GLW vs VIAV Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
Corning and Viavi Solutions both benefit from fiber network infrastructure investment but at different points in the value chain. Corning manufactures the fiber and cable; Viavi makes the test equipment used to deploy and verify fiber networks. Corning has more direct revenue leverage to fiber demand volume; Viavi has a more asset-light model that benefits from the same trend at a higher margin per revenue dollar.
Both companies benefit from fiber buildout, but Corning captures volume and Viavi captures value per unit deployed — Corning is the scale play, Viavi is the precision-tool play on the same secular trend.
VIAV holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. VIAV leads on both 1-year return (+405.03%) and forward P/E (36.84x vs 42.80x for GLW), a relatively favorable combination of momentum and valuation. Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for VIAV (+36.59%) than for GLW (+10.49%).
- →want direct volume exposure to AI data center fiber demand as the dominant manufacturer
- →value Corning's diversification across glass for displays, phones, and semiconductor equipment
- →believe fiber demand will remain elevated for years as AI infrastructure scales
- →are comfortable with capital intensity and display glass cycle volatility
- →want asset-light fiber infrastructure exposure through network test equipment
- →value OSP anti-counterfeiting revenue as a stable non-telecom earnings component
- →prefer higher-margin test equipment over capital-intensive fiber manufacturing
- →are comfortable with telecom capex cycle sensitivity
| Metric | GLW | VIAV |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | 69.7 | 63.3 |
| AI rank | #39 | #85 |
| Latest close | $194.92 | $47.17 |
| 1M return | +10.86% | -4.28% |
| 6M return | +128.19% | +175.20% |
| 1Y return | +286.13% | +405.03% |
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | GLW | VIAV |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $38.61K (+286.1%) started 2025-06-18 | $50.5K (+405.0%) started 2025-06-18 |
| 5Y ago | $62.33K (+523.3%) started 2021-06-21 | $27.55K (+175.5%) started 2021-06-18 |
| 10Y ago | $158.57K (+1485.7%) started 2016-06-20 | $66.44K (+564.4%) started 2016-06-20 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | GLW | VIAV |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $154.23B | $11.64B |
| Trailing P/E | 86.15 | N/A |
| Forward P/E | 42.80 | 36.84 |
| Price/Sales | N/A | 8.52 |
| EV/Revenue | 9.98 | 9.05 |
| Analyst target | $198.00 | $64.43 |
| Target upside | +10.49% | +36.59% |
| Metric | GLW | VIAV |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 20.00% | 42.80% |
| Earnings growth | 138.90% | -68.50% |
| EPS growth | +138.90% | -68.50% |
| FCF margin | +3.75% | +12.59% |
| Operating margin | 15.66% | N/A |
| Profit margin | 11.09% | -4.03% |
| ROIC proxy | 16.74% | -7.00% |
| Return on equity | 16.74% | -7.00% |
| Dividend yield | 0.63% | 0.00% |
| Beta | 1.16 | 1.19 |
| Debt/equity | 80.36 | 134.26 |
| Current ratio | 1.61 | 1.61 |
| Quick ratio | 0.75 | 1.30 |
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | GLW | VIAV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +286.06% | +405.03% |
| CAGR | +286.80% | +405.59% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 2.56 | 2.82 | |
| Max drawdown | 23.15% | 21.13% | |
| Max daily drop | 10.18% | 10.62% | |
| Max wkly drop | 18.25% | 17.28% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +453.85% | +175.53% |
| CAGR | +40.90% | +22.47% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.00 | 0.58 | |
| Max drawdown | 34.52% | 62.88% | |
| Max daily drop | 10.18% | 23.20% | |
| Max wkly drop | 18.25% | 30.53% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +1111.74% | +564.37% |
| CAGR | +28.35% | +20.86% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.77 | 0.57 | |
| Max drawdown | 48.80% | 62.88% | |
| Max daily drop | 16.40% | 23.20% | |
| Max wkly drop | 18.25% | 30.53% |
| Category | GLW | VIAV |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Corning Incorporated | Viavi Solutions Inc. |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | N/A | N/A |
| Core business | Corning is the world's largest optical fiber and cable manufacturer, with additional businesses in specialty glass for displays, smartphones, and semiconductor equipment. Its AI data center fiber demand cycle is the primary growth catalyst, driven by hyperscalers deploying dense optical interconnects in large-scale AI GPU clusters. | Viavi Solutions provides network test and measurement equipment for telecommunications networks, optical networks, and government/aerospace applications. Its products help carriers and enterprises test, deploy, and monitor fiber networks — positioning it to benefit from fiber infrastructure build-outs without manufacturing fiber itself. Viavi also has an Optical Security and Performance Products (OSP) segment including security features on currency and consumer authentication products. |
| Investor focus | Investors track Optical Communications revenue and backlog, the Springboard plan $3B+ revenue targets, display glass pricing, and free cash flow generation as fiber demand cycles higher. | Investors track network and service enablement segment revenue tied to carrier and enterprise network spending, OSP revenue from anti-counterfeiting applications, and the company's capital allocation (buybacks vs. debt reduction). |
- →Dominant global optical fiber manufacturing position with AI-driven demand tailwind
- →Gorilla Glass and specialty glass provide diversified materials science revenue
- →Decades of optical fiber R&D creates manufacturing know-how difficult to replicate
- →Fiber network test equipment is essential whenever new fiber is deployed — Viavi benefits from same trends
- →OSP anti-counterfeiting and authentication products provide stable recurring revenue
- →Asset-light model relative to fiber manufacturers provides higher margins on test equipment
- →AI fiber demand may be lumpy following initial hyperscaler buildout surge
- →Display glass cycle creates earnings volatility alongside the secular fiber growth
- →Capital-intensive fiber manufacturing requires large reinvestment from operating cash flow
- →Carrier capital spending on network deployments is cyclical — Viavi revenue follows telecom capex
- →Government/aerospace segment is lumpy due to contract timing
- →Slower revenue growth than fiber manufacturers like Corning during buildout peaks
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