Lam Research Corporation vs Waste Management, Inc. — how do they compare? Lam Research Corporation trades at $317.28 (market cap $383.63B), while Waste Management, Inc. trades at $234.6 (market cap $96.00B). The key difference: Lam Research Corporation is far larger — about 4× Waste Management, Inc.'s market cap, and Waste Management, Inc. pays the higher dividend (1.48%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LRCX | WM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $383.63B | $96.00B |
Sector | Technology | Industrials |
52-Week High | $433.33 | $246.51 |
52-Week Low | $94.84 | $196.77 |
Enterprise Value | $382.61B | $118.73B |
Dividend Yield | 0.34% | 1.48% |
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.
WM trades at $239.26, showing minimal daily movement with a slight 0.02% decline. The stock maintains a bullish technical outlook with strong moving average signals and trades near its pivot point of $241. Fundamentally, the company demonstrates solid revenue growth from $19.7B in 2022 to $25.2B in 2025, though recent quarters show mixed earnings performance with two misses and one beat against expectations.
WM presents a stable investment case with consistent dividend payments and strong analyst support (57% buy ratings), but faces challenges from elevated debt levels and valuation multiples. The consensus price target of $263.57 suggests 10% upside potential, though investors should monitor execution on earnings guidance and debt management in the coming quarters.
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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 →Waste Management ranks as the largest integrated provider of traditional solid waste services in the United States, operating approximately 260 active landfills and about 340 transfer stations. The company serves residential, commercial, and industrial end markets and is also a leading recycler in North America.
Read more on WM →