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Unpacking Q4 Earnings: Corning (NYSE:GLW) In The Context Of Other Electronic Components Stocks

GLW Cover Image

Looking back on electronic components stocks’ Q4 earnings, we examine this quarter’s best and worst performers, including Corning (NYSE:GLW) and its peers.

Like many equipment and component manufacturers, electronic components companies are buoyed by secular trends such as connectivity and industrial automation. More specific pockets of strong demand include data centers and telecommunications, which can benefit companies whose optical and transceiver offerings fit those markets. But like the broader industrials sector, these companies are also at the whim of economic cycles. Consumer spending, for example, can greatly impact these companies’ volumes.

The 10 electronic components stocks we track reported a mixed Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 3.1% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 0.6% above.

While some electronic components stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 3.8% since the latest earnings results.

Corning (NYSE:GLW)

Supplying windows for some of the United States’s earliest spacecraft, Corning (NYSE:GLW) provides glass and other electronic components for the consumer electronics, telecommunications, automotive, and healthcare industries.

Corning reported revenues of $3.87 billion, up 29.4% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 3%. Overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ Optical Communications revenue estimates and EPS guidance for next quarter topping analysts’ expectations.

Corning Total Revenue

Corning pulled off the fastest revenue growth of the whole group. Investor expectations, however, were likely higher than Wall Street’s published projections, leaving some wishing for even better results (analysts’ consensus estimates are those published by big banks and advisory firms, not the investors who make buy and sell decisions). The stock is down 8% since reporting and currently trades at $47.21.

Is now the time to buy Corning? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q4: Advanced Energy (NASDAQ:AEIS)

Pioneering technologies for radio frequency power delivery, Advanced Energy (NASDAQ:AEIS) provides power supplies, thermal management systems, and measurement and control instruments for various manufacturing processes.

Advanced Energy reported revenues of $415.4 million, up 2.5% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 5.5%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Advanced Energy Total Revenue

Although it had a fine quarter compared to its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 4.7% since reporting. It currently trades at $105.95.

Is now the time to buy Advanced Energy? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Slowest Q4: Vishay Precision (NYSE:VPG)

Emerging from Vishay Intertechnology in 2010, Vishay Precision (NYSE:VPG) operates as a global provider of precision measurement and sensing technologies.

Vishay Precision reported revenues of $72.65 million, down 18.8% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1.3%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA and EPS estimates.

Vishay Precision delivered the slowest revenue growth in the group. The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $23.99.

Read our full analysis of Vishay Precision’s results here.

nLIGHT (NASDAQ:LASR)

Founded by a former CEO and Harvard-educated entrepreneur Scott Keeneyn, nLIGHT (NASDAQ:LASR) offers semiconductor and fiber lasers to the industrial, aerospace & defense, and medical sectors.

nLIGHT reported revenues of $47.38 million, down 8.7% year on year. This number missed analysts’ expectations by 3.7%. It was a slower quarter as it also logged a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA and EPS estimates.

nLIGHT had the weakest performance against analyst estimates among its peers. The stock is up 1.5% since reporting and currently trades at $9.21.

Read our full, actionable report on nLIGHT here, it’s free.

Bel Fuse (NASDAQ:BELFA)

Founded by 26-year-old Elliot Bernstein during the electronics boom after WW2, Bel Fuse (NASDAQ:BELF.A) provides electronic systems and devices to the telecommunications, networking, transportation, and industrial sectors.

Bel Fuse reported revenues of $149.9 million, up 7% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 18.6%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also recorded a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and revenue guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations.

Bel Fuse delivered the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is down 10.2% since reporting and currently trades at $74.68.

Read our full, actionable report on Bel Fuse here, it’s free.


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