Short Interest in LG Display Co., Ltd. (NYSE:LPL) Rises By 221.0%

Key Points

• Short interest rose 221%, jumping to 2,296,292 shares as of March 31, with a short-interest ratio of 1.1 days and about 0.2% of the float sold short.
• Shares traded up roughly 6% to $4.49 (market cap ≈ $4.49B) and sit in a 52‑week range of $2.70–$5.67; the company reported a ($0.14) EPS last quarter on $4.61B revenue, and analysts forecast full‑year EPS of 0.59.
• Market sentiment is mixed: most analysts rate the stock as "Reduce"/Hold, even as institutional players like Jane Street and several others have recently increased or initiated positions.

LG Display Co., Ltd. (NYSE:LPL - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totaling 2,296,292 shares, an increase of 221.0% from the March 15th total of 715,280 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,182,016 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.1 days. Currently, 0.2% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

LG Display Stock Up 6.0%

Shares of LPL traded up $0.26 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $4.49. The stock had a trading volume of 2,324,355 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,330,641. LG Display has a 1-year low of $2.70 and a 1-year high of $5.67. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $4.19 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $4.45. The company has a market cap of $4.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.61, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 1.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 0.73 and a quick ratio of 0.46.

LG Display (NYSE:LPL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 13th. The electronics maker reported ($0.14) earnings per share for the quarter. LG Display had a net margin of 0.98% and a return on equity of 3.26%. The firm had revenue of $4.61 billion during the quarter. Equities research analysts expect that LG Display will post 0.59 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Jane Street Group LLC grew its position in shares of LG Display by 52.9% in the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 58,648 shares of the electronics maker's stock valued at $182,000 after purchasing an additional 20,285 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning purchased a new stake in shares of LG Display during the second quarter worth about $39,000. Rhumbline Advisers raised its position in shares of LG Display by 3.4% in the second quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 375,539 shares of the electronics maker's stock valued at $1,284,000 after buying an additional 12,198 shares during the last quarter. XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new position in shares of LG Display in the second quarter valued at approximately $46,000. Finally, CW Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of LG Display in the second quarter valued at approximately $56,000.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have commented on LPL shares. Wall Street Zen cut shares of LG Display from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, March 7th. Weiss Ratings reissued a "sell (d-)" rating on shares of LG Display in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of LG Display from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, March 30th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, LG Display presently has an average rating of "Reduce".

About LG Display

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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