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 enable flexible, foldable and rollable displays (see more here - What is OLED?).
The OLED market is already a multi-billion dollar market, led by Samsung, LG Display, BOE and others. It is estimated that OLED displays generated around $40 billion in revenues in 2021 and the market is expected to continue growing 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, includingL
- 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 at the NYSE 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 (held by Samsung Electronics), LG display, Visionox, BOE Display and more.
- OLED equipment makers: There are several public equipment companies (for example Aixtron, or Coherent) that offer OLED production systems. 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!
The latest OLED stock news:
LG Display reports a wide loss in Q4 2022 as demand for displays is low
LG Display reports its financial results for Q4 2022, with an operating loss of around $710 million USD (down from a profit of $350 million in Q4 2021). The company says that high inflation and interest rates reduce consumer demand and it sees weak demand and falling prices for both OLED and LCD displays.
LGD says that LCD prices are at an all time low, and the company will accelerate its plans to wind-down its LCD production. During the quarter, the portion of OLED displays out of its total revenues have risen over 50% for the first time. LG Display will also adjust its utilization rate at its OLED TV factories to meet the lower demand.
The Korean Government approves OLEDs as a national strategic technology to encourage more investments
As we reported a few days ago, The Korean government has officially designated five display technologies as "national strategic technologies", which gives tax breaks to display makers and developers.
The five display technologies include three specific display technologies - AMOLED, microLEDs and QD displays, in addition to deposition technologies materials and TFT equipment and materials. As strategic technologies, the government gives generous (30-50%, depending on the company size) tax credits for R&D and 8-16% tax credits for building production lines for materials, equipment or displays. The government is also considering increasing the tax credits for production lines up to 25%.
eMagin reported its preliminary Q4 2022 financial results
OLED microdisplay maker eMagin reported its preliminary financial results for Q4 2022 - the company expects revenues to be in the range of $8.1-8.3 million, up from $7.2 million in Q4 2021. The company says this was a positive quarter with strong bookings. The company's open order backlog at the end of 2022 was $16.7 million.
eMagin says that this was its fifth consecutive quarter in which it achieved year-over-year growth in product revenue. The company was cashflow positive in the quarter and now has $4.2 million in cash and equivalents. eMagin expects the delivery of an advanced, production-capable, dPd organic deposition tool in the second quarter of 2023.
Kopin sort of spins-off its consumer OLED microdisplay business unit to Lightning Silicon Technology
Kopin Corporation announced that it is sort-of spinning-off its OLED business unit. Some of Kopin's executive launched a new company called Lightning Silicon Technology, and Kopin licensed its technology to the company, and will also receive a 20% stake.
Lightning Silicon will focus on developing and supplying OLED microdisplays to the consumer AR and VR markets, and will produce its displays at China-based Lakeside Optoelectronics.
eMagin announced a $1.7 million OLED microdisplay order for F-35 helmets mounted displays
OLED microdisplay maker eMagin announced that it has received an order of approximately $1.7 million for high-brightness OLED microdisplays from Collins Aerospace for its F-35 Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS).
eMagin says that the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning is the world’s most advanced jet fighter and is designed to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in any weather conditions, day or night, in both air-superiority and strike missions. The Helmet Mounted Display System is a critical part of the F-35's human-machine interface.
Universal Display and Samsung Display sign a long-term material supply agreement
Universal Display announced that it has signed long-term OLED material supply and license agreements with Samsung Display.
These new agreements mean that UDC will continue and supply its PHOLED OLED emitter materials to Samsung Display. The agreements are scheduled to run through December 31, 2027, and may be extended for an additional two-year period. Financial terms of the agreements have not been disclosed.
UDC reported excellent financial results for Q3 2022
Universal Display reported its financial results for Q3 2022, with revenues revenues reaching a record high of $161 million, and a net income of $53 million. The company reiterated its forecast for 2022, with revenues of approximately $600 million, plus or minus $10 million.
Looking ahead, UDC remains positive of the OLED industry, but the near-term OLED demand may fluctuate due to uncertainties in the macro economy. UDC sees 2024 as a "pivotal year" for the OLED industry, with several new 6-Gen and 8-Gen OLED fabs due in that year.
Jilin OE Materials set to raise $38 million in a private placement
China's Jilin Optical and Electronic Materials announced that it is set to raise 240 million Yuan (around $33 million USD) in a private placement of shares.
In 2020, Jilin Optical and Electronic Materials became public company when it started trading on the Shanghai STAR Market (ticker 688378). At its IPO, Jilin raised around $166 million, and the IPO was 3,426 times oversubscribed.
Samsung reports its Q3 2022 financial results
Samsung Electronics reported its financial results for Q3 2022, with its highest quarterly revenue ever (76.78 trillion Won, or $54 billion USD) and an operating profit of 10.85 trillion won ($7.7 billion USD), down 23% from the previous quarter.
Samsung Display saw record revenues (9.39 trillion Won) as demand increased for its OLED mobile panel business following the release of new flagship smartphones. The company expects to see continued strong demand for premium OLED displays.
LG Display reports a loss in Q3 2022, as demand for OLED panels is dropping
LG Display reported its financial results for Q3 2022 - with a net loss of 774 billion Won (around $540 million USD) and a decrease of 6.3% in its revenues.
LGD says that demand for its panels is low - and in fact the company says that demand for premium OLED panels is dropping at an "unprecedented level" - especially in Europe. The market for OLED TVs is especially low.
