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GLW vs TEL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
GLW vs TEL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Hardware, Equipment & Parts | Hardware, Equipment & Parts |
| Market Cap | $155.97B | $63.43B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $16.32B | $18.52B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.81B | $2.91B |
| Gross Margin | 36.3% | 35.4% |
| Operating Margin | 15.3% | 19.3% |
| Forward P/E | 57.5x | 19.3x |
| Total Debt | $10.22B | $6.55B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.53B | $1.25B |
GLW vs TEL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corning Incorporated (GLW) | 100 | 796.7 | +696.7% |
| TE Connectivity Ltd. (TEL) | 100 | 266.1 | +166.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: GLW vs TEL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
GLW is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 19.1%, EPS growth 219.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 3.3%
- 9.3% 10Y total return vs TEL's 299.1%
- 19.1% revenue growth vs TEL's 7.9%
TEL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 15 yrs, beta 1.58, yield 1.2%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.58, Low D/E 51.5%, current ratio 1.56x
- Beta 1.58, yield 1.2%, current ratio 1.56x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 19.1% revenue growth vs TEL's 7.9% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (19.3x vs 57.5x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 15.7% margin vs GLW's 11.1% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.58 vs GLW's 1.90, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 1.2% yield, 15-year raise streak, vs GLW's 0.6% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +308.2% vs TEL's +47.5% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 11.5% ROA vs GLW's 6.0%, ROIC 14.1% vs 9.1% |
GLW vs TEL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
GLW vs TEL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TEL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TEL and GLW operate at a comparable scale, with $18.5B and $16.3B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 15.7% (TEL) to 11.1% (GLW). On growth, GLW holds the edge at +20.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $16.3B | $18.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3.5B | $4.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.8B | $2.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.5B | $3.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +36.3% | +35.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.3% | +19.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.1% | +15.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +9.2% | +18.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +20.0% | +14.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +138.9% | +66.0% |
Valuation Metrics
TEL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 35.1x trailing earnings, TEL trades at a 64% valuation discount to GLW's 98.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, TEL's 17.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GLW's 44.8x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $156.0B | $63.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $164.7B | $68.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 98.15x | 35.09x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 57.53x | 19.28x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 3.51x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 44.77x | 16.97x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 9.98x | 3.71x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 12.69x | 5.08x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 110.38x | 19.80x |
Profitability & Efficiency
TEL leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
TEL delivers a 22.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $22 in annual profit, vs $15 for GLW. TEL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.51x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to GLW's 0.83x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GLW scores 7/9 vs TEL's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +15.0% | +22.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.0% | +11.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.1% | +14.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.7% | +16.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.83x | 0.51x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $8.7B | $5.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.5B | $1.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $10.2B | $6.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 7.90x | 31.48x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
GLW leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in GLW five years ago would be worth $40,948 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $16,812 for TEL. Over the past 12 months, GLW leads with a +308.2% total return vs TEL's +47.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GLW at 80.5% vs TEL's 22.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +100.6% | -7.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +308.2% | +47.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +487.6% | +82.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +309.5% | +68.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +934.0% | +299.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +80.5% | +22.2% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — GLW and TEL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
TEL is the less volatile stock with a 1.58 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than GLW's 1.90 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. GLW currently trades 92.7% from its 52-week high vs TEL's 85.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.90x | 1.58x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $195.81 | $252.56 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $44.33 | $147.75 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +92.7% | +85.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 53.3 | 41.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 11.0M | 2.3M |
Analyst Outlook
TEL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GLW as "Buy" and TEL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 21.5% upside for TEL (target: $263) vs -21.2% for GLW (target: $143). For income investors, TEL offers the higher dividend yield at 1.24% vs GLW's 0.64%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $143.11 | $262.57 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 37 | 29 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.6% | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 15 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.16 | $2.69 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.1% | +2.1% |
TEL leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). GLW leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
GLW vs TEL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GLW or TEL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Corning Incorporated (GLW) is the stronger pick with 19.
1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 9% for TE Connectivity Ltd. (TEL). TE Connectivity Ltd. (TEL) offers the better valuation at 35. 1x trailing P/E (19. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Corning Incorporated (GLW) a "Buy" — based on 37 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — GLW or TEL?
On trailing P/E, TE Connectivity Ltd.
(TEL) is the cheapest at 35. 1x versus Corning Incorporated at 98. 1x. On forward P/E, TE Connectivity Ltd. is actually cheaper at 19. 3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — GLW or TEL?
Over the past 5 years, Corning Incorporated (GLW) delivered a total return of +309.
5%, compared to +68. 1% for TE Connectivity Ltd. (TEL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GLW returned +934. 0% versus TEL's +299. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — GLW or TEL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), TE Connectivity Ltd.
(TEL) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 58β versus Corning Incorporated's 1. 90β — meaning GLW is approximately 20% more volatile than TEL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, TE Connectivity Ltd. (TEL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 51% versus 83% for Corning Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — GLW or TEL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Corning Incorporated (GLW) is pulling ahead at 19.
1% versus 7. 9% for TE Connectivity Ltd. (TEL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Corning Incorporated grew EPS 219. 0% year-over-year, compared to -40. 4% for TE Connectivity Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GLW leads at 3. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — GLW or TEL?
TE Connectivity Ltd.
(TEL) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 8% net margin versus 10. 2% for Corning Incorporated — meaning it keeps 10. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TEL leads at 18. 8% versus 14. 9% for GLW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GLW leads at 35. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is GLW or TEL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, TE Connectivity Ltd.
(TEL) trades at 19. 3x forward P/E versus 57. 5x for Corning Incorporated — 38. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TEL: 21. 5% to $262. 57.
08Which pays a better dividend — GLW or TEL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
TE Connectivity Ltd. (TEL) offers the highest yield at 1. 2%, versus 0. 6% for Corning Incorporated (GLW).
09Is GLW or TEL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Corning Incorporated (GLW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0.
6% yield, +934. 0% 10Y return). TE Connectivity Ltd. (TEL) carries a higher beta of 1. 58 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (GLW: +934. 0%, TEL: +299. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between GLW and TEL?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: GLW is a mid-cap high-growth stock; TEL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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