Lam Research Corporation vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? Lam Research Corporation trades at $320.86 (market cap $383.63B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $513.84 (market cap $74.42B). The key difference: Lam Research Corporation is far larger — about 5.2× Northrop Grumman Corporation's market cap, and Northrop Grumman Corporation pays the higher dividend (1.79%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LRCX | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $383.63B | $74.42B |
Sector | Technology | Industrials |
52-Week High | $433.33 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $94.84 | $496.02 |
Enterprise Value | $382.61B | $88.65B |
Dividend Yield | 0.34% | 1.79% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Lam Research (LRCX) trades at $322.00, up 2.78% today, with a bullish technical signal despite mixed moving averages. The stock has consistently beaten earnings estimates, with Q1 2026 EPS of $1.47 surpassing the $1.36 forecast. Revenue grew to $18.44B in 2025, and net income margin improved to 30.94%. Analysts maintain a strong buy consensus with a $396.06 price target, though high valuation multiples like a P/E of 57.99 and sector volatility present risks.
Outlook remains positive driven by AI-related semiconductor demand and operational efficiency, but investors face risks from elevated valuations and industry cyclicality. The stock's proximity to the $319 resistance level suggests near-term momentum could hinge on Q2 2026 earnings results against a $1.69 EPS expectation.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $512.29, down 1.78% amid a bearish technical signal despite strong Q2 2026 earnings that beat estimates and a record $105 billion backlog. The stock faces margin pressures but maintains solid fundamentals with a P/E of 16.43 and ROE of 28.51%. Recent news highlights raised 2026 guidance driven by robust defense demand, though the stock's decline reflects investor concerns over cost challenges.
The outlook is mixed: bullish fundamentals and analyst consensus ($655 price target) support long-term growth, but near-term risks include execution on margin targets and technical bearishness. Investment appeal hinges on defense budget tailwinds offsetting operational headwinds.
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 →