LRCX vs. NVDA: Lam Research vs. NVIDIA Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Lam Research (LRCX) and NVIDIA (NVDA) 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

Lam Research (LRCX) and NVIDIA (NVDA) both belong to the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, though LRCX is classified under Semiconductor Materials & Equipment while NVDA falls under Semiconductors.

Company profile comparison for Lam Research (LRCX) and NVIDIA (NVDA)
Profile Item	LRCX	NVDA
Name	Lam Research Corp.	NVIDIA Corporation
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	Semiconductors
Market Capitalization	250.84 billion USD	4,506.80 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	May 4, 1984	January 22, 1999
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

LRCX

NVDA

GSPC

Lam Research (LRCX) vs. NVIDIA (NVDA), 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 Lam Research (LRCX) and NVIDIA (NVDA). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Lam Research (LRCX) and NVIDIA (NVDA)
Metric	LRCX	NVDA
Total Return (1Y)	36.98%	-5.54%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	50.75%	55.88%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	29.74%	42.17%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

LRCX

NVDA

GSPC

Lam Research (LRCX) vs. NVIDIA (NVDA), 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 Lam Research (LRCX) and NVIDIA (NVDA). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Lam Research (LRCX) and NVIDIA (NVDA)
Metric	LRCX	NVDA
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	68.85%	38.31%
Beta (5Y)	2.02	2.28
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-57.22%	-66.34%
Avg. Volume (3M)	9.82M	120.20M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

LRCX and NVDA 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 Lam Research (LRCX) and NVIDIA (NVDA)
Metric	LRCX	NVDA
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.47	-0.26
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.69	-0.36

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Lam Research (LRCX) at 70.12% and NVIDIA (NVDA) at 117.21% 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.

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%

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

117.21%

NVDA: 117.21%
Max: 52.82%
Q3: 22.26%
Median: 10.58%
Q1: 1.29%
Min: -16.89%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Lam Research (LRCX) at 32.34% and NVIDIA (NVDA) at 63.66% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

63.66%

Max: 63.80%
NVDA: 63.66%
Q3: 28.36%
Median: 11.44%
Q1: 0.90%
Min: -37.77%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

NVIDIA (NVDA) at 66.24% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Lam Research (LRCX) at 39.95% also operates in the top quartile.

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%

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

66.24%

NVDA: 66.24%
Max: 58.66%
Q3: 30.23%
Median: 15.91%
Q1: 7.54%
Min: -25.74%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Lam Research (LRCX) and NVIDIA (NVDA)
Metric	LRCX	NVDA
ROE (TTM)	70.12%	117.21%
ROA (TTM)	25.01%	53.57%
Net Margin (TTM)	32.34%	63.66%
Operating Margin (TTM)	39.95%	66.24%
Gross Margin (TTM)	51.05%	74.67%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both companies are growing quickly, but NVIDIA (NVDA) at 65.47% is the standout with revenue growth above its industry range; Lam Research (LRCX) at 26.02% also sits in the top quartile.

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

EPS Growth

NVIDIA (NVDA) at 66.67% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Lam Research (LRCX) at 38.80% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for NVDA.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Lam Research (LRCX) and NVIDIA (NVDA)
Metric	LRCX	NVDA
Revenue Growth (YoY)	26.02%	65.47%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	10.06%	100.05%
EPS Growth (YoY)	38.80%	66.67%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	20.15%	204.24%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Lam Research (LRCX) at 2.48 and NVIDIA (NVDA) at 4.59 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

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

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

4.59

Max: 10.33
Q3: 5.62
NVDA: 4.59
Median: 3.33
Q1: 2.35
Min: 1.03

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Lam Research (LRCX) at 0.27 and NVIDIA (NVDA) at 0.17 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.17

Max: 1.46
Q3: 0.65
Median: 0.27
NVDA: 0.17
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.00

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

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Lam Research (LRCX) and NVIDIA (NVDA)
Metric	LRCX	NVDA
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.48	4.59
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.27	0.17
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.37	-0.12

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Lam Research (LRCX) at 0.60% and NVIDIA (NVDA) at 0.15% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

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%

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.15%

Max: 1.37%
Q3: 0.65%
NVDA: 0.15%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Lam Research (LRCX) at 16.54% and NVIDIA (NVDA) at 3.54% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

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%

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

3.54%

Max: 49.64%
Q3: 21.71%
NVDA: 3.54%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Lam Research (LRCX) and NVIDIA (NVDA)
Metric	LRCX	NVDA
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.60%	0.15%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	16.54%	3.54%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

NVIDIA (NVDA) at 23.60 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Lam Research (LRCX) at 29.87 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for NVDA, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

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

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

23.60

Max: 110.34
Q3: 66.81
Median: 37.02
Q1: 23.96
NVDA: 23.60
Min: 8.12

Lam Research (LRCX) vs. NVIDIA (NVDA): 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 NVIDIA (NVDA) at 14.88 sits in the pricier quartile — NVDA costs more per dollar of sales.

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

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

14.88

Max: 21.42
NVDA: 14.88
Q3: 12.27
Median: 5.76
Q1: 2.73
Min: 0.00

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Lam Research (LRCX) at 18.00 and NVIDIA (NVDA) at 19.68 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

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

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

19.68

NVDA: 19.68
Max: 14.06
Q3: 7.44
Median: 4.29
Q1: 2.30
Min: 0.20

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Lam Research (LRCX) and NVIDIA (NVDA)
Metric	LRCX	NVDA
P/E Ratio (TTM)	29.87	23.60
P/S Ratio (TTM)	9.60	14.88
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	18.00	19.68
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.81%	0.93%