LG Display has reported unaudited earnings results based on consolidated K-IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) for the three-month period ending Dec. 31, 2015.
- Revenue in the fourth quarter of 2015 increased by 5% to KRW 7,496 billion from KRW 7,158 billion in the third quarter of 2015 but decreased by 10% from KRW 8,342 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014.
- Operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2015 recorded KRW 61 billion, a quarter-on-quarter decrease of 82% from an operating profit of KRW 333 billion in the third quarter of 2015, and a year-on-year decrease of 90% from the operating profit of KRW 626 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014.
- EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2015 was KRW 882 billion, compared with EBITDA of KRW 1,178 billion in the third quarter of 2015 and with EBITDA of KRW 1,532 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014.
- Net loss in the fourth quarter of 2015 amounted to KRW 14 billion, compared with net income of KRW 198 billion in the third quarter of 2015, and with net income of KRW 389 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014.
LG Display announced its fifteenth straight quarterly operating profit at KRW 61 billion, and surpassed an annual operating profit of KRW 1,000 billion for three consecutive years based on its product differentiation and technology leadership amid falling panel prices due to global economic recession and the expanded supply by Chinese panel makers.
The company recorded annual revenue of KRW 28,384 billion, a year-on-year increase of 7% from KRW 26,456 billion in 2014, and annual operating profit of KRW 1,626 billion, a year-on-year increase of 20% from KRW 1,357 billion in 2014. EBITDA for 2015 was KRW 5,001 billion, and annual net income was KRW 1,023 billion, a year-on-year increase of 12% from KRW 917 billion.
Despite the significant panel price decline resulting from global economic recession and the expanded supply by Chinese panel makers, LG Display was able to continue its fifteenth straight quarterly operating profit through expansion of differentiated products such as Ultra HD TV panels, Advanced In-cell Touch (AIT) panels, and In-Plane Switching(IPS) panels.
The Board of Directors meeting decided on a dividend of KRW 500 per common share, in keeping with the previous year’s dividend. The decision is subject to the approval of the forthcoming Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in March.
LG Display says it will strengthen its market leadership by providing customers differentiated value with continuous investment for OLED market expansion and competitiveness enhancement.
TFT-LCD panels for TVs accounted for 34% of revenue in the fourth quarter of 2015, mobile device panels for 32%, tablet PCs and notebook PCs 19%, and monitors 15%.
With 78% in the liability-to-equity ratio, as of December 31, 2015, and decreased inventory asset to KRW 2,352 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with KRW 2,876 billion in the previous quarter, the financial structure of the company remains stable.
Don Kim, CFO of LG Display, said “Given the continuing economic uncertainty, we are not in a favorable situation to expect demand to recover in the first quarter of 2016. However, the company aims to sustain market credibility and create value focusing on differentiated technology competitiveness. We will continue preparing for the future of OLED and invest in differentiation including in new OLED facilities.”
