Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT)
Applied Materials makes the manufacturing equipment that chipmakers use to fabricate semiconductors. As the largest supplier in its field, its orders serve as a leading indicator of industry capital spending.
Information Technology stock comparison
AMAT vs LRCX: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare Applied Materials, Inc. with Lam Research Corporation using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
- Sector
- Information
- Industry
- Different SIC
- Shared themes
- 3
- Updated
- 2026-08-07
AMAT vs LRCX: quick comparison
| Company fact | AMAT | LRCX |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Applied Materials, Inc. | Lam Research Corporation |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| Headquarters | Santa Clara, California | Not recorded |
| Founded | 1967 | Not recorded |
| SEC industry | Semiconductors & Related Devices | Special Industry Machinery, NEC |
| Fiscal year-end | October 26 | June 28 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2025-12-12 | 10-K · 2026-08-07 |
How the businesses differ
Lam Research Corporation (LRCX)
Lam Research supplies wafer-fabrication equipment specializing in etch and deposition steps for advanced memory and logic chips.
The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. AMAT is classified by the SEC as Semiconductors & Related Devices, while LRCX is classified as Special Industry Machinery, NEC. The different industry codes are a warning against treating sector membership as proof of identical economics.
Which thesis does each company fit?
Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.
Study AMAT when…
- The AI capital-expenditure cycle
- Interest rates and the cost of long-duration growth
- Enterprise IT budgets and cloud migration
- Export controls and the US–China chip race
Study LRCX when…
- The AI capital-expenditure cycle
- Interest rates and the cost of long-duration growth
- Enterprise IT budgets and cloud migration
- Export controls and the US–China chip race
Shared research themes
Artificial intelligenceUS marketsTariffs & trade
SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.AMAT's fiscal year ends October 26, while LRCX's ends June 28. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House Clerk snapshot contains 0matched transaction rows for AMATand 0 for LRCX. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
AMAT primary filings
LRCX primary filings
What this comparison cannot tell you
This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.
A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.
AMAT vs LRCX FAQs
Are AMAT and LRCX direct competitors?
Applied Materials, Inc. and Lam Research Corporation sit in the same Information Technology sector but have different SEC industry classifications. The comparison is most useful for portfolio role and sector exposure, not as a claim that every product competes directly.
Which is better, AMAT or LRCX?
There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.
Does this AMAT vs LRCX comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices, then use the primary filings here to test the business thesis.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-08-10. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-08-10. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
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