Corning (GLW Quick QuoteGLW - Free Report) reported $4.35 billion in revenue for the quarter ended March 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 18.1%. EPS of $0.70 for the same period compares to $0.54 a year ago.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of +1.78% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.27 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.70, the EPS surprise was +0.58%.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Corning performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Net Sales- Optical Communications: $1.85 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $1.71 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +36.2%.
• Net Sales- Automotive: $437 million compared to the $444.24 million average estimate based on three analysts.
• Segment Net Income- Optical Communications: $387 million versus $250.57 million estimated by two analysts on average.
• Segment Net Income- Automotive: $70 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $70.34 million.

View all Key Company Metrics for Corning here>>>

Shares of Corning have returned +30.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +12.8% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.