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Lam Research (LRCX)
NASDAQ:LRCX

Lam Research (LRCX) AI Stock Analysis

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LRCX

Lam Research

(NASDAQ:LRCX)

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Outperform 80 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:80Outperform
Price Target:
$273.00
â–²(30.14% Upside)
The score is driven by strong financial performance (robust margins, free cash flow, and improving leverage) and bullish technical momentum (price above key moving averages with positive MACD). Offsetting factors are a demanding valuation (high P/E and low yield) and, to a lesser extent, cyclical and mix/capacity risks highlighted in the latest guidance.
Positive Factors
High Profitability and Margins
Lam's sustained ~49% gross and ~30% net margins reflect durable pricing power and efficient manufacturing for etch/deposition tools. High margins support ongoing R&D, capital investment and shareholder returns, providing resilience and earnings quality across equipment cycles.
Strong Cash Generation and Capital Return
Robust FCF (~$6.7B TTM) with disciplined capital returns and cash of ~$6.2B signals durable cash conversion. Lowing leverage (debt/equity ~0.44) and stated intent to return ≥85% of FCF give flexibility to fund buybacks, debt paydown and targeted capex while preserving financial stability over multiple cycles.
Product Leadership & SAM Expansion
Material product wins (Aqara conductor etch, EUV, high‑aspect‑ratio etch) and SAM/share gains into the mid‑30s underpin a structural competitive advantage. Combined with targeted R&D and partnerships, this cements tooling leadership across advanced packaging, HBM and foundry segments for sustained market share gains.
Negative Factors
Cyclical Industry Revenue Swings
Lam operates in a historically cyclical WFE market with multi‑year revenue swings and a down year in 2024. This cyclicality creates durable volatility in revenue, capacity utilization and return on invested capital, complicating forecasting and making multi‑quarter performance lumpy.
Clean‑Room Capacity Constraints
Widespread sold‑out clean‑room capacity is a structural supply constraint that can defer equipment installations and revenue recognition. Even with strong market demand forecasts, constrained fab space can bottleneck growth, delay customer ramps and reduce visibility into timing of revenue realization over the next several quarters.
China Revenue and Mix Volatility
Significant sequential swings in China exposure (43% to 35%) and an expected flat China WFE create durable regional mix risk. Geographic concentration and affiliate/timing effects can materially alter gross margins, product mix and growth cadence, adding geopolitical and demand uncertainty to long‑term planning.

Lam Research (LRCX) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Lam Research Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionLam Research Corporation designs, manufactures, markets, refurbishes, and services semiconductor processing equipment used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. The company offers ALTUS systems to deposit conformal films for tungsten metallization applications; SABRE electrochemical deposition products for copper interconnect transition that offers copper damascene manufacturing; SOLA ultraviolet thermal processing products for film treatments; and VECTOR plasma-enhanced CVD ALD products. It also provides SPEED gapfill high-density plasma chemical vapor deposition products; and Striker single-wafer atomic layer deposition products for dielectric film solutions. In addition, the company offers Flex for dielectric etch applications; Kiyo for conductor etch applications; Syndion for through-silicon via etch applications; and Versys metal products for metal etch processes. Further, it provides Coronus bevel clean products to enhance die yield; Da Vinci, DV-Prime, EOS, and SP series products to address various wafer cleaning applications; and Metryx mass metrology systems for high precision in-line mass measurement in semiconductor wafer manufacturing. The company sells its products and services to semiconductors industry in the United States, China, Europe, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and internationally. Lam Research Corporation was incorporated in 1980 and is headquartered in Fremont, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyLam Research generates revenue primarily through the sale of its semiconductor manufacturing equipment and related services. The company's revenue model is primarily based on two key streams: equipment sales and service agreements. Equipment sales consist of the direct sale of its advanced etching and deposition systems, which are essential for the fabrication of semiconductor wafers. Additionally, Lam Research earns substantial revenue from service agreements, which include maintenance, upgrades, and support services for its equipment installed at customer sites. The company benefits from long-term relationships with major semiconductor manufacturers, which often leads to repeat business and contracts. Furthermore, partnerships with leading technology companies in the semiconductor industry enhance Lam Research's market position and contribute to its earnings through collaborative innovations and shared technology advancements.

Lam Research Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Segment
Revenue by Segment
Analyzes revenue from different business segments, highlighting which areas drive growth and profitability, and indicating where the company might focus future investments or face challenges.
Chart InsightsLam Research's Systems segment is rebounding strongly after a dip in 2023, with recent quarters showing a significant upward trend. This aligns with the company’s earnings call, highlighting record foundry revenues and strategic wins in advanced technology areas. However, the Customer Support segment faces challenges, with a mixed outlook due to declining Reliant Systems revenue. Despite potential tariff headwinds and DRAM revenue declines, Lam's strategic focus on advanced packaging and high-bandwidth memory positions it well for future growth, particularly in China, which now accounts for 35% of total revenue.
Data provided by:The Fly

Lam Research Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jan 28, 2026
(Q2-2026)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 29, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call conveyed strong, broad-based execution and material financial outperformance in 2025 — record revenue, margins, profit and EPS, meaningful product wins (Aqara), SAM/share gains, and significant CSBG momentum. Management is optimistic about AI-driven demand, advanced packaging growth (>40% in 2026), and NAND inflection. Key risks and headwinds include clean-room capacity constraints that may limit near-term WFE, regional mix variability (China), some sequential margin/mix pressure, and the need to build inventory and continue supply-chain ramps. On balance, the positive operational and financial momentum substantially outweighs the noted challenges.
Q2-2026 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Annual Revenue and Strong YoY Growth
Fiscal 2025 revenue of $20.6B, up 27% year-over-year, marking a record year for the company.
Record Profitability and EPS Leverage
Full-year gross margin 49.9% (highest combined-company result since 2012); gross profit grew 31% to $10.3B; operating profit $7.0B up 41% YoY; diluted EPS $4.89 up 49% YoY.
Quarterly Record and Continued Revenue Momentum
December quarter revenue $5.34B (record), tenth consecutive quarter of revenue growth; December diluted EPS $1.27, above guidance.
Customer Support & Installed Base Milestones
CSBG (customer support) revenue reached a record $7.2B in 2025; installed base topped 100,000 chambers and CSBG revenue grew faster than installed-base unit growth.
Market Share and SAM Expansion Progress
Served available market (SAM) share of WFE expanded into the mid-thirties percent range (multiyear goal: high-thirties); ship share of WFE grew by well over one percentage point year-over-year.
Product & Technology Wins
Aqara conductor etch system doubled its installed base over the past year with production tool-of-record wins for EUV and high-aspect-ratio etch; multiple wins in advanced DRAM and foundry logic.
Advanced Packaging and HBM Momentum
Advanced packaging business expected to grow >40% in 2026; strong demand in HBM (HBM3e/4) and stacking activity, supporting Lam’s electroplating and etch leadership.
NAND Upgrade Strength
NAND-driven upgrade revenue was a material positive: record upgrade revenue in 2025 up more than 90% YoY; management notes NAND demand is growing faster than previously expected.
Capital Returns and Balance Sheet
Allocated ~$1.4B to buybacks in the December quarter (average buyback price ~$154); repurchased ~39M shares in 2025 at an average $104; paid $328M in dividends in the quarter; returned ~85% of free cash flow in 2025; cash & equivalents $6.2B.
Operational Capacity and Efficiency Investments
Nearly doubled manufacturing capacity over the last four years, launched automated warehouses in 2025, invested in R&D and global footprint expansion, and expanded Dextro cobot coverage to six tool types.
Guidance for March Quarter
Non-GAAP guidance: revenue $5.7B ± $300M; gross margin 49% ± 1pp; operating margin 34% ± 1pp; EPS $1.35 ± $0.10 (share count ~1.26B).
Negative Updates
Clean-Room Capacity Constraints Limiting Industry WFE
Management cites sold-out clean-room capacity as a constraining factor on WFE growth in 2026; they expect industry WFE ~$135B (vs. ~$110B in 2025) but cannot fully quantify demand lost to space constraints — risk of undersupply persists and shapes timing of growth (second half weighted).
China Revenue & Mix Volatility
China revenue declined sequentially to 35% of total (from 43% prior quarter), driven partly by affiliate-rule timing; management expects China WFE to be flattish year-over-year, meaning China will be a smaller percent of total revenue as other regions grow.
Sequential Mix Pressure on Margins
December quarter gross margin was ~1 percentage point lower sequentially due to less favorable customer/product mix; guidance notes slight headwinds from customer mix into March quarter (guiding gross margin down to 49% ±1pp).
NAND Sequential Weakness in Quarter
Nonvolatile memory (NAND) contribution to systems revenue was 11% in December, down from 18% in September (sequential decline), although management expects NAND to strengthen across 2026.
Deferred Revenue Reduction and Cash Movement
Deferred revenue balance decreased to $2.25B at quarter end due to ~ $500M reduction in customer advance payments; cash & cash equivalents fell from $6.7B (Sept) to $6.2B, driven by capital returns and CapEx.
Supply Chain & Inventory Build Needs
Management noted heavy operational work to meet accelerated demand; they expect to build inventory (higher dollar inventory) to support growth and acknowledged variability/effort in OI&E and supplier ramping — though no current critical shortages were reported.
Lumpiness in Service-Related Revenue
CSBG strength in the quarter was partly driven by lumpy Reliant systems revenue; management described some service components (e.g., Reliant) as potentially lumpy quarter-to-quarter.
Company Guidance
Lam guided March 2026 non‑GAAP revenue of $5.7B ±$300M (range $5.4B–$6.0B), gross margin 49% ±1pp (48%–50%), operating margin 34% ±1pp (33%–35%), and diluted EPS $1.35 ±$0.10 ($1.25–$1.45) on an assumed share count of ~1.26B; management expects a non‑GAAP tax rate in the low‑to‑mid‑teens (13.2% in the December quarter), foresees slight customer‑mix headwinds to gross margin in March, and continues to plan capital expenditures of ~4%–5% of revenue. They reiterated a strong balance sheet (cash $6.2B at quarter end), $5.1B remaining on the buyback authorization, intent to return ≥85% of free cash flow, potential to repay $750M March 2026 notes, and operational metrics including DSO ~59 days and inventory turns ~2.7x, while noting an industry WFE view of ~$135B for 2026 (second‑half weighted) and expecting >40% growth in advanced packaging.

Lam Research Financial Statement Overview

Summary
High-quality profitability and cash generation: ~49% gross margin and ~30% net margin with strong free cash flow (~$6.7B) and improving leverage (debt-to-equity down to ~0.44). Main constraint is cyclicality, with prior multi-year revenue swings tempering the otherwise strong fundamentals.
Income Statement
86
Very Positive
Lam Research shows strong profitability and healthy margins in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months), with gross margin around 49% and net margin near 30%, indicating solid pricing power and cost control. Earnings power is strong as operating profit remains in the mid-30% range. Growth has re-accelerated in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) (about 5% revenue growth) after a down year in 2024, but the multi-year revenue trend is cyclical (notably the 2024 decline), which tempers the score despite excellent profitability.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
Leverage looks manageable and improving: debt-to-equity declines from roughly 0.80–0.83 (2021–2022) to ~0.44 in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months), supported by a higher equity base. Returns on equity are exceptionally high (TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) ~61%), reflecting strong profitability, though it can also be amplified by the capital structure. Overall balance sheet risk appears moderate, with the main watch-out being that the business operates in a cyclical industry where profits and asset utilization can swing.
Cash Flow
84
Very Positive
Cash generation is a clear strength: TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) free cash flow is strong (~$6.7B) and growing (~14%), indicating improving cash conversion. Free cash flow tracks net income well (TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) ~0.92x), suggesting earnings quality is solid. Operating cash flow runs slightly below net income in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) (~0.95x), which is not alarming but is a minor detractor versus years where cash flow more clearly exceeded earnings.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue18.44B14.91B17.43B17.23B14.63B
Gross Profit8.98B7.05B7.78B7.87B6.81B
EBITDA6.34B4.91B5.64B5.71B4.89B
Net Income5.36B3.83B4.51B4.61B3.91B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets21.35B18.74B18.78B17.20B15.89B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments6.39B5.85B5.37B3.66B5.73B
Total Debt4.76B4.98B5.01B5.01B5.00B
Total Liabilities11.48B10.21B10.57B10.92B9.86B
Stockholders Equity9.86B8.54B8.21B6.28B6.03B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow5.41B4.26B4.68B2.55B3.24B
Operating Cash Flow6.17B4.65B5.18B3.10B3.59B
Investing Cash Flow-708.09M-370.61M-534.56M612.27M73.27M
Financing Cash Flow-4.94B-4.00B-2.83B-4.58B-4.17B

Lam Research Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price209.78
Price Trends
50DMA
189.15
Positive
100DMA
166.27
Positive
200DMA
128.85
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
11.73
Positive
RSI
48.11
Neutral
STOCH
38.29
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For LRCX, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 209.78 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 222.79, above the 50-day MA of 189.15, and above the 200-day MA of 128.85, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 11.73 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 48.11 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 38.29 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for LRCX.

Lam Research Risk Analysis

Lam Research disclosed 30 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Lam Research reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Lam Research Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
80
Outperform
$261.97B47.1665.56%0.56%25.66%46.68%
78
Outperform
$514.27B50.0051.52%0.63%24.91%39.95%
78
Outperform
$171.35B39.38100.73%0.58%22.27%45.32%
77
Outperform
$235.98B36.7935.51%0.69%4.47%0.48%
69
Neutral
$41.82B37.3211.16%2.29%8.01%10.41%
64
Neutral
$25.62B146.170.93%1.28%-17.33%-76.71%
61
Neutral
$37.18B12.37-10.20%1.83%8.50%-7.62%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
LRCX
Lam Research
209.78
128.58
158.35%
ASX
ASE Technology Holding Co
18.99
9.16
93.18%
AMAT
Applied Materials
297.60
118.72
66.37%
ASML
ASML Holding
1,339.13
602.52
81.80%
KLAC
KLA
1,307.22
553.24
73.38%
STM
STMicroelectronics
29.33
7.28
33.02%

Lam Research Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
Lam Research Announces Board Addition and COO Transition
Positive
Feb 3, 2026

On February 3, 2026, Lam Research appointed Cadence Design Systems CEO Anirudh Devgan to its board of directors and to the board’s Innovation and Technology Committee, expanding the board by one seat. Devgan, a prominent figure in electronic design automation with deep expertise in AI-driven design, semiconductor ecosystem technologies and computational software, is expected to bolster Lam’s strategic and technology oversight as it seeks to accelerate innovation in enabling next-generation chips. On the same day, the company announced that long-time executive and chief operating officer Patrick J. Lord will retire effective March 6, 2026, after more than two decades with Lam and Novellus, and that veteran executive Seshasayee (Sesha) Varadarajan, currently senior vice president of the Global Products Group and a long-serving leader in Lam’s and Novellus’ deposition and PECVD/Electrofill businesses, will succeed him as executive vice president and chief operating officer, signaling a planned leadership transition built around internal operational continuity and deep process-engineering experience.

The most recent analyst rating on (LRCX) stock is a Buy with a $280.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Lam Research stock, see the LRCX Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyShareholder Meetings
Lam Research Approves New Stock Incentive Plan
Neutral
Nov 6, 2025

On November 4, 2025, Lam Research Corporation held its annual meeting of stockholders, where key decisions were made, including the approval of a new equity incentive plan, the 2025 Stock Incentive Plan. Additionally, an amendment to the company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation was approved, limiting the liability of certain officers as permitted by Delaware law. These changes, along with the election of directors and other proposals, reflect Lam Research’s strategic efforts to enhance corporate governance and align executive compensation with shareholder interests.

The most recent analyst rating on (LRCX) stock is a Buy with a $172.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Lam Research stock, see the LRCX Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 03, 2026