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Stock Comparison · Industry comparison · Semiconductor Equipment & Mate

Applied Materials vs Lam Research: Which Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?

The structural profiles are close, with Lam Research carrying a narrow edge on growth. Applied Materials still has the edge on valuation, which keeps the comparison from looking entirely one-sided. The market setup is broadly comparable for both — no clear directional signal from price behavior. The market is not adding a decisive signal either way — the structural read carries the weight.

The comparison is based on similar long-term financial trajectories, not sector labels.

Updated 2026-04-05

Most of the separation is still concentrated in growth.

INDUSTRY COMPARISON

Both operate in: Semiconductor Equipment & Materials

This comparison is based on industry proximity, not on functional trajectory similarity. AMAT and LRCX share the same industry classification.

For a similarity-based comparison, see how Applied Materials and Lam Research each position within their functional peer groups in AssetNext.

Peer-Relative Score
AMAT
Applied Materials, Inc.
51
Peer-Score
Signal qualityMedium
vs
LRCX
Lam Research Corporation
56
Peer-Score
Signal qualityMedium

Scores reflect position relative to comparable companies with similar long-term financial trajectories.

The clearest separation appears in growth.

Dimension spread: AMAT vs LRCX Profitability 72 81 Stability 26 28 Valuation 56 38 Growth 37 75 AMAT LRCX
Gap Ranking
#1 Growth +38
#2 Valuation +18
#3 Profitability +9
#4 Stability +2
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for AMAT and LRCX Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer AMATLRCX Relative valuation Structural strength

Lam Research Corporation still looks cheaper, even though Applied Materials, Inc. remains structurally stronger.

Valuation position uses peer-relative PE percentile (idx_pct_pe) where available.

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Growth
On growth, Lam Research Corporation ranks near the top of the group; Applied Materials, Inc. sits in the weaker half.
Valuation
Applied Materials, Inc. sits in the stronger part of the group on valuation, while Lam Research Corporation is closer to mid-pack.
Growth — Dominant Gap
AMAT
37
LRCX
75
Gap+38in favour of LRCX

One company is still expanding while the other is contracting, which creates a very wide growth split.

What keeps the gap from being one-sided

Absolute pricing still looks more supportive for Applied Materials, with a forward P/E that is 7.3 turns lower there.

What this means for the comparison

Growth gives Lam Research Corporation the clearer edge, even though valuation and the price setup keep the overall picture from looking clean.

Explore full peer positioning in AssetNext

Break down the AMAT vs LRCX comparison across all dimensions with the full interactive tool.

Explore full breakdown →
Similar growth-driven comparisons

Explore how AMAT and LRCX each compare against other companies in their peer groups.

Rule-based, descriptive analysis only. Derived from peer percentile dimensions. Not investment advice. Peer groups are determined algorithmically based on structural similarity — not by sector classification alone.

How AssetNext Peer Scores Work

AssetNext scores reflect each company's structural position within its functional peer group — not a ranking against all stocks simultaneously. Peers are identified by similarity across eight financial dimensions, including revenue growth trajectory, margin structure, capital intensity, and earnings stability. A score of 75 means the company ranks in the top quartile within its own peer group, not the entire market.

Four dimension scores drive the overall peer score: Growth (revenue trajectory and expansion dynamics), Quality (margin structure and capital efficiency), Valuation (peer-relative pricing on standard multiples), and Stability (earnings consistency and financial predictability). Each dimension is scored 0–100 relative to the peer group, then combined into an overall peer score using equal weighting.

Scores are recalculated periodically as underlying financial data is updated. All analysis is descriptive and rule-based — AssetNext describes structural realities and never issues buy, sell or hold recommendations.