Pomerantz LLP is investigating potential securities fraud claims against Corning Incorporated following the company's announcement of a $2 billion at-the-market equity offering on September 11, 2026. Corning's stock price declined $22.80 per share (13.7%) to $143.60 on September 14, 2026, following the announcement.

Corning (GLW) has gained 2.6% over the past four weeks and trades at $147.28. Wall Street analysts have a mean price target of $185.75, suggesting a potential 26.1% upside. The stock holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) rating, supported by positive earnings estimate revisions, though the article cautions that price targets alone should not be the sole basis for investment decisions.

The article compares two industrial stocks: Caterpillar, a construction and mining equipment titan with record backlog and growing dividends, versus Corning, a materials science leader benefiting from AI data center demand. While Caterpillar offers proven industrial exposure with reliable income, Corning's optical communications business is growing over 30% year-over-year with ambitious revenue targets of $20B by end-2026, $30B by 2028, and $40B by 2030. The author recommends Corning for patient investors seeking exposure to AI infrastructure growth.

Corning Incorporated (GLW) is featured as a #2 (Buy) ranked stock with a VGM Score of B and a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting 30.2% year-over-year earnings growth for the current fiscal year. Three analysts revised earnings estimates upward in the last 60 days, with the consensus estimate increasing to $3.28 per share for fiscal 2026.

Ciena Corporation is expanding its optical networking market presence through a deployment with Openreach in the U.K., utilizing its WaveServer platform and WaveLogic 6 technology to deliver high-capacity 800G services. The company benefits from growing demand driven by AI, cloud adoption, and subsea traffic, though it faces competitive pressure from Corning and Nokia.

Corning stock has surged 82% in 2026, outpacing Nvidia's 28% gain, driven by strong demand for its fiber-optic data center cables used in AI infrastructure. The 175-year-old glassmaker is capitalizing on the shift from copper to fiber-optic cables in data centers, with major deals from Meta ($6B) and Amazon. Corning's optical communications segment grew 34% in the first half of 2026, with AI-related sales nearly doubling in Q2. Management projects revenue growth to $20B by end of 2026, $30B by 2028, and $40B by 2030, though the stock trades at a P/E of 55.5, making it expensive compared to Nvidia's 30.2.

Corning (GLW) has gained 93% year-to-date, driven by strong AI infrastructure demand in its Optical Communications segment, which saw 32% sales growth. The company secured multiyear agreements with Meta, NVIDIA, Amazon, and Verizon, providing visibility into future demand. Solar sales surged 90%, though profitability remains challenged. Q3 guidance projects 16% sales growth and 28% EPS growth, with improving Solar profitability expected.

AT&T has agreed to form a new U.S. fiber joint venture with Global Infrastructure Partners and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, combining its Forged Fiber 37 subsidiary with Gigapower. AT&T will own 50% of the venture, which aims to expand open-access fiber across 16 states and support the company's goal of reaching over 60 million fiber locations by 2030. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2027.

Viavi Solutions (VIAV) has surged 268.5% over the past year, significantly outperforming its industry peers. The company's growth is driven by strong AI data-center demand, improved profitability with non-GAAP operating margins expanding 630 basis points to 20.6%, and the Spirent acquisition which enhanced testing capabilities. For fiscal Q1, management projects revenues of $450M-$460M and non-GAAP EPS of 40-42 cents, indicating continued momentum.

Three AI data center infrastructure companies—Caterpillar, Corning, and Jabil—are positioned for strong fourth-quarter 2026 performance despite recent negative returns. Caterpillar is expanding power generation capacity for AI data centers with expected mid-to-high teens revenue growth. Corning is capitalizing on accelerating AI infrastructure demand with optical connectivity solutions and $20B sales target by end of 2026. Jabil expects AI revenues to reach $22.1B in fiscal 2027, representing 54% annual growth, with six customers each generating over $1B.

Amphenol, a maker of connectors and cables for AI infrastructure, is trading near all-time highs with strong fundamentals. Despite a 311.6% three-year gain, the company's Q2 results show 55% sales growth, 67% EPS growth, and a healthy book-to-bill ratio of 1.23, suggesting continued momentum. While the stock has underperformed peers this year, recent quarterly trends favor Amphenol, and analysts suggest the next leg of growth may still be ahead.

The global continuous bioprocessing technologies market is projected to grow from USD 4.8 billion in 2026 to USD 8.5 billion by 2031, driven by rising biologics demand, regulatory support, and the biopharmaceutical industry's shift from batch to continuous production. Key growth drivers include cost efficiency, improved quality, and faster time to market, though high capital investment and technical complexity remain challenges.