GLW vs. WDC: Corning vs. Western Digital Stock Comparison
How do Corning (GLW) and Western Digital (WDC) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Corning (GLW) and Western Digital (WDC) both fall under the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group, but GLW is classified in Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components while WDC is classified in Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals.
| Profile Item | GLW | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Corning Incorporated | Western Digital Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Technology Hardware & Equipment | Technology Hardware & Equipment |
| GICS Industry | Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Electronic Components | Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals |
| Market Capitalization | 190.24 billion USD | 202.14 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | December 31, 1981 | October 31, 1978 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | GLW | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 332.24% | 825.90% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Western Digital (WDC) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.11, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Corning (GLW) is closer to market-like at 1.09 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
Risk Metrics
| Metric | GLW | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 60.00% | 69.99% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.09 | 2.11 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 13.84M | 8.39M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Western Digital (WDC) at 85.92% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Corning (GLW) at 16.74%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
GLW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
16.74%
- Max
- 44.16%
- Q3
- 19.42%
- GLW
- 16.74%
- Median
- 10.99%
- Q1
- 1.30%
- Min
- -25.17%
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
85.92%
- WDC
- 85.92%
- Max
- 44.16%
- Q3
- 19.42%
- Median
- 10.99%
- Q1
- 1.30%
- Min
- -25.17%
Net Margin (TTM)
Western Digital (WDC) at 55.29% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Corning (GLW) at 11.09% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.
GLW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
11.09%
- Max
- 30.43%
- Q3
- 12.35%
- GLW
- 11.09%
- Median
- 4.70%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -14.09%
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
55.29%
- WDC
- 55.29%
- Max
- 30.43%
- Q3
- 12.35%
- Median
- 4.70%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -14.09%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Western Digital (WDC) at 37.01% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Corning (GLW) at 15.66% also operates in the top quartile.
GLW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
15.66%
- Max
- 32.28%
- GLW
- 15.66%
- Q3
- 15.32%
- Median
- 6.62%
- Q1
- 1.88%
- Min
- -18.24%
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
37.01%
- WDC
- 37.01%
- Max
- 32.28%
- Q3
- 15.32%
- Median
- 6.62%
- Q1
- 1.88%
- Min
- -18.24%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | GLW | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 16.74% | 85.92% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.38% | 14.65% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.09% | 55.29% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 15.66% | 37.01% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 36.38% | 45.43% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | GLW | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 19.14% | 50.70% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.27% | -20.28% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | GLW | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 215.52% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.92% | 2.66% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Corning (GLW) at 1.61 and Western Digital (WDC) at 1.49 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
GLW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
1.61
- Max
- 5.80
- Q3
- 3.18
- Median
- 1.90
- GLW
- 1.61
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- 0.51
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
1.49
- Max
- 5.80
- Q3
- 3.18
- Median
- 1.90
- WDC
- 1.49
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- 0.51
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Corning (GLW) at 0.80 and Western Digital (WDC) at 0.18 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
GLW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.80
- Max
- 2.02
- Q3
- 0.89
- GLW
- 0.80
- Median
- 0.31
- Q1
- 0.06
- Min
- 0.00
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.18
- Max
- 2.02
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.31
- WDC
- 0.18
- Q1
- 0.06
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | GLW | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.61 | 1.49 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.80 | 0.18 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.09 | -0.39 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Corning (GLW) at 0.49% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Western Digital (WDC) at 0.07% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, GLW the richer one.
GLW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.49%
- Max
- 0.70%
- GLW
- 0.49%
- Q3
- 0.33%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.07%
- Max
- 0.70%
- Q3
- 0.33%
- WDC
- 0.07%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Western Digital (WDC) at 2.69% keeps its payout in the industry’s typical band, while Corning (GLW) at 53.85% pays out more than any of its peers — the most stretched cover in its group.
GLW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
53.85%
- GLW
- 53.85%
- Max
- 36.36%
- Q3
- 14.56%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
2.69%
- Max
- 36.36%
- Q3
- 14.56%
- WDC
- 2.69%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | GLW | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.49% | 0.07% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 53.85% | 2.69% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Western Digital (WDC) at 35.10 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Corning (GLW) at 106.27 sits in the richer quartile — GLW needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
GLW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
106.27
- Max
- 158.77
- GLW
- 106.27
- Q3
- 79.26
- Median
- 37.06
- Q1
- 22.04
- Min
- 8.47
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
35.10
- Max
- 158.77
- Q3
- 79.26
- Median
- 37.06
- WDC
- 35.10
- Q1
- 22.04
- Min
- 8.47
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Corning (GLW) at 11.66 and Western Digital (WDC) at 17.16 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
GLW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
11.66
- Max
- 18.49
- GLW
- 11.66
- Q3
- 8.40
- Median
- 3.72
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.00
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
17.16
- Max
- 18.49
- WDC
- 17.16
- Q3
- 8.40
- Median
- 3.72
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Corning (GLW) at 16.97 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Western Digital (WDC) at 28.04 prices even higher, above its industry range.
GLW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
16.97
- Max
- 18.50
- GLW
- 16.97
- Q3
- 8.94
- Median
- 4.37
- Q1
- 2.16
- Min
- -3.51
WDC
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
28.04
- WDC
- 28.04
- Max
- 18.50
- Q3
- 8.94
- Median
- 4.37
- Q1
- 2.16
- Min
- -3.51
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | GLW | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 106.27 | 35.10 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 11.66 | 17.16 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 16.97 | 28.04 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 0.32% | 1.03% |