Corning reported record fourth-quarter and full-year results for 2025. The company also issued an upbeat outlook for early 2026, crediting its Springboard Plan for boosting margins, cash flow, and incremental sales.
This post covers the main numbers, progress on the Springboard plan, and a strategic collaboration with Meta that’s fueling near-term data-center growth.
Q4 2025 and Full-Year 2025: Record Results
Corning’s core business picked up speed in the fourth quarter and throughout the year. The Springboard initiatives are clearly driving stronger profitability and better cash generation.
The company pointed to double-digit growth in core sales. Earnings are on a solid upward path, supporting a positive long-term outlook.
Q4 2025 Highlights
- Q4 2025 core sales rose 14% year over year to $4.41 billion
- Q4 2025 core EPS grew 26% year over year to $0.72
For the full year, Corning saw steady growth across its core portfolio. This reinforces that the Springboard plan is delivering results.
- Full-year 2025 core sales increased 13% to $16.41 billion
- Full-year 2025 core EPS climbed 29% to $2.52
Management laid out expectations for Q1 2026, aiming for continued momentum in sales and earnings.
They’re forecasting Q1 2026 core sales to rise about 15% year over year, reaching $4.2–$4.3 billion. Core EPS should land in the $0.66–$0.70 range.
Springboard continues to drive margin expansion and stronger cash generation. Adjusted free cash flow looks solid in the near term, which should support future growth opportunities.
Springboard Plan: A Growth Engine for 2026 and Beyond
The Springboard Plan has reshaped Corning’s financial profile since 2023. It’s brought higher profitability and a sturdier operating cash flow foundation.
Now, the company starts 2026 from a much stronger position, thanks to improvements in the balance sheet and earnings mix.
Key Springboard Achievements to Date
- Core operating margin expanded by 390 basis points to 20.2%
- Core return on invested capital (ROIC) improved by 540 basis points to 14.2%
- Adjusted free cash flow nearly doubled to $1.72 billion for full-year 2025
Corning’s operating leverage and disciplined capital allocation have paid off. The company is set up well for the next phase of growth under Springboard.
Updated Targets and Outlook
- Springboard target raised to add $11 billion in incremental annualized sales by the end of 2028 (up from $8 billion)
- Shorter-term plan: $6.5 billion (internal plan) and $5.75 billion (high-confidence plan) in annualized sales by end-2026, up from prior $6 billion and $4 billion
“We are delivering double-digit core sales growth, with EPS expanding roughly twice as fast as revenue and adjusted free cash flow growing about three times as fast in 2025,” said CFO Ed Schlesinger. He emphasized how disciplined execution has accelerated Springboard’s impact.
Strategic Partnership and Data-Center Growth
In a key strategic move, Corning announced a multiyear agreement with Meta worth up to $6 billion. This deal supports development and manufacturing for next-generation U.S. data centers.
The collaboration shows real confidence in Corning’s materials and manufacturing as cloud and edge data-center networks keep expanding. For investors and industry watchers, this move cements Corning as a go-to supplier for fast-growing digital infrastructure.
The upgraded Springboard targets give some concrete milestones for margin and cash flow growth through the decade. With a clearer path to higher annual sales by 2028 and a hefty order book from Meta, Corning looks set to turn that growth into solid profits for 2026 and after.
Here is the source article for this story: Corning reports ‘outstanding’ 2025 results with annual sales up 13% to $16.4 B