OLED is a display technology that enables thin, efficient, flexible and bright displays, TVs and lighting devices. OLED displays offer the world's best image quality - and enables future foldable and rollable displays (see more here - What is OLED?).
The OLED market is already a multi-billion dollar market, led by Samsung and LG Display with their smartphone and TV OLED businesses. It is estimated that OLED displays generated around $25 billion in revenues in 2018 (and analysts expect the market to continue its fast growth in the future).
OLED stocks
There are dozens of companies developing and producing OLEDs, from display makers such as Samsung, LG and BOE to smaller R&D startups and IP companies.
For public investors interested in the OLED market, there are several good options:
- Universal Display Corporation: UDC is an OLED pioneer, and holds many of the key patents in the industry (mostly around efficient phosphorescent OLED emitters). Virtually all AMOLED displays on the market adopt UDC's PHOLED materials, and the company experienced very fast growth in revenue in recent years. Universal Display's stock ticker is OLED, you can see the OLED share price here.
- eMagin: eMagin is an OLED microdisplay pioneer, and has been developing and producing such displays for many years, focusing on the defense market and recently also on the consumer VR/AR market. eMagin's stock ticker is EMAN.
- OLED display makers: OLED display makers can be a good investment opportunity - especially companies that have a focus on OLED displays - such as Samsung Display and LG display, BOE Display and more.
- OLED equipment makers: There are several public equipment companies (for example Coherent and Applied Materials) that enjoyed the recent OLED capacity expansion as new OLED fabs require new equipment to produce OLED displays. These companies could be a good investment opportunity to investors who believes a new wave of OLED capacity expansion is near.
For private investors who want to find early-stage startups, we offer the OLED crowdfunding arena, a new and innovative service!
We'll be happy to hear your thoughts on OLED investing - join the discussion at our investment forum!
The latest OLED stock news:
LG Display reports a positive Q2 2021 on increased OLED panel sales
LG Display posted its financial results for Q2 2021, with revenues up 31% from 2020 to $6 billion and a profit of around $370 million. This was the company's best quarter in terms of revenues - as it enjoyed high OLED TV and pOLED sales, an increase in LCD panel price and good performance in displays for IT products.
LG Display says it shipped over 3.5 million OLED TV panels in the first half of 2021, and it is on track to sell 8 million panels within the year. LGD aims to increase its capacity and produce 10 million OLED TV panels in 2022 and 11 million in 2023.
The US aims to block Wise Road Capital from acquiring Magnachip
Earlier this year OLED driver IC developer MagnaChip announced that it is being acquired by China-based Wise Road Capital, for $1.4 billion. A few days ago, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) issued an interim order that blocks the deal.
This is just an interim order, but according to reports it is unlikely that the US and Korea will allow the deal to go through, at least in its preset form. The US is expanding its fight against Chinese companies acquiring technologies. Korea is also worried as MagnaChip's OLED drivers are seen to be strategic to the country's OLED industry.
eMagin reports its financial results for Q1 2021
OLED microdisplay maker eMagin reported its financial results for Q1 2021. Revenues were $6.8 million up from $6.7 in Q1 2020. Operating loss was $2 million, up from $1.3 million in Q1 2020. Net loss was $7.4 million (including a $7.2 million warrant value loss).
At the end of March 31 2021, the company had $10.7 million in cash and equivalents. eMagin reports it is continuing to place down payments for equipment as part of the $39.1 million US government funds that were awarded last year to enhance its manufacturing capabilities in the US.
UDC reported its financial results for Q1 2021
Universal Display reported its financial results for Q1 2021. UDC's revenues for the quarter were $134 million (down from $141.5 million in Q4 2020 and up from $112.3 million from Q1 2020) and net income was $51.7 million.
At the end of the quarter, UDC had $727 million in cash or equivalents. The company retained its 2021 guidance with revenues between $530 - $560 million.
Samsung Electronics reports its Q1 2021 results
Samsung Electronics reported its financial results for Q1 2021. The company's revenues was 65.4 trillion Won (around $58.7 billion USD). Operating profit increased 4% from the past quarter to $8.4 billion, as Samsung enjoyed strong sales of phones and consumer electronics, which offset slower sales of displays and semiconductors.
The past quarter saw a fall in the revenues of Samsung's display business, due to weak seasonality of mobile products and a shortage of chips.Compared to Q1 2020, however, earnings improved due to increased adoption of OLED displays in smartphones.
LG Display reports solid Q1 2021 results, will decide on OLED TV capacity expansion by Q3 2021
LG Display announced its financial results for Q1 2021. The company reported sales of $6.2 billion, an operating income of $469.5 million and net profit of $238 million. Sales were lower (by 8%) compared to Q4 2020, but higher by 46% from Q4 2020. LGD remained profitable for the third consecutive quarter.
LG Display announced its financial results for Q1 2021. The company reported sales of $6.2 billow, an operating income of $469.5 million and net profit of $238 million. Sales were lower (by 8%) compared to Q4 2020, but higher by 46% from Q4 2020. LGD remained profitable for the third consecutive quarter.
Wise Road Capital acquires Magnachip for $1.4 billion
OLED driver IC developer MagnaChip announced that it is being acquired by China-based Wise Road Capital, for $1.4 billion. This price is about 75% higher than Magnachip's three-month average share price. The deal still needs regulatory approval in the United States.
In recent years Magnachip reported increased AMOLED driver sales and accelerated its driver R&D. Last month the company announced that it has started to mass produce its first OLED driver ICs for 120Hz QHD smartphone flexible OLED displays.
eMagin reports its financial results for Q4 2020
OLED microdisplay maker eMagin posted its financial results for Q4 2020. Revenues for the quarter were $7.7 million (up from $7.3 million in Q3 2019) with contract revenue of $1.5 million reflecting continued work for a Tier-1 consumer company.
Net loss for Q4 2020 was $3.7 million. For the full year 2020, eMagin reports revenues of $29.4 million, up from $26.7 million in 2019. The net loss in 2020 was $11.5 million.
Visionox spins-off its PMOLED business to a new company called Qingyue
China-based OLED maker Visionox has spun-off its PMOLED business, to create a new company called Qingyue. Visionox will now focus on AMOLED production (after having spun-off its OLED lighting unit Yeolight back in 2015).
Qingyue, which is one of the world's leading PMOLED makers, has two 370x400 mm production lines, each with a capacity of 8,000 monthly substrates (around 1.75 million 1” displays).
UDC reports excellent Q4 2020 and full-year financial results
Universal Display reported its financial results for Q4 2020. Revenues reached a record of $141.5 million, and net income was $54 million. For the whole of 2020, revenues reached $429 million and net income was $133 million.
UDC expects meaningful growth in 2021, and believe revenues will be in the range of $530 to $560 million. The company also announced an increase to its quarterly dividend (to $0.2 per share).
