LG Display (NYSE:LPL) Shares Gap Down Following Weak Earnings

Key Points

• LG Display reported an EPS loss of ($0.24) versus a $0.17 consensus (a $0.41 miss), and the stock gapped down from $4.36 to open at $4.18, last trading near $3.99 on heavy volume.
• Analyst sentiment is broadly negative with a MarketBeat consensus rating of "Reduce" (three Holds, one Sell), although Wall Street Zen recently upgraded the stock to Buy while Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a Sell (D-).
• Fundamentals show weak profitability and liquidity — negative ROE and net margin, a negative P/E (-23.15), current ratio of 0.62 — and a market cap of about $3.94 billion.

Shares of LG Display Co., Ltd. (NYSE:LPL - Get Free Report) gapped down before the market opened on Wednesday following a dissappointing earnings announcement. The stock had previously closed at $4.36, but opened at $4.18. LG Display shares last traded at $3.9850, with a volume of 410,114 shares trading hands.

The electronics maker reported ($0.24) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.17 by ($0.41). LG Display had a negative return on equity of 3.22% and a negative net margin of 0.94%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

LPL has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Wall Street Zen raised LG Display from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, November 22nd. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "sell (d-)" rating on shares of LG Display in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, LG Display currently has a consensus rating of "Reduce".

Institutional Trading of LG Display

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. PDS Planning Inc boosted its holdings in shares of LG Display by 9.8% in the fourth quarter. PDS Planning Inc now owns 85,405 shares of the electronics maker's stock worth $360,000 after buying an additional 7,608 shares during the period. CWM LLC boosted its stake in LG Display by 14.4% in the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 27,617 shares of the electronics maker's stock worth $116,000 after purchasing an additional 3,469 shares during the period. Intelligence Driven Advisers LLC acquired a new position in LG Display in the 4th quarter worth approximately $58,000. Daytona Street Capital LLC purchased a new position in LG Display during the 4th quarter worth approximately $126,000. Finally, EdgeRock Capital LLC acquired a new stake in LG Display during the 4th quarter valued at $80,000.

LG Display Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $3.94 billion, a PE ratio of -23.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 1.50. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $4.28 and a 200-day moving average price of $4.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 0.62 and a quick ratio of 0.37.

LG Display Company Profile

LG Display Co, Ltd., headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, is a global manufacturer of thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels. The company designs and produces display solutions for a wide range of applications, including televisions, desktop monitors, notebook computers, tablets, smartphones, signage and automotive screens. Its product offerings span large-screen television modules, ultra-high definition monitors, flexible and transparent OLED displays, and specialized industrial panels.

LG Display operates a network of production facilities and research centers across Asia, including major manufacturing sites in Paju and Gumi, South Korea, as well as Wuhan, China.

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