Head-To-Head Review: LG Display (NYSE:LPL) & Socket Mobile (NASDAQ:SCKT)

LG Display (NYSE:LPL) and Socket Mobile (NASDAQ:SCKT) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their risk, profitability, earnings, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.

Profitability

This table compares LG Display and Socket Mobile’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
LG Display	-2.25%	-7.60%	-1.92%
Socket Mobile	-17.13%	-16.35%	-10.49%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for LG Display and Socket Mobile, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
LG Display	2	3	0	0	1.60
Socket Mobile	0	0	0	0	0.00

Institutional and Insider Ownership

3.8% of Socket Mobile shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.0% of LG Display shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 48.1% of Socket Mobile shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares LG Display and Socket Mobile”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
LG Display	$19.51 billion	0.22	-$1.79 billion	($0.42)	-10.38
Socket Mobile	$16.71 million	0.48	-$2.24 million	($0.38)	-2.66

Socket Mobile has lower revenue, but higher earnings than LG Display. LG Display is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Socket Mobile, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk & Volatility

LG Display has a beta of 1.41, suggesting that its share price is 41% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Socket Mobile has a beta of 1.03, suggesting that its share price is 3% more volatile than the S&P 500.

About LG Display

LG Display Co., Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) and organic light emitting diode (OLED) technology-based display panels. Its TFT-LCD and OLED technology-based display panels are primarily used in televisions, notebook computers, desktop monitors, tablet computers, mobile devices, and automotive displays. The company also provides display panels for industrial and other applications, including entertainment systems, portable navigation devices, and medical diagnostic equipment. In addition, it provides janitorial services; invests in venture business and acquire technologies; and manages intellectual property. The company operates in Korea, China, rest of Asia, the Americas, Poland, and rest of Europe. LG Display Co., Ltd. was formerly known as LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd. and changed its name to LG Display Co., Ltd. in March 2008. The company was incorporated in 1985 and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.

About Socket Mobile

Socket Mobile, Inc. provides data capture and delivery solutions in the United States, Europe, Asia, and internationally. Its products and solutions are integrated into mobile applications for applications in the areas of point of sale, commercial services, asset tracking, manufacturing and quality control processes, transportation and logistics, event management, medical, and education. The company also offers cordless data capture devices that connect through Bluetooth and work with applications running on smartphones, mobile computers, and tablets; SocketScan and DuraScan 700 series, companion scanners and 800 series, attachable scanners, and wearables; and DuraSled, a barcode scanning sled that protects phones from impact damage and provides charging solutions. In addition, it offers D600, a handheld model to reads and writes various types of electronic SmartTags and transfers data with near-field communication (NFC); S550, a contactless membership card reader/writer; and S370 product that supports barcode scanning, and NFC reading and writing technologies. Further, the company provides SocketCam C820 and C860, which are camera-based barcode scanners; software developer kits, such as CaptureSDK that enables the App providers to modify captured data, control the placement of the barcoded or RFID data in their applications, and control the feedback to the user. It serves retail, commercial services, industrial and manufacturing, transportation and logistics, and healthcare industries through a network of distributors, online resellers, and application providers, as well as online stores. The company was formerly known as Socket Communications, Inc. and changed its name to Socket Mobile, Inc. in April 2008. Socket Mobile, Inc. was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Fremont, California.