Mad Money 08/14/26 | Audio Only
Speakers
Summary
Jim Cramer revisits his Kentucky trip to highlight the Apple-Corning manufacturing partnership. Apple CEO Tim Cook outlines a $600 billion U.S. manufacturing commitment covering cover glass, semiconductors, and rare earth magnets. Corning CEO Wendell Weeks discusses Apple cover glass exclusivity, AI data center fiber demand, carrier fiber, solar expansion, and tariff insulation. The episode frames Apple and Corning as beneficiaries of reshoring and AI infrastructure buildout.
- Apple plans to invest $600 billion in U.S. manufacturing across 79 factories over four years.
- Corning will make 100% of iPhone and Apple Watch cover glass in Harrodsburg, Kentucky.
- Apple is building a U.S. semiconductor supply chain involving TSMC, Amkor, Applied Materials, and GlobalWafers.
- Apple announced an MP Materials deal for U.S. rare earth magnets.
- Corning sees AI data center and carrier fiber as major growth drivers.
- Corning is expanding solar ingot and wafer production in Michigan.
- Corning says tariffs have minimal impact because it manufactures close to customers.
Ideas
Apple $600B U.S. manufacturing commitment strengthens company.
Apple is committing $600 billion over four years to U.S. manufacturing across 79 factories, including cover glass, semiconductors, and rare earth magnets; Cook argues this is a competitive, innovation-driven investment that shareholders support and that can create a ripple effect for American manufacturing.
Corning sole Apple cover glass supplier globally.
Corning is dedicating 100% of its Harrodsburg, Kentucky facility to Apple to produce all iPhone and Apple Watch cover glass globally, tripling production, increasing workforce by 50%, and adding three new manufacturing generations; Weeks says Corning's 175-year expertise and deep Apple integration make this almost impossible to replicate and support decades of products.
Apple builds end-to-end U.S. semiconductor supply chain.
Apple is stitching together an end-to-end U.S. semiconductor supply chain from polysilicon and GlobalWafers to TSMC's Arizona fab, Amkor packaging, and Applied Materials equipment; Cook says this advanced manufacturing can be done competitively in America and will help Apple and other companies.
