Lam Research Corporation vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? Lam Research Corporation trades at $328.51 (market cap $389.67B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $576 (market cap $81.78B). The key difference: Lam Research Corporation is far larger — about 4.8× Northrop Grumman Corporation's market cap, and Northrop Grumman Corporation pays the higher dividend (1.63%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LRCX | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $389.67B | $81.78B |
Sector | Technology | Industrials |
52-Week High | $433.33 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $97.03 | $496.02 |
Enterprise Value | $387.83B | $95.77B |
Dividend Yield | 0.33% | 1.63% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Lam Research (LRCX) trades at $328.93, up 7.35% with strong technical momentum and bullish moving average signals. The company demonstrates robust fundamentals with 2025 revenue of $18.44B, net income of $5.36B (31.27% margin), and consistent earnings beats. Recent expansion into panel-level packaging and semiconductor workforce development initiatives position LRCX for continued AI-driven growth.
Outlook remains positive with 78% analyst buy ratings and $397.18 consensus price target, though elevated valuation ratios (P/E 54.06) and potential semiconductor cycle volatility present risks. The stock offers exposure to AI infrastructure growth but requires monitoring of competitive threats and capital expenditure trends.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $577.89, up 1.1% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a record $105 billion backlog supporting fundamentals. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations, with sales growth of 5% and raised full-year guidance (Seeking Alpha, 2026-07-23). Valuation ratios like P/E of 18.3 and ROE of 26.96% reflect strong profitability, though RSI levels indicate overbought conditions.
The outlook is positive due to defense spending tailwinds and strategic contracts, but risks include margin pressure from specific programs and geopolitical volatility. Analysts maintain a buy consensus with a $598.57 price target, suggesting modest upside from current levels.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Lam Research manufactures equipment used to fabricate semiconductors. The firm is focused on the etching, deposition, and clean markets, which are key steps in the semiconductor manufacturing process, especially for 3D NAND flash storage, advanced DRAM, and leading-edge logic/foundry chipmakers. Lam's flagship Kiyo, Vector, and Sabre products are sold in all major geographies to key customers such as Samsung Electronics, Micron, Intel, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing.
Read more on LRCX →Northrop Grumman is a defense contractor that is diversified across short-cycle and long-cycle businesses. The firm's segments include aeronautics, mission systems, defense services, and space systems. The company's aerospace segment creates the fuselage for the massive F-35 program and produces various piloted and autonomous flight systems. Mission systems creates a variety of sensors and processors for defense hardware. The defense systems segment is a long-range missile manufacturer. Finally, the company's space systems segment produces various space structures, sensors, and satellites.
Read more on NOC →