Lam Research Corporation vs Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. Co. Ltd. — how do they compare? Lam Research Corporation trades at $320.96 (market cap $383.63B), while Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. Co. Ltd. trades at $424.01 (market cap $1.88T). The key difference: Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. Co. Ltd. is far larger — about 4.9× Lam Research Corporation's market cap, and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. Co. Ltd. pays the higher dividend (0.94%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LRCX | TSM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $383.63B | $1.88T |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $433.33 | $477.57 |
52-Week Low | $94.84 | $227.33 |
Enterprise Value | $382.61B | $1.81T |
Dividend Yield | 0.34% | 0.94% |
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.
TSM is trading at $401.43, up 0.77% today, amid a bearish technical signal but strong fundamental performance. The company reported robust Q2 2026 earnings, beating estimates with 33.7% revenue growth, and announced a $100 billion expansion in Arizona to capitalize on AI chip demand. Valuation ratios like a P/E of 29.81 and P/S of 14.88 reflect premium pricing, while profitability remains high with a net margin of 49.92%.
The outlook is positive due to sustained AI-driven demand and strategic investments, but risks include sector volatility and execution challenges in expansion. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with a $547.50 price target, suggesting significant upside potential 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 →Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, or TSMC, is the world's largest dedicated chip foundry, with over 57% market share in 2021 per Gartner. TSMC was founded in 1987 as a joint venture of Philips, the government of Taiwan, and private investors. It went public as an ADR in the U.S. in 1997. TSMC's scale and high-quality technology allow the firm to generate solid operating margins, even in the highly competitive foundry business. Furthermore, the shift to the fabless business model has created tailwinds for TSMC. The foundry leader has an illustrious customer base, including Apple, AMD and Nvidia, that looks to apply cutting-edge process technologies to its semiconductor designs.
Read more on TSM →