Lam Research Corporation vs NetApp Inc. — how do they compare? Lam Research Corporation trades at $319.31 (market cap $383.63B), while NetApp Inc. trades at $165.63 (market cap $31.57B). The key difference: Lam Research Corporation is far larger — about 12.2× NetApp Inc.'s market cap, and NetApp Inc. pays the higher dividend (1.29%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LRCX | NTAP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $383.63B | $31.57B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $433.33 | $181.08 |
52-Week Low | $94.84 | $94.11 |
Enterprise Value | $382.61B | $30.72B |
Dividend Yield | 0.34% | 1.29% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Lam Research (LRCX) trades at $306.96, down 2.02% amid semiconductor sector weakness. The stock shows strong fundamentals with Q1 2026 EPS beating estimates at $1.47 versus $1.36 expected, continuing a pattern of earnings outperformance. Valuation metrics remain elevated with P/E at 59.22 and P/S at 18.3, reflecting premium pricing for AI-driven growth prospects. Technical indicators show bearish momentum with price testing key support at $306.
Outlook remains positive based on analyst consensus with $393 price target (78% buy ratings), though near-term risks include semiconductor cycle volatility and rich valuations. The company's positioning in AI chip manufacturing equipment and strong cash flow generation ($6.17B operating cash flow in 2025) supports long-term growth potential despite sector headwinds.
NetApp (NTAP) trades at $161.16, down 1.66% on the day, near its pivot point of $164. The stock exhibits a bullish technical trend with strong moving average signals. Fundamentally, the company shows robust profitability with a net income margin of 18.43% and has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent strategic moves include the acquisition of DataPelago to bolster AI data infrastructure capabilities, signaling growth focus.
The outlook for NTAP is positive, driven by AI-driven demand and consistent earnings outperformance, though risks include competitive pressures and reliance on enterprise spending. Analyst consensus leans bullish with a price target of $167.45, offering modest upside from current levels.
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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 →NetApp is a leading provider of enterprise data management and storage solutions. The company's three operating business units are products, software maintenance, and hardware maintenance. NetApp transitioned from a data center storage firm to a company with software data management solutions for multicloud environments. The California-headquartered company sells globally and has approximately 10,000 employees.
Read more on NTAP →