KLAC vs. LRCX: KLA vs. Lam Research Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do KLA (KLAC) and Lam Research (LRCX) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

KLA (KLAC) and Lam Research (LRCX) are both classified in the Semiconductor Materials & Equipment sub-industry within the broader Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for KLA (KLAC) and Lam Research (LRCX)
Profile Item	KLAC	LRCX
Name	KLA Corporation	Lam Research Corp.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Information Technology	Information Technology
GICS Industry Group	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Industry	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Sub-Industry	Semiconductor Materials & Equipment	Semiconductor Materials & Equipment
Market Capitalization	180.45 billion USD	250.84 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	October 8, 1980	May 4, 1984
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

KLAC

LRCX

GSPC

KLA (KLAC) vs. Lam Research (LRCX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for KLA (KLAC) and Lam Research (LRCX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for KLA (KLAC) and Lam Research (LRCX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for KLA (KLAC) and Lam Research (LRCX)
Metric	KLAC	LRCX
Total Return (1Y)	26.92%	36.98%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	44.97%	50.75%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	30.55%	29.74%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

KLAC

LRCX

GSPC

KLA (KLAC) vs. Lam Research (LRCX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for KLA (KLAC) and Lam Research (LRCX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for KLA (KLAC) and Lam Research (LRCX)
Metric	KLAC	LRCX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	63.92%	68.85%
Beta (5Y)	1.51	2.02
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-56.93%	-57.22%
Avg. Volume (3M)	10.66M	9.82M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

KLAC and LRCX are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for KLA (KLAC) and Lam Research (LRCX)
Metric	KLAC	LRCX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.35	0.47
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.50	0.69

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both KLA (KLAC) at 91.38% and Lam Research (LRCX) at 70.12% turn shareholders’ equity into profit at rates above their industry benchmark ranges for ROE. That is a strong capital-efficiency signal, though leverage and the equity base still matter.

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

91.38%

KLAC: 91.38%
Max: 52.82%
Q3: 22.26%
Median: 10.58%
Q1: 1.29%
Min: -16.89%

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

70.12%

LRCX: 70.12%
Max: 52.82%
Q3: 22.26%
Median: 10.58%
Q1: 1.29%
Min: -16.89%

KLA (KLAC) vs. Lam Research (LRCX): A comparison of their ROE against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both KLA (KLAC) at 36.25% and Lam Research (LRCX) at 32.34% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

36.25%

Max: 63.80%
KLAC: 36.25%
Q3: 28.36%
Median: 11.44%
Q1: 0.90%
Min: -37.77%

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

32.34%

Max: 63.80%
LRCX: 32.34%
Q3: 28.36%
Median: 11.44%
Q1: 0.90%
Min: -37.77%

KLA (KLAC) vs. Lam Research (LRCX): A comparison of their net margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both KLA (KLAC) at 45.01% and Lam Research (LRCX) at 39.95% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

45.01%

Max: 58.66%
KLAC: 45.01%
Q3: 30.23%
Median: 15.91%
Q1: 7.54%
Min: -25.74%

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

39.95%

Max: 58.66%
LRCX: 39.95%
Q3: 30.23%
Median: 15.91%
Q1: 7.54%
Min: -25.74%

KLA (KLAC) vs. Lam Research (LRCX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for KLA (KLAC) and Lam Research (LRCX)
Metric	KLAC	LRCX
ROE (TTM)	91.38%	70.12%
ROA (TTM)	22.27%	25.01%
Net Margin (TTM)	36.25%	32.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)	45.01%	39.95%
Gross Margin (TTM)	61.47%	51.05%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Lam Research (LRCX) at 26.02% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while KLA (KLAC) at 11.71% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for LRCX.

KLA (KLAC) vs. Lam Research (LRCX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both KLA (KLAC) at 20.51% and Lam Research (LRCX) at 38.80% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

KLA (KLAC) vs. Lam Research (LRCX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for KLA (KLAC) and Lam Research (LRCX)
Metric	KLAC	LRCX
Revenue Growth (YoY)	11.71%	26.02%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	8.96%	10.06%
EPS Growth (YoY)	20.51%	38.80%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	14.87%	20.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both KLA (KLAC) at 2.76 and Lam Research (LRCX) at 2.48 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.76

Max: 10.33
Q3: 5.62
Median: 3.33
KLAC: 2.76
Q1: 2.35
Min: 1.03

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.48

Max: 10.33
Q3: 5.62
Median: 3.33
LRCX: 2.48
Q1: 2.35
Min: 1.03

KLA (KLAC) vs. Lam Research (LRCX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Lam Research (LRCX) at 0.27 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while KLA (KLAC) at 0.92 uses more debt funding than most peers.

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.92

Max: 1.46
KLAC: 0.92
Q3: 0.65
Median: 0.27
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.00

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.27

Max: 1.46
Q3: 0.65
LRCX: 0.27
Median: 0.27
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.00

KLA (KLAC) vs. Lam Research (LRCX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for KLA (KLAC) and Lam Research (LRCX)
Metric	KLAC	LRCX
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.76	2.48
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.92	0.27
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.19	-0.37

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both KLA (KLAC) at 0.65% and Lam Research (LRCX) at 0.60% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.65%

Max: 1.37%
Q3: 0.65%
KLAC: 0.65%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.60%

Max: 1.37%
Q3: 0.65%
LRCX: 0.60%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

KLA (KLAC) vs. Lam Research (LRCX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both KLA (KLAC) at 21.03% and Lam Research (LRCX) at 16.54% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

21.03%

Max: 49.64%
Q3: 21.71%
KLAC: 21.03%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

16.54%

Max: 49.64%
Q3: 21.71%
LRCX: 16.54%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

KLA (KLAC) vs. Lam Research (LRCX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for KLA (KLAC) and Lam Research (LRCX)
Metric	KLAC	LRCX
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.65%	0.60%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	21.03%	16.54%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both KLA (KLAC) at 34.71 and Lam Research (LRCX) at 29.87 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

34.71

Max: 110.34
Q3: 66.81
Median: 37.02
KLAC: 34.71
Q1: 23.96
Min: 8.12

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

29.87

Max: 110.34
Q3: 66.81
Median: 37.02
LRCX: 29.87
Q1: 23.96
Min: 8.12

KLA (KLAC) vs. Lam Research (LRCX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Lam Research (LRCX) at 9.60 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while KLA (KLAC) at 12.44 sits in the pricier quartile — KLAC costs more per dollar of sales.

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

12.44

Max: 21.42
KLAC: 12.44
Q3: 12.27
Median: 5.76
Q1: 2.73
Min: 0.00

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

9.60

Max: 21.42
Q3: 12.27
LRCX: 9.60
Median: 5.76
Q1: 2.73
Min: 0.00

KLA (KLAC) vs. Lam Research (LRCX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both KLA (KLAC) at 27.67 and Lam Research (LRCX) at 18.00 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

27.67

KLAC: 27.67
Max: 14.06
Q3: 7.44
Median: 4.29
Q1: 2.30
Min: 0.20

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

18.00

LRCX: 18.00
Max: 14.06
Q3: 7.44
Median: 4.29
Q1: 2.30
Min: 0.20

KLA (KLAC) vs. Lam Research (LRCX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for KLA (KLAC) and Lam Research (LRCX)
Metric	KLAC	LRCX
P/E Ratio (TTM)	34.71	29.87
P/S Ratio (TTM)	12.44	9.60
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	27.67	18.00
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.56%	1.81%