Corning Provides Early Update on Third-Quarter Performance

Corning Provides Early Update on Third-Quarter Performance

Corning Provides Early Update on Third-Quarter Performance

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Corning Provides Early Update on Third-Quarter Performance
Corning Provides Early Update on Third-Quarter Performance
CORNING, N.Y. | Corning Incorporated | September 16, 2019

Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) is providing the following updates on the performance of its business segments in the third quarter ending Sept. 30, 2019, reducing expectations for two – Display Technologies and Optical Communications – and maintaining guidance in its other three.

Display Technologies Segment Update
Within Corning’s Display Technologies segment, several panel manufacturing customers have reduced utilization below anticipated levels in the current quarter. Consequently, Corning is reducing its Display volume forecast to a sequential decline of a high-single digit percentage in the third quarter.

For the full year, the company now expects display glass volume to be up slightly and to outperform the overall glass market, driven by the company’s ramp-up of its Gen 10.5 manufacturing capacity.

Corning’s expectations for full-year 2019 glass prices are unchanged. The company continues to expect third-quarter prices to be flat with the second quarter, and full year glass prices to decline at a low-to-mid single digit percentage.

Retail demand continues to track to Corning’s expectations, with TV viewing area growing year-to-date through July. Set makers are purchasing panels more conservatively, apparently due to macro uncertainty, which is driving panel maker utilization reductions. Corning expects this supply chain adjustment to be temporary and panel maker utilization to increase in first-half 2020 over second-half 2019.

Optical Communications Segment Update
Within Corning’s Optical Communications segment, several major carriers are further reducing capital spending on cable deployments and fiber-to-the-home projects. In addition, some enterprise customers have reduced their spending below anticipated levels. Consequently, Corning now expects third-quarter Optical Communications sales to decline year-over-year by a low-teen percentage, versus a prior expectation of a low-single digit percentage decline.  

For the full-year 2019, Corning now forecasts Optical Communications sales will decline by 3% to 5%, versus its prior expectation of a low-to-mid-single digit percentage increase. Corning expects both carrier and enterprise network sales to decline year-over-year in the second half of 2019. 

Capacity and Cost Action
Corning is providing the investment community with this update based on an assessment of current customer and market dynamics. As a result, management is taking actions to lower cost to align with revised sales expectations. These actions include capacity adjustments in Display and Optical Communications, reductions in operating expenses, and pacing of capital projects.

Additional details on second-half performance expectations can be found on the Web Disclosure section of Corning’s Investor Relations website, at https://investor.corning.com/investor-relations/news-and-events/web-disclosures/default.aspx.

Corning intends to formally report results for the third quarter of 2019 on Oct. 29, 2019. It also intends to update its view of the fourth quarter of 2019 on its conference call with the investment community that day.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which are based on current expectations and assumptions about Corning’s financial results and business operations, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include: the effects of acquisitions, dispositions and other similar transactions by the Company, the effect of global business, financial, economic and political conditions; tariffs and import duties; currency fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and other currencies, primarily the Japanese yen, New Taiwan dollar, euro, Chinese yuan, and South Korean won; product demand and industry capacity; competitive products and pricing; availability and costs of critical components and materials; new product development and commercialization; order activity and demand from major customers; the amount and timing of our cash flows and earnings and other conditions, which may affect our ability to pay our quarterly dividend at the planned level or to repurchase shares at planned levels; possible disruption in commercial activities due to terrorist activity, cyber-attack, armed conflict, political or financial instability, natural disasters, or major health concerns; unanticipated disruption to equipment, facilities, IT systems or operations; effect of regulatory and legal developments; ability to pace capital spending to anticipated levels of customer demand; rate of technology change; ability to enforce patents and protect intellectual property and trade secrets; adverse litigation; product and components performance issues; retention of key personnel; customer ability, most notably in the Display Technologies segment, to maintain profitable operations and obtain financing to fund their ongoing operations and manufacturing expansions and pay their receivables when due; loss of significant customers; changes in tax laws and regulations including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017; and the potential impact of legislation, government regulations, and other government action and investigations.

For a complete listing of risks and other factors, please reference the risk factors and forward-looking statements described in our annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the day that they are made, and Corning undertakes no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.

Web Disclosure
In accordance with guidance provided by the SEC regarding the use of company websites and social media channels to disclose material information, Corning Incorporated (“Corning”) wishes to notify investors, media, and other interested parties that it uses its website (http://www.corning.com/worldwide/en/about-us/news-events.html) to publish important information about the company, including information that may be deemed material to investors, or supplemental to information contained in this or other press releases. The list of websites and social media channels that the company uses may be updated on Corning’s media and website from time to time. Corning encourages investors, media, and other interested parties to review the information Corning may publish through its website and social media channels as described above, in addition to the company’s SEC filings, press releases, conference calls, and webcasts.

About Corning Incorporated
Corning (www.corning.com) is one of the world's leading innovators in materials science, with a more than 165-year track record of life-changing inventions. Corning applies its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramic science, and optical physics along with its deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people's lives. Corning succeeds through sustained investment in RD&E, a unique combination of material and process innovation, and deep, trust-based relationships with customers who are global leaders in their industries.

Corning's capabilities are versatile and synergistic, which allows the company to evolve to meet changing market needs, while also helping our customers capture new opportunities in dynamic industries. Today, Corning's markets include optical communications, mobile consumer electronics, display technology, automotive, and life sciences vessels. Corning's industry-leading products include damage-resistant cover glass for mobile devices; precision glass for advanced displays; optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions for state-of-the-art communications networks; trusted products to accelerate drug discovery and delivery; and clean-air technologies for cars and trucks.