GLW vs APH Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
Corning and Amphenol are both industrial technology companies benefiting from AI infrastructure buildout, but in different ways. Corning is the dominant optical fiber company seeing unprecedented demand from AI data centers; Amphenol is the diversified connector leader benefiting from AI servers, defense, and automotive across 100+ end markets. Amphenol is the higher-quality compounder; Corning is the more concentrated AI fiber play.
Amphenol's diversification and acquisitive growth model make it the more consistent long-term compounder; Corning offers a more concentrated bet on AI fiber demand with additional exposure to display glass and semiconductor equipment cycles.
APH holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. GLW has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+286.13% vs +76.68%), though APH trades at the lower forward P/E (27.05x vs 42.80x). APH leads on both revenue growth (58.40%) and operating margin (27.30%), suggesting a stronger fundamental setup on both dimensions. Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for APH (+19.17%) than for GLW (+10.49%).
- →want concentrated exposure to AI data center fiber demand through the dominant optical fiber manufacturer
- →value Gorilla Glass's smartphone screen dominance as a durable consumer electronics component
- →believe the Springboard revenue plan will materialize across fiber, semiconductor, and solar glass
- →are comfortable with display glass cycle exposure alongside the AI fiber growth thesis
- →want the most diversified industrial technology connector platform with 100+ end markets
- →value Amphenol's acquisitive growth model consistently adding new product families and markets
- →believe AI server connector demand is one of many durable growth vectors in the portfolio
- →prefer consistent compounding over concentrated sector bets
| Metric | GLW | APH |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | 69.7 | 67.6 |
| AI rank | #39 | #48 |
| Latest close | $194.92 | $163.96 |
| 1M return | +10.86% | +37.55% |
| 6M return | +128.19% | +29.60% |
| 1Y return | +286.13% | +76.68% |
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | GLW | APH |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $38.61K (+286.1%) started 2025-06-18 | $17.54K (+75.4%) started 2025-06-18 |
| 5Y ago | $62.33K (+523.3%) started 2021-06-21 | $52.79K (+427.9%) started 2021-06-21 |
| 10Y ago | $158.57K (+1485.7%) started 2016-06-20 | $133.77K (+1237.7%) started 2016-06-20 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | GLW | APH |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $154.23B | $189.21B |
| Trailing P/E | 86.15 | 44.20 |
| Forward P/E | 42.80 | 27.05 |
| Price/Sales | N/A | 6.73 |
| EV/Revenue | 9.98 | 7.86 |
| Analyst target | $198.00 | $183.28 |
| Target upside | +10.49% | +19.17% |
| Metric | GLW | APH |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 20.00% | 58.40% |
| Earnings growth | 138.90% | 24.10% |
| EPS growth | +138.90% | +24.10% |
| FCF margin | +3.75% | +13.76% |
| Operating margin | 15.66% | 27.30% |
| Profit margin | 11.09% | 17.24% |
| ROIC proxy | 16.74% | 36.83% |
| Return on equity | 16.74% | 36.83% |
| Dividend yield | 0.63% | 0.65% |
| Beta | 1.16 | 1.27 |
| Debt/equity | 80.36 | 133.05 |
| Current ratio | 1.61 | 1.71 |
| Quick ratio | 0.75 | 1.17 |
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | GLW | APH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +286.06% | +75.41% |
| CAGR | +286.80% | +75.56% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 2.56 | 1.46 | |
| Max drawdown | 23.15% | 28.33% | |
| Max daily drop | 10.18% | 12.20% | |
| Max wkly drop | 18.25% | 14.67% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +453.85% | +407.45% |
| CAGR | +40.90% | +38.45% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.00 | 1.07 | |
| Max drawdown | 34.52% | 28.73% | |
| Max daily drop | 10.18% | 12.57% | |
| Max wkly drop | 18.25% | 14.67% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +1111.74% | +1124.75% |
| CAGR | +28.35% | +28.49% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.77 | 0.88 | |
| Max drawdown | 48.80% | 37.56% | |
| Max daily drop | 16.40% | 13.88% | |
| Max wkly drop | 18.25% | 20.93% |
| Category | GLW | APH |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Corning Incorporated | Amphenol Corporation |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | N/A | Electronic Components |
| Core business | Corning is a materials science company best known for Gorilla Glass (phone screens), optical fiber and cable, LCD glass substrates (Display Technologies), and specialty glass for semiconductor equipment. Its Optical Communications segment is benefiting from AI data center fiber demand for high-bandwidth optical interconnects. Corning's Springboard plan targets $3B+ in incremental annual revenue from fiber, semiconductor, and solar glass demand. | Amphenol is one of the world's largest makers of electrical, electronic, and fiber optic connectors, sensors, and cables serving defense, commercial aerospace, automotive, IT infrastructure, mobile networks, and industrial markets. Its connectors are essential components in virtually every electronic system — from fighter jets to smartphones to data center servers. AI server buildouts require specialized high-speed connectors that Amphenol manufactures. |
| Investor focus | Investors track Optical Communications revenue growth driven by AI fiber demand, Display Technologies pricing and volume, and whether the Springboard revenue plan milestones materialize on schedule. | Investors track organic revenue growth by segment, AI/data center connector demand, defense and aerospace order timing, and operating margin sustainability across the highly diversified end market mix. |
- →Dominant optical fiber market position with AI data center build-out driving unprecedented demand
- →Gorilla Glass is the standard specification for premium smartphone screen protection globally
- →Semiconductor equipment glass exposure benefits from long-term chip capacity expansion
- →Extraordinarily diversified end market exposure — no single customer or market creates concentration risk
- →AI data center connections require high-speed, high-density connectors where Amphenol is a tier-1 supplier
- →Acquisitive growth model — Amphenol makes ~10-15 acquisitions annually, consistently expanding its platform
- →Display Technologies revenue is tied to TV and panel pricing cycles which can be volatile
- →Fiber demand from AI data centers may be cyclical following the initial build-out surge
- →Capital-intensive manufacturing requires sustained investment to maintain technology leadership
- →Acquisitive growth strategy requires consistent deal flow and integration execution
- →Military/defense spending timing creates lumpiness in a key high-margin segment
- →Connector market has competition from TE Connectivity, Molex, and Sensata
Want deeper AI forecasts?
This comparison page is public and free forever. Subscribers can unlock saved watchlists, full AI rankings, detailed forecasts, and interactive analysis tools.