Lam Research Corporation (LRCX) Stock Analysis — Fair Value, Risk & Moat Rating
NMS · Technology · Semiconductor Equipment & Materials
Is Lam Research Corporation a safe investment right now?
Lam Research Corporation's Altman Z-Score of 23.67 places it in the safe zone. Our DCF model estimates intrinsic value at $113.45, suggesting the stock is overvalued by 132%. Moat rating: 3.3/5 stars.
Could Lam Research Corporation go bankrupt? Altman Z-Score analysis
Z-Score of 23.67 is above 3.0, indicating the company is financially healthy by this metric.
- Below 1.8 — Distress Zone (high bankruptcy risk)
- 1.8 to 3.0 — Gray Zone (elevated uncertainty)
- Above 3.0 — Safe Zone (financially healthy)
What drives LRCX's Z-Score?
| Component | Formula | Value | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A · Working Capital / Total Assets | WC / TA | 0.4558 | 1.2 | 0.55 |
| B · Retained Earnings / Total Assets | RE / TA | 1.3236 | 1.4 | 1.85 |
| C · EBIT / Total Assets | EBIT / TA | 0.2761 | 3.3 | 0.91 |
| D · Market Cap / Total Liabilities | MCap / TL | 32.3888 | 0.6 | 19.43 |
| E · Revenue / Total Assets | Rev / TA | 0.9298 | 1.0 | 0.93 |
How has LRCX's financial health changed over time?
| Year | Z-Score | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 50.66 | Safe |
| 2017 | 33.61 | Safe |
| 2018 | 40.25 | Safe |
| 2019 | 36.27 | Safe |
| 2020 | 30.83 | Safe |
| 2021 | 24.12 | Safe |
| 2022 | 23.2 | Safe |
| 2023 | 21.92 | Safe |
| 2024 | 22.84 | Safe |
| 2025 | 23.67 | Safe |
Source: Calculated from LRCX's latest 10-K filing on SEC EDGAR.
What could Lam Research Corporation be worth? (High Uncertainty)
Fair value range: $94.07 — $126.71
Valuation Methods Used
| Method | Fair Value | Weight | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historical PE × Forward EPS | $126.71 | 50% | 21.9x avg PE (4 years) × $5.79 forward EPS |
| DCF (Discounted Cash Flow) | $94.07 | 30% | Two-stage DCF: $4.8B TTM FCF, 20.0% growth, 14.0% WACC |
| EV/FCF Multiple | $109.36 | 20% | TTM FCF × 28x multiple + net cash |
Assumptions & Data Sources
| Parameter | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FCF Growth Rate (Stage 1) | 20.0% | 70% analyst consensus + 30% historical |
| Analyst EPS Growth (This Year) | 29.0% | Consensus (31 analysts) |
| Analyst EPS Growth (Next Year) | 34.0% | Consensus |
| Historical 5Y FCF CAGR | 13.0% | SEC EDGAR |
| Terminal Growth Rate | 2.5% | Long-term GDP proxy |
| Discount Rate (WACC) | 14.0% | CAPM (Rf=4.3% + 1.79*5.5%) |
| Net Cash / (Debt) | $1,697M | Balance sheet |
| Base FCF (TTM) | $4.8B | Trailing 12 months |
| Shares Outstanding | 1,248,771,000 | Latest |
Sensitivity Analysis
| Growth Rate | 8% WACC | 10% WACC | 14.0% WACC | 13% WACC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | $62.09 | $45.89 | $30.32 | $33.11 |
| 2.5% | $71.89 | $52.72 | $34.38 | $37.66 |
| 5.0% | $83.12 | $60.52 | $38.98 | $42.82 |
| 7.5% | $98.45 | $71.00 | $44.98 | $49.59 |
Free Cash Flow History
| Year | FCF | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1.9B | — |
| 2020 | $2.4B | +27.3% |
| 2021 | $2.9B | +20.6% |
| 2022 | $1.9B | +-33.0% |
| 2023 | $3.2B | +68.4% |
| 2024 | $2.6B | +-21.2% |
| 2025 | $4.7B | +83.2% |
Source: FCF data from SEC EDGAR filings. Price via Yahoo Finance.
Does Lam Research Corporation have a durable competitive advantage?
Moat rating: 3.3/5.
What makes up LRCX's moat score?
ROIC Stability
ROIC variability over the past decade. Score: 3/5.
Gross Margin Trend
Gross margin trajectory over the past decade. Score: 4/5.
Switching Costs
Estimated customer lock-in based on margin level. Score: 3/5.
How stable is LRCX's return on invested capital?
| Year | ROIC | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 10.1% | — |
| 2017 | 8.0% | Declining |
| 2018 | 11.7% | Rising |
| 2019 | 20.4% | Rising |
| 2020 | 33.4% | Rising |
| 2021 | 21.6% | Declining |
| 2022 | 21.6% | Stable |
| 2023 | 35.5% | Rising |
| 2024 | 36.9% | Rising |
| 2025 | 35.9% | Stable |
Source: ROIC calculated from SEC EDGAR filings.
Is Lam Research Corporation's dividend safe?
Can Lam Research Corporation afford its dividend?
Payout ratio is 20.1%. FCF covers the dividend 16.1x. 13 consecutive years of payments.
Lam Research Corporation's key financial metrics
| Metric | Latest | 1Y Ago | 3Y Ago | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $17.4B | $17.2B | $10.0B | Rising |
| Net Income | $4.5B | $4.6B | $2.3B | Rising |
| Free Cash Flow | $4.7B | $2.6B | $1.9B | Rising |
| Gross Margin | 44.6% | 45.7% | 45.9% | Stable |
Common questions about Lam Research Corporation
Is Lam Research Corporation at risk of going bankrupt?
Lam Research Corporation's Altman Z-Score of 23.67 places it in the safe zone. This metric uses balance sheet ratios to predict bankruptcy probability within 2 years. A score below 1.8 signals distress, while above 3.0 indicates safety.
What is Lam Research Corporation's intrinsic value based on DCF?
Our DCF model estimates Lam Research Corporation's intrinsic value at $113.45 per share. The current margin of safety is -132.0%. This estimate is based on historical free cash flow trends and a risk-adjusted discount rate.
Does Lam Research Corporation have a competitive moat?
Lam Research Corporation receives a moat rating of 3.3 out of 5 stars, based on ROIC stability, gross margin trends, and estimated switching costs. A rating above 3.5 suggests a durable competitive advantage.
Is Lam Research Corporation's dividend safe?
Our dividend safety analysis examines payout ratio, free cash flow coverage, and the company's streak of consecutive dividend payments to determine whether the current payout is sustainable.
Before you invest in Lam Research Corporation, make sure you truly understand it.
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FairValueLabs Disclaimer
All valuations, scores, ratings, and classifications on this page are produced by the FairValueLabs internal valuation system. They do not represent actual market value, guaranteed outcomes, or professional investment advice. These are analytical estimates for educational and research purposes only.
This is not financial advice. All data is sourced from SEC EDGAR public filings. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Last updated: Apr 20, 2026. Data sources: SEC EDGAR (financial statements), Yahoo Finance (market data, analyst consensus). Data may not reflect the most recent quarter.
LRCX analysis methodology: How we calculate fair value, Z-Scores, and moat ratings