Has Corning Become the Perfect Stock?

Every investor would love to stumble upon the perfect stock. But will you ever really find a stock that provides everything you could possibly want?

One thing's for sure: You'll never discover truly great investments unless you actively look for them. Let's discuss the ideal qualities of a perfect stock, and then decide if Corning (GLW -0.54%) fits the bill.

The quest for perfection
Stocks that look great based on one factor may prove horrible elsewhere, making due diligence a crucial part of your investing research. The best stocks excel in many different areas, including these important factors:

• Growth. Expanding businesses show healthy revenue growth. While past growth is no guarantee that revenue will keep rising, it's certainly a better sign than a stagnant top line.
• Margins. Higher sales mean nothing if a company can't produce profits from them. Strong margins ensure that company can turn revenue into profit.
• Balance sheet. At debt-laden companies, banks and bondholders compete with shareholders for management's attention. Companies with strong balance sheets don't have to worry about the distraction of debt.
• Money-making opportunities. Return on equity helps measure how well a company is finding opportunities to turn its resources into profitable business endeavors.
• Valuation. You can't afford to pay too much for even the best companies. By using normalized figures, you can see how a stock's simple earnings multiple fits into a longer-term context.
• Dividends. For tangible proof of profits, a check to shareholders every three months can't be beat. Companies with solid dividends and strong commitments to increasing payouts treat shareholders well.

With those factors in mind, let's take a closer look at Corning.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Total score = number of passes.

Since we looked at Corning last year, the company has lost a point. The company's dividend yield rose, but flagging returns on equity and revenue growth caused the score drop, and the stock has managed to eke out less than a 10% gain in the past year.

These days, most consumers know Corning for its Gorilla Glass, which helps protect smartphones and other mobile devices from scratching. But the company's biggest division is still in larger displays like LCD televisions, where the industry has really struggled to remain profitable. With big supply gluts in the TV market and competition from Universal Display (OLED 0.09%) and its organic LED technology, Corning will continue to see pressure as long as it gets such a big percentage of its overall revenue from the segment.

But many investors ignore Corning's lucrative joint ventures with Samsung and Dow Chemical (DOW). Neither may represent a huge growth opportunity, but as Fool analyst Austin Smith pointed out, Corning carries its interests in the ventures at a huge discount to their net income production potential. Over the long run, those businesses give Corning stability in the light of changing conditions in smartphone technology.

Corning isn't standing still, either. Earlier this year, Corning bought the Discovery Labware business from Becton Dickinson (BDX -1.43%), helping to enhance its Life Sciences division.

For Corning to improve, it needs to keep courting the huge sales that Apple (AAPL 0.52%) has generated from its iPhone and iPad lines while also reaching out in other directions. If it can succeed in doing so, then Corning offers a good value at current prices.

Keep searching
No stock is a sure thing, but some stocks are a lot closer to perfection than others. By looking for the perfect stock, you'll go a long way toward improving your investing prowess and learning how to separate the best investments from the rest.

This article has only scratched the surface of what Corning has to offer investors. Get the complete picture by picking up the Fool's new premium report on Corning. You'll learn all the pros and cons to determine whether Corning could be a perfect stock for your portfolio. Click here and get your copy today.

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