Corning Incorporated GLW recently unveiled EXTREME ULE Glass - a next-generation material that aims to support chip manufacturers in addressing the escalating demand for advanced technologies. This new glass will likely help chipmakers improve photomasks, which are critical for mass-producing sophisticated and cost-efficient microchips.

What GLW’s Launch Brings to the Table

EXTREME ULE is engineered to withstand the most intense conditions of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography particularly high numerical aperture EUV, which is becoming an industry standard. This cutting-edge lithography technique allows for the creation of the most advanced photomasks, essential for producing complex chip designs efficiently. 

Key to the success of this process is the glass’s exceptional thermal stability and uniformity. The thermal expansion characteristics of the glass are expected to deliver remarkable consistency and performance across photomasks. Additionally, its flat and uniform structure is poised to significantly reduce photomask waviness, which will likely help minimize variability for manufacturers and facilitate the application of advanced coatings.

Can GLW Stock Cash in on the Launch?

New York-based Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science, with a 170-year track record of life-changing inventions. Since 1936, it has developed its glass technologies to produce advanced glass substrates that are used in a large number of applications across multiple markets. The company’s fusion technology reduces glass thickness, enabling panel manufacturers to do away with thinning costs that are usually necessary for making slimmer, lighter and more power-efficient consumer devices. 

The launch of EXTREME ULE Glass represents an advancement in Corning’s ULE (Ultra-Low Expansion) glass portfolio, a titania-silicate material known for its near-zero expansion traits that have been used for EUV photomasks and lithography mirrors. Corning aims to use its innovative glass-forming process to decrease both energy consumption and production waste, aligning with its sustainability commitments.

The innovative product is expected to generate incremental demand for Corning’s solutions, leading to higher revenues. An improved financial performance is likely to propel the stock upward.

GLW’s Stock Price Performance

Shares of Corning have gained 49.4% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 82.3%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

GLW’s Zacks Rank and Key Picks

Corning currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). 

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader industry have been discussed below.

Ubiquiti Inc. UI sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. Its highly flexible global business model remains apt to adapt to the changing market dynamics to overcome challenges while maximizing growth. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Its excellent global business model, which is flexible and adaptable to evolving changes in markets, helps it to beat challenges and maximize growth. The company’s effective management of its strong global network of more than 100 distributors and master resellers improved UI’s visibility for future demand and inventory management techniques. In the last reported quarter, Ubiquiti delivered an earnings surprise of 4.19%. 

Workday Inc. WDAY sports a Zacks Rank #1 at present. In the last reported quarter, it delivered an earnings surprise of 7.36%. WDAY is a leading provider of enterprise-level software solutions for financial management and human resource domains. 

Airgain, Inc. AIRG currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 35%.

Based in San Diego, CA, Airgain provides antenna products as integrated wireless solutions. These devices are designed to address vital connectivity requirements during product development and throughout the entire lifecycle of other industries, such as automotive and consumer, in addition to various sectors within an enterprise.