Topic: How To Invest

Hi Pat: What is your view on Corning? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Corning Inc., $12.39, symbol GLW on New York (Shares outstanding: 1.5 billion; Market cap: $18.6 billion; www.corning.com), began making glass products in 1851. The company has a long history of innovation, including making glass bulbs for Thomas Edison’s first electric lights in 1879. In 1947, Corning became the first company to mass produce cathode-ray tubes for TV sets. Today, the company makes advanced materials for a wide range of products at 80 plants in 13 countries. It gets about 60% of its sales from Asia. Corning has five divisions: Display Technologies, which accounted for 40% of the company’s 2011 sales, makes liquid crystal display (LCD) glass panels for computer monitors and TV sets. Corning has developed a manufacturing process that improves the quality of larger panels. Telecommunications (26% of 2011 sales) makes fibre optic cables and related equipment for telephone and cable companies. Specialty Materials (14% of sales) makes a wide variety of chemically strengthened glass and ceramic materials. Manufacturers use these products to make…