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Stock Comparison · Structural lead, mixed market

Lam Research vs QUALCOMM: Which Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?

The structural profiles are close, with Lam Research carrying a narrow edge on valuation. QUALCOMM 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. Both peer scores are relative to the S&P 500 universe, making them directly comparable.

Updated 2026-05-17

The page question resolves through valuation, where QUALCOMM Incorporated holds the stronger read even though the broader score still favours Lam Research Corporation.

Trajectory Similarity
0.77
Similar
Peer-set rank: #2
within Lam Research Corporation's functional peer set

This comparison is anchored in long-term financial trajectory similarity within the selected peer universe.

This level of similarity signals a strong structural match, even though some dimensions still separate the two companies.

Most of the shared profile comes through investment intensity and revenue stability.

Similarity drivers
investment intensityrevenue stability
How to read the score
0.85–1.00 · Very similar0.70–0.84 · Similar0.55–0.69 · Moderately similarbelow 0.55 · Loose match
Peer-Relative Score
LRCX
Lam Research Corporation
53
Peer-Score
Signal qualitylow
Peer basis: S&P 500
vs
QCOM
QUALCOMM Incorporated
48
Peer-Score
Signal qualitylow
Peer basis: S&P 500

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

The largest gaps do not all point in the same direction.

Dimension spread: LRCX vs QCOM Profitability 72 32 Stability 33 34 Valuation 34 77 Growth 71 44 LRCX QCOM
Gap Ranking
#1 Valuation +43
#2 Profitability +40
#3 Growth +27
#4 Stability +1
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for LRCX and QCOM Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer LRCXQCOM Relative valuation Structural strength

Lam Research Corporation looks stronger, but the price setup still looks more supportive for QUALCOMM Incorporated.

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

Entry today — historical context

Where LRCX and QCOM each sit in their own 5-year price and valuation history.

BASED ON 5-YEAR HISTORY LRCX Elevated · above norm 0th 50th 100th 0 pct gap QCOM Elevated · above norm 0th 50th 100th 99th 98th
LRCX (99th percentile) and QCOM (98th percentile) both sit in the upper portion of their own 5-year ranges. The historical entry context is broadly similar for both. This reflects entry timing, not which company is structurally stronger.

Describes historical entry positioning only. Descriptive — not investment advice.

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Valuation
On valuation, QUALCOMM Incorporated ranks near the top of the group; Lam Research Corporation sits in the weaker half.
Profitability
The same broad pattern appears on profitability: Lam Research Corporation ranks near the top of the group, while QUALCOMM Incorporated stays in the weaker half.
Valuation — Dominant Gap
LRCX
34
QCOM
77
Gap+43in favour of QCOM

The main spread comes from a meaningfully cheaper peer-relative valuation.

What keeps the gap from being one-sided

QUALCOMM Incorporated still looks less cycle-sensitive — that keeps the result from looking completely one-sided.

What this means for the comparison

The lead is built on both valuation and profitability — though valuation still provides a counterweight.

Explore full peer positioning in AssetNext

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

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Other comparisons with conflicting dimension signals

Explore how LRCX and QCOM 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.

Because scores are peer-relative, the same company can have slightly different scores in different index universes. On comparison pages, both companies are shown within their shared peer universe wherever possible — so the scores are directly comparable. The peer basis is stated on each score card.

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.