Nvidia's AI optics push gets a Corning boost

Nvidia stock rose about 4.4% midday after the company announced a deal to invest in Corning to add three new optical manufacturing plants in North Carolina and Texas, advancing its AI infrastructure push. The arrangement includes Nvidia’s option to invest up to $2.7 billion in Corning and warrants for up to 15 million Corning shares (exercise price $180) plus a pre-funded warrant for 3 million shares, continuing a string of optics-focused investments that began with earlier partnerships with Coherent and Lumentum. The move underscores Nvidia’s strategy to own more of the AI hardware supply chain as demand for faster, light-speed AI infrastructure grows.