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SummaryLam Research sits 3-4 steps upstream of IREN renting an energized GPU: equipment order, chip/HBM production, accelerator assembly, datacenter deployment, rental.LRCX is a leading indicator for the backdrop IREN is priced against, not for IREN’s execution. That is still valuable - it tells you whether the neocloud multiple is standing on solid demand.Lam Research's July 29, 2026 earnings report is a free, dated, two-week-early read on the single risk that would de-rate IREN’s valuation multiple independent of its execution - an accelerator/HBM overbuild. shapecharge/E+ via Getty Images

Why LRCX leads IREN - and the limit Lam Research (LRCX) sells wafer fab equipment (etch, deposition, HBM through-silicon-via, and advanced-packaging tools). It sits 3-4 steps upstream of IREN (IREN) renting an

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Key Takeaways Lam Research expects Q4 revenues of $6.6B, indicating nearly 28% YoY growth.Q4 earnings are projected at $1.65 per share, suggesting a 24% YoY increase.AI-driven chip demand and higher DRAM spending likely boosted system revenues. Lam Research Corporation (LRCX - Free Report) is likely to beat earnings estimates when it releases fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on July 29. The company expects revenues of $6.6 billion (+/- $400 million) for the quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $6.67 billion, indicating 29% growth from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter.

Lam Research expects earnings of $1.65 (+/- 15 cents) per share for the fourth quarter. The consensus mark for fourth-quarter earnings has been revised upward by a penny to $1.69 per share over the past 30 days, implying a 27% year-over-year increase.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Lam Research has an impressive earnings surprise history. In the last reported quarter, it delivered an earnings surprise of 8.09%. The company’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 7.90%.

Q4 Earnings Whispers for Lam ResearchOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for Lam Research this earnings season. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat, which is exactly the case here.

Earnings ESP of LRCX: Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate Estimate ($1.71) and the Zacks Consensus Estimate ($1.69), is +1.38%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Lam Research’s Zacks Rank: LRCX presently sports a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Factors Likely to Influence LRCX’s Q4 ResultsLam Research has been riding on the wave of a strong rebound in the semiconductor industry, driven by the surging demand for memory and advanced AI applications. The rise in spending on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, particularly with the growing influence of Generative AI, is likely to have provided a significant boost to the company's performance in the fiscal fourth quarter. The increasing need for advanced AI-centric chips has become a key growth catalyst.

Heightened DRAM spending, especially in response to demand for high-bandwidth memory, is likely to have played in Lam Research's favor. The company's momentum in 3D DRAM and advanced packaging technologies is also expected to have added to its strong performance. At the same time, ongoing technological advancements are pushing NAND spending higher, which is likely to contribute to LRCX’s quarterly results.

Lam Research’s focus on expanding semiconductor fabrication capabilities, along with its heavy investment in research and development, positions it well in a competitive landscape. Its innovation through Semiverse solutions, particularly in high-aspect-ratio memory hole etch for NAND, is likely to have fueled this progress. LRCX’s strategic investments in cutting-edge technologies are anticipated to have bolstered its performance in the foundry and logic segment, while the increasing adoption of 3D architectures is expected to have supported growth in its etch and deposition services.

The company’s robust suite of tools, which enable foundry logic inflections, is likely to have secured strong customer traction. With the accelerating deployment of 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT), Lam Research’s semiconductor and memory solutions remain in high demand, reinforcing its market position in the fiscal fourth quarter.

All these factors are likely to have driven growth in system revenues. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter systems revenues is pegged at $4.55 billion, implying year-over-year growth of 32%, underscoring Lam Research’s continued strength in the evolving tech landscape. The consensus mark for the Customer Support segment’s fourth-quarter revenues is pegged at $2.13 billion, indicating a year-over-year increase of 23%.

LRCX’s Stock Price Performance & ValuationLam Research shares have surged 90.1% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Electronics – Semiconductors industry, which has risen 35.2%. Compared with peers, the stock has outpaced ASML Holding (ASML - Free Report) and KLA Corporation (KLAC - Free Report) but underperformed Applied Materials (AMAT - Free Report) . Shares of ASML Holding, KLAC and Applied Materials have soared 68.5%, 80% and 123.9%, respectively.

Lam Research YTD Price Return Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Let us look at the value Lam Research offers investors at current levels. Currently, LRCX is trading at a premium, with a forward 12-month P/E of 39.78X compared with the industry’s 30.20X.

Lam Research Forward 12-Month P/E Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Compared with semiconductor giants, the stock trades at a higher multiple than ASML Holding and Applied Materials, but at a lower multiple than KLA Corporation. At present, ASML Holding, Applied Materials and KLA Corporation have forward 12-month P/E of 36.82X, 37.22X and 42.48X, respectively.

Investment Thesis on LRCX StockLam Research sits at the center of the AI chip manufacturing ecosystem. Instead of designing chips, it supplies the manufacturing equipment that companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and Samsung use to produce advanced semiconductors.

This position gives Lam Research direct exposure to one of the strongest investment themes today — AI infrastructure. The company is benefiting from rising demand for advanced packaging technologies, high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and next-generation chip architectures, all of which require increasingly sophisticated etch and deposition equipment.

Lam Research is also strengthening its technology portfolio. Its ALTUS ALD system improves chip manufacturing efficiency through molybdenum-based deposition, while the Aether platform helps customers build denser and more powerful chips. As AI processors become more complex, these technologies become increasingly valuable.

Management expects advanced packaging revenues to grow by more than 50% in 2026 after strong growth in 2025. New manufacturing technologies such as backside power distribution and dry-resist processing should provide additional growth opportunities over the next several years.

Lam Research has already started seeing the benefits. The company’s revenues have remained above $5 billion for four consecutive quarters, indicating healthy demand from leading semiconductor manufacturers.

Conclusion: Buy LRCX Stock for NowLam Research remains a high-quality AI infrastructure play with strong growth prospects. The AI infrastructure buildout remains in its early stages, advanced packaging demand continues to grow, and LRCX's leadership in etch and deposition gives it a competitive advantage that should be difficult to replicate.

Lam Research’s innovation and operational efficiency provide a solid foundation for future growth. Considering these factors, accumulating LRCX stock appears to be the most prudent strategy for investors.

When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?

Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Lam Research (LRCX - Free Report) .

Lam Research currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.51, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 34 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.51 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 34 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 23 are Strong Buy and four are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 67.7% and 11.8% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for LRCX

Check price target & stock forecast for Lam Research here>>>

While the ABR calls for buying Lam Research, it may not be wise to make an investment decision solely based on this information. Several studies have shown limited to no success of brokerage recommendations in guiding investors to pick stocks with the best price increase potential.

Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.

This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements.

Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.

Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.

Broker recommendations are the sole basis for calculating the ABR, which is typically displayed in decimals (such as 1.28). The Zacks Rank, on the other hand, is a quantitative model designed to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.

Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.

Should You Invest in LRCX?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Lam Research, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 0.8% over the past month to $5.68.

Analysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to soar in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for Lam Research. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Therefore, the Buy-equivalent ABR for Lam Research may serve as a useful guide for investors.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 22nd, 2026

Alesco Advisors LLC An ESL Co bought a new stake in Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX – Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 8,211 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,754,000.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Himension Capital Singapore PTE. LTD. boosted its holdings in Lam Research by 5.1% during the first quarter. Himension Capital Singapore PTE. LTD. now owns 50,858 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $10,866,000 after purchasing an additional 2,469 shares during the last quarter. Danica Pension Livsforsikringsaktieselskab purchased a new stake in Lam Research in the 1st quarter valued at about $11,667,000. Oslo Pensjonsforsikring AS purchased a new stake in Lam Research in the 1st quarter valued at about $1,118,000. Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted its position in shares of Lam Research by 123.3% during the 1st quarter. Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft now owns 16,530 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $3,435,000 after buying an additional 9,126 shares in the last quarter. Finally, DJE Kapital AG bought a new position in shares of Lam Research during the 1st quarter worth approximately $91,828,000. 84.61% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In LRCX has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $290.00 target price on shares of Lam Research in a report on Thursday, April 23rd. Cantor Fitzgerald set a $500.00 price target on Lam Research and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, June 29th. Erste Group Bank cut Lam Research from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 2nd. Oppenheimer restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $400.00 price objective (up from $330.00) on shares of Lam Research in a research note on Monday, June 15th. Finally, Evercore reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $355.00 target price on shares of Lam Research in a research report on Monday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-eight have issued a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $360.51.

View Our Latest Analysis on LRCX

Lam Research Trading Up 5.0% Shares of LRCX stock opened at $322.00 on Wednesday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $340.44 and a 200-day moving average of $271.60. The company has a quick ratio of 1.77, a current ratio of 2.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Lam Research Corporation has a 12-month low of $90.93 and a 12-month high of $438.50. The firm has a market cap of $402.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 60.75, a PEG ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.80.

Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 22nd. The semiconductor company reported $1.47 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.36 by $0.11. Lam Research had a return on equity of 66.21% and a net margin of 30.94%.The business had revenue of $5.84 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.70 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.04 earnings per share. Lam Research’s revenue for the quarter was up 23.8% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Lam Research Corporation will post 5.68 earnings per share for the current year.

Lam Research Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 8th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 17th were paid a $0.26 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 17th. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.3%. Lam Research’s payout ratio is presently 19.62%.

Key Lam Research News Here are the key news stories impacting Lam Research this week:

Positive Sentiment: Semiconductor stocks, including Lam Research, rebounded as dip buyers returned to the group following a sharp sector pullback, supported by continued enthusiasm for the AI investment cycle. Intel, KLA Corporation, Lam Research, Marvell Technology, and Micron Shares Skyrocket, What You Need To Know Positive Sentiment: Multiple articles described Lam Research as a solid growth stock and a potential earnings-surprise name, reinforcing bullish expectations for the company’s fundamentals. Looking for a Growth Stock? 3 Reasons Why Lam Research (LRCX) is a Solid Choice Positive Sentiment: Lam Research joined the AI Materials Foundry as a founding partner, which could strengthen its long-term role in advanced chip materials and next-generation semiconductor development. Lam Research (LRCX) Joins AI Materials Foundry To Help Shape Future Chip Materials Positive Sentiment: Industry outlook pieces continue to favor semiconductor equipment makers like LRCX, citing AI-driven demand for advanced chips, packaging, and memory. Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights Applied Materials, Lam Research and FormFactor Neutral Sentiment: Lam Research was cited among stocks likely to deliver earnings upside this season, but this was presented as a broad screen rather than company-specific new information. 4 Top-Ranked Tech Stocks Set to Beat Expectations This Earnings Season Neutral Sentiment: Lam Research was also noted as having a “Moderate Buy” consensus from brokerages, which supports the stock but does not by itself explain a sharp move. Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages Negative Sentiment: The stock recently fell more than the broader market in a prior session, reflecting lingering volatility after the semiconductor sector’s steep selloff. Lam Research (LRCX) Dips More Than Broader Market: What You Should Know Insider Transactions at Lam Research In other news, SVP Neil J. Fernandes sold 7,659 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, June 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $309.60, for a total transaction of $2,371,226.40. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 58,470 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $18,102,312. This represents a 11.58% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Eric Brandt sold 54,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $350.80, for a total value of $19,118,600.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 199,205 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $69,881,114. The trade was a 21.48% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last three months, insiders have sold 104,621 shares of company stock valued at $33,804,737. Corporate insiders own 0.31% of the company’s stock.

About Lam Research (Free Report)

Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ: LRCX) is a global supplier of wafer fabrication equipment and services to the semiconductor industry. Founded in 1980 by David K. Lam and headquartered in Fremont, California, the company develops and manufactures systems used in multiple stages of semiconductor device production, including thin film deposition, plasma etch, wafer cleaning and related process modules and automation.

Lam’s product portfolio covers core process technologies employed by logic and memory manufacturers, with equipment designed to support advanced-node patterning, 3D NAND and other emerging device architectures.

See Also Five stocks we like better than Lam Research Confidence Is Back, But Earnings Show the Consumer Is Being Picky AeroVironment’s Stock Is Down, But Drone Demand Is Taking Off 3M’s Redemption Arc: Can Q2 Earnings Change the Narrative? 3 Photonics Companies Making Quantum Tech Possible

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Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 22nd, 2026

Arvest Bank Trust Division lowered its position in shares of Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX – Free Report) by 29.7% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 59,838 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock after selling 25,242 shares during the period. Arvest Bank Trust Division’s holdings in Lam Research were worth $12,785,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fideuram Asset Management Ireland dac purchased a new position in shares of Lam Research during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $10,035,000. Generali Investments Management Co LLC raised its holdings in shares of Lam Research by 62.0% in the fourth quarter. Generali Investments Management Co LLC now owns 36,274 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $6,209,000 after buying an additional 13,878 shares during the period. Aware Super Pty Ltd as trustee of Aware Super bought a new stake in shares of Lam Research during the 1st quarter worth approximately $59,973,000. Krilogy Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of Lam Research by 19.5% during the 1st quarter. Krilogy Financial LLC now owns 28,111 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $6,006,000 after acquiring an additional 4,584 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new position in Lam Research during the 1st quarter valued at $26,489,000. 84.61% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Lam Research Price Performance Shares of NASDAQ:LRCX opened at $322.00 on Wednesday. Lam Research Corporation has a twelve month low of $90.93 and a twelve month high of $438.50. The company’s 50 day moving average is $340.44 and its 200 day moving average is $271.60. The company has a current ratio of 2.54, a quick ratio of 1.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The company has a market cap of $402.68 billion, a PE ratio of 60.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.80.

Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 22nd. The semiconductor company reported $1.47 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.36 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $5.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.70 billion. Lam Research had a net margin of 30.94% and a return on equity of 66.21%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 23.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.04 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Lam Research Corporation will post 5.68 EPS for the current year.

Lam Research Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 8th. Investors of record on Wednesday, June 17th were issued a dividend of $0.26 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 17th. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. Lam Research’s dividend payout ratio is 19.62%.

Trending Headlines about Lam Research Here are the key news stories impacting Lam Research this week:

Positive Sentiment: Semiconductor stocks, including Lam Research, rebounded as dip buyers returned to the group following a sharp sector pullback, supported by continued enthusiasm for the AI investment cycle. Intel, KLA Corporation, Lam Research, Marvell Technology, and Micron Shares Skyrocket, What You Need To Know Positive Sentiment: Multiple articles described Lam Research as a solid growth stock and a potential earnings-surprise name, reinforcing bullish expectations for the company’s fundamentals. Looking for a Growth Stock? 3 Reasons Why Lam Research (LRCX) is a Solid Choice Positive Sentiment: Lam Research joined the AI Materials Foundry as a founding partner, which could strengthen its long-term role in advanced chip materials and next-generation semiconductor development. Lam Research (LRCX) Joins AI Materials Foundry To Help Shape Future Chip Materials Positive Sentiment: Industry outlook pieces continue to favor semiconductor equipment makers like LRCX, citing AI-driven demand for advanced chips, packaging, and memory. Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights Applied Materials, Lam Research and FormFactor Neutral Sentiment: Lam Research was cited among stocks likely to deliver earnings upside this season, but this was presented as a broad screen rather than company-specific new information. 4 Top-Ranked Tech Stocks Set to Beat Expectations This Earnings Season Neutral Sentiment: Lam Research was also noted as having a “Moderate Buy” consensus from brokerages, which supports the stock but does not by itself explain a sharp move. Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages Negative Sentiment: The stock recently fell more than the broader market in a prior session, reflecting lingering volatility after the semiconductor sector’s steep selloff. Lam Research (LRCX) Dips More Than Broader Market: What You Should Know Analysts Set New Price Targets LRCX has been the subject of a number of research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $290.00 price target on shares of Lam Research in a report on Thursday, April 23rd. New Street Research upped their price target on shares of Lam Research from $235.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, April 27th. Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $335.00 price target (up from $275.00) on shares of Lam Research in a report on Thursday, June 11th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on shares of Lam Research from $290.00 to $310.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 23rd. Finally, Mizuho increased their target price on shares of Lam Research from $380.00 to $400.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-eight have assigned a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $360.51.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Lam Research

Insider Activity In related news, SVP Neil J. Fernandes sold 7,659 shares of Lam Research stock in a transaction on Monday, June 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $309.60, for a total value of $2,371,226.40. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 58,470 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $18,102,312. This trade represents a 11.58% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Eric Brandt sold 54,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $350.80, for a total transaction of $19,118,600.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 199,205 shares in the company, valued at approximately $69,881,114. The trade was a 21.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold a total of 104,621 shares of company stock worth $33,804,737 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.31% of the company’s stock.

Lam Research Company Profile (Free Report)

Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ: LRCX) is a global supplier of wafer fabrication equipment and services to the semiconductor industry. Founded in 1980 by David K. Lam and headquartered in Fremont, California, the company develops and manufactures systems used in multiple stages of semiconductor device production, including thin film deposition, plasma etch, wafer cleaning and related process modules and automation.

Lam’s product portfolio covers core process technologies employed by logic and memory manufacturers, with equipment designed to support advanced-node patterning, 3D NAND and other emerging device architectures.

Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Lam Research Confidence Is Back, But Earnings Show the Consumer Is Being Picky AeroVironment’s Stock Is Down, But Drone Demand Is Taking Off 3M’s Redemption Arc: Can Q2 Earnings Change the Narrative? 3 Photonics Companies Making Quantum Tech Possible

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Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted its holdings in shares of Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX – Free Report) by 123.3% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 16,530 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock after acquiring an additional 9,126 shares during the quarter. Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft’s holdings in Lam Research were worth $3,435,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in Lam Research by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 59,817,352 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $8,024,684,000 after acquiring an additional 265,805 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in Lam Research by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 33,747,368 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $5,764,117,000 after acquiring an additional 126,613 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in Lam Research by 7.7% during the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 22,821,354 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $3,906,559,000 after purchasing an additional 1,638,406 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Lam Research during the fourth quarter worth about $3,645,427,000. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its position in shares of Lam Research by 352.2% during the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 13,695,210 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $2,344,347,000 after purchasing an additional 10,666,540 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.61% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets LRCX has been the subject of several recent research reports. Erste Group Bank cut shares of Lam Research from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 2nd. Needham & Company LLC increased their price objective on Lam Research from $300.00 to $390.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 10th. BNP Paribas Exane lifted their target price on Lam Research from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, April 23rd. B. Riley Financial boosted their target price on Lam Research from $350.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 12th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded Lam Research from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, April 6th. Twenty-eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $360.51.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Lam Research

Lam Research Stock Down 2.1% Lam Research stock opened at $306.76 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $383.62 billion, a PE ratio of 57.88, a P/E/G ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 1.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 2.54 and a quick ratio of 1.77. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $339.79 and its two-hundred day moving average is $270.54. Lam Research Corporation has a 1-year low of $90.93 and a 1-year high of $438.50.

Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 22nd. The semiconductor company reported $1.47 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.36 by $0.11. Lam Research had a net margin of 30.94% and a return on equity of 66.21%. The company had revenue of $5.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.70 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.04 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 23.8% on a year-over-year basis. Lam Research has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 1.500-1.800 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Lam Research Corporation will post 5.68 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Lam Research Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 8th. Investors of record on Wednesday, June 17th were issued a dividend of $0.26 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 17th. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.3%. Lam Research’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 19.62%.

Key Headlines Impacting Lam Research Here are the key news stories impacting Lam Research this week:

Positive Sentiment: Lam Research joined the AI Materials Foundry as a founding partner, a new CuspAI-led initiative focused on using AI and shared lab resources to speed up discovery of advanced semiconductor materials, which could support future product and technology demand. Lam Research (LRCX) Joins AI Materials Foundry To Help Shape Future Chip Materials Positive Sentiment: Lam Research was highlighted by Zacks as one of the semiconductor names benefiting from the AI boom, which continues to drive demand for advanced chips and equipment. 3 Stocks to Buy From the Prospering Semiconductor Industry Positive Sentiment: Another Zacks note said LRCX is among the tech stocks likely to deliver earnings surprises this season, reinforcing expectations for solid near-term fundamentals. 4 Top-Ranked Tech Stocks Set to Beat Expectations This Earnings Season Neutral Sentiment: Brokerages reportedly maintained a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating on Lam Research, suggesting Wall Street remains constructive but not overly aggressive on the stock. Lam Research Corporation Given Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages Neutral Sentiment: Oppenheimer included LRCX on its “best of the best” momentum list, another sign of positive sentiment but not a new fundamental catalyst by itself. Oppenheimer’s ‘best of the best’ momentum list: NVDA, LRCX and more Negative Sentiment: Lam Research slipped more than the broader market in the latest session, reflecting near-term pressure on the shares. Lam Research (LRCX) Dips More Than Broader Market: What You Should Know Negative Sentiment: Broader semiconductor stocks have entered a bear market, and investors are questioning whether the AI-driven rally has overheated, which is weighing on the entire chip group including LRCX. Semiconductor stocks enter bear market: Is bubble burst next? Negative Sentiment: A Bloomberg report noted that investors are pressuring big AI spenders to justify their capital outlays, adding caution to the semiconductor and AI hardware trade. Big Tech Needs to Justify AI Spending as Investors Dump Stocks Insider Activity In related news, SVP Neil J. Fernandes sold 18,170 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $255.14, for a total transaction of $4,635,893.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 66,129 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $16,872,153.06. This represents a 21.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Eric Brandt sold 54,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $350.80, for a total transaction of $19,118,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 199,205 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $69,881,114. The trade was a 21.48% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 104,621 shares of company stock valued at $33,804,737. Corporate insiders own 0.31% of the company’s stock.

About Lam Research (Free Report)

Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ: LRCX) is a global supplier of wafer fabrication equipment and services to the semiconductor industry. Founded in 1980 by David K. Lam and headquartered in Fremont, California, the company develops and manufactures systems used in multiple stages of semiconductor device production, including thin film deposition, plasma etch, wafer cleaning and related process modules and automation.

Lam’s product portfolio covers core process technologies employed by logic and memory manufacturers, with equipment designed to support advanced-node patterning, 3D NAND and other emerging device architectures.

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In the latest trading session, Lam Research (LRCX - Free Report) closed at $306.76, marking a -2.09% move from the previous day. This change lagged the S&P 500's 0.19% loss on the day. Meanwhile, the Dow lost 0.59%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lost 0.05%.

Coming into today, shares of the semiconductor equipment maker had lost 19.47% in the past month. In that same time, the Computer and Technology sector lost 4.32%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.55%.

Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Lam Research in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to be unveiled on July 29, 2026. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of $1.69, showcasing a 27.07% upward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Alongside, our most recent consensus estimate is anticipating revenue of $6.67 billion, indicating a 29.04% upward movement from the same quarter last year.

For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $5.68 per share and a revenue of $23.19 billion, representing changes of +37.2% and +25.78%, respectively, from the prior year.

Any recent changes to analyst estimates for Lam Research should also be noted by investors. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.

Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.84% higher within the past month. Lam Research currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

Investors should also note Lam Research's current valuation metrics, including its Forward P/E ratio of 39.59. This expresses a discount compared to the average Forward P/E of 43.65 of its industry.

Meanwhile, LRCX's PEG ratio is currently 1.86. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. The average PEG ratio for the Electronics - Semiconductors industry stood at 1.69 at the close of the market yesterday.

The Electronics - Semiconductors industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 40, which puts it in the top 17% of all 250+ industries.

The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Be sure to use Zacks.com to monitor all these stock-influencing metrics, and more, throughout the forthcoming trading sessions.

Copeland Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX – Free Report) by 857.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 52,112 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock after acquiring an additional 46,671 shares during the quarter. Copeland Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Lam Research were worth $11,134,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. State Street Corp raised its position in shares of Lam Research by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 59,817,352 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $8,024,684,000 after acquiring an additional 265,805 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Lam Research by 0.4% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 33,747,368 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $5,764,117,000 after purchasing an additional 126,613 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Lam Research by 7.7% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 22,821,354 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $3,906,559,000 after buying an additional 1,638,406 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Lam Research during the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,645,427,000. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in Lam Research by 352.2% in the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 13,695,210 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $2,344,347,000 after acquiring an additional 10,666,540 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.61% of the company’s stock.

Lam Research Stock Down 2.4% Shares of NASDAQ LRCX opened at $313.30 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $391.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 59.11, a PEG ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.80. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $339.57 and its 200 day moving average is $268.94. Lam Research Corporation has a 52 week low of $90.93 and a 52 week high of $438.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.77 and a current ratio of 2.54.

Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 22nd. The semiconductor company reported $1.47 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.36 by $0.11. Lam Research had a net margin of 30.94% and a return on equity of 66.21%. The business had revenue of $5.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.70 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.04 earnings per share. Lam Research’s revenue was up 23.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Lam Research has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 1.500-1.800 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Lam Research Corporation will post 5.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Lam Research Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 8th. Investors of record on Wednesday, June 17th were given a dividend of $0.26 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 17th. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.3%. Lam Research’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 19.62%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades LRCX has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Lam Research from $331.00 to $404.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, July 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on Lam Research from $300.00 to $325.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 23rd. Weiss Ratings lowered Lam Research from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Thursday, May 14th. Berenberg Bank lifted their target price on Lam Research from $265.00 to $335.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, April 23rd. Finally, Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $450.00 target price (up from $315.00) on shares of Lam Research in a research report on Wednesday, June 17th. Twenty-eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $358.67.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on LRCX

Insider Activity In related news, Director Eric Brandt sold 54,500 shares of Lam Research stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $350.80, for a total value of $19,118,600.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 199,205 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $69,881,114. This trade represents a 21.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Ava Harter sold 6,010 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $258.66, for a total transaction of $1,554,546.60. Following the transaction, the insider owned 53,205 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $13,762,005.30. This represents a 10.15% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 104,621 shares of company stock worth $33,804,737. Insiders own 0.31% of the company’s stock.

About Lam Research (Free Report)

Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ: LRCX) is a global supplier of wafer fabrication equipment and services to the semiconductor industry. Founded in 1980 by David K. Lam and headquartered in Fremont, California, the company develops and manufactures systems used in multiple stages of semiconductor device production, including thin film deposition, plasma etch, wafer cleaning and related process modules and automation.

Lam’s product portfolio covers core process technologies employed by logic and memory manufacturers, with equipment designed to support advanced-node patterning, 3D NAND and other emerging device architectures.

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Posted by _ _xnake on Jul 17th, 2026

SEALSQ (NASDAQ:LAES – Get Free Report) and Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX – Get Free Report) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership, risk, dividends and earnings.

Risk and Volatility SEALSQ has a beta of -7.88, indicating that its share price is 888% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Lam Research has a beta of 1.8, indicating that its share price is 80% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider & Institutional Ownership 1.3% of SEALSQ shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 84.6% of Lam Research shares are held by institutional investors. 0.3% of Lam Research shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation and Earnings This table compares SEALSQ and Lam Research”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio SEALSQ $18.25 million 25.81 -$34.19 million N/A N/A Lam Research $18.44 billion 21.77 $5.36 billion $5.30 60.56 Lam Research has higher revenue and earnings than SEALSQ.

Profitability This table compares SEALSQ and Lam Research’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets SEALSQ N/A N/A N/A Lam Research 30.94% 66.21% 31.61% Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for SEALSQ and Lam Research, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score SEALSQ 1 1 1 0 2.00 Lam Research 0 6 28 0 2.82 SEALSQ currently has a consensus price target of $6.00, suggesting a potential upside of 145.90%. Lam Research has a consensus price target of $358.67, suggesting a potential upside of 11.75%. Given SEALSQ’s higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe SEALSQ is more favorable than Lam Research.

Summary Lam Research beats SEALSQ on 10 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About SEALSQ (Get Free Report)

SEALSQ Corp, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, and markets semiconductor chips in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. It offers semiconductors, such as VaultIC secure elements, secure arm platform, and smart card reader chips; identity provisioning services, such as IoT device provisioning and chip provisioning; and managed PKI for IoT solutions and trust services. The company provides device-to-cloud authentication, device attestation for matter, GSMA root certificate, device-to-device authentication, data protection, anti-counterfeiting and brand protection, security access, device ID provisioning, identity lifecycle management, and satellite IoT connectivity solutions. Its products are used in various applications, such as smart energy, smart home, automotive EV charging, consumer IoT, aerospace and military, telecommunications, logistics, medical, luxury, and other industrial applications. SEALSQ Corp was founded in 2022 and is based in Cointrin, Switzerland.

About Lam Research (Get Free Report)

Lam 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. The company was incorporated in 1980 and is headquartered in Fremont, California.

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Key Takeaways ASE Technology is benefiting from strong AI packaging demand, record ATM revenues and LEAP expansion.LRCX faces China export risks and exposure to memory spending cycles despite strong packaging growth.ASX trades at a much lower trailing sales multiple than LRCX, offering a more attractive valuation. ASE Technology Holding (ASX - Free Report) and Lam Research (LRCX - Free Report) are both important players in the semiconductor industry, but they operate in different parts of the supply chain. ASE Technology is a major player in outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing, offering advanced packaging and testing services for AI, high-performance computing and automotive chips, while Lam Research provides wafer fabrication equipment that enables chipmakers to manufacture advanced semiconductors.

Both ASX and LRCX are well-positioned to benefit from the rising demand for AI chips, as hyperscalers continue to increase investments in AI infrastructure. However, from an investment point of view, one stock offers a more favorable outlook than the other right now. Let’s break down their fundamentals, growth prospects, market challenges and valuation to determine which stock offers a more compelling investment case.

The Case for ASE Technology StockASE Technology is benefiting from the growing demand for AI chip packaging. In the first quarter of 2026, ASX's Assembly, Testing and Materials (ATM) business performed better than expected, despite having fewer working days and did not see the usual seasonal slowdown. Management said AI-related products are changing the normal demand pattern, helping reduce the impact of seasonality on the business.

Advanced packaging continues to be the main growth driver. ASE reported record ATM revenues of NTD 112.4 billion in the first quarter, up 2% sequentially and 30% year over year. Higher factory utilization and a larger contribution from Leading Edge Advanced Packaging (LEAP) services were the key contributors to growth. The company said demand for AI and computing products remained strong, while growth in advanced packaging and wirebond services helped offset softer demand in some consumer markets.

ASE Technology is also increasing investments to support future growth. The company raised its 2026 capital spending plan and increased its LEAP revenue outlook by 10%. It now expects LEAP revenues to exceed $3.5 billion in 2026. Management said the additional investment will help expand capacity to meet growing customer demand and help drive further growth in the company's LEAP in the upcoming years.

The company is seeing demand not only from AI accelerator chips but also from AI-related power management, connectivity, sensors and edge devices. At the same time, it is expanding its advanced packaging technologies, including full-process packaging, CoWoS-like packaging and panel-level packaging, to support future AI applications. If AI infrastructure spending remains strong, ASE Technology is well-positioned to benefit from the growing demand for advanced semiconductor packaging.

The Case for Lam Research StockLam Research expects its advanced packaging business to be one of its fastest-growing businesses in 2026. Revenues from the advanced packaging business are expected to grow more than 50% in 2026. Management said AI is increasing demand for advanced packaging because AI chips need higher performance, higher bandwidth and better power efficiency than traditional chips.

LRCX supplies equipment used in key advanced packaging processes, including through-silicon via etch and copper plating. These technologies are used to connect chips and memory more efficiently in AI systems. As semiconductor companies build more AI processors and high-bandwidth memory, they need more advanced packaging equipment, creating additional demand for Lam Research's products.

The advanced packaging business is already contributing to LRCX's growth. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, foundry revenues increased 35% year over year, and management said advanced packaging remained a strong growth area. The company also continues to gain market share in its PECVD business, helped by demand for advanced packaging applications.

LRCX expects demand for advanced packaging to continue to grow as AI infrastructure spending increases. The company expects more chipmakers to adopt advanced packaging technologies as AI chips become more complex. This trend should position advanced packaging to become an important contributor to LRCX's revenue growth over the next few years.

However, risks and uncertainties related to trade restrictions on exporting semiconductor tools to China do not bode well for Lam Research. Management expects China revenues to decline in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, while China’s wafer fabrication equipment spending is expected to remain roughly flat year over year. Further, the company remains heavily exposed to memory spending cycles, particularly NAND and DRAM. Any slowdown in AI memory demand or delays in customer spending could hurt growth.

How do Earnings Estimates Compare for ASX & LRCX?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ASX’s 2026 and 2027 EPS is pegged at 84 cents and $1.45, respectively. The estimates for 2026 and 2027 have been revised up by 2.4% and 23.9%, respectively, over the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LRCX’s fiscal 2026 and 2027 EPS is pegged at $5.68 and $7.93, respectively. The estimates for fiscal 2026 have remained unchanged over the past 30 days, while the same for fiscal 2027 have been revised up by 0.5% over the past seven days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ASX vs. LRCX: Price Performance and ValuationYear to date, shares of ASX and LRCX have surged 150.7% and 102.8%, respectively.

ASX Vs. LRCX: YTD Price Return Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Currently, ASX is trading at a trailing 12-month P/S ratio of 4.20X, significantly lower than LRCX’s trailing 12-month P/S multiple of 20.07X. ASX’s reasonable valuation makes it more attractive for investors looking for value and stability.

ASX vs. LRCX: TTM 12-Month P/S Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Conclusion: ASX Has an Edge Over LRCXBoth ASX and LRCX are benefiting from growing demand for AI chips and advanced packaging. However, LRCX continues to face uncertainty related to semiconductor export restrictions to China and remains exposed to memory spending cycles, which could hurt the company’s prospects.

In contrast, ASE Technology continues to benefit from strong demand for AI chip packaging, supported by strong demand from AI and high-performance computing. Further, ASX’s reasonable valuation offers some downside protection as well, making the stock an attractive buy.

Currently, ASX sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), giving a clear edge over LRCX, which carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

© ShutterstockProfessional / Shutterstock.com

Wedbush Securities tech strategist Dan Ives argued on CNBC on Monday that memory chips have become the most valuable slice of the AI supply chain, and that SK Hynix’s blockbuster U.S. listing debut on Friday is the clearest signal yet that capital is rotating toward American-listed AI infrastructure names. “Those are the golden child really of this AI revolution. The reality is you’re not going to have equilibrium in terms of demand and supply at least until 2028.”

Ives quantified the supply and demand imbalance he sees: “We continue to think demand [to] supply 15 to 1 in terms of the chips,” he said, adding that for the first time in 30 years, the U.S. is ahead of China in tech, a shift he expects will draw more foreign listings to New York.

Micron Is the Purest U.S. Play on the AI Memory Shortage The clearest expression of the memory rerating is Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU | MU Price Prediction). Shares are up 243.33% year to date and 696.76% over the past year, carrying the company to a $1.1 trillion market cap. Fiscal Q3 revenue reached $41.456 billion, up 345.72% year over year, with GAAP gross margin expanding to 84.6% and non-GAAP EPS of $25.11 beating consensus expectations. Guidance calls for Q4 revenue of $50.0 billion ± $1.0 billion and roughly 86% gross margin.

CEO Sanjay Mehrotra told investors that “AI demand is driving DRAM and NAND data center bits TAM to exceed 50% of the industry TAM for the first time in calendar 2026” and that Micron can currently fulfill only “50% to two-thirds” of some customers’ demand. That is the supply squeeze Ives is monetizing thematically.

Why Dan Ives Still Likes Nvidia Ives argued that NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) and the hyperscalers have become “the shiny new toy, shiny new object in terms of memory. The ones that are actually at the center, whether it’s the hyperscalers or Nvidia, those are almost in the penalty box.”

Ives believes Nvidia still plays a central role in the AI industry: “There’s one chip in the world fueling the AI revolution, and that’s led by the godfather of AI, Nvidia. Where is memory without Nvidia? Where’s memory without the hyperscalers?”

Ives cited that NVIDIA trades at its lowest valuation since 2019, even as Q1 FY2027 revenue hit $81.61 billion, with Data Center at $75.25 billion. The stock trades at a forward P/E of 24 and closed at $203.53 on Monday against an analyst target price of $301.62.

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TSMC Confirms the AI Chip Boom Is Still Accelerating Ives pointed to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM) as a confirmation signal that the AI boom is accelerating. June revenue jumped 67.9% year over year to NT$442.68 billion, with first-half 2026 cumulative revenue of NT$2,404.48 billion, up 35.6%. Q2 results land July 16, 2026, three days from Ives’s segment. The stock is up 43.57% year-to-date.

Companies Making Money From the Memory-Chip Supercycle Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) posted Q2 AI semiconductor revenue of $10.80 billion, up 143% year over year, and guided Q3 AI revenue to $16.00 billion, over 200% growth. CEO Hock Tan tied the growth to “increasing demand for custom AI accelerators and AI networking.”

Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX) sells the deposition and etch tools that make HBM possible. Fiscal Q3 revenue reached $5.84 billion, up 23.8% year over year, with June-quarter guidance of $6.60 billion. South Korea and Taiwan together account for 46% of revenue, direct exposure to the SK Hynix and TSMC HBM ramps. Shares are up 105.04% year to date.

Key Takeaways Ives’s broader argument is that memory chips have become one of the most valuable and supply-constrained parts of the AI infrastructure buildout. Micron offers the clearest direct exposure among U.S. companies, while NVIDIA, TSMC, Broadcom, and Lam Research each provide exposure to a different layer of the same investment cycle.

The next major signals to watch include TSMC’s July 16 earnings report, the start of HBM4E volume production in 2027, and any additional U.S. listings from Asian chipmakers.

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Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Key Takeaways Lam Research targets record Q4'26 revenues of $6.6B after posting $5.84B in the third quarter.AI chip demand is driving investments in advanced DRAM, HBM and leading-edge foundry technologies.LRCX's advanced packaging sales are expected to grow by over 50% in 2026 as AI processors become more complex. Lam Research Corporation (LRCX - Free Report) is slated to report its fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results in late July, and investors must be wondering if the company will reach its record revenue target of $6.6 billion. We believe that the ongoing boom in artificial intelligence (AI) chips could help Lam Research achieve that goal. Demand for advanced semiconductor equipment continues to rise as chipmakers expand capacity for AI processors, high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and next-generation logic devices.

Lam Research delivered strong momentum in the third quarter of fiscal 2026. Revenues increased 24% year over year to a record $5.84 billion, while systems revenues climbed to $3.73 billion. Non-GAAP earnings per share jumped 41% and reached a record $1.47, while non-GAAP gross margin improved 90 basis points to 49.9%, reflecting a favorable product mix and operational execution. These results provide a solid foundation for another quarter of growth.

AI is becoming LRCX’s biggest growth engine. The company is benefiting from rising investments in advanced DRAM, HBM and leading-edge foundry technologies, all of which require Lam Research’s etch and deposition equipment. Management also expects advanced packaging revenues to grow more than 50% in calendar year 2026 as AI processors become more complex and require sophisticated chip integration technologies.

Industry conditions remain favorable. Lam Research estimates global wafer fabrication equipment spending of approximately $140 billion in calendar year 2026, reflecting stronger AI-related investments across memory and logic markets. The company also expects industry growth to continue into 2027.

If AI infrastructure spending remains robust and customers continue expanding advanced chip production, Lam Research appears well-positioned to achieve its record fourth-quarter sales target and sustain its strong growth momentum. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues is currently pegged at $6.67 billion, higher than the midpoint of management’s guidance range and indicating a year-over-year increase of more than 29%.

Lam Research’s Rivals Also Benefit From AI Chip DemandLRCX’s main competitors, Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT - Free Report) and KLA Corporation (KLAC - Free Report) , are also benefiting from the AI chip boom. Both companies have broad exposure to advanced semiconductor manufacturing and are seeing strong demand from AI-related investments.

Applied Materials is Lam Research’s closest rival in wafer fabrication equipment. The company generated revenues of $7.91 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, with its Semiconductor Systems segment contributing the majority of sales. Applied Materials reported record DRAM revenue and continues to benefit from growing demand for advanced logic, HBM and advanced packaging solutions used in AI servers. Its broad product portfolio positions it to capture a significant share of rising semiconductor capital spending.

KLA Corporation competes through inspection and process control equipment, which are essential for manufacturing advanced AI chips. The company’s third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues increased 11.5% year over year to $3.42 billion as it continues to benefit from increasing process complexity at leading-edge nodes. As AI processors and HBM stacks require tighter quality control and higher production yields, KLAC's inspection tools are becoming increasingly important.

For Lam Research, sustaining record quarterly revenues will depend on maintaining its leadership in etch and deposition technologies while competing effectively with Applied Materials and KLA Corporation across the rapidly expanding AI semiconductor ecosystem.

LRCX’s Share Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Lam Research have surged 104.6% year to date compared with the Zacks Electronics – Semiconductors industry’s rise of 50.3%.

Lam Research YTD Price Return Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Lam Research trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 43.81, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 33.34.

Lam Research Forward 12-Month P/E Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Lam Research’s fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings implies a year-over-year increase of approximately 37.2% and 39.6%, respectively. Estimates for fiscal 2026 have been revised upward over the past 30 days, while estimates for fiscal 2027 have been raised northward over the past seven days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Lam Research currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Lam Research Corp. (NASDAQ:LRCX) stock climbed nearly 7% on Thursday as investors poured into semiconductor equipment stocks during a broad technology rally. The Nasdaq gained 1.51%, while the S&P 500 rose 0.68%.

Lam Research also received fresh analyst support on Thursday, further boosting sentiment. Mizuho maintained its Outperform rating and raised its price forecast to $400 from $380, while TD Cowen maintained its Buy rating and lifted its price forecast to $400 from $340.

The upbeat analyst actions reinforced optimism around the company’s long-term growth prospects amid continued AI-driven semiconductor spending.

Lam Research Technical Trend Remains BullishLRCX continues to trade well above its key long-term moving averages, keeping its broader uptrend intact. The stock remains about 56% above its 200-day simple moving average and roughly 26% above its 100-day moving average. It also trades about 8% above its 50-day moving average.

However, the shares remain about 5% below the 20-day moving average after pulling back from their June peak. That suggests the stock is consolidating rather than reversing its longer-term trend.

The relative strength index stands at 50.12, indicating neutral momentum. The reading suggests the stock is neither overbought nor oversold.

A key technical support level sits near $302.50, where buyers previously stepped in.

AI Spending Keeps Company In FocusLam Research is one of the world’s largest suppliers of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The company specializes in etch and deposition systems used to produce advanced chips.

Its customers include major chipmakers. As a result, the company is widely viewed as a direct beneficiary of rising semiconductor capital spending, particularly in AI-related memory and logic chip production.

Analysts Remain Positive Ahead Of EarningsLam Research is scheduled to report quarterly results on July 29. Wall Street expects earnings of $1.68 per share on revenue of $6.66 billion, compared with earnings of $1.33 per share on revenue of $5.17 billion a year earlier.

Lam Research Price ActionLRCX Stock Price Activity: Lam Research shares were up 6.42% at $354.53 at the time of publication on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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Lam Research (LRCX - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $326.13, moving -6.87% from the previous trading session. This change lagged the S&P 500's 0.45% loss on the day. Elsewhere, the Dow lost 0.25%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 1.16%.

Prior to today's trading, shares of the semiconductor equipment maker had gained 7.94% outpaced the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 0.38% and the S&P 500's gain of 2.14%.

The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Lam Research in its upcoming release. The company is expected to report EPS of $1.68, up 26.32% from the prior-year quarter. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $6.65 billion, up 28.67% from the year-ago period.

LRCX's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $5.68 per share and revenue of $23.11 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +37.2% and +25.35%, respectively.

It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for Lam Research. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the business and profitability.

Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To benefit from this, we have developed the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model which takes these estimate changes into account and provides an actionable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 1.95% higher within the past month. Currently, Lam Research is carrying a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Digging into valuation, Lam Research currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 44.39. This valuation marks a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 49.38.

We can also see that LRCX currently has a PEG ratio of 2.09. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company's projected earnings growth. As of the close of trade yesterday, the Electronics - Semiconductors industry held an average PEG ratio of 1.87.

The Electronics - Semiconductors industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 41, finds itself in the top 17% echelons of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank is ordered from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.

Wall Street has a funny way of interpreting good news sometimes. Samsung Electronics (SSNLF +0.00%) posted earnings that would make most companies weep with joy, and investors responded by hitting the sell button across the entire semiconductor sector. Yep, a South Korean tech giant sent the all-American market indexes into significant declines today.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI 0.23%) fell 0.4% by 11:26 a.m. ET. The S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.28%) dropped 0.6%, while the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC 0.70%) tumbled 1.3%.

^DJI data by YCharts

The sell-the-news playbook strikes again Samsung didn't exactly announce earnings today. The company set the release date to July 30, alongside fresh guidance figures based on preliminary results. Revenue is up by approximately 129% year-over-year while operating profits surged 19-fold. Those are impressive results, powered by global demand for AI hardware. Samsung is both a leading chip designer and a top-three manufacturer of other companies' chip blueprints.

The results are impressive, but some investors expected even more. The stock was priced for even greater growth, and Samsung's stock was 10% lower when the Korean market closed.

The impact on American sector peers was immediate and brutal. Memory-chip rival Micron Technology (MU 5.74%) is down by 7.2%, microchip veteran Intel (INTC 9.55%) fell 10.6%, and chip-making equipment provider Lam Research (LRCX 7.27%) dropped 7.7%. That's terrible news for the Nasdaq indexes, where these chip giants carry heavy weightings.

Samsung's impact was milder on the S&P 500 index, where significant price jumps in NYSE healthcare stocks offset the tech rout. The Dow is showing 17 gainers and 13 losers right now. So Wall Street didn't take the AI hardware drawdowns as a broader market collapse.

Image source: Getty Images.

Still, industrial titans Caterpillar (CAT 4.10%) and Honeywell International (HON 2.75%) posted declines of 5.8% and 8.5%, respectively. Combined, the two stocks erased 355 points from the Dow's index score. AI data center construction connects them to the Samsung story, and Caterpillar just announced the acquisition of privately held Skycatch, which surveys mining job sites with high-quality drone cameras.

But let's get back to Samsung. The market's logic here is essentially: "If things are this good now, they can only get worse." Investors decided Samsung's blowout quarter was a peak signal rather than proof of sustained demand.

Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX 5.22%) picked an unfortunate day to join the Nasdaq-100 index. The rocket and AI company dropped 5.4% in its debut as an index component. The Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (QQQ 1.31%), which tracks the Nasdaq-100 index, is down by 1.8%.

Oil had a good day, which usually means something caught fire somewhere. Sure enough, a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz was struck by a projectile early Tuesday. Iranian state television said the ship ignored warnings. The United States Oil Fund (USO +2.55%) jumped 2.3%. Negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain on hold until funeral processions for Supreme Leader Khamenei conclude on July 9.

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The week ahead Three days of chip selling after an 82% first-half rally might just be healthy profit-taking. Or it might be the market finally acknowledging that AI expectations had gotten ahead of themselves. Either way, I expect more volatility this week.

Chip valuations had grown stretched after months of AI enthusiasm. Maybe too stretched. Samsung's earnings were genuinely impressive, and the reaction suggests investors care more about what comes next than about current results. That's not a healthy market mood.

Upcoming chip earnings and guidance will determine whether this is a brief pause or something more significant.

Anders Bylund has positions in Intel and Micron Technology. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Caterpillar, Honeywell Technologies, Intel, Lam Research, and Micron Technology. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Investors seek growth stocks to capitalize on above-average growth in financials that help these securities grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. But finding a growth stock that can live up to its true potential can be a tough task.

By their very nature, these stocks carry above-average risk and volatility. Moreover, if a company's growth story is over or nearing its end, betting on it could lead to significant loss.

However, it's pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks with the help of the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects.

Our proprietary system currently recommends Lam Research (LRCX - Free Report) as one such stock. This company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.

Studies have shown that stocks with the best growth features consistently outperform the market. And returns are even better for stocks that possess the combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).

Here are three of the most important factors that make the stock of this semiconductor equipment maker a great growth pick right now.

Earnings GrowthArguably nothing is more important than earnings growth, as surging profit levels is what most investors are after. For growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is highly preferable, as it is often perceived as an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.

While the historical EPS growth rate for Lam Research is 8.5%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 38.3% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 32.1%.

Cash Flow GrowthCash is the lifeblood of any business, but higher-than-average cash flow growth is more beneficial and important for growth-oriented companies than for mature companies. That's because, high cash accumulation enables these companies to undertake new projects without raising expensive outside funds.

Right now, year-over-year cash flow growth for Lam Research is 31.2%, which is higher than many of its peers. In fact, the rate compares to the industry average of 5.8%.

While investors should actually consider the current cash flow growth, it's worth taking a look at the historical rate too for putting the current reading into proper perspective. The company's annualized cash flow growth rate has been 16.6% over the past 3-5 years versus the industry average of 5.9%.

Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsBeyond the metrics outlined above, investors should consider the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is a plus here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

There have been upward revisions in current-year earnings estimates for Lam Research. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 1.5% over the past month.

Bottom LineWhile the overall earnings estimate revisions have made Lam Research a Zacks Rank #2 stock, it has earned itself a Growth Score of B based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above.

You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

This combination indicates that Lam Research is a potential outperformer and a solid choice for growth investors.

In the latest close session, Lam Research (LRCX - Free Report) was down 9.73% at $391.17. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.22%. Elsewhere, the Dow lost 0.03%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.66%.

The semiconductor equipment maker's stock has climbed by 29.58% in the past month, exceeding the Computer and Technology sector's loss of 2.58% and the S&P 500's loss of 1.21%.

Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Lam Research in its upcoming release. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of $1.68, marking a 26.32% rise compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $6.65 billion, indicating a 28.67% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $5.68 per share and a revenue of $23.11 billion, representing changes of +37.2% and +25.35%, respectively, from the prior year.

It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for Lam Research. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.

Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, which varies between #1 (Strong Buy) and #5 (Strong Sell), carries an impressive track record of exceeding expectations, confirmed by external audits, with stocks at #1 delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has witnessed a 0.56% increase. Lam Research is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Looking at valuation, Lam Research is presently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 76.3. This denotes a premium relative to the industry average Forward P/E of 59.72.

We can also see that LRCX currently has a PEG ratio of 3.58. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. As of the close of trade yesterday, the Electronics - Semiconductors industry held an average PEG ratio of 2.2.

The Electronics - Semiconductors industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 56, which puts it in the top 23% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

You can find more information on all of these metrics, and much more, on Zacks.com.

© Alex Wong / Getty Images

Nancy Pelosi’s husband is a venture capitalist who has been highly successful in the stock market for nearly four decades, and all his trades (attributed to Pelosi due to their marriage) have performed incredibly well for investors. Copying their portfolio would’ve let you trounce the broader market’s gains again and again.

But what if I told you there might be another politician portfolio worth tracking?

Representative Cleo Fields from Louisiana’s 6th congressional district has a very large portfolio (we’ll get into this later), and he is serving on the House Financial Services Committee.

Why you should pay more attention to Fields’ picks Pelosi’s total portfolio remains huge, but Fields is a new AI-heavy surprise since his portfolio is at $42 million. Nancy Pelosi’s portfolio is three times bigger, but there are very few congressmen/women who have a portfolio even above just $1 million. A portfolio of that size with a huge outperformance is worth giving more attention to.

On top of that, Fields’ portfolio is not spouse-owned in the way Pelosi’s is. Instead, he buys and sells himself.

He said, “I’ve been trading stocks for a while, and it didn’t start when I was in Congress. And I don’t intend to stop while I’m at Congress.”

Late last year, Fields bought Oracle (NYSE:ORCL | ORCL Price Prediction) just before the TikTok acquisition. He’s one of the more controversial names since he’s been actively “under fire” from watchdogs that track potential insider trading.

A very active, AI-heavy portfolio Unlike Nancy Pelosi’s portfolio, you have a lot more action to work with when you look at Fields’ portfolio. His most recent trade was buying Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG) on June 15, 2026. His estimated holding value here is $1.1 million.

Four days before that, on June 11, he bought Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT). His estimated MSFT holding value is also above $1 million.

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A week before that, he bought Quantinuum (NASDAQ:QNT). It is a rather under-the-radar data science and artificial intelligence stock that went public the day of the purchase. His purchase value was between $1-15k. QNT stock is up ~30% within a month.

There are several more meaty tech buys that include Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE:TSM), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), AMD (NASDAQ:AMD), Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX), and Micron (NASDAQ:MU).

All you need to know is that he is very active and seems all-in on the AI rally.

Why he could overtake Nancy Pelosi Even though Pelosi’s husband is an experienced trader, he hasn’t been as prolific recently, especially with AI. Most of the Pelosi trades are deep in-the-money call options, along with some long-term outright buys. On the other hand, Cleo Fields is adding more and more to some of the best-performing stocks.

And if this AI rally keeps continuing, he’ll be able to one-up Nancy Pelosi on yearly performance. Of course, Fields is not surpassing the Pelosis when it comes to portfolio value anytime soon, but the gains are quickly adding up.

You should follow his portfolio If it isn’t obvious already, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on his AI portfolio. Fields continues to be a stock market high roller, and he’s not sorry about heavily trading stock.

Considering the committee he’s serving, the portfolio size, plus the gains, the portfolio is still quite under the radar.

I will still avoid copying him 1:1. The stocks he is buying are the same stocks every other retail AI investor holds. Even a triple-digit annual gain isn’t hugely surprising if you look at an AI bull’s portfolio who is willing to risk tens of millions. Most of us don’t have that much financial firepower to deploy.

Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Apple didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Key Takeaways Lam Research targets a Q4 gross margin of 50.5%, its first guide above the 50% level.AI demand for advanced etch and deposition tools is boosting product mix and profitability.Advanced packaging revenues are expected to rise more than 50% in 2026 as AI chip investment grows. Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as the biggest driver of Lam Research Corporation’s (LRCX - Free Report) profitability, and it could help the company achieve a new high in the gross margin in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026. Strong demand for advanced memory, foundry and packaging equipment is improving the product mix and allowing Lam Research to generate higher returns from its product portfolio.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, Lam Research reported a non-GAAP gross margin of 49.9%, up from 49.7% in the previous quarter and 49% a year ago. Revenues climbed 24% year over year to a record $5.84 billion, while non-GAAP earnings per share increased 41% to a record $1.47. The company also delivered a 35% non-GAAP operating margin, reflecting strong execution and disciplined cost management.

Management expects the momentum to continue. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, Lam Research projected revenues of $6.6 billion at the midpoint and a non-GAAP gross margin of 50.5%, marking the first time the company has guided for a margin above the 50% level. This outlook is supported by higher demand for advanced etch and deposition tools used in AI chips and high-bandwidth memory production.

AI is also expanding Lam Research’s long-term growth opportunities. The company expects advanced packaging revenues to increase by more than 50% in calendar year 2026 as chipmakers invest in complex packaging technologies for AI processors. At the same time, management forecasts wafer fabrication equipment spending of about $140 billion this year.

If AI-driven investments remain strong and Lam Research continues improving its product mix, the company has a solid chance of delivering another record gross margin in the upcoming fiscal fourth quarter.

How Competitors Fare Against Lam ResearchKLA Corporation (KLAC - Free Report) and Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT - Free Report) remain two of the biggest competitors challenging Lam Research as AI-driven semiconductor demand lifts profitability across the equipment industry.

KLA focuses on process control, inspection and yield management solutions. As AI chips become more complex, semiconductor makers need more testing and monitoring tools to improve production efficiency.

KLAC's strong exposure to advanced logic and memory manufacturing has helped it maintain healthy margins and steady cash flow growth. The company's non-GAAP gross margin has been above 60% over the past several quarters.

Applied Materials has also benefited from rising AI and memory spending. In its last reported results for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, the company generated Semiconductor Systems revenues of $5.97 billion, supported by strong DRAM and advanced packaging demand.

Applied Materials continues to invest heavily in materials engineering and advanced chip packaging technologies, areas that are becoming increasingly important for AI servers and high-bandwidth memory. In the second quarter, the company's non-GAAP gross margin expanded 80 basis points year over year to 50%.

LRCX’s Share Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Lam Research have surged 153.9% year to date compared with the Zacks Electronics – Semiconductors industry’s rise of 54.9%.

Lam Research YTD Price Return Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchFrom a valuation standpoint, Lam Research trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 76.24, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 35.94.

Lam Research Forward 12-Month P/E Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Lam Research’s fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings implies a year-over-year increase of approximately 37.2% and 38.3%, respectively. Estimates for fiscal 2026 have been revised upward over the past 30 days, while estimates for fiscal 2027 have been raised northward over the past seven days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Lam Research currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Recently, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang predicted that chipmaker Marvell Technology would be the next trillion-dollar company, and there are other well-known semiconductor stocks like Advanced Micro Devices and Intel that are making their way toward that milestone.

However, the next trillion-dollar company might actually be an artificial intelligence (AI) player most people don't know about. Lam Research (LRCX +5.61%) is deeply ingrained in AI infrastructure and has a solid path to long-term growth. And its market cap has more than doubled year to date to exceed $500 billion.

Image source: Getty Images.

What Lam Research does Lam Research specializes in wafer fabrication equipment and services for the semiconductor industry. To manufacture AI chips at scale without defects requires an array of high-end wafer fabrication tools of the types that Lam provides.

It has competitors, but it has established itself as one of the leaders in the industry, counting among its clients top names such as Samsung, SK Hynix, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing.

Thanks to the AI build-out, all of those companies are experiencing soaring demand for the semiconductors their foundries churn out. As a result, they are ramping up capital expenditures to bring new manufacturing capacity online and benefit from this generational opportunity. That foundry build-out will translate into higher revenue growth for Lam.

Just as more investors have in recent years come to understand that memory chips are as vital to AI data centers as graphics processing units (GPUs), more of them are starting to recognize that wafer fabrication is a key step in the manufacture of those memory chips, GPUs, and other types of semiconductors.

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The fundamentals support a push to $1 trillion Lam Research trades at a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 81.8. While that valuation is nearly three times the S&P 500's average P/E, the company's underlying growth supports that premium valuation. Investors who can buy and hold the stock for multiple years will likely be happy getting in at current levels, especially based on Lam's first-quarter results.

Revenue increased by 24% year over year in that quarter and was up by 9% sequentially. That strong increase came with a 31.2% net profit margin, up from 28.2% in the prior-year period.

Those are solid numbers for a growth stock, but the exciting part is that its sequential revenue growth rate is projected to increase. This is an important development. When similar conditions occurred for other AI hardware companies such as Micron and Sandisk, the stocks responded with big rallies.

Second-quarter guidance implies $6.6 billion in revenue at the midpoint, which would mean 13% sequential growth. The actual results may be even better; in its fiscal Q1, Lam Research beat the guidance that it had provided in fiscal Q4 2025. Management had told investors to expect $5.7 billion in revenue at the midpoint of guidance. The company ended up reporting $5.84 billion.

Beating the midpoint of guidance again will put third-quarter revenue closer to $7 billion. The exact $7 billion figure, which is the high-end of guidance, would represent a 20% sequential growth rate. The company has proved over several quarters that it can boost profit margins while delivering higher growth. That setup, along with Lam Research's position in the AI infrastructure loop, gives it what it takes to reach a $1 trillion market cap.

Marc Guberti has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Intel, Lam Research, Marvell Technology, Micron Technology, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The race to build humanoid robots is accelerating from science fiction to industrial reality. RBC Capital Markets expect the market to grow into a $9 trillion opportunity by 2050, once software, services, and maintenance are included. Most investor attention has centered on companies building the robots themselves. Yet history suggests the biggest long-term winners are often the businesses supplying the tools that every competitor depends on. 

In the humanoid robotics boom, that makes semiconductor equipment makers ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML | ASML Price Prediction) and Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX) two of the most compelling investments.

The Robot Builders Need More Than Great Chips The companies developing humanoid robots are easy to identify. Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) has become the dominant supplier of AI processors and software through its Isaac robotics platform, while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM) manufactures many of those advanced chips. On the hardware side, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), Hyundai, and Xiaomi are investing billions to bring humanoid robots from research labs into factories, warehouses, and eventually homes.

Those companies could enjoy enormous revenue growth. They will also compete fiercely on price, features, and manufacturing scale. The automotive industry offers a useful comparison. Car sales expanded dramatically over the last century, yet many automakers struggled to earn consistent profits because competition steadily compressed margins.

But looking one step further upstream, while every robot needs cutting-edge AI chips, every one of those chips requires highly specialized manufacturing equipment before it ever reaches a production line. That is where ASML Holding and Lam Research stand apart.

While the world watches the robots, these hidden giants are controlling the $9 trillion chokepoint that makes them possible. © 24/7 Wall St. The Picks and Shovels Players ASML generated 32.7 billion euros (almost $37 billion) in net sales for full-year 2025, up 15% from the year before, while shipping the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems that no competitor currently offers. Each machine can cost more than $350 million and enables chipmakers to produce the most advanced processors available. Without those systems, leading-edge AI chips simply cannot be manufactured.

Lam Research fills another indispensable role. The company specializes in wafer etching and deposition equipment that creates the microscopic structures inside every advanced semiconductor. Lam reported trailing 12-month revenue of almost $21.7 billion while continuing to benefit from growing investments in AI chip production.

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Regardless of which robot manufacturer ultimately captures the largest market share, nearly every advanced processor will pass through ASML’s and Lam Research’s equipment during production.

The Real Bottleneck Isn’t Robots — It’s Chip Capacity Surprisingly, the biggest constraint on humanoid robotics may not be demand but semiconductor manufacturing capacity.

Robot brains require enormous computing power to process vision, movement, speech, and decision-making in real time. That increases demand for advanced logic chips and high-bandwidth memory, benefiting companies such as Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) and SK hynix. Yet neither memory nor processors can be produced without semiconductor fabrication plants packed with ASML and Lam Research equipment.

That creates a classic picks-and-shovels investment opportunity. Instead of betting on which robot brand consumers or businesses eventually prefer, investors should own companies supplying virtually every participant across the industry.

Key Takeaway In short, humanoid robotics could become one of the largest technology markets ever created, but the safest long-term investments may not be the companies assembling the robots. Nvidia and Taiwan Semiconductor remain essential pieces of the ecosystem, while Tesla, Hyundai, and Xiaomi are racing to commercialize the machines. 

Ultimately, however, ASML and Lam Research occupy the industry’s chokepoint. Every next-generation AI chip depends on their equipment before it can power a single humanoid robot, giving both companies durable competitive advantages that could endure long after today’s robotics leaders change.

Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and ASML didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Here at Zacks, we offer our members many different opportunities to take full advantage of the stock market, as well as how to invest in ways that lead to long-term success.

One of our most popular services, Zacks Premium offers daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank; full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List; Equity Research reports; and Premium stock screens like the Earnings ESP filter. All are useful tools to find what stocks to buy, what to sell, and what are today's hottest industries.

The service also includes the Focus List, which is a long-term portfolio of top stocks that boast a winning, market-beating combination of growth and momentum qualities.

Breaking Down the Zacks Focus ListIf you could get access to a curated list of stocks to kickstart your investment portfolio, wouldn't you jump at the chance to take a peek?

That's what the Zacks Focus List, a portfolio of 50 stocks, offers investors. Not only does it serve as a starting point for long-term investors, but all stocks included in the list are poised to outperform the market over the next 12 months.

What makes the Focus List even more helpful is that each selection is accompanied by a full Zacks Analyst Report, which explains the reasoning behind every stock's selection and why we believe it's a good pick for the long-term.

The portfolio's past performance only solidifies why investors should consider it as a starting point. For 2020, the Focus List gained 13.85% on an annualized basis compared to the S&P 500's return of 9.38%. Cumulatively, the portfolio has returned 2,519.23% while the S&P returned 854.95%. Returns are for the period of February 1, 1996 to March 31, 2021.

Focus List MethodologyWhen stocks are picked for the Focus List, it reflects our enduring reliance on the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Brokerage analysts are in charge of determining a company's growth and profitability expectations, or earnings estimates. These analysts work together with company management to evaluate all factors that may affect future earnings, like interest rates, the economy, and sector and industry optimism.

Investors also need to look at what a company will earn down the road. This is why earnings estimate revisions are so important.

Stocks that receive upward earnings estimate revisions are more likely to receive even more upward changes in the future. For example, if an analyst raised their estimates last month, they're more likely to do it again this month, and other analysts are likely to do the same.

Harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions is where the Zacks Rank comes in. The Zacks Rank is a unique, proprietary stock-rating model that utilizes changes to a company's quarterly earnings expectations to help investors build a winning portfolio.

There are four main factors behind the Zacks Rank: Agreement, Magnitude, Upside, and Surprise. Each one of these features is then given a raw score that's recalculated every night and compiled into the Rank. Using this data, stocks are classified into five groups, ranging from "Strong Buy" to "Strong Sell."

The Focus List is comprised of stocks hand-picked from a long list of #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) ranked companies, meaning that each new addition boasts a bullish earnings consensus among analysts.

Because stock prices react to revisions, buying stocks with rising earnings estimates can be very profitable. Focus List stocks offer investors a great opportunity to get into companies whose future earnings estimates will be raised, potentially leading to price momentum.

Focus List Spotlight: Lam Research (LRCX - Free Report) Fremont, CA-based Lam Research supplies wafer fabrication equipment and services to the semiconductor industry. It serves the related markets that rely on semiconductor processes and require production-proven manufacturing capabilities, such as complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor image sensors and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS).

Since being added to the Focus List on December 5, 2016 at $10.05 per share, shares of LRCX have increased 3898.21% to $401.82. The stock is currently a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank.

Three analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.05 to $5.7. LRCX also boasts an average earnings surprise of 7.9%.

Moreover, analysts are expecting LRCX's earnings to grow 37.7% for the current fiscal year.

Reveal Winning StocksUnlock all of our powerful research, tools and analysis, including the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research Reports, Zacks Earnings ESP Filter, Premium Screener and more, as part of Zacks Premium. You'll quickly identify which stocks to buy, hold and sell, and target today's hottest industries, to help improve the performance of your portfolio. Gain full access now >>

Healthy demand for memory equipment should help Lam Research clock stronger-than-expected growth in the future.

Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the "long context," investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.

Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.

Below, we take a look at Lam Research (LRCX - Free Report) , a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.

It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Lam Research currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.

You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>

Set to Beat the Market? In order to see if LRCX is a promising momentum pick, let's examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this semiconductor equipment maker holds up.

Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It's also helpful to compare a security to its industry; this can show investors the best companies in a particular area.

For LRCX, shares are up 20.95% over the past week while the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry is up 6.05% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 28.1% compares favorably with the industry's 5.39% performance as well.

Considering longer term price metrics, like performance over the last three months or year, can be advantageous as well. Over the past quarter, shares of Lam Research have risen 60.28%, and are up 305.66% in the last year. On the other hand, the S&P 500 has only moved 11.07% and 25.39%, respectively.

Investors should also take note of LRCX's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now LRCX is averaging 10,123,531 shares for the last 20 days..

Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with LRCX.

Over the past two months, 13 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost LRCX's consensus estimate, increasing from $5.30 to $5.70 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 11 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.

Bottom LineTaking into account all of these elements, it should come as no surprise that LRCX is a #2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of A. If you've been searching for a fresh pick that's set to rise in the near-term, make sure to keep Lam Research on your short list.

Lam Research (LRCX) saw its shares surge in the last session with trading volume being higher than average. The latest trend in earnings estimate revisions could translate into further price increase in the near term.