glw20231231_10k.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

☒	ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

☐	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ___ to ___

Commission file number: 1-3247

CORNING INCORPORATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New York	16-0393470
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

One Riverfront Plaza, Corning, New York	14831
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

607-974-9000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.50 par value per share	GLW	New York Stock Exchange
3.875% Notes due 2026	GLW26	New York Stock Exchange
4.125% Notes due 2031	GLW31	New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files.)

Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer	☒	Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☐	Emerging growth company	☐
Smaller reporting company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant's executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ☐ No ☒

The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2023 was approximately $30 billion based on the New York Stock Exchange closing price on such date.

There were 853,474,317 shares of common stock outstanding as of January 31, 2024.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of Registrant's definitive Proxy Statement for its May 2, 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III.

Table of Contents

Corning Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries are hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Company,” the “Registrant,” “Corning,” “we,” “our,” or “us.”

This report contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to plans, objectives, expectations and estimates and may contain words such as “will,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” “see,” “would,” “target,” “estimate,” “forecast,” or similar expressions. Actual results could differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that could contribute to these differences include those discussed under “Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and elsewhere in this report.

Corning traces its origins to a glass business established in 1851. The present corporation was incorporated in the State of New York in December 1936. The Company’s name was changed from Corning Glass Works to Corning Incorporated on April 28, 1989.

Corning is vital to progress – in the industries we help advance and in the world we share. For more than 170 years, Corning has combined its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramic science and optical physics with deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people’s lives. Our materials science and manufacturing expertise, boundless curiosity and commitment to purposeful invention place us at the center of the way the world works, learns and lives. In addition, our sustained investment in research, development and engineering capabilities means we are always ready to solve the toughest challenges alongside our customers.

Our capabilities are versatile and synergistic, allowing Corning to evolve to meet changing market needs, while also helping customers capture new opportunities in dynamic industries. Today, Corning’s markets include optical communications, mobile consumer electronics, display, automotive, solar, semiconductor and life sciences. Corning’s industry-leading products include damage-resistant cover glass for mobile devices; precision glass for advanced displays; optical fiber and cable, wireless technologies and connectivity solutions for state-of-the-art communications networks; trusted products to accelerate drug discovery and delivery; and clean-air technologies for cars and trucks.

Corning manufactures products at 124 plants in 15 countries and operates in five reportable segments: Optical Communications, Display Technologies, Specialty Materials, Environmental Technologies and Life Sciences.

Our carrier network product portfolio encompasses an array of optical fiber products, including Vascade® optical fibers for use in submarine networks; LEAF® optical fiber for long-haul, regional and metropolitan networks; SMF-28® ULL and TXF® fiber for more scalable long-haul and regional networks; SMF-28e+™ single-mode optical fiber providing additional transmission wavelengths in metropolitan and access networks and ClearCurve® ultra-bendable single-mode fiber for use in multiple-dwelling units and fiber-to-the-home applications. For high performance across the range of long-haul, metro, access and fiber-to-the-home network applications, SMF-28® Ultra and SMF-28® Contour fibers deliver industry-leading attenuation, compatibility and improved macrobend performance in one fiber. A portion of our optical fiber is sold directly to end users and third-party cablers globally. Our remaining fiber production is cabled internally and sold to end users as either bulk cable or as part of an integrated optical solution. Our cable products, including the RocketRibbon® and miniXtend® portfolios, support various outdoor, indoor/outdoor and indoor applications and include a broad range of loose tube, ribbon and drop cable designs with flame-retardant versions available for indoor and indoor/outdoor use including 5G networks.

In addition to optical fiber and cable, our carrier network product portfolio also includes hardware and equipment products, including cable assemblies, fiber-optic hardware, fiber-optic connectors, optical components and couplers, closures, network interface devices and other accessories. These products may be sold as individual components or as part of integrated optical connectivity solutions designed for various carrier network applications. Examples of these solutions include our Evolv™ platform, which provides pre-connectorized solutions for cost-effectively deploying fiber-to-the-home and 5G networks; and the Centrix platform, which provides a fiber management system with industry-leading density and innovative jumper routing that can be deployed in a wide variety of carrier switching centers.

In addition to our optical-based portfolio, our carrier network portfolio also contains select copper-based products including subscriber demarcation, connection and protection devices, xDSL (different variations of digital subscriber lines) passive solutions and outside plant enclosures.

The Display Technologies segment manufactures glass substrates for flat panel displays, including liquid crystal displays (“LCDs”) and organic light-emitting diodes (“OLEDs”) that are used primarily in televisions, notebook computers, desktop monitors, tablets and handheld devices. This segment develops, manufactures and supplies high quality glass substrates using technology expertise and a proprietary fusion manufacturing process, which we invented and is the cornerstone of our technology leadership in the display glass industry. Our highly automated process yields glass substrates with a pristine surface and excellent thermal stability and dimensional uniformity – essential attributes in the production of large, high-performance display panels. Our fusion process is scalable and we believe it is the most cost-effective process for producing large size substrates.

We are recognized as a world leader in precision glass innovations that enable our customers to produce larger, thinner, more flexible and higher-resolution displays. Some of the product innovations we have launched over the past ten years utilizing our world-class processes and capabilities include the following:

We have display glass manufacturing operations in China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, and service our glass customers in all regions, utilizing our manufacturing facilities throughout Asia.

Patent protection and proprietary trade secrets are important to the Display Technologies segment’s operations. Refer to the material under the heading “Patents and Trademarks” for more information.

The Display Technologies segment represented 26% of Corning’s total segment net sales in 2023.

The Specialty Materials segment manufactures products that provide more than 150 material formulations for glass, glass ceramics and crystals, as well as precision metrology instruments and software to meet requirements for unique customer needs. Consequently, this segment operates in a wide variety of commercial and industrial markets including materials optimized for mobile consumer electronics, semiconductor equipment optics and consumables, aerospace and defense optics, radiation shielding products, sunglasses and telecommunications components.

Our highly durable glass, known as Corning® Gorilla® Glass, is a chemically strengthened thin glass designed specifically to function as a cover, or back-enclosure glass, for mobile consumer electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops and smartwatches. Elegant and lightweight, Corning® Gorilla® Glass is durable enough to resist many real-world events that commonly cause wear or scratch damage and glass failure, while providing optical clarity, touch sensitivity and RF transparency, thus enabling exciting new applications in technology and design. In 2022, Corning unveiled its newest glass innovation, Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® 2, which delivers improved cover glass drop performance on rough surfaces like concrete, while preserving the scratch resistance of Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus®. Corning® Gorilla® Glass is manufactured in the United States (“U.S.”), South Korea and Taiwan.

We collaborated with Apple to deliver durable glass with infused color for the back of Apple's iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus devices. These devices also feature Ceramic Shield, a highly transparent, color-free glass-ceramic, which offers unparalleled durability and toughness for smartphones.

Our semiconductor optics include high-performance optical materials including Corning® HPFS® Fused Silica and Corning® ULE® Ultra-Low Expansion Glass, optical-based metrology instruments and custom optical assemblies for applications in the global semiconductor industry. Our semiconductor optics products are manufactured in New York.

We also manufacture ultra-flat, ultra-thin glass wafers and substrates for a variety of applications including augmented reality, advanced semiconductor packaging, 3D sensing and more. These products are manufactured in New York, France and China.

Other specialty glass products include tinted sunglasses and radiation shielding products that are made in France.

Patent protection is important to the segment’s operations. The segment has a growing portfolio of patents relating to its products, technologies and manufacturing processes. Brand recognition and loyalty, through well-known trademarks, are important to the segment. Refer to the material under the heading “Patents and Trademarks” for more information.

The Specialty Materials segment represented 14% of Corning’s total segment net sales in 2023.

The Environmental Technologies segment manufactures ceramic substrates and filter products for emissions control in mobile applications around the world. In the early 1970s, we developed an economical, high-performance cellular ceramic substrate that is now the standard for catalytic converters in vehicles worldwide. As global emissions control regulations tighten, we have continued to develop more effective and durable ceramic substrate and filter products for gasoline and diesel applications, most recently launching low-mass Corning® FLORA® substrates and Corning® DuraTrap® GC gasoline particulate filters. We manufacture substrate and filter products in New York, Virginia, China and Germany. We sell our ceramic substrate and filter products worldwide to catalyzers and manufacturers of emission control systems who then sell to automotive and diesel vehicle or engine manufacturers. Although most sales are made to the emission control systems manufacturers, the use of our substrates and filters is generally required by the specifications of the automotive and diesel vehicle or engine manufacturers.

Patent protection is important to the segment’s operations. The segment has an extensive portfolio of patents relating to its products, technologies and manufacturing processes. We are licensed to use certain patents owned by others, which are also considered important to the segment’s operations. Refer to the material under the heading “Patents and Trademarks” for more information.

The Environmental Technologies segment represented 13% of Corning’s total segment net sales in 2023.

As a leading developer, manufacturer and global supplier of laboratory products for over 105 years, the Life Sciences segment works with researchers and drug manufacturers seeking to drive innovation, increase efficiencies, reduce costs and compress timelines. Using unique expertise in the fields of materials science, polymer surface science, cell culture and cell biology, the segment provides innovative solutions that improve productivity and enable breakthrough research for traditional small molecule, or chemical, drugs, biologics, vaccines and emerging cell and gene therapies.

Life Sciences products include consumables, such as plastic vessels, liquid handling plastics, specialty surfaces, cell culture media and serum, as well as general labware, glassware and equipment. These products are used for drug discovery research and development, compound screening, diagnostics, advanced cell culture research, genomics applications and mass production of cells for clinical trials and bioproduction.

We sell life sciences products under the Corning®, Falcon®, PYREX® and Axygen® brands. The products are marketed globally, primarily through distributors, to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, contract manufacturing organizations, central testing labs, academic institutions, hospitals, government entities and other facilities. We manufacture these products in California, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Utah, Virginia, China, France, Mexico, Brazil and Poland.

The Life Sciences segment represented 7% of Corning’s total segment net sales in 2023.

All other businesses that do not meet the quantitative threshold for separate reporting have been grouped as Hemlock and Emerging Growth Businesses. This group is primarily comprised of the results of Hemlock Semiconductor Group (“HSG”). HSG is a leading provider of high-purity polysilicon products for the solar power and electronics industries. HSG operates in the solar power market, as polysilicon is needed in the manufacturing process to produce sustainable solar power cell, panels and arrays, and the electronics markets, as polysilicon is used to create fabricated wafers and integrated circuit chips used by leading semiconductor manufacturers.

Hemlock and Emerging Growth Businesses also includes our pharmaceutical technologies business, which produces high-quality pharmaceutical glass tubing and vials to meet the rigorous needs of the pharmaceutical industry; our automotive glass solutions business, which enhances vehicle exteriors and interiors with innovations that enable lightweight, damage-resistant windows and displays; as well as other businesses and certain corporate investments.

Hemlock and Emerging Growth Businesses represented 10% of Corning’s total segment net sales in 2023.

Additional explanation regarding Corning and its five reportable segments, as well as financial information about geographic areas, is presented in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Note 17 (Reportable Segments) in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

We compete with many large and varied manufacturers, both domestic and foreign. Some of these competitors are larger than we are, and some have broader product lines. We strive to maintain and improve our market position through technology and product innovation. For the foreseeable future, our competitive advantage lies in our commitment to research and development, deep customer relationships, reliability of supply, product quality, superior customer service and technical specification of our products. There is no assurance that we will be able to maintain or improve our market position or competitive advantage.

We maintain a leadership position in the segment’s principal product groups, which include carrier and enterprise networks. The competitive landscape includes industry consolidation, pricing pressure and competition for the innovation of new products. These competitive conditions are likely to persist. Our large-scale manufacturing experience, fiber process, technology leadership and intellectual property provide cost advantages relative to several of our competitors. Our principal competitors include CommScope Holding Company, Inc. and Prysmian Group S.p.A.

We are the largest worldwide producer of glass substrates for flat panel displays. The environment for high-performance display glass substrate products is very competitive and we have maintained our competitive advantages by investing in new products, continually improving our proprietary fusion manufacturing process and providing a consistent and reliable supply of high-quality products. Our process allows us to deliver glass that is larger, thinner and lighter, with exceptional surface quality and without heavy metals. Our principal competitors include AGC Inc. and Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd.

We have deep capabilities in materials science, optical design, shaping, coating, finishing, metrology and optical system assembly. Our products and capabilities in this segment position us to meet the needs of a broad array of markets, including semiconductor, aerospace, defense, industrial, commercial and telecommunications. Our principal competitors include Schott AG, AGC Inc., Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd. and Heraeus.

We maintain a strong position in the worldwide market for automotive ceramic substrate and filter products, as well as in the heavy-duty and light-duty diesel vehicle markets. Our competitive advantage in automotive ceramic substrate products for catalytic converters and filter products for particulate emissions in exhaust systems is based on an advantaged product portfolio, collaborative engineering design services, customer service and support, strategic global presence and continued product innovation. Our principal competitors include NGK Insulators, Ltd. and Ibiden Co., Ltd.

We seek to maintain a competitive advantage by emphasizing product quality, global distribution, supply chain efficiency, a broad product line, technical support and superior product attributes. Our principal competitors include Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Avantor, Inc., Greiner AG, Eppendorf SE, Sarstedt AG & Co. KG and Danaher Corporation. Corning also faces competition from large distributors that have pursued backward integration or introduced private label products.

Our manufacturing processes and products require access to uninterrupted power sources, significant quantities of industrial water, certain precious metals and various batch materials. Availability of resources, such as ores, minerals, polymers, lithium, helium and processed chemicals, required in our manufacturing operations appear to be adequate. From time to time, our suppliers may experience capacity limitations in their own operations or may eliminate certain product lines. We have adequate programs to ensure a reliable supply of raw and batch materials, as well as precious metals which are used in our production processes. For many of our materials, we have alternate suppliers that would allow operations to continue without interruption in the event of specific materials shortages.

Certain key materials and proprietary equipment used in the manufacturing of products are currently sole-sourced or available only from a limited number of suppliers. To minimize this risk, we closely monitor raw materials and equipment with limited availability or sole-sourced suppliers. However, any future difficulty in obtaining sufficient and timely delivery, or inflationary pricing, of components and/or raw materials could result in lost revenue due to delays or reductions in product shipments, or reductions in gross margin.

Inventions by members of our research and engineering staff continue to be important to our growth. Patents have been granted on many of these inventions in the U.S. and other countries. Some of these patents have been licensed to other manufacturers. Many of our earlier patents have now expired, but we continue to seek and obtain patents protecting our innovations. In 2023, we were granted about 520 patents in the U.S. and over 1,510 patents in countries outside the U.S.

Each business segment possesses a patent portfolio that provides certain competitive advantages in protecting our innovations. We have historically enforced, and will continue to enforce, our intellectual property rights. At the end of 2023, we owned about 12,975 unexpired patents in various countries, of which about 4,660 were U.S. patents. Between 2024 and 2026, approximately 730, or 6%, of these worldwide patents will expire, while at the same time we intend to seek patents protecting our newer innovations. Worldwide, we have about 8,370 patent applications in process, with about 2,130 in process in the U.S. Our patent portfolio will continue to provide a competitive advantage in protecting our innovations, although our competitors in each of our businesses are actively seeking patent protection as well.

While each of our reportable segments has numerous patents in various countries, no one patent is considered material to any segment. Important issued patents in our reportable segments include the following:

The following table presents the approximate number of patents granted to our reportable segments:

Many of our patents are used in operations or are licensed for use by others, and we are licensed to use patents owned by others. We have entered into cross-licensing arrangements with some major competitors, but the scope of such licenses has been limited to specific product areas or technologies.

Our principal trademarks include the following: Axygen, Celcor, ClearCurve, Corning, DuraTrap, Eagle XG, Edge8, Everon, Evolv, Falcon, Gorilla, Guardiant, HPFS, Leaf, PYREX, RocketRibbon, SMF-28e, Steuben, UniCam, Valor, Velocity, Victus and Viridian.

We have an extensive program to ensure that our facilities comply with state, federal and foreign pollution-control regulations. This program has resulted in capital and operating expenditures each year. To maintain compliance with such regulations, capital expenditures for pollution control in operations were approximately $21.8 million in 2023 and are estimated to be $20.1 million in 2024.

Our 2023 consolidated operating results reflect approximately $69.6 million for depreciation, maintenance, waste disposal and other operating expenses associated with pollution control.

At Corning, we are proud of the life-changing innovations we bring to the world. Our unparalleled expertise in our core technologies along with deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities require a talent strategy focused on attracting and retaining exceptional people, building a culture that enables innovation and collaboration and supporting long and successful careers.

Each of our 49,800 full- and part-time employees in 44 countries make an important contribution, whether in one of our manufacturing or processing facilities, research labs, sales offices or other facilities. Approximately 60% of all employees are in production and maintenance roles and more than 60% of all employees are represented by a union, works council or other representative group.

Corning is guided by an enduring set of Values that defines our relationship with employees, customers and our communities: Quality, Integrity, Performance, Leadership, Innovation, Independence and the Individual. Our Values are the key to our business success, a source of pride and excitement for our employees and the factor that ultimately sets us apart from our competitors. In short, we believe that how we do things is as important as what we do. We measure how we live our Values through our annual “Voice to Action” workplace culture survey. In 2023, we had an 85% response rate with survey participation worldwide. We use the results to pinpoint recurring global themes and develop plans to drive action based on employee feedback. Corning employees all contribute to the success of the Company by Living our Values—all seven, all the time, all around the world.

We are focused on building globally diverse teams and creating an inclusive environment for all. Our global workforce is comprised of 64% men and 36% women. In all regions of the world, we are continuing to invest in building our talent pipeline of women through targeted recruitment efforts, mentoring and coaching programs, networking opportunities, personalized development plans and proactive career management. As a result of these efforts, we have made significant diversity gains within our leadership teams. Since 2013, gender and ethnic diversity among members of the Corporate Management Group, which includes approximately 240 of the Company’s top global leaders, increased from 30% to 51%; corporate officer diverse representation has increased from 23% to 42%.

In 2021, we achieved 100% pay equity for all salaried men and women in our worldwide operations, having achieved it in the U.S. since 2017. Our U.S. analysis also includes minority groups compared with white employees. We continue to monitor regularly and make adjustments where appropriate to maintain our global gender pay equity.

The Office of Racial Equality and Social Unity (“ORESU”) extends our longstanding commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion at Corning into the communities in which our employees live and work. Since its creation in 2020, in addition to driving inclusive mindsets within Corning, the office leads the development and execution of programs that address racial inequalities and socioeconomic disparities in communities at the local, state and national levels. Our programs drive equity and help communities thrive by investing in education, economic growth and access to healthcare.

Each year we formally evaluate the talent implications of our strategic business plans and align our actions and objectives accordingly. As business needs change, we create human capital objectives to ensure we have the right people with the right skills in place to deliver that growth.

Corning strives to attract and recruit diverse qualified candidates to maintain our culture of innovation and to foster creativity. We have created a strategic talent pipeline through internships, co-ops, rotational leadership programs and partnerships with various universities, including Historically Black Colleges & Universities. In addition, we collaborate with organizations such as the Society of Women Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, National Society of Black Engineers and military veterans’ groups to introduce us to talented, diverse candidates.

It is important to Corning that employees continue to grow and develop. We offer a variety of enterprise and on-demand developmental programs and experiences, targeted to all levels in the organization. We provide on-the-job learning experience, mentoring and career planning to ensure immediate application and lasting impact. Talent retention is an ongoing focus area which aligns with our strategy of encouraging and supporting longer-term careers with Corning. Historically, our salaried voluntary turnover has been consistently lower than the markets in which we compete for talent. Salaried talent retention in 2023 remained strong at 95%.

At Corning, the health and safety of our workforce is always of paramount consideration. Our safety standards meet, and often exceed, local regulatory standards. Corning continued managing Total Recordable Incident Rate (“TRIR”) performance to world class levels with an annual TRIR of just 0.35 in 2023. Globally, we promote employee health and wellbeing through wellness programs which vary by region such as nutrition and fitness-related offerings, smoking cessation programs and smoke free campuses. Corning also promotes healthy behaviors with its employees including flu and COVID vaccinations and has introduced global programs emphasizing mental health and wellness programs.

Dr. Amin joined Corning in 1997 as a senior research scientist. He held numerous operational roles within Photonics before joining Corning Specialty Materials in 2004. He led product and process development, product engineering and commercial technology for Gorilla Glass and later for Mobile Consumer Electronics. In 2020, Dr. Amin was appointed vice president and general manager, Corning Gorilla Glass, Mobile Consumer Electronics, and in June 2022 he was appointed senior vice president and chief technology officer. Age 55.

John P. Bayne, Jr. Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mobile Consumer Electronics

Mr. Bayne joined Corning in 1995 as the Fallbrook plant controller, and in 1997 became an international business controller in the Optical Fiber division. From 1999 to 2003 he held a variety of management positions in Photonic Technologies. In 2003 he joined Display Technologies and in 2006, he was named president, Display Technologies, China. In 2009 he became director of strategy, Display Technologies. In 2012 he was appointed vice president and general manager for High Performance Displays and in 2014 he assumed responsibility for the Advanced Glass Innovations group. In 2015 Mr. Bayne was named vice president and general manager of the Gorilla Glass business. He was appointed senior vice president and general manager of Mobile Consumer Electronics in April 2020. Age 57.

Mr. Becker joined Corning in 2000 through Corning’s acquisition of Siemens Communication Cable Division. From 2001 to 2005, he held positions as manager, Planning and Analysis and later director of Finance, Corning Cable Systems. He joined the Display Technologies division in 2005 as U.S. Controller. In 2007 he was appointed CFO, Corning Display Technologies Taiwan. In 2009 he was named director of Finance, Corning Display Technologies (“CDT”) and in 2010 was appointed division controller, CDT. Between 2012 and 2015, he served as international division vice president, Finance, Corning Glass Technologies. Mr. Becker was appointed Corning’s operations controller in 2015 and senior vice president in 2019. In 2021 he was appointed senior vice president, Finance, and corporate controller and in February 2022 he was named principal accounting officer. Age 52.

Michael A. Bell Senior Vice President and General Manager, Optical Communications

Mr. Bell joined Corning in 1991 as a process engineer for the Telecommunications Cable Plant in Hickory, North Carolina. He has held a variety of positions in manufacturing and engineering. He was appointed to CCS Americas Cable Manufacturing Manager in 2004, which expanded to include hardware manufacturing in 2009. In 2012 he was appointed senior vice president and general manager, Optical Connectivity Solutions for Corning Optical Communications. He was appointed senior vice president and general manager, Optical Communications in 2020. Age 59.

Mr. Curran joined Corning in 1984 and has held a variety of roles in finance, manufacturing and marketing. He has served as senior vice president, general manager for Corning Cable Systems Hardware and Equipment Operations in the Americas, responsible for operations in Hickory, North Carolina; Keller, Texas; Reynosa, Mexico; Shanghai, China; and the Dominican Republic. In 2007, he was appointed senior vice president and general manager of Corning Optical Fiber. Mr. Curran was appointed executive vice president and innovation officer in 2012. Age 65.

Dr. Evenson joined Corning in 2011 as senior vice president and operations chief of staff. In 2015, he was named chief strategy officer. He was appointed executive vice president in 2018. He oversees corporate strategy, corporate communications and advanced analytics. Prior to joining Corning, Dr. Evenson was a senior vice president with Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC, where he served as a senior analyst. Before that, Dr. Evenson was a partner at McKinsey & Company, where he led technology and market assessment for early-stage technologies. Age 58.

Li Fang Senior Vice President, Corning International and New Business Development, Solar

Mr. Fang joined Corning International in 1997 as business development manager, China. In 1999 he transferred to the Environmental Products Division and became production manager of Corning Environmental Technologies’ (CET) China Plant - Corning (Shanghai) Company Ltd. In July 2004, he was appointed operations manager and in October 2004 he was appointed director of operations and plant manager of Corning (Shanghai) Company Ltd. In 2007, Mr. Fang was appointed vice president, Corning Display Technologies China, and director of commercial operations, government affairs and supply chain. In 2009 he was named president, Corning Display Technologies China. From 2012-2021 Mr. Fang served as president and general manager of Corning Greater China. In 2021 he was appointed as president and general manager, International, Corning Incorporated and in 2023 he was appointed senior vice president, Corning International and new business development, Solar. Age 61.

Ms. Kammerud joined Corning in 2023 with more than 20 years of experience leading progressive HR functions and has deep expertise in people, technology, and change on a global scale and across multiple industries. Prior to joining Corning, she served as executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Claire’s, where she was responsible for global human resources, as well as corporate strategy, and enterprise transformation management. Additionally, she led numerous technology, capability, and culture investments. Prior to that role, Ms. Kammerud served as senior vice president, chief human resources officer, at Core-Mark. She has also held human resources leadership positions with SC Johnson, American Express, and DaimlerChrysler. Age 47.

Mr. McRae joined Corning in 1985 and has held a broad range of leadership positions in finance, sales, marketing and general management across Corning’s businesses. In 1995 he was appointed vice president of Corning Consumer Products Company and president of Revere Ware Corporation. He then moved to Telecommunications Products, where he served as division vice president, Global Development, from 1996 to 2000. He was appointed vice president Corporate Development in 2000 and progressed through a series of senior leadership positions. Mr. McRae has led strategy and corporate development since 2010. He was named vice chairman in 2015 and corporate development officer in 2020. Mr. McRae retired on December 31, 2023 after 38 years of service. Age 65.

Mr. Musser joined Corning in 1986 and served in a variety of manufacturing and general management roles in Corning’s Optical Communications businesses. In 2005, he was named vice president and general manager of Optical Fiber. Mr. Musser served as general manager, Corning Greater China from 2007 to 2012 and president of Corning International from 2012 to 2014. In 2014, he was appointed executive vice president, Corning Technologies and International. In 2020, he was appointed president & chief operating officer. Age 64.

Avery H. Nelson III Senior Vice President and General Manager, Automotive & Solar

Mr. Nelson joined Corning in 1991 as shift supervisor at the Harrodsburg, Kentucky plant and subsequently served in progressive roles in Corning Display Technologies. In 2007, he joined CET as general manager, Corning (Shanghai) Company Limited. In 2009, he became general manager and regional director of China and India, CET. In 2010 he returned to the U.S. as program director, CET. In 2011, he assumed the role of business director, AAA Corning® Gorilla® Glass, New Business Development. Later that year, he was appointed division vice president, Heavy Duty Diesel (HDD). In 2013, he was appointed division vice president and business director. In 2014, Mr. Nelson was appointed vice president and general manager for Environmental Technologies and in 2018 he was named senior vice president and general manager, CET. In 2020 was appointed senior vice president and general manager, Automotive. He was appointed senior vice president and general manager, Automotive & Solar in 2023. Age 55.

Mr. Schlesinger joined Corning in 2013 as senior vice president and chief financial officer of Corning Optical Communications. He was appointed vice president and corporate controller in September 2015 and principal accounting officer in December 2015. He was named senior vice president in 2019. In February 2022, he was appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer. Prior to joining Corning, Mr. Schlesinger served as Vice President, Finance and Sector Chief Financial Officer for the Climate Solutions Sector for Ingersoll Rand. Mr. Schlesinger’s financial career spans more than 20 years, with extensive expertise in accounting, technical financial management and reporting. Age 56.

Soumya Seetharam Senior Vice President and Chief Digital & Information Officer

Ms. Seetharam joined Corning in November 2022 as senior vice president and chief digital & information officer. Prior to joining Corning, she was vice president and general manager IT at Intel Corporation. She also served as chief systems officer at Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and senior director of Global Project Management Office and Business Intelligence at Baker Hughes. She spent 14 years in various divisions at General Electric (GE), including positions as Client CIO – GE Oil & Gas, IT Leader, IT program manager and Six Sigma Black Belt. She brings deep experience in information technology, digital and systems transformation and risk governance to Corning. Age 48.

Lewis A. Steverson Executive Vice President and Chief Legal & Administrative Officer

Mr. Steverson joined Corning in 2013 as senior vice president and general counsel. In 2018 he was named executive vice president and general counsel. He was appointed chief legal & administrative officer in 2020. Prior to joining Corning, Mr. Steverson served as senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary of Motorola Solutions, Inc. During his 18 years with Motorola, he held a variety of law leadership roles across the company’s numerous business units. Prior to Motorola, Mr. Steverson was in private practice at the law firm of Arnold & Porter. Age 60.

Ronald L. Verkleeren Senior Vice President and General Manager, Life Sciences Technologies

Mr. Verkleeren joined Corning in 2001 in the Optical Communications segment. He joined the Life Sciences segment in 2004 and has held a variety of progressive roles in that segment. In 2010, he was named division vice president and director of Advanced Life Sciences. In 2012 he was named division vice president and program director for Corning Pharmaceutical Technologies. In 2015, Mr. Verkleeren became vice president and general manager of the Pharmaceutical Technologies division. He was appointed senior vice president & general manager, Life Sciences Technologies in 2020. Age 53.

Mr. Weeks joined Corning in 1983 in the finance group. He has held a variety of financial, business development, commercial and general management roles. He was named vice president and general manager of the Optical Fiber business in 1996 and president of Corning’s Optical Communications division in 2001. He became Corning’s president and chief operation officer in 2002. Mr. Weeks has been a member of Corning’s Board of Directors since December 2000. He was named chief executive officer in 2005 and chairman of the board in 2007. Mr. Weeks is a director of Amazon.com, Inc. Age 64.

John Z. Zhang Senior Vice President and General Manager, Display & Corning Asia

Mr. Zhang joined Corning in 2008 as director, corporate development. In 2009, he was appointed director, corporate development Asia Pacific. In 2010, he further expanded his role to lead the strategy & corporate development organization of Corning International. In 2014, he was named deputy general manager, Corning Display Technologies. In 2015, Mr. Zhang was appointed senior vice president and general manager, Corning Display Technologies. In 2020, he was appointed senior vice president and general manager, Corning Display and was appointed as senior vice president and general manager, Display & Corning Asia in 2023. Age 51.

A copy of Corning’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) is available upon written request to Corporate Secretary, Corning Incorporated, One Riverfront Plaza, Corning, NY 14831. The Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934 and other filings are available as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed or furnished to the SEC, and can be accessed electronically free of charge at www.SEC.gov, or through the Investor Relations page on Corning’s website at www.corning.com. The information contained on the Company’s website is not included in, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Additional information in response to Item 1 is found in Note 17 (Reportable Segments) in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

We operate globally in a rapidly changing economic, political and technological environment that present numerous risks. Our operations and financial results are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those described below, that could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, our ability to successfully execute our strategy and the trading price of our common stock or debt. The following discussion identifies the most significant factors that may adversely affect the Company. This information should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) and the consolidated financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference into this report. The following discussion of risks is not all inclusive but is designed to highlight what we believe are important factors to consider, as these factors could cause our future results to differ from those in our forward-looking statements and from historical trends.

Inflationary price pressures and uncertain availability of commodities, raw materials, utilities, labor or other inputs used by us and our suppliers, or instability in logistics and related costs, among other factors, could negatively impact our profitability

Increases in the price of commodities, raw materials, utilities, labor or other inputs that we or our suppliers use in manufacturing and supplying products, components and parts, along with logistics and other related costs, may lead to higher production and shipping costs for our products, parts and components. Further, increasing global demand for, and uncertain supply of, such materials could disrupt our or our suppliers’ ability to obtain such materials in a timely manner to meet our supply needs and/or could lead to increased costs. Any increase in the cost of inputs to our production could lead to higher costs for our products and could negatively impact our operating results, future profitability and ability to successfully deliver on our strategy. Increasing our prices to our customers may cause certain of our customers to push out, cancel or refrain from purchasing our products, which could materially adversely impact demand for our products, and thereby also negatively impact our operating results, future profitability and ability to successfully deliver on our strategy.

Factors such as supply chain disruptions, manufacturing interruptions or delays, or the failure to accurately forecast customer demand, could affect our ability to meet customer demand, lead to higher costs, or result in excess or obsolete inventory; if we are unable to obtain the necessary equipment, raw and batch materials, natural resources, utilities and other essentials required in our products or processes, our business will be negatively impacted

Corning’s business relies on the timely supply of raw materials, precious metals, natural resources or utilities including energy and industrial water, equipment, parts and components, services and related products to meet the changing technical and volume requirements of its customers, which depends in part on the timely delivery of materials, equipment and services, from suppliers and contract manufacturers. Significant or sudden increases in demand for such materials, equipment and services, as well as delays in and unpredictability of shipments due to transportation interruptions, have resulted in, and may continue to result in, a shortage of materials, equipment and services needed to manufacture Corning’s products. Such shortages have adversely impacted, and may continue to adversely impact, our suppliers’ ability to meet our demand requirements and Corning’s manufacturing operations and its ability to meet customer demand. Some key materials, equipment and services are subject to long lead-times or are available only from a single supplier or limited group of suppliers and we may not be able to find alternate sources in a timely manner. Volatility of demand for manufacturing equipment can increase capital, technical, operational and other risks for Corning and for companies throughout our supply chain, and may cause some suppliers to exit businesses, scale back or cease operations, which could impact our ability to meet customer demand and could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Corning may also experience significant interruptions of its manufacturing operations, delays in its ability to deliver products or services, increased costs or customer order cancellations as a result of:

Health crisis events, such as epidemics or pandemics, have adversely impacted, and may continue to impact, the economy and disrupt our operations and supply chains, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations

Health crisis events, including epidemics or pandemics, such as COVID-19, have impacted and may further impact the economy and could have additional impacts on economic growth, supply chains, the proper functioning of financial and capital markets, foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in authorities around the world implementing numerous unprecedented measures such as travel restrictions, quarantines, shelter in place orders, vaccine mandates and facility shutdowns. These measures have impacted our workforce, operations and supply chains, and those of our customers, contract manufacturers and suppliers, and may continue to have an impact particularly in the event of another significant global health crisis. There is considerable uncertainty regarding the duration, scope and severity of a health crisis event and the impacts on our business and the economy from the effects of such an event and response measures.

Corning’s Display Technologies segment generates a significant amount of the Company’s profits and cash flow; any significant decrease in display glass pricing, volume or market share could have a material and negative impact on our financial results

Corning’s ability to generate profits and operating cash flow depends largely on the profitability of our display glass business, which is subject to pricing pressure, exchange rate movements, industry competition, potential over-capacity, development of new technologies and operational and regulatory risks. If we are not able to achieve proportionate reductions in costs and/or increases in volume or price to offset the aforementioned factors, it could have a material adverse impact on our financial results.

Because we have a concentrated customer base, future sales and cash flows could be negatively impacted by the actions or loss of one or more key customers

A relatively small number of end customers account for a high percentage of our net sales. This concentration subjects us to a variety of risks including:

The following table details the number of combined customers of our reportable segments that accounted for a large percentage of segment net sales:

Events outside of Corning’s control, or those of our contract manufacturers, could cause a disruption to our manufacturing operations and our ability to serve our customers, resulting in a negative impact to Corning’s net sales, net income, asset values and liquidity

Disruption to our manufacturing operations, or those of our contract manufacturers, could significantly impact Corning’s ability to supply its customers and could produce a near-term severe impact on our individual business units and the Company. Given the geographical concentration of certain of the Company’s and our contract manufacturers’ plants in Asia Pacific, the highly engineered nature of the facilities and the globally dispersed talent required to run these facilities, any event that adversely affects or restricts movement into or out of a specific geographic area where we, our contract manufacturers, suppliers, or customers have a presence, could adversely impact our results. Due to the specialized nature of our products and single-site manufacturing locations, in the event such a location experiences disruption, it may not be possible to find replacement capacity or substitute production from other facilities.

We may experience difficulties in enforcing our intellectual property rights, which could result in loss of market share and decreased sales and profits, and we may be subject to claims of infringement of the intellectual property rights of others

We rely on patent and trade secret laws, copyright, trademark, confidentiality procedures, controls and contractual commitments to protect our intellectual property rights. Despite our efforts, these protections may be limited and we may encounter difficulties in protecting our intellectual property rights or obtaining rights to additional intellectual property necessary to permit us to continue or expand our businesses. We cannot provide assurance that the patents we hold or may obtain will provide meaningful protection against our competitors. Changes in or enforcement of laws concerning intellectual property may affect our ability to prevent or address the misappropriation of, or the unauthorized use of, our intellectual property, potentially resulting in loss of market share. Litigation may be necessary to enforce our intellectual property rights. Litigation is inherently uncertain and outcomes are unpredictable. If we cannot protect our intellectual property rights against unauthorized copying or use, or other misappropriation, we may not remain competitive.

The intellectual property rights of others could inhibit our ability to introduce new products. Other companies hold patents on technologies used in our industries and are aggressively seeking to expand, enforce and license their patent portfolios. We periodically receive notices from, or have lawsuits filed against us, by third parties claiming infringement, misappropriation or other misuse of their intellectual property rights and/or breach of our agreements with them. These third parties often include entities that do not have the capabilities to design, manufacture, or distribute products or entities that acquire intellectual property, including patents, for the sole purpose of monetizing their acquired intellectual property through asserting claims of infringement and misuse. Such claims of infringement or misappropriation may result in loss of revenue, substantial costs, or lead to monetary damages or injunctive relief against us.

Information technology dependency and cybersecurity vulnerabilities could lead to reduced revenue, liability claims, competitive or reputational harm, and result in material adverse effects on our operations and financial results

The Company is dependent on information technology systems and infrastructure (“IT systems”) owned and operated by the Company or managed by third-party service providers, suppliers and contract manufacturers. IT systems enable us to conduct, monitor and/or protect our business, operations, systems, data and other assets. In the ordinary course of our business, we and our providers collect, process, transmit and store sensitive data, including intellectual property, our proprietary information and that of our customers, suppliers and business partners, as well as personally identifiable information. Intrusion into a supplier or contract manufacturer system not integrated with a Corning IT system could result in service disruption and/or loss of financial control.

Our IT systems, and those of our providers, may be vulnerable to compromise or disruption due to human error or malfeasance, outdated applications, computer viruses or malware (e.g., ransomware), natural disasters, unauthorized access, cyber-attacks and other similar incidents and disruptions. Inadequate account security or organizational security practices may also result in unauthorized access. Increased work-from-home, at both the Company and our providers, presents additional operational risk. Companies that provide utilities, water, transportation, natural gas and other resources and services across our supply chain, are critical to our manufacturing operations and are vulnerable to cyber-attacks. From time to time, both we and certain of our providers, have been subject to cyberattacks and security incidents. We may be unable to anticipate, detect, prevent or remediate future attacks, particularly as attackers are becoming more sophisticated in their ability to circumvent controls and remove forensic evidence.

Any significant disruption, breakdown, intrusion, interruption or corruption, data breach, or compromise to the accessibility, security or integrity of our or our providers’ IT systems, or the misappropriation or disclosure of any confidential, proprietary or personally identifiable information, could result in the loss of data or intellectual property, equipment or systems damage, downtime, safety related issues and could have a material adverse effect on our business, including by harming our competitive position and reputation, disrupting our manufacturing, reducing the value of our investment in research and development and other strategic initiatives, impairing our ability to access suppliers, contract manufacturers, customers and cloud-based services, subjecting us to litigation or regulatory investigations or fines, increasing the costs of compliance and remediation, or otherwise adversely affecting our business.  We may be required to invest significant additional resources to comply with evolving cybersecurity regulations and to modify and enhance our IT systems, information security and controls, and to investigate and remediate any security vulnerabilities. Any losses, costs or liabilities may not be covered by, or may exceed the coverage limits of, any, or all, of our applicable insurance policies.

We may not earn a positive return from our research, development and engineering investments

Developing our products through our innovation model of research and development is costly and often involves a long investment cycle. We make significant investments in research, development and engineering that may not earn an economic return. If our investments do not provide a pipeline of products or technologies that our customers demand or lower our manufacturing costs, or if our products or technologies become obsolete or disrupted by emerging technologies, it could negatively impact our revenue and operating margins for both near- and long-term.

Our innovation model depends on our ability to attract and retain specialized expertise

Our innovation model requires us to employ highly specialized experts in glass science, ceramic science and optical physics to conduct our research and development and engineer our products and design our manufacturing facilities. The loss of the services of any member of our key research and development or engineering team without adequate replacement, or the inability to attract new qualified personnel, could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial performance.

We are subject to strict environmental regulations and regulatory changes that could result in fines or restrictions that interrupt our operations

Some of our manufacturing processes generate chemical waste, wastewater, other industrial waste or greenhouse gases, and we are subject to numerous laws and regulations relating to the use, storage, discharge and disposal of such substances. We have installed anti-pollution equipment for the treatment of chemical waste and wastewater at our facilities. We have taken steps to control and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases created by our manufacturing operations. However, we cannot provide assurance that environmental claims will not be brought against us or that government regulators will not take steps to adopt more stringent environmental standards.

Any failure on our part to comply with any present or future environmental regulations could result in the assessment of damages or imposition of fines against us, or the suspension/cessation of production or operations. In addition, environmental regulations could require us to acquire costly equipment, incur other significant compliance expenses or limit or restrict production or operations and thus materially and negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Changes in regulations and the regulatory environment in the U.S. and the many other countries in which we operate, such as those resulting from the regulation and impact of climate change, CO₂ abatement and emission reduction targets, may affect our businesses and results in adverse ways by, among other things, substantially increasing manufacturing costs, limiting availability of scarce resources, especially energy, or requiring limitations on production or sales of our products or those of our customers.

We are subject to income taxes in the U.S. and many foreign jurisdictions and are commonly audited by various tax authorities. There are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax treatment is uncertain. Judgment is required in determining our worldwide provision for income taxes. Although we believe our tax estimates are reasonable, the final determination of tax, assessments, audits and any related litigation could be materially different from our historical income tax provisions and accruals, or result in the forfeiture of funds deposited with the relevant government authorities. The results of an audit or litigation could have a material effect on our financial statements in the period or periods for which such a determination is made.

The U.S., other countries and international organizations, such as Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, may change their laws or issue new international tax standards that may also impact our taxes.

As a global company, we face many risks which could adversely impact our operations and financial results

We are a global company and derive a substantial portion of our revenue from, and have significant operations, outside of the U.S. Our international operations include manufacturing, assembly, sales, research and development, customer support and shared administrative service centers. Additionally, we rely on a global supply chain for key components and capabilities that are central to our ability to invent, make and sell products.

Compliance with multiple legal and regulatory requirements increases our costs. We are subject to both U.S. laws and the local laws where we operate which, among other things, include data privacy requirements, employment and labor laws, tax laws, anti-competition regulations, prohibitions on payments to governmental officials, import and trade restrictions and export requirements. Non-compliance or violations could result in fines, criminal sanctions against us, our officers or employees, and prohibitions on the conduct of our business. Such violations could result in prohibitions on our ability to offer our products and services in one or more countries and could also materially damage our reputation, our brand, our international expansion efforts, our ability to attract and retain employees, our businesses and operating results. Our success depends, in part, on our ability to anticipate and manage these risks.

Corning is exposed to risks associated with an uncertain, recessionary and inflationary global economy

Uncertain or adverse economic and business conditions, including uncertainties and volatility in the financial markets, national debt, fiscal or monetary concerns, availability of government incentives, inflation and rising interest rates in various regions, could materially adversely impact Corning’s operating results. Markets for our products depend largely on business and consumer spending and demand for network capacity, electronics and automotive products. Uncertain or adverse economic and recessionary business conditions, among other factors, that could result in decreases in consumer spending and demand, or cause us to pass on increased costs to our customers, may cause certain of our customers to push out, cancel or refrain from purchasing our products, which could materially adversely impact demand for our products and our operating results.

Similarly, changes that result in sudden increases in consumer demand for electronic products have resulted in, and may continue to result in, a shortage of parts and materials needed to manufacture our products or the products in which our products are used. Such shortages, as well as shipment delays due to transportation interruptions, have adversely impacted, and may continue to adversely impact, our ability to meet our demand requirements.

Uncertain economic and industry conditions also make it more challenging for Corning to forecast its operating results, make business decisions and identify and prioritize the risks that may affect its businesses, sources and uses of cash, financial condition and results of operations. If Corning does not appropriately manage its business operations in response to changing economic and industry conditions, it could have a significant negative impact on its business performance and financial condition. Even during periods of economic uncertainty or lower revenues, Corning must continue to invest in research and development and maintain a global business infrastructure to compete effectively and support its customers, which can have a negative impact on its operating margins and earnings.

We are also subject to a variety of other risks in managing a global organization, including those related to:

A large portion of our sales, profit and cash flows are transacted in non-U.S. dollar currencies, primarily the Japanese yen, South Korean won, New Taiwan dollar, Chinese yuan and euro. The Company expects to continue to experience fluctuations in the U.S. dollar value of these activities if it is not possible, cost-effective or should we not elect to hedge certain currency exposure. Additionally, gains or losses may be experienced if the underlying exposure which has been hedged increases or decreases significantly.

The ultimate realized gain or loss with respect to currency fluctuations will generally depend on the size and type of cross-currency exposure that we have, the changes in exchange rates associated with those exposures, whether we have entered into foreign currency contracts to offset these exposures and other factors.

These factors could materially impact our results of operations, anticipated future results, financial position and cash flows.

We may have significant exposure to counterparties of our related derivatives portfolio

We maintain a significant portfolio of over-the-counter derivatives to hedge our projected currency exposure. We are exposed to potential losses in the event of non-performance by our counterparties to these derivative contracts. Any failure of a counterparty to pay on such a contract when due could materially impact our results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

Current or future litigation or regulatory investigations may harm our financial condition or results of operations

As a global technology and manufacturing company, we are engaged in various litigations and regulatory matters. Litigation and regulatory proceedings may be uncertain, and adverse rulings could occur, resulting in significant liabilities, penalties or damages. Any such substantial legal liability or regulatory action could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows and reputation.

Our business is subject to various governmental regulations, and compliance with these regulations may cause us to incur significant expense. If we fail to maintain compliance with applicable regulations, we may be forced to cease the manufacture and distribution of certain products, and we could be subject to administrative proceedings and civil or criminal penalties

Our products and operations are also subject to regulation by U.S. and non‐U.S. regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. From time to time, we may also be involved or required to participate in regulatory investigations or inquiries, into certain of our contracting and business practices, which may evolve into legal or other administrative proceedings. Growing public concern over concentration of economic power in corporations is likely to result in increased anti‐competition legislation, regulation, administrative rule making and enforcement activity. Involvement in regulatory investigations or inquiries, can be costly, lengthy, complex and time consuming, diverting the attention and energies of our management and technical personnel. If any pending or future governmental investigations result in an unfavorable resolution, we could be required to cease the manufacture and sale of the subject products or technology, pay fines or disgorge profits or other payments and/or cease certain conduct and/or modify our contracting or business practices, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We may be obligated to indemnify our current or former directors or employees, or former directors or employees of companies that we have acquired, in connection with regulatory investigations. These liabilities could be substantial and may include, among other things, the cost of government, law enforcement or regulatory investigations and civil or criminal fines and penalties.

Our global operations are subject to extensive trade and anti-corruption laws and regulations

Due to the international scope of our operations, we are subject to a complex system of import- and export-related laws and regulations, including U.S. regulations issued by Customs and Border Protection, the Bureau of Industry and Security, the Office of Anti-boycott Compliance, the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls and the Office of Foreign Assets Control, as well as the counterparts of these agencies in other countries. Any alleged or actual violation by an employee or the Company may subject us to government scrutiny, investigation and civil and criminal penalties, and may limit our ability to import or export our products or to provide services outside the U.S. We cannot predict the nature, scope or effect of future regulatory requirements to which our operations might be subject to, based on the way existing laws might be administered or interpreted.

In addition, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar foreign anti-corruption laws generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments or providing anything of value to improperly influence foreign government officials to obtain or retain business or obtain an unfair advantage. Recent years have seen a substantial increase in the global enforcement of anti-corruption laws. Our continued operation and expansion outside the U.S., including in developing countries, could increase the risk of alleged violations. Violations of these laws may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, could disrupt our business, and result in an adverse effect on our reputation, business and results of operations or financial condition.

Moreover, several of our key customers are domiciled in areas of the world with laws, rules and business practices that may notably differ from those in the U.S., and we face the reputational and legal risk that our related partners may violate applicable laws, rules and business practices.

International trade policies may negatively impact our ability to sell and manufacture our products outside of the U.S.

Government policies on international trade and investment such as import quotas, tariffs and capital controls, whether adopted by individual governments or addressed by regional trade blocs, can affect the demand for our products and services, impact the competitive position of our products or prevent us, our equity affiliates or joint ventures, from being able to sell and manufacture products in certain countries. The implementation of more restrictive trade policies, such as higher tariffs or new barriers to entry, together with anti-dumping claims, duties, slowed regulatory approvals and other restrictions, in countries in which we import raw materials and components or sell large quantities of products and services could negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. For example, a country’s adoption of nationalistic policies or retaliation by another government against such policies could have a negative impact on our results of operations. Further, these actions in conjunction with any trade tensions may restrict us from participating in a specific market or may prevent us from competing effectively.

We developed and implemented a cybersecurity risk management program intended to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our critical information technology (“IT”) systems and information.

Our cybersecurity risk management program is integrated into our overall enterprise risk management program, and shares common methodologies, incident reporting channels and governance processes that apply across the enterprise risk management program to other legal, compliance, strategic, operational and financial risk areas. We designed and continue to assess our cybersecurity program based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework (“NIST CSF”), which we use as a guide to help us identify, prioritize and manage the cybersecurity risks that could materially affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our cybersecurity risk management program includes a cybersecurity incident response plan (“CIRP”). Corning’s CIRP provides the Company with the capability for responding, reporting and remediating cybersecurity incidents. It has been established to reduce or minimize the impact of cybersecurity incidents on the Company’s networks, IT systems, users or business processes. Corning’s Cyber Security Incident Response Team, led by the Chief Information Security Officer (“CISO”), handles the response process for all cybersecurity incidents and Corning’s Corporate Crisis Response Team (“CCRT”) is mobilized and involved in any significant incidents.

Corning’s Board of Directors (“Board”) plays a role in overseeing risks associated with cybersecurity threats. In particular, the IT Committee of the Board is responsible for cybersecurity governance and has information security oversight as a key component of its charter. In all meetings, the IT Committee reviews the Company’s cybersecurity posture as well as significant cybersecurity events. Corning’s Chief Digital and Information Officer (“CDIO”), in combination with Corning’s CISO, briefs the IT Committee on cybersecurity activities and long-term cybersecurity strategies, as well as general cybersecurity trends that could have a material impact on the Company. On an annual basis, the CISO provides a cybersecurity update to the Board and participates in a joint meeting of the IT and Audit Committees to review significant cybersecurity risks and their impact, if any, on internal controls. At any time, Board members may raise concerns regarding the Company’s cybersecurity posture and recommend future changes to controls or procedures. Should a cybersecurity incident rise to the level of a corporate crisis, consistent with the Company’s CCRT escalation protocols, the Board would be engaged.

Our CDIO and our CISO lead our management team in assessing and managing our response to cybersecurity threats and incidents. Our CDIO and CISO together have over 50 years of combined experience in information technology, digital and systems transformation, cybersecurity and related risk management and governance. This team has primary responsibility for our overall cybersecurity risk management program and supervises both our internal cybersecurity personnel and our retained external cybersecurity consultants, and works with all divisional, manufacturing and functional teams within Corning on cybersecurity issues. The team’s efforts to prevent, detect, mitigate and remediate cybersecurity risks and incidents are enhanced by briefings from internal security personnel, by receipt of threat intelligence and other information obtained from governmental, public or private sources, including external consultants engaged by us, periodic assessments against the NIST CSF and through alerts and reports produced by security tools deployed in our IT environment.

While Corning has had to address various cybersecurity threats in the ordinary course of its business, we have not identified risks from cybersecurity threats, including as a result of any prior cybersecurity incidents, that have or are reasonably likely to materially affect us, including our operations, business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition.

We operate 124 manufacturing plants and processing facilities in 15 countries, of which approximately 33% are in the U.S. We own approximately 53% of our executive and corporate buildings, with 93% located in and around Corning, New York. We also own approximately 63% of our sales and administrative office square footage, 80% of our research and development square footage, 60% of our manufacturing square footage and 8% of our warehousing square footage.

Manufacturing, sales and administrative, research and development facilities and warehouse facilities have an aggregate floor space of approximately 65.5 million square feet. The following table presents the distribution of this total area:

Total assets and capital expenditures by reportable segment are included in Note 17 (Reportable Segments) in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. Information concerning lease commitments is included in Note 5 (Leases) in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Corning is a defendant in various lawsuits and is subject to various claims that arise in the normal course of business, the most significant of which are summarized in Note 12 (Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees) in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, the likelihood that the ultimate disposition of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, liquidity, or results of operations, is remote.

Corning has been designated by federal or state governments under environmental laws, including Superfund, as a potentially responsible party that may be liable for cleanup costs associated with 19 hazardous waste sites. It is Corning’s policy to accrue for its estimated liability related to such hazardous waste sites and other environmental liabilities related to property owned by Corning based on expert analysis and continual monitoring by both internal and external consultants. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, Corning had accrued approximately $88 million and $109 million, respectively, for the estimated undiscounted liability for environmental cleanup and related litigation. Based upon the information developed to date, management believes that the accrued reserve is a reasonable estimate of the Company’s liability.

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

As of December 31, 2023, there were approximately 11,000 registered holders of common stock and approximately 777,000 beneficial shareholders.

Information with respect to securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans is included herein under Item 12.

The following graph illustrates the cumulative total shareholder return over the last five years of Corning’s common stock compared with the cumulative total return of companies on the Standard & Poor's (“S&P’s”) 500 Stock Index and the S&P Communications Equipment companies. This graph assumes the investment of $100 on December 31, 2018 and the reinvestment of all dividends since that date.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) was prepared to provide a historical and prospective narrative on our financial condition and results of operations through the eyes of management and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes to those financial statements. The discussion and analysis of the 2022 to 2021 year-over-year changes are not included herein and can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Our capabilities are versatile and synergistic, allowing Corning to evolve to meet changing market needs, while also helping customers capture new opportunities in dynamic industries. Corning strives to be a catalyst for positive change and to help move the world forward. The Company drives profitable multiyear growth by inventing, making and selling life-changing products – all of which is based on a set of vital capabilities that are increasingly relevant to profound transformations that touch many facets of daily life. Today, Corning's markets include optical communications, mobile consumer electronics, display, automotive, solar, semiconductor and life sciences.

At the start of 2023, we introduced plans to improve profitability and cash flow. Throughout the year, we took action to restore our productivity ratios to historical levels and to raise price to more appropriately share inflation with our customers. Our results demonstrated that we continue to make solid progress advancing market leadership, strengthening our profitability, and improving our cash flow generation even in the lower-demand environment that we are experiencing.

Although demand in most of our markets is temporarily depressed due to supply chain corrections and macroeconomic factors, we are entering 2024 operationally strong and we remain confident that key industry growth drivers are intact: specifically, wireless, broadband, 5G, cloud computing and advanced artificial intelligence in Optical communications, increased screen sizes in Display Technologies, tighter emission regulations that drive more and better filtration in Environmental Technologies and the need for more and more advanced cover materials in Mobile Consumer Electronics. Additionally, we have built competitively-advantaged positions in the markets in which we participate and we believe we are the technology leader, as well as the lowest-cost producer, in those markets.

Therefore, as we expect our markets to normalize in the midterm, we believe we are well-positioned with the production capacity and technical capabilities necessary to capture this growth opportunity and deliver powerful incremental profit and cash to our shareholders.

We expect core net sales of approximately $3.1 billion for the first quarter of 2024.

The following table presents selected highlights from our operations (in millions):

Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2023 decreased by $1.6 billion, or 11%, when compared to the same period in 2022. The decrease was primarily driven by a decline in segment sales for Optical Communications of $1.0 billion, Life Sciences of $0.3 billion and Hemlock and Emerging Growth Businesses of $0.2 billion, partially offset by an increase in segment sales for Environmental Technologies of $0.2 billion. Refer to the “Segment Analysis” section of our MD&A below for a discussion of net sales by segment.

In 2023 and 2022, sales in international markets accounted for 67% and 65% of total net sales, respectively.

The types of expenses included in cost of sales are: raw materials consumption, including direct and indirect materials; salaries, wages and benefits; depreciation and amortization; production utilities; production-related purchasing; warehousing (including receiving and inspection); repairs and maintenance; inter-location inventory transfer costs; production and warehousing facility property insurance; rent for production facilities; freight and logistics costs; and other production overhead.

Gross margin decreased by $575 million, or 13% and gross margin as a percentage of net sales decreased by 1 percentage point when compared to 2022. The decrease in gross margin is primarily driven by the decrease in net sales, as discussed above. Throughout 2023, actions were taken by management to improve profitability, including raising prices, restoring our productivity levels and normalizing inventory levels, which has resulted in improvements in gross margin as a percentage of net sales throughout the year despite the decline in sales.

The types of expenses included in selling, general and administrative expenses are: salaries, wages and benefits; share-based compensation expense; travel; sales commissions; professional fees; and depreciation and amortization, utilities and rent for administrative facilities.

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $55 million, or 3%, and increased as a percentage of net sales when compared to 2022, primarily due to the decline in net sales.

Research, development and engineering expenses increased by $29 million, or 3%, and increased as a percentage of net sales when compared to 2022, primarily due to the decline in net sales.

Included in translated earnings contract gain, net, is the impact of foreign currency contracts which economically hedge the translation exposure arising from movements in the Japanese yen, South Korean won, New Taiwan dollar, euro, Chinese yuan and British pound and its impact on net income.

The following table provides detailed information on the impact of translated earnings contract gain, net (in millions):

Corning’s income before income taxes decreased by $981 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, when compared to the same period in 2022, which is primarily driven by a $575 million decline in gross margin, as discussed above, and $190 million less in translated earnings contract gain, net.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, the effective tax rate differed from the U.S. statutory rate of 21% primarily due to tax credits generated, non-taxable items, foreign derived intangible income and stock compensation windfall deductions, partially offset by changes in valuation allowance assessments, non-deductible items and tax reserves.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the effective tax rate differed from the U.S. statutory rate of 21% primarily due to changes in tax reserves, foreign earnings and valuation allowance assessments, partially offset by changes in tax credits generated and foreign derived intangible income.

The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2023 decreased compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 primarily due to changes in pretax earnings, non-taxable items and tax reserves, partially offset by changes in valuation allowance assessments, non-deductible items and foreign derived intangible income.

Refer to Note 6 (Income Taxes) in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements for further details regarding income tax matters.

The U.S. enacted the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA”) in August 2022, which, among other sections, creates a new book minimum tax of at least 15% of consolidated pre-tax income for corporations with average book income in excess of $1 billion. The IRA also provides credit incentives to taxpayers based on the type and amount of manufacturing activity performed. None of the provisions within the IRA are expected to have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or cash flow.

In December 2022, the European Union (“EU”) Member States formally adopted the EU Pillar Two Framework (“Pillar Two Framework”), which generally provides for a 15% global minimum effective tax rate, based on the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines. Certain countries have enacted this tax law change, with an effective date starting January 1, 2024 and January 1, 2025, for certain aspects of the directive. The Company continues to evaluate the potential impact of the Pillar Two Framework, but we do not currently believe it will have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or cash flow.

As a result of the items discussed above, net income attributable to Corning Incorporated and per share data were as follows (in millions, except per share amounts):

The $298 million decrease in comprehensive income attributable to Corning Incorporated was primarily due to the $738 million decrease in net income partially offset by a $549 million improvement in net losses on foreign currency translation adjustments, driven by the Japanese yen, Chinese yuan, South Korean won and euro.

Financial results for the reportable segments and Hemlock and Emerging Growth Businesses are prepared on a basis consistent with the internal disaggregation of financial information to assist the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) in making internal operating decisions, which is more fully discussed within Note 17 (Reportable Segments) in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

The following table presents segment net sales by reportable segment and Hemlock and Emerging Growth Businesses (in millions):

The decrease in segment net sales was primarily driven by a decline in volume due to lower order rates from carriers as they continue to draw down inventory.

The increase in segment net sales was primarily due to higher volumes, primarily attributable to the recovery of panel maker utilization, as well as a result of price increases in the second half of 2023.

The decrease in segment net sales was primarily due to lower demand in the smartphone, tablet and notebook markets, partially offset by continued demand for semiconductor materials.

The increase in segment net sales was primarily due to increased demand of automotive products, including gasoline particulate filter adoption in China.

The decrease in segment net sales was primarily due to lower demand for COVID-related products in China and the impact of customers in North America and Europe drawing down inventory.

The decrease was primarily driven by a decrease in our HSG business due to declines in solar-grade polysilicon prices and lower sales in our Pharmaceutical Technologies business as the last of the volume commitments for COVID-related products were completed in the second quarter.

The following table presents segment net income by reportable segment and Hemlock and Emerging Growth Businesses (in millions):

The decrease in segment net income was primarily driven by a decline in sales volume, as outlined above, partially offset by improvements from pricing and productivity actions.

The increase in segment net income was primarily driven by the increase in sales, as outlined above, and improved profitability which includes price increases in the second half of 2023.

The decrease in segment net income was primarily driven by the decline in sales volume, as outlined above, and the inflationary impact on raw materials.

The increase in segment net income was primarily driven by the increase in sales, as outlined above, and as a result of improvements from productivity actions.

The decrease in segment net income was primarily driven by lower sales volume, as outlined above.

The decrease was primarily driven by our HSG and Pharmaceutical Technologies businesses due to lower sales, as outlined above.

In managing the Company and assessing our financial performance, we adjust certain measures included in our consolidated financial statements to exclude specific items to arrive at our core performance measures. These items include the impact of translating the Japanese yen-denominated debt, the impact of the translated earnings contracts, acquisition-related costs, certain discrete tax items and other tax-related adjustments, restructuring, impairment and other charges and credits, certain litigation, regulatory and other legal matters, pension mark-to-market adjustments and other items which do not reflect the ongoing operating results of the Company.

In addition, because a significant portion of our revenues and expenses are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, management believes it is important to understand the impact on sales and net income of translating these currencies into U.S. dollars. Therefore, management utilizes constant-currency reporting for the Display Technologies, Specialty Materials, Environmental Technologies and Life Sciences segments to exclude the impact from the Japanese yen, South Korean won, Chinese yuan, New Taiwan dollar and euro, as applicable to the segment. The most significant constant-currency adjustment relates to the Japanese yen exposure within the Display Technologies segment. The constant-currency rates established for our core performance measures are internally derived long-term management estimates, which are closely aligned with our hedging instrument rates. These hedging instruments may include, but are not limited to, foreign exchange forward or option contracts and foreign-denominated debt. For details of the rates used, please see the footnotes to the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures” section.

We believe that the use of constant-currency reporting allows management to understand our results without the volatility of currency fluctuations, analyze underlying trends in the businesses and establish operational goals and forecasts.

For a reconciliation of non-GAAP performance measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, please see “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures.”

The following table presents selected highlights from our operations, excluding certain items, (in millions, except per share amounts):

For the year ended December 31, 2023, we generated core net sales of $13.6 billion compared to core net sales for the year ended December 31, 2022 of $14.8 billion. The decrease in core net sales of $1.2 billion was primarily driven by lower reportable segment net sales in Optical Communications of $1.0 billion and Life Sciences of $0.3 billion. Net sales of reportable segment and Hemlock and Emerging Growth Businesses are discussed in detail in the “Segment Analysis” section of our MD&A.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, we generated core net income of $1.5 billion, or $1.70 per share, compared to core net income generated for the year ended December 31, 2022 of $1.8 billion, or $2.09 per share. The decrease in core net income of $331 million was driven by lower reportable segment net income in Optical Communications of $183 million, Specialty Materials of $138 million and Life Sciences of $103 million, offset by an increase in Environmental Technologies of $94 million and Display Technologies of $73 million. Net income of reportable segment and Hemlock and Emerging Growth Businesses are discussed in detail in the “Segment Analysis” section of our MD&A.

Core earnings per share decreased for the year ended December 31, 2023 to $1.70 per share, as a result of the decrease in core net income, as outlined above.

The following table sets forth the computation of core earnings per share (in millions, except per share amounts):

We utilize certain financial measures and key performance indicators that are not calculated in accordance with GAAP to assess our financial and operating performance. A non-GAAP financial measure is defined as a numerical measure of a company’s financial performance that (i) excludes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding amounts, that are included in the comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the consolidated statements of income or statements of cash flows, or (ii) includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, that are excluded from the comparable measure as calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the consolidated statements of income or statements of cash flows.

Core net sales, core net income and core earnings per share are non-GAAP financial measures utilized by our management to analyze financial performance without the impact of items that are driven by general economic conditions and events that do not reflect the underlying fundamentals and trends in our operations.

See “Items Adjusted from GAAP Measures” for the descriptions of the footnoted reconciling items.

The following tables reconcile our non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure (amounts in millions, except percentages and per share amounts):

See “Items Adjusted from GAAP Measures” for the descriptions of the footnoted reconciling items.

Items adjusted from GAAP measures to arrive at core performance measures are as follows:

Our financial condition and liquidity are strong. We are not aware of any known trends, demands, commitments, events or uncertainties that will result in or that are reasonably likely to result in a material decrease in our liquidity. In addition, other than items discussed, there are no known material trends, favorable or unfavorable, in our capital resources and no expected material changes in the mix of such resources.

Our major sources of funding for 2024 and beyond will be our operating cash flow, our existing balances of cash and cash equivalents and proceeds from any issuances of debt. We believe we have sufficient liquidity to fund operations and meet our obligations for the foreseeable future. Such obligations include requirements for acquisitions, capital expenditures, debt repayments, dividend payments and share repurchase programs. We will continue to generate cash from operations and maintain access to our revolving credit facilities and commercial paper programs as discussed in more detail below.

We fund our working capital with cash from operations and short-term borrowings, including commercial paper, when necessary. In addition, we receive upfront cash from customers relating to long-term supply agreements, as well as cash incentives from government entities generally for capital expansion and related expenses.

The following table presents balance sheet and working capital measures (in millions):

We perform comprehensive reviews of our significant customers and their creditworthiness by analyzing their financial strength at least annually or more frequently for customers where we have identified a measure of increased risk. We closely monitor payments and developments to identify potential customer credit issues. We are not aware of any customer credit issues that could have a material impact on our liquidity.

We participate in accounts receivable management programs, including factoring arrangements to sell certain accounts receivable to third-party financial institutions or accelerate collections through our customer’s supply chain financing arrangements. Sales of accounts receivable are reflected as a reduction of accounts receivable in the consolidated balance sheets and the proceeds are included in cash flows from operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. By utilizing these types of programs, we have accelerated the collection of $1.5 billion and $1.6 billion of accounts receivable cumulatively throughout the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Of these amounts, we believe $1.2 billion would have been collected during the normal course of business within each year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

Net cash provided by operating activities decreased by $610 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, when compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily driven by the decrease in net income partially offset by improvements in working capital, mostly due to the reduction in inventory levels.

Net cash used in investing activities improved by $355 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, when compared to the same period last year, primarily driven by lower capital expenditures of $214 million, lower premiums paid on hedging contracts of $66 million and higher realized gains on translated earnings contracts of $26 million.

Net cash used in financing activities improved by $766 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, when compared to the same period last year, primarily driven by the $918 million proceeds received from the issuance of euro-denominated notes in May 2023 and the purchase of common stock during the year ended December 31, 2022 of $221 million compared to no purchases of common stock made during year ended December 31, 2023. These financing cash flow improvements were partially offset by increased debt repayments of $197 million made during the year ended December 31, 2023.

We generate strong ongoing cash flows from operations, which is our principal source of liquidity. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, cash flows provided by operating activities were $2.0 billion and $2.6 billion, respectively.

As of December 31, 2023, our cash and cash equivalents and available credit capacity included (in millions):

We ended 2023 with $1.8 billion of cash and cash equivalents. Our cash and cash equivalents are held in various locations throughout the world and are generally unrestricted. We utilize a variety of strategies to ensure that our worldwide cash is available in the locations in which it is needed. As of December 31, 2023, approximately 60% of the consolidated cash and cash equivalents were held outside the U.S.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company distributed an immaterial amount from foreign subsidiaries to their respective U.S. parent companies. As of December 31, 2023, Corning had approximately $1.4 billion of indefinitely reinvested foreign earnings. If we distribute our foreign cash balances to the U.S. or to other foreign subsidiaries, we could be required to accrue and pay withholding taxes. We do not foresee a need to repatriate any earnings for which we asserted permanent reinvestment. However, to help fund cash needs of the U.S. or other international subsidiaries as they arise, we repatriate available cash from certain foreign subsidiaries whose earnings are not permanently reinvested.

We have a commercial paper program pursuant to which we may issue short-term, unsecured commercial paper notes up to a maximum aggregate principal amount outstanding at any one time of $1.5 billion. Under this program, we may issue commercial paper from time to time and will use the proceeds for general corporate purposes. As of December 31, 2023, we did not have any commercial paper outstanding.

Our $1.5 billion Revolving Credit Agreement is available to support obligations under the commercial paper program and for general corporate purposes, if needed. There were no outstanding amounts under this facility as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. In addition, we had a 25 billion Japanese yen liquidity facility, which was scheduled to mature in 2025. In the fourth quarter of 2023, the 25 billion Japanese yen liquidity facility was terminated. There were never any amounts outstanding under this facility.

Our Revolving Credit Agreement includes affirmative and negative covenants with which we must comply, including a leverage (debt to capital ratio) financial covenant. The required leverage ratio is a maximum of 60%. As of December 31, 2023, our leverage using this measure was approximately 39%. As of December 31, 2023, we were in compliance with all such covenants.

Our debt instruments contain customary event of default provisions, which allow the lenders the option of accelerating all obligations upon the occurrence of certain events. In addition, some of our debt instruments contain a cross default provision, whereby an uncured default exceeding a specified amount on one debt obligation, also would be considered a default under the terms of another debt instrument. As of December 31, 2023, we were in compliance with all such provisions.

We have access to certain Chinese yuan-denominated unsecured variable rate loan facilities, whose proceeds are used for capital investment and general corporate purposes. As of December 31, 2023, borrowings totaled $293 million and these facilities had variable interest rates ranging from 3.2% to 4.1% and maturities ranging from 2024 to 2032. As of December 31, 2023, Corning had 779 million Chinese yuan of unused capacity, equivalent to approximately $110 million.

On May 15, 2023, the Company issued €300 million 3.875% Notes due 2026 (“2026 Notes”) and €550 million 4.125% Notes due 2031 (“2031 Notes”). The proceeds from the 2026 Notes and 2031 Notes were received in euros and converted to U.S. dollars on the date of issuance. The net proceeds received were approximately $918 million and will be used for general corporate purposes. As of December 31, 2023, the U.S. dollar equivalent carrying value of the euro-denominated long-term debt was $932 million.

As a well-known seasoned issuer, we filed an automatic shelf registration with the SEC on December 1, 2023. Under this shelf registration we may offer, from time to time, debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares and warrants.

We receive cash deposits or consideration, generally non-refundable, from customers under long-term supply agreements. In addition, we receive incentives from government entities, typically in the form of cash incentives primarily to offset capital expenditures or related expenses. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the amounts received from these types of arrangements were $0.3 billion and $0.4 billion, respectively.

Refer to Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) and Note 3 (Revenue) in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.

We had 2,300 outstanding shares of Fixed Rate Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A (the “Preferred Stock”) as of December 31, 2020. On January 16, 2021, the Preferred Stock became convertible into 115 million common shares. On April 5, 2021 we executed the Share Repurchase Agreement (“SRA”) with Samsung Display Co., Ltd. (“SDC”) and the Preferred Stock was fully converted as of April 8, 2021. Immediately following the conversion, we repurchased and retired 35 million of the common shares held by SDC for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.5 billion, of which approximately $507 million was paid in April in each of 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Pursuant to the SRA, with respect to the remaining 80 million common shares outstanding held by SDC:

Refer to Note 14 (Shareholders’ Equity) in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.

In 2019, the Board authorized the repurchase of up to $5.0 billion of additional common stock upon the completion of the 2018 repurchase plan (“2019 Authorization”).

In addition to the common shares repurchased under the SRA, as discussed above, we repurchased 6.0 million shares of common stock under our 2019 Authorization for approximately $221 million, respectively, during the year ended December 31, 2022. No shares were repurchased under our 2019 Authorization during the year ended December 31, 2023.

As of December 31, 2023, approximately $3.3 billion remains available under our 2019 Authorization, which does not have an expiration date and may be amended or terminated by the Board of Directors at any time without prior notice.

During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, total dividends paid to common shareholders were $989 million, $932 million and $871 million, respectively. The Board’s decision to declare and pay future dividends will depend on our income and liquidity position, among other factors. We expect to declare quarterly dividends and fund payments with cash from operations.

On February 7, 2024, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.28 per share of common stock, beginning with the dividend paid in the first quarter of 2024. The dividend will be payable on March 28, 2024.

Capital expenditures were $1.4 billion, $1.6 billion and $1.6 billion during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. We expect our 2024 capital expenditures to be lower than 2023.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, Corning repurchased ¥14.7 billion (equivalent to $100 million) of ¥9.8 billion 0.992% notes due 2027 and ¥4.9 billion 1.043% notes due 2028.

As of December 31, 2023, we had $320 million of long-term debt that is due in less than one year. The maturity schedule of our existing long-term debt does not require significant cash outflows, with approximately $1.4 billion due over the next five years.

Our global pension plans, including our unfunded and non-qualified plans, were 81% funded as of December 31, 2023. Our largest single pension plan is our U.S. qualified plan, which accounted for 77% of our consolidated defined benefit pension plans’ projected benefit obligation, was 92% funded as of December 31, 2023.

The funded status of our pension plans is dependent upon multiple factors including actuarial assumptions, interest rates at year-end, prior investment returns and contributions made to the plans. During the year ended December 31, 2023, Corning made no voluntary contributions to our domestic defined benefit pension plan and cash contributions to our international pension plans were $25 million. During 2024, the Company anticipates making cash contributions of $11 million to the international pension plans.

Refer to Note 11 (Employee Retirement Plans) in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.

A summary of our contractual obligations and other commercial commitments as of December 31, 2023 are detailed within Note 12 (Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees) in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Off balance sheet arrangements are transactions, agreements, or other contractual arrangements with an unconsolidated entity for which we have an obligation to the entity that is not recorded in our consolidated financia

•	Specialty Materials: patents relating to protective cover glass materials and coatings, ophthalmic glasses and polarizing dyes and semiconductor/microlithography optics and blanks, metrology instrumentation and laser/precision optics, glass polarizers, specialty fiber and refractories.
•	Environmental Technologies: patents relating to cellular ceramic honeycomb products, together with ceramic batch and binder system compositions, honeycomb extrusion and firing processes, and honeycomb extrusion dies and equipment for the high-volume, low-cost manufacture of such products.

	Number of patents worldwide		U.S. patents		Important U.S. patents expiring between 2024 and 2026
Optical Communications		4,824		2,213		31
Display Technologies		1,135		154		9
Specialty Materials		2,837		866		14
Environmental Technologies		936		346		9
Life Sciences		564		158		4

•	The failure or inability to accurately forecast demand and obtain sufficient quantities of materials, equipment and services on a cost-effective basis;
•	Volatility in the availability and cost of materials, equipment and services, including rising prices due to inflation or scarcity of availability;
•	Difficulties or delays in obtaining required import or export approvals;
•	Shipment delays due to transportation interruptions or capacity constraints;
•	A worldwide shortage of semiconductor components or other issues;
•	Information technology or infrastructure failures, including those of a third-party supplier or service provider; and
•	Natural disasters, the impacts of climate change, or other events beyond Corning’s control (such as earthquakes, utility interruptions, tsunamis, hurricanes, typhoons, floods, storms or extreme weather conditions, fires, regional economic downturns, regional or global health crisis events, geopolitical turmoil, increased trade restrictions between the U.S. and China and other countries, social unrest, political instability, terrorism, or acts of war) in locations where it or its customers or suppliers have manufacturing, research, engineering or other operations.

•	Customers may possess substantial leverage in negotiating contractual obligations, including liability provisions; and
•	Mergers and consolidations between customers could result in further concentration of the customer base.

●	a continuous vulnerability management process to monitor and identify threats in our environment, including our IT networks and legacy systems, that could potentially have a materially adverse impact on our critical systems, information and broader enterprise IT environment;
●	the use of reputable cybersecurity consultants and other third-party experts to enhance our cybersecurity posture, assist us in evaluating risks, conduct security assessments and provide guidance so the Company can maintain a posture of continual enhancement of our cybersecurity management and strategy;
●	cybersecurity awareness training for our employees, incident response personnel and senior management; and
●	a risk management process for critical third-party service providers, suppliers and vendors that includes due diligence in selection and periodic monitoring to ensure that they adhere to applicable cybersecurity standards.

	Number of combined end customers		% of total segment net sales in 2023
Optical Communications		2		21	%
Display Technologies		3		44	%
Specialty Materials		2		44	%
Environmental Technologies		3		68	%
Life Sciences		2		41	%

(million square feet)	Total		Domestic		Foreign
Manufacturing		55.8		22.5		33.3
Sales and administrative		2.4		1.8		0.6
Research and development		3.9		1.9		2.0
Warehouse		3.4		2.6		0.8
Total		65.5		28.8		36.7

Execution date	Total number of shares purchased ⁽¹⁾		Average price paid per share ⁽²⁾		Number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced programs		Approximate dollar value of shares that may be purchased under the publicly announced programs
October 1-31, 2023		78,098	$	29.94		—
November 1-30, 2023		11,783	$	26.70		—
December 1-31, 2023		35,216	$	29.02		—
Total		125,097	$	29.38		—	$	3,301,085,426

	Year ended December 31,						% change
	2023			2022			23 vs. 22

Net sales	$	12,588		$	14,189			(11	%)

Cost of sales	$	8,657		$	9,683			(11	%)

Gross margin	$	3,931		$	4,506			(13	%)
Gross margin %		31	%		32	%

Selling, general and administrative expenses	$	1,843		$	1,898			(3	%)
as a % of net sales		15	%		13	%

Research, development and engineering expenses	$	1,076		$	1,047			3	%
as a % of net sales		9	%		7	%

Translated earnings contract gain, net	$	161		$	351			(54	%)

Income before income taxes	$	816		$	1,797			(55	%)

Provision for income taxes	$	(168	)	$	(411	)		59	%
Effective tax rate		20.6	%		22.9	%

Net income attributable to Corning Incorporated	$	581		$	1,316			(56	%)

Comprehensive income attributable to Corning Incorporated	$	363		$	661			(45	%)

	Income before tax			Net income			Income before tax		Net income		Income before tax			Net income
	2023						2022				2023 vs. 2022
Hedges related to translated earnings:
Realized gain, net ^{(1) (2)}	$	247		$	198		$	320	$	245	$	(73	)	$	(47	)
Unrealized (loss) gain, net⁽³⁾		(86	)		(68	)		31		24		(117	)		(92	)
Total translated earnings contract gain, net	$	161		$	130		$	351	$	269	$	(190	)	$	(139	)

(2)	For the year ended December 31, 2023, amount excludes $11 million gain related to a forward contract designated as a net investment hedge, which was reflected within investing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
(3)	The impact to income for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was primarily driven by Japanese yen, South Korean won and euro-denominated hedges of translated earnings.

	Year ended December 31,				$ change			% change
	2023		2022		23 vs. 22			23 vs. 22
Optical Communications	$	4,012	$	5,023	$	(1,011	)		(20	)%
Display Technologies		3,532		3,306		226			7	%
Specialty Materials		1,865		2,002		(137	)		(7	)%
Environmental Technologies		1,766		1,584		182			11	%
Life Sciences		959		1,228		(269	)		(22	)%
Net sales of reportable segments		12,134		13,143		(1,009	)		(8	)%
Hemlock and Emerging Growth Businesses		1,446		1,662		(216	)		(13	)%
Net sales of reportable segments and Hemlock and Emerging Growth Businesses ⁽¹⁾	$	13,580	$	14,805	$	(1,225	)		(8	)%

	Year ended December 31, 2023
						Net income
			Income			attributable			Effective
	Net		before			to Corning			tax			Per
	sales		income taxes			Incorporated			rate (a)(b)			share
As reported - GAAP	$	12,588	$	816		$	581			20.6	%	$	0.68
Constant-currency adjustment ⁽¹⁾		992		744			550						0.64
Translation gain on Japanese yen-denominated debt ⁽²⁾				(100	)		(81	)					(0.09	)
Translated earnings contract gain ⁽³⁾				(161	)		(130	)					(0.15	)
Acquisition-related costs ⁽⁴⁾				131			90						0.10
Discrete tax items and other tax-related adjustments ⁽⁵⁾							34						0.04
Restructuring, impairment and other charges and credits ⁽⁶⁾				471			378						0.44
Litigation, regulatory and other legal matters ⁽⁷⁾				61			54						0.06
Pension mark-to-market adjustment ⁽⁸⁾				15			12						0.01
Gain on investments ⁽⁹⁾				(10	)		(10	)					(0.01	)
Gain on sale of assets ⁽¹⁰⁾				(20	)		(15	)					(0.02	)
Core performance measures	$	13,580	$	1,947		$	1,463			20.7	%	$	1.70

(a)	Based upon statutory tax rates in the specific jurisdiction for each event.
(b)	The calculation of the effective tax rate for GAAP and Core excludes net income attributable to non-controlling interest of approximately $67 million and $81 million, respectively.

	Year ended December 31, 2022
							Net income
				Income			attributable		Effective
		Net		before			to Corning		tax			Per
		sales		income taxes			Incorporated		rate (a)(b)			share
As reported - GAAP	$	14,189	$	1,797		$	1,316		22.9	%	$	1.54
Constant-currency adjustment ⁽¹⁾		616		480			369					0.43
Translation gain on Japanese yen-denominated debt ⁽²⁾				(191	)		(146	)				(0.17	)
Translated earnings contract gain ⁽³⁾				(348	)		(267	)				(0.31	)
Acquisition-related costs ⁽⁴⁾				140			109					0.13
Discrete tax items and other tax-related adjustments ⁽⁵⁾							84					0.10
Restructuring, impairment and other charges and credits ⁽⁶⁾				414			316					0.37
Litigation, regulatory and other legal matters ⁽⁷⁾				100			77					0.09
Pension mark-to-market adjustment ⁽⁸⁾				11			10					0.01
Gain on investments ⁽⁹⁾				(8	)		(8	)				(0.01	)
Gain on sale of business ⁽¹¹⁾				(53	)		(41	)				(0.05	)
Contingent consideration ⁽¹²⁾				(32	)		(25	)				(0.03	)
Core performance measures	$	14,805	$	2,310		$	1,794		19.3	%	$	2.09

(1)	Constant-currency adjustment: As a significant portion of revenues and expenses are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, management believes it is important to understand the impact on sales and net income of translating these currencies into U.S. dollars. The Company utilizes constant-currency reporting for Display Technologies, Specialty Materials, Environmental Technologies and Life Sciences segments for the Japanese yen, Korean won, Chinese yuan, New Taiwan dollar and euro, as applicable to the segment. The constant-currency rates established for our core performance measures are internally derived long-term management estimates, which are closely aligned with our hedging instrument rates. These hedging instruments may include, but are not limited to, foreign exchange forward or option contracts and foreign-denominated debt. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the adjustment primarily relates to our Japanese yen exposure due to the difference in the average spot rate compared to our core rate. We believe that the use of constant-currency reporting allows management to understand our results without the volatility of currency fluctuation, analyze underlying trends in the businesses and establish operational goals and forecasts.

	Constant-currency rates are as follows and are applied to all periods presented and to all foreign exchange exposures during the period, even though we may be less than 100% hedged:
	Currency	Japanese yen	Korean won	Chinese yuan	New Taiwan dollar	Euro
	Rate	¥107	₩1,175	¥6.7	NT$31	€.81

(2)	Translation of Japanese yen-denominated debt: Amount reflects the gain or loss on the translation of our yen-denominated debt to U.S. dollars.
(3)	Translated earnings contract: Amount reflects the impact of the realized and unrealized gains and losses from the Japanese yen, South Korean won, Chinese yuan, euro and New Taiwan dollar-denominated foreign currency hedges related to translated earnings, as well as the unrealized gains and losses of our British pound-denominated foreign currency hedges related to translated earnings.
(4)	Acquisition-related costs: Amount reflects intangible amortization, inventory valuation adjustments and external acquisition-related deal costs, as well as other transaction related costs.
(5)	Discrete tax items and other tax-related adjustments: Amount reflects certain discrete period tax items such as changes in tax law, the impact of tax audits, changes in tax reserves and changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances, as well as other tax-related adjustments.
(6)	Restructuring, impairment and other charges and credits: Amount reflects certain restructuring, impairment losses and other charges and credits, as well as other expenses, including severance, accelerated depreciation, asset write-offs and facility repairs resulting from power outages, which are not related to ongoing operations. The activity during 2023 primarily relates to asset write-offs associated with the exit of certain facilities and product lines and severance charges across all segments. The activity in 2022 primarily relates to capacity optimization for Display Technologies, Specialty Materials and an emerging growth business and severance charges across all segments.
(7)	Litigation, regulatory and other legal matters: Amount reflects developments in commercial litigation, intellectual property disputes, adjustments to our estimated liability for environmental-related items and other legal matters.
(8)	Pension mark-to-market adjustment: Amount primarily reflects defined benefit pension mark-to-market gains and losses, which arise from changes in actuarial assumptions and the difference between actual and expected returns on plan assets and discount rates.
(9)	Gain on investments: Amount reflects the gain or loss recognized on investment due to mark-to-market adjustments for the change in fair value or the disposition of the investment.
(10)	Gain on sale of assets: Amount represents the gain recognized for the sale of assets.
(11)	Gain on sale of business: Amount reflects the gain recognized for the sale of a business.
(12)	Contingent consideration: Amount reflects the fair value mark-to-market cost adjustment of contingent consideration.

	December 31,
	2023			2022
Working capital	$	2,893		$	2,278
Current ratio	1.7:1			1.4:1
Trade accounts receivable, net of doubtful accounts	$	1,572		$	1,721
Days sales outstanding		47			45
Inventories	$	2,666		$	2,904
Inventory turns		3.2			3.4
Days payable outstanding ⁽¹⁾		52			52
Long-term debt	$	7,206		$	6,687
Total debt	$	7,526		$	6,911
Total debt to total capital		39	%		36	%

	December 31, 2023
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,779

Available credit capacity:
U.S. dollar revolving credit facility	$	1,500
Chinese yuan facilities	$	110