[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Securities on July 19 predicted that LG Display would benefit from growing panel prices in the latter half of this year, raising the target price from 24,000 won (US$21) to 33,000 won per share.

The brokerage said Chinese rivals still have problems in beefing up larger liquid-crystal display panels, while the planned suspension of Samsung Display’s another LCD plant would cause a supply shortage to benefit LG Display.

Considering the recent positive signs, the brokerage elevated the company’s operating profit this year from the previous 458.4 billion won to more than 1 trillion won. The second-quarter profit is expected to stand at about 38.7 billion won.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)