales.
- Price action: GLW shares traded higher by 10.3% at $38.95 in the premarket session on the last check Wednesday.
