Corning (GLW Quick QuoteGLW - Free Report) reported $5.08 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 18.9%. EPS of $0.91 for the same period compares to $0.67 a year ago.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of +1.04% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.03 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.89, the EPS surprise was +2.25%.

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- Automotive: $470 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $471.96 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +3.5%.
• Net Sales- Solar: $436 million compared to the $460.21 million average estimate based on three analysts.
• Net Sales- Life Sciences and Emerging Growth Businesses: $290 million compared to the $303.93 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +19.8% year over year.
• Net Sales- Optical Communications: $2.38 billion versus $2.25 billion estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +44% change.
• Net Sales- Glass Innovations: $1.51 billion compared to the $1.51 billion average estimate based on two analysts.
• Segment Net Income- Automotive: $67 million compared to the $82.21 million average estimate based on two analysts.
• Segment Net income- Glass Innovations: $328 million compared to the $340.31 million average estimate based on two analysts.
• Segment Net Income- Life Sciences and Emerging Growth Businesses: $-28 million versus $-21.68 million estimated by two analysts on average.
• Segment Net Income- Optical Communications: $532 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $480.07 million.
• Segment Net income- Solar: $-7 million versus $28.82 million estimated by two analysts on average.

View all Key Company Metrics for Corning here>>>

Shares of Corning have returned -15.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.8% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.