Corning (NYSE: GLW) Upgraded to Buy by Truist Financial on Strong AI Growth Potential

• Truist Financial upgraded Corning (NYSE: GLW) to a Buy rating with a price target of $175.00, indicating a potential 26.58% upside.
• The upgrade is backed by strong Q2 2026 financial performance, including $4.74 billion in core revenues (up 17%) and $0.78 core EPS (up 30%), fueled by its strategic shift to AI infrastructure.
• Corning has secured significant partnerships with tech giants like Meta Platforms, Amazon, Apple, and Nvidia, positioning it for projected revenue doubling by 2030, though it faces a high valuation of 46.6 times future earnings.

On August 2, 2026, Truist Financial upgraded Corning to a Buy rating, setting a price target of $175.00. Corning, a leading materials science company known for its Gorilla Glass, is strategically shifting to supply the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure sector. The new price target represents a potential 26.58% upside from the stock's price of $138.25 at the time.

This positive investment outlook is supported by Corning's strong financial performance. The company reported better-than-expected second-quarter 2026 results, with core revenues reaching $4.74 billion, a 17% increase from the previous year. Core earnings per share (EPS), which measures profitability per share of stock, also rose by 30% to $0.78, while operating cash flow improved to $1.72 billion.

The upgrade reflects Corning's growing role in AI data centers, which is driving robust demand for its advanced optical products. Sales in its Enterprise Networks division have surged by 65%, and sales of its GenAI products have nearly doubled. The company has secured a multiyear agreement with Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) worth up to $6 billion and similar long-term deals with Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN).

As highlighted by Benzinga, Corning has also landed strategic partnerships with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA) within six months. This significant momentum is part of a broader strategy that includes a tenfold expansion of its U.S. optical capacity. The company projects that these developments could help its revenue double by 2030, reinforcing its position in the AI market.

Despite the positive news and strong growth prospects, the stock trades at a high valuation of 46.6 times its expected future earnings, suggesting high investor expectations. This leaves little room for mistakes as Corning expands its operations. For example, its solar segment reported a $7 million loss related to $30 million in costs for increasing production capacity.