Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Sony Group Corporation (SONY) vs LG Display Co., Ltd. (LPL) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | LPL | 24.8% revenue growth vs SONY's -0.5% |
| Value | LPL | Lower P/E (0.0x vs 0.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | SONY | 9.2% net margin vs LPL's -1.3% |
| Stability / Safety | LPL | Beta 0.81 vs SONY's 0.85 |
| Dividends | SONY | 0.5% yield; 5-year raise streak; LPL pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | LPL | +54.3% vs SONY's -7.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SONY | 3.2% ROA vs LPL's -1.2%, ROIC 10.7% vs -1.9% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Sony Group Corporation is a diversified global entertainment and technology conglomerate spanning electronics, gaming, music, and film. It generates revenue primarily through PlayStation gaming hardware and services (~30%), electronics like cameras and TVs (~25%), music publishing and streaming (~20%), and film production and distribution (~15%). Its competitive moat lies in its integrated ecosystem of hardware, software, and content—particularly the dominant PlayStation platform and its extensive entertainment IP library.
LG Display is a leading manufacturer of display panels using TFT-LCD and OLED technologies for consumer electronics and automotive applications. It generates revenue primarily from panel sales to TV makers (~40%), mobile device manufacturers (~30%), and automotive/industrial customers (~20%), with the remainder from monitors and other displays. The company's competitive advantage lies in its advanced OLED manufacturing expertise—particularly for large-screen TVs—and its deep integration with the LG Electronics ecosystem.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
SONY leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). LPL leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
LPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $26.44T annually — 2.1x SONY's $12.77T. SONY is the more profitable business, keeping 9.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LPL's -1.3%. On growth, SONY holds the edge at +7.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SONYSony Group Corpor… | LPLLG Display Co., L… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $12.77T | $26.44T |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.60T | $5.02T |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.17T | -$335.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.70T | $1.02T |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +29.2% | +12.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.3% | +1.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.2% | -1.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +13.3% | +3.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.0% | +2.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.8% | +94.2% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, LPL's 4.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SONY's 12.7x.
| Metric | SONYSony Group Corpor… | LPLLG Display Co., L… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $137.5B | $5.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $145.3B | $13.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 19.16x | -2.69x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 0.12x | 0.01x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.25x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.66x | 4.36x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.66x | 0.27x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.57x | 0.85x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 12.82x | 23.70x |
Profitability & Efficiency
SONY delivers a 14.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $-4 for LPL. SONY carries lower financial leverage with a 0.49x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LPL's 1.81x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SONY scores 8/9 vs LPL's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SONYSony Group Corpor… | LPLLG Display Co., L… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +14.6% | -4.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.2% | -1.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.7% | -1.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.8% | -2.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.49x | 1.81x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.22T | $12.59T |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.98T | $2.02T |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.20T | $14.61T |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 22.32x | 1.80x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in SONY five years ago would be worth $10,919 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,327 for LPL. Over the past 12 months, LPL leads with a +54.3% total return vs SONY's -7.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SONY at 11.9% vs LPL's -4.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SONYSony Group Corpor… | LPLLG Display Co., L… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -10.9% | +19.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -7.5% | +54.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +39.9% | -13.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +9.2% | -46.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +466.3% | -38.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +11.9% | -4.6% |
Risk & Volatility
LPL is the less volatile stock with a 0.81 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SONY's 0.85 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LPL currently trades 89.2% from its 52-week high vs SONY's 76.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SONYSony Group Corpor… | LPLLG Display Co., L… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.85x | 0.81x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $30.34 | $5.67 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $20.42 | $2.43 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +76.0% | +89.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.4 | 84.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.3M | 602K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SONY as "Buy" and LPL as "Hold". SONY is the only dividend payer here at 0.53% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | SONYSony Group Corpor… | LPLLG Display Co., L… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $30.00 | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 16 | 14 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.5% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 5 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $18.97 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.3% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony Group Corporat… (SONY) | 100 | 172.41 | +72.4% |
| LG Display Co., Ltd. (LPL) | 100 | 66.27 | -33.7% |
Sony Group Corporat… (SONY) returned +9% over 5 years vs LG Display Co., Ltd. (LPL)'s -47%. A $10,000 investment in SONY 5 years ago would be worth $10,919 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony Group Corporat… (SONY) | $8.1T | $13.0T | +59.9% |
| LG Display Co., Ltd. (LPL) | $26.5T | $26.6T | +0.4% |
Sony Group Corporation's revenue grew from $8.1T (2016) to $13.0T (2025) — a 5.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony Group Corporat… (SONY) | 1.8% | 8.8% | +383.2% |
| LG Display Co., Ltd. (LPL) | 3.4% | -9.6% | -381.4% |
Sony Group Corporation's net margin went from 2% (2016) to 9% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony Group Corporat… (SONY) | 0.8 | 0.1 | -87.5% |
Sony Group Corporation has traded in a 0x–1x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~19x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony Group Corporat… (SONY) | 23.5 | 187.92 | +699.7% |
| LG Display Co., Ltd. (LPL) | 1,267 | -2,719 | -314.6% |
Sony Group Corporation's EPS grew from $23.50 (2016) to $187.92 (2025) — a 26% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Sony Group Corporation generated $1.7T FCF in 2025 (+153% vs 2021). LG Display Co., Ltd. generated $308B FCF in 2024 (-89% vs 2021).
SONY vs LPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SONY or LPL a better buy right now?
Sony Group Corporation (SONY) offers the better valuation at 19.2x trailing P/E (0.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sony Group Corporation (SONY) a "Buy" — based on 16 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — SONY or LPL?
On forward P/E, LG Display Co., Ltd. is actually cheaper at 0.0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SONY or LPL?
Over the past 5 years, Sony Group Corporation (SONY) delivered a total return of +9.2%, compared to -46.7% for LG Display Co., Ltd. (LPL). A $10,000 investment in SONY five years ago would be worth approximately $11K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SONY returned +466.3% versus LPL's -38.9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — SONY or LPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), LG Display Co., Ltd. (LPL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.81β versus Sony Group Corporation's 0.85β — meaning SONY is approximately 5% more volatile than LPL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Sony Group Corporation (SONY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 49% versus 181% for LG Display Co., Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — SONY or LPL?
Sony Group Corporation (SONY) is the more profitable company, earning 8.8% net margin versus -9.6% for LG Display Co., Ltd. — meaning it keeps 8.8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SONY leads at 10.9% versus -2.1% for LPL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SONY leads at 28.4%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is SONY or LPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, LG Display Co., Ltd. (LPL) trades at 0.0x forward P/E versus 0.1x for Sony Group Corporation — 0.1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
07Which pays a better dividend — SONY or LPL?
In this comparison, SONY (0.5% yield) pays a dividend. LPL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is SONY or LPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Sony Group Corporation (SONY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.85), 0.5% yield, +466.3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SONY: +466.3%, LPL: -38.9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between SONY and LPL?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. SONY pays a dividend while LPL does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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