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LRCX vs. UMC: Lam Research vs. United Microelectronics Stock Comparison

How do Lam Research (LRCX) and United Microelectronics (UMC) 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 United Microelectronics (UMC) both belong to the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, though LRCX is classified under Semiconductor Materials & Equipment while UMC falls under Semiconductors.

Lam Research (LRCX) trades as ordinary local shares, while United Microelectronics (UMC) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Lam Research (LRCX) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
Profile ItemLRCXUMC
NameLam Research Corp.United Microelectronics Corp. ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesTaiwan
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS IndustrySemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustrySemiconductor Materials & EquipmentSemiconductors
Market Capitalization250.84 billion USD34.73 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMay 4, 1984September 19, 2000
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

LRCX
UMC
GSPC
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Lam Research (LRCX) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC), 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 United Microelectronics (UMC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Lam Research (LRCX) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricLRCXUMC
Total Return (1Y)36.98%102.63%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)50.75%31.57%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)29.74%11.51%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

LRCX
UMC
GSPC
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Lam Research (LRCX) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC), 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 United Microelectronics (UMC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Lam Research (LRCX) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricLRCXUMC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)68.85%67.94%
Beta (5Y)2.021.77
Max Drawdown (5Y)-57.22%-54.30%
Avg. Volume (3M)9.82M11.82M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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LRCX and UMC 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 United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricLRCXUMC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.471.45
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.692.35

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Lam Research (LRCX) at 70.12% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than United Microelectronics (UMC) at 20.37%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

20.37%

Max
52.82%
Q3
22.26%
UMC
20.37%
Median
10.58%
Q1
1.29%
Min
-16.89%
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Lam Research (LRCX) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): 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 United Microelectronics (UMC) at 31.95% 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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

31.95%

Max
63.80%
UMC
31.95%
Q3
28.36%
Median
11.44%
Q1
0.90%
Min
-37.77%
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Lam Research (LRCX) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their net margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Lam Research (LRCX) at 39.95% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of United Microelectronics (UMC) at 25.09%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

25.09%

Max
58.66%
Q3
30.23%
UMC
25.09%
Median
15.91%
Q1
7.54%
Min
-25.74%
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Lam Research (LRCX) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Lam Research (LRCX) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricLRCXUMC
ROE (TTM)70.12%20.37%
ROA (TTM)25.01%5.79%
Net Margin (TTM)32.34%31.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)39.95%25.09%
Gross Margin (TTM)51.05%31.72%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Lam Research (LRCX) at 26.02% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while United Microelectronics (UMC) at 2.26% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for LRCX.

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Lam Research (LRCX) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Lam Research (LRCX) at 38.80% and United Microelectronics (UMC) at -12.57% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Lam Research (LRCX) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Lam Research (LRCX) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricLRCXUMC
Revenue Growth (YoY)26.02%2.26%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.06%-5.19%
EPS Growth (YoY)38.80%-12.57%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)20.15%-21.92%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Lam Research (LRCX) at 2.48 and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 3.27 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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

3.27

Max
10.33
Q3
5.62
Median
3.33
UMC
3.27
Q1
2.35
Min
1.03
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Lam Research (LRCX) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): 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 United Microelectronics (UMC) 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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.17

Max
1.46
Q3
0.65
Median
0.27
UMC
0.17
Q1
0.04
Min
0.00
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Lam Research (LRCX) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): 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 United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricLRCXUMC
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.483.27
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.270.17
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.37-0.60

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Lam Research (LRCX) at 0.60% pays an industry-typical yield; United Microelectronics (UMC) at 19.43% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

19.43%

UMC
19.43%
Max
1.37%
Q3
0.65%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Lam Research (LRCX) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Lam Research (LRCX) at 16.54% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while United Microelectronics (UMC) at 37.46% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

37.46%

Max
49.64%
UMC
37.46%
Q3
21.71%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Lam Research (LRCX) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Lam Research (LRCX) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricLRCXUMC
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.60%19.43%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)16.54%37.46%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

United Microelectronics (UMC) at 13.07 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 UMC, 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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

13.07

Max
110.34
Q3
66.81
Median
37.02
Q1
23.96
UMC
13.07
Min
8.12
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Lam Research (LRCX) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

United Microelectronics (UMC) at 0.13 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Lam Research (LRCX) at 9.60 prices around its industry’s middle — UMC costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.13

Max
21.42
Q3
12.27
Median
5.76
Q1
2.73
UMC
0.13
Min
0.00
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Lam Research (LRCX) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

United Microelectronics (UMC) at 2.39 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Lam Research (LRCX) at 18.00 prices above its benchmark range — LRCX looks rich relative to book.

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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.39

Max
14.06
Q3
7.44
Median
4.29
UMC
2.39
Q1
2.30
Min
0.20
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Lam Research (LRCX) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Lam Research (LRCX) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricLRCXUMC
P/E Ratio (TTM)29.8713.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)9.600.13
P/B Ratio (MRQ)18.002.39
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.81%129.43%