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Can Corning (GLW) Pull Off an Earnings Surprise in Q1?
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Corning Inc (GLW - Free Report) is set to report first-quarter 2017 results on Apr 25. Notably, the company has positive record of earnings surprises in all of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 9.95%.
In the last quarter, Corning reported a positive earnings surprise of 13.64%. Earnings of 50 cents per share surged 47.1% on a year-over-year basis and 19% sequentially in the reported quarter.
Adjusted revenues increased 6.2% year over year to $2.55 billion, which comfortably surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.48 billion. Revenues remained flat on a sequential basis.
Corning’s first-quarter 2017 guidance is fairly good. Management expects year-over-year growth in revenues, net income and earnings per share (EPS). Glass volume is expected to increase by mid-teen percentage on a year-over-year basis and decline by mid-single digit percentage sequentially. Optical Communications sales are anticipated to increase at least 25% from the year-ago quarter.
Environmental Technologies sales are expected to be flat-to down slightly on a year-over-year basis, while Specialty Materials sales are anticipated to rise by a high-teen percentage range. The Life Sciences business will grow low-single digit percentage from the year-ago quarter.
Based on the quarterly EPS beat and positive guidance, shares have outperformed the Zacks Communications Components industry. While the industry gained 8.1%, the stock increased 11.7%.
Factors at Play
We believe that strength in the optical communications segment and stability in the display technologies segment are key catalysts. We note that 90% of the 2017 glass volume in display technologies segment is already under contract, which improves revenue stability.
LCD glass price is also expected to decline at a rate similar to the year-ago comparable quarter. The anticipated moderate decline in price is positive in our view.
Meanwhile, optical communications segment sales are expected to grow more rapidly owing to strong demand for fiber products, both from the North American network providers and hyperscale data centers.
The recently announced deal with Verizon (VZ - Free Report) reflects the strength in fiber demand, as U.S.-based service providers overhaul networks to improve 4G coverage and speed-up 5G deployments.
Moreover, improving manufacturing processes are expected to drive profitability in the optical communications segment.
The specialty materials segment is expected to continue to gain from growing adoption of Gorilla Glass 5 and Gorilla Glass SR+. However, weakness in the environmental technologies segment and sluggish growth in the life sciences business remains a concern.
Earnings Whispers
Our proven model does not conclusively show that Corning will beat earnings this quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for this to happen. That is not the case here as you will see below.
Zacks ESP: Both the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate are pegged at 35 cents. Hence, the difference is 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: Corning carries a Zacks Rank #2, which when combined with Earnings ESP of 0.00%, makes surprise prediction difficult.
We caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell-rated stocks) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.
Stocks to Consider
Here are some other companies you may want to consider as our model shows that they have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter:
Motorola Solutions (MSI - Free Report) with an Earnings ESP of +10.00% and a Zacks Rank #2.
More Stock News: 8 Companies Verge on Apple-Like Run
Did you miss Apple's 9X stock explosion after they launched their iPhone in 2007? Now 2017 looks to be a pivotal year to get in on another emerging technology expected to rock the market. Demand could soar from almost nothing to $42 billion by 2025. Reports suggest it could save 10 million lives per decade which could in turn save $200 billion in U.S. healthcare costs.
A bonus Zacks Special Report names this breakthrough and the 8 best stocks to exploit it. Like Apple in 2007, these companies are already strong and coiling for potential mega-gains. Click to see them right now >>
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Can Corning (GLW) Pull Off an Earnings Surprise in Q1?
Corning Inc (GLW - Free Report) is set to report first-quarter 2017 results on Apr 25. Notably, the company has positive record of earnings surprises in all of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 9.95%.
In the last quarter, Corning reported a positive earnings surprise of 13.64%. Earnings of 50 cents per share surged 47.1% on a year-over-year basis and 19% sequentially in the reported quarter.
Adjusted revenues increased 6.2% year over year to $2.55 billion, which comfortably surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.48 billion. Revenues remained flat on a sequential basis.
Corning Incorporated Price and EPS Surprise
Corning Incorporated Price and EPS Surprise | Corning Incorporated Quote
Corning’s first-quarter 2017 guidance is fairly good. Management expects year-over-year growth in revenues, net income and earnings per share (EPS). Glass volume is expected to increase by mid-teen percentage on a year-over-year basis and decline by mid-single digit percentage sequentially. Optical Communications sales are anticipated to increase at least 25% from the year-ago quarter.
Environmental Technologies sales are expected to be flat-to down slightly on a year-over-year basis, while Specialty Materials sales are anticipated to rise by a high-teen percentage range. The Life Sciences business will grow low-single digit percentage from the year-ago quarter.
Based on the quarterly EPS beat and positive guidance, shares have outperformed the Zacks Communications Components industry. While the industry gained 8.1%, the stock increased 11.7%.
Factors at Play
We believe that strength in the optical communications segment and stability in the display technologies segment are key catalysts. We note that 90% of the 2017 glass volume in display technologies segment is already under contract, which improves revenue stability.
LCD glass price is also expected to decline at a rate similar to the year-ago comparable quarter. The anticipated moderate decline in price is positive in our view.
Meanwhile, optical communications segment sales are expected to grow more rapidly owing to strong demand for fiber products, both from the North American network providers and hyperscale data centers.
The recently announced deal with Verizon (VZ - Free Report) reflects the strength in fiber demand, as U.S.-based service providers overhaul networks to improve 4G coverage and speed-up 5G deployments.
Moreover, improving manufacturing processes are expected to drive profitability in the optical communications segment.
The specialty materials segment is expected to continue to gain from growing adoption of Gorilla Glass 5 and Gorilla Glass SR+. However, weakness in the environmental technologies segment and sluggish growth in the life sciences business remains a concern.
Earnings Whispers
Our proven model does not conclusively show that Corning will beat earnings this quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for this to happen. That is not the case here as you will see below.
Zacks ESP: Both the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate are pegged at 35 cents. Hence, the difference is 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: Corning carries a Zacks Rank #2, which when combined with Earnings ESP of 0.00%, makes surprise prediction difficult.
We caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell-rated stocks) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.
Stocks to Consider
Here are some other companies you may want to consider as our model shows that they have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter:
Teradyne (TER - Free Report) with an Earnings ESP of +2.63% and a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Motorola Solutions (MSI - Free Report) with an Earnings ESP of +10.00% and a Zacks Rank #2.
More Stock News: 8 Companies Verge on Apple-Like Run
Did you miss Apple's 9X stock explosion after they launched their iPhone in 2007? Now 2017 looks to be a pivotal year to get in on another emerging technology expected to rock the market. Demand could soar from almost nothing to $42 billion by 2025. Reports suggest it could save 10 million lives per decade which could in turn save $200 billion in U.S. healthcare costs.
A bonus Zacks Special Report names this breakthrough and the 8 best stocks to exploit it. Like Apple in 2007, these companies are already strong and coiling for potential mega-gains. Click to see them right now >>