OLED
TechnologyUniversal Display Corporation · Hardware, Equipment & Parts · $4B
What is Universal Display Corporation?
Universal Display Corporation is a mid-cap technology company specializing in organic light emitting diode (OLED) technologies and materials. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Ewing, New Jersey, it sits at the intersection of advanced materials science and display innovation.
Universal Display generates revenue primarily by licensing its extensive OLED patent portfolio and supplying proprietary phosphorescent emitter materials — branded as UniversalPHOLED — to display and lighting manufacturers worldwide. The company also earns income through technology development services, third-party collaboration agreements, and contract research in chemical materials synthesis. Its business model blends recurring royalty and licensing streams with materials sales, making it a key enabler behind the OLED screens found in smartphones, televisions, and wearables.
Universal Display Corporation was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Ewing, New Jersey.
- UniversalPHOLED phosphorescent OLED emitter materials
- OLED patent licensing covering roughly 5,500 issued and pending patents
- FOLED flexible OLED technology for flexible substrate fabrication
- OVJP organic vapor jet printing technology
- Contract research and technology development services
Is OLED a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates OLED as Below Average overall.
The Risk pillar stands out as the clearest positive — Universal Display carries a Strong risk profile relative to sector peers, reflecting balance sheet discipline and relatively low financial vulnerability. The Quality and Moat pillars both register as Neutral, suggesting the company maintains a defensible patent-driven position without standing out as exceptional on either dimension.
Growth is the most notable weak point, with the Growth pillar rated Weak — indicating the company's expansion trajectory lags behind sector peers. Valuation comes in Neutral, offering neither a clear discount nor a significant premium concern.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does OLED pay dividends?
Yes — Universal Display Corporation pays a dividend.
Universal Display pays a regular dividend, which is relatively uncommon among mid-cap technology companies. This reflects the company's financial stability and its ability to return capital to shareholders alongside reinvestment in research and development. Income-oriented investors may find the dividend cadence appealing, though the primary investment case centers on OLED technology licensing rather than yield.
When does OLED report earnings?
Universal Display Corporation reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed equities.
Revenue trends have reflected the cyclical nature of display industry demand, with licensing and materials revenue tied closely to OLED adoption rates among major device manufacturers. Growth has been measured rather than rapid in recent periods, consistent with the Weak Growth pillar rating.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Universal Display Corporation's investor relations page directly.
OLED Price History
-51.8% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Universal Display Corporation?
Based on Universal Display Corporation's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
OLED Long-term Outlook
The fundamental outlook for Universal Display is shaped by two competing forces: a durable patent and licensing moat on one side, and a growth trajectory that currently trails sector peers on the other. The Strong Risk pillar suggests the company is well-positioned to weather industry downturns without acute financial stress. However, the Weak Growth pillar indicates that meaningful acceleration in revenue or earnings expansion is not yet evident in the underlying fundamentals. Investors focused on long-term OLED adoption trends may view the current profile as a patience-required situation.
Growth drivers
- Expanding OLED adoption in smartphones, tablets, and automotive displays
- Licensing revenue tied to growing global OLED panel production volumes
- Emerging applications in flexible and printable OLED technologies
Key risks
- Slower-than-expected OLED adoption could pressure licensing and materials revenue
- Customer concentration among a small number of large display manufacturers
- Competition from alternative display technologies or new entrants in OLED materials
OLED vs Peers
Universal Display operates in the broader semiconductor and electronic components space alongside several mid-cap peers, each with a distinct business focus.
Silicon Motion focuses on NAND flash controller semiconductors rather than display materials, competing for investor attention in the specialty chip segment.
Kulicke and Soffa provides semiconductor packaging and assembly equipment, serving a different part of the electronics supply chain than OLED materials licensing.
Diodes Incorporated manufactures discrete semiconductors and analog ICs for consumer and industrial markets, with a broader product portfolio than Universal Display's focused OLED niche.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Universal Display Corporation do?
Universal Display Corporation researches, develops, and commercializes OLED technologies and materials. It licenses its extensive patent portfolio to display manufacturers and sells proprietary phosphorescent emitter materials used in OLED screens found in smartphones, televisions, and wearables. The company also provides technology development and contract research services.
Does OLED pay dividends?
Yes, Universal Display pays a regular dividend — a relatively uncommon trait for a mid-cap technology company. This reflects the company's financial stability and its capacity to return capital to shareholders. The dividend adds an income component to what is primarily a technology licensing and materials business.
When does OLED report earnings?
Universal Display reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard US-listed equity practice. For exact dates and the most recent results, check the investor relations section of Universal Display's official website.
Is OLED a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates OLED as Below Average overall. The Risk pillar is Strong, and Quality and Moat are Neutral, but the Growth pillar is Weak — meaning the company's expansion pace trails sector peers. Whether that profile suits your portfolio depends on your investment goals. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.
Is OLED overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for OLED is rated Neutral, suggesting the stock is neither clearly cheap nor obviously expensive relative to its fundamentals. Investors looking for a deep discount may not find one here, but the valuation does not appear stretched to an elevated level either. Full valuation metrics are available in the Pro view.
How does OLED compare to its competitors?
Universal Display occupies a unique niche — OLED patent licensing and proprietary emitter materials — that differs meaningfully from peers like Silicon Motion (flash controllers), Kulicke and Soffa (packaging equipment), and Diodes Incorporated (discrete semiconductors). Its business model is more IP-driven and royalty-oriented than most sector peers.
What is OLED's market cap bracket?
Universal Display Corporation is classified as a mid-cap company. This places it in a tier that typically offers more liquidity than small-caps while remaining more nimble than large-cap technology incumbents. Mid-cap stocks can carry both growth potential and moderate volatility.
Who founded Universal Display Corporation?
Universal Display Corporation was founded in 1996. Detailed founding history, including the names of key founders and early academic partnerships, is widely available through the company's official history and public filings.
Is OLED a long-term quality stock?
As a long-term quality indicator, OLED's UQS profile presents a mixed picture. The Strong Risk pillar and patent-driven Moat suggest durability, but the Weak Growth pillar is a meaningful consideration for investors with a long horizon. Long-term quality investing typically favors companies showing strength across multiple pillars — see the full breakdown in Pro.
What is the main competitive advantage of Universal Display Corporation?
Universal Display's primary competitive advantage is its vast OLED patent portfolio — approximately 5,500 issued and pending patents worldwide. This gives the company significant leverage over display manufacturers who need access to its phosphorescent OLED technology, creating recurring licensing revenue that is difficult for competitors to replicate quickly.
What sector does OLED belong to?
Universal Display Corporation is classified in the Technology sector. More specifically, it operates at the intersection of advanced materials science and semiconductor-adjacent display technology, supplying the OLED ecosystem rather than manufacturing finished consumer devices.
Is OLED a growth stock or value stock?
Based on UQS pillar labels, OLED leans neither strongly toward growth nor value. The Growth pillar is rated Weak, which tempers the growth-stock case, while the Valuation pillar is Neutral — not signaling a classic value opportunity. It occupies a middle ground that may appeal to investors focused on its IP moat rather than near-term expansion.
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Pro Analysis
OLED — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2026 | 48.6 | 57.2 | 44.0 | 9.2 | 82.4 | 60.9 | -0.5 |
| May 21, 2026 | 49.1 | 57.6 | 44.0 | 9.2 | 82.4 | 63.7 | +3.3 |
| May 7, 2026 | 45.8 | 56.2 | 44.0 | 7.6 | 82.4 | 45.9 | +0.1 |
| May 4, 2026 | 45.7 | 56.2 | 44.0 | 7.6 | 82.4 | 45.2 | -1.6 |
| May 3, 2026 | 47.3 | 56.2 | 44.0 | 12.2 | 82.4 | 49.5 | +0.3 |
| Apr 27, 2026 | 47.0 | 56.2 | 44.0 | 12.2 | 82.4 | 47.7 | -0.2 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 47.2 | 56.2 | 44.0 | 12.4 | 82.4 | 48.8 | +0.2 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 47.0 | 56.2 | 44.0 | 12.4 | 82.4 | 47.8 | +0.9 |
| Apr 17, 2026 | 46.1 | 56.2 | 44.0 | 12.4 | 82.4 | 41.4 | -0.7 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | 46.8 | 56.2 | 44.0 | 12.9 | 82.4 | 45.7 | -0.5 |
OLED — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 57.2/100 (25%)Universal Display Corporation shows solid profitability with healthy returns on capital and reasonable margins.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 9.2/100 (20%)Universal Display Corporation faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 82.4/100 (15%)Universal Display Corporation carries minimal financial risk with conservative leverage and strong solvency.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 60.8/100 (15%)Universal Display Corporation trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 44/100 (25%)Universal Display Corporation possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for OLED.
Score Composition
Financial Data
More Stock Analysis
How is the OLED UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Universal Display Corporation is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Universal Display Corporation's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Universal Display Corporation is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.