Corning (GLW) Hits Record High on AI Fiber-Optic Demand

Corning Inc. (GLW) shares surged to a record high on February 20, 2026, driven by artificial intelligence infrastructure demand. The stock climbed over 6%, marking it the top performer in the S&P 500, as data center expansion boosted fiber-optic cable sales. The stock surpassed $140, bringing year-to-date gains to nearly 60%. This rally follows a $6 billion supply agreement with Meta (META) announced in January 2026. Hyperscalers, including Microsoft (MSFT) and Amazon (AMZN), are projected to spend over $600 billion on AI infrastructure this year. Corning last peaked in 2000 during the dot-com boom.