Corning shares declined in premarket Tuesday, after it slashed third quarter guidance for its display and optical communications segments. But some of the downside in the shares was potentially arrested by Apple's announcement of granting $250 million to the maker of specialty glass and advanced optics.
Corning is now expecting a reduction of between -3% and -5% of revenue in its optical communications segment, compared with its previous forecast of a low-to-mid-single digit percentage increase. Analysts polled by FactSet were forecasting a +4.3% increase.
According to Corning's latest prediction, its third-quarter display technologies prices would be flat sequentially, and its full-year glass prices would decline by a low-to-mid-single-digit percentage. Analysts expected that segment to increase 2.1%.
But what probably mitigated some of Tuesday’s headwinds to Corning’s stock was an announcement from Apple – which uses Corning’s glass for its iPhones and smartwatches. On Tuesday, Apple posted on its website that it is awarding $250 million from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund to Corning towards supporting Corning’s research and development into state-of-the-art glass processes, equipment and materials to be incorporated in next-generation consumer devices.