Artisan Partners, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor commentary for the "Artisan Global Opportunities Strategy". The letter can be downloaded here. Global equities rebounded sharply during the quarter, with the MSCI ACWI Index returning 15.3% as resilient economic growth, strong corporate earnings, and continued enthusiasm around artificial intelligence supported markets despite persistent inflation, higher bond yields, and geopolitical uncertainty. The portfolio reported strong absolute returns of 12.65% (net) but underperformed the benchmark, mainly because of its underweight exposure to information technology and overweight position in health care. Strong stock selection in technology and energy partially offset these headwinds. The fund continues to see attractive long-term opportunities across AI infrastructure, health care and consumer internet, while remaining disciplined on valuation as several AI-related stocks have appreciated sharply. Management remains focused on durable franchises with identifiable profit cycles and attractive long-term earnings potential. Also, check the Strategy's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Artisan Global Opportunities Strategy highlighted Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX), a leading semiconductor equipment company that supplies semiconductor processing equipment. Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) accounted for 2.5% portfolio and contributed positively to the strategy's performance this quarter. On September 1, 2026, Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) closed at $290.20 per share. Over the past month, Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) declined 5.60%, but its shares are up 196.91% over the past year. Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) has a market capitalization of $363.13 billion.
Artisan Global Opportunities Strategy stated the following regarding Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Our top contributors in Q2 were AMD, Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC). Lam is a leading supplier of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, with dominant positions in etching and deposition. The company delivered results that exceeded elevated expectations, with margins remaining above anticipated levels and guidance pointing to continued momentum. In response to rising semiconductor capital spending, particularly in memory, management increased its outlook for 2026 wafer fabrication equipment spending to approximately $140 billion, representing roughly 27% year-over-year growth. Given the stock's recent appreciation and valuation approaching the upper end of our target range, we trimmed the position to manage risk and position size."

#corporation #lrcx #semiconductor #strategy

Sands Capital, an investment management company, released its "Sands Capital Select Growth Fund" Q2 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. Select Growth Fund targets U.S. businesses driving significant structural change through disruptive innovation. The fund returned 23.2% in the quarter, outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index's 16.7%. U.S. large-cap growth equities rebounded sharply, driven by improving corporate fundamentals and renewed investor confidence in AI, despite geopolitical uncertainties. However, the market's gains were narrow, concentrated among AI beneficiaries. The portfolio's success stemmed from strength in AI infrastructure holdings, especially memory and storage, supported by better pricing and tightening supply. As AI development advances, continuous demand for compute capacity is expected, prompting investments in memory, CPUs, AI chips, and semiconductor manufacturing to address emerging bottlenecks essential for scaling AI. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Sands Capital Select Growth Fund highlighted Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX), a leading semiconductor equipment company that supplies semiconductor processing equipment. Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX), with a 4.7% portfolio weight, contributed 2.2% to the Fund's performance this quarter. On September 1, 2026, Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) closed at $290.20 per share. Over the past month, Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) declined 5.60%, but its shares are up 196.91% over the past year. Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) has a market capitalization of $363.13 billion.
Sands Capital Select Growth Fund stated the following regarding Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) is a leading global provider of semiconductor fabrication equipment. Shares of the business benefited from renewed confidence in semiconductor capital spending and the rising complexity of chip manufacturing. In the first quarter, revenue grew 24 percent and adjusted earnings per share grew 42 percent year over year, while June-quarter guidance exceeded consensus expectations. The company is a critical supplier of etch and deposition equipment, both of which become increasingly important as memory architectures and leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing grow more complex. We believe Lam's exposure to high-bandwidth memory, advanced NAND, and a recovering memory investment cycle gives it a differentiated role within the AI infrastructure supply chain."

#NASDAQ #fund #select

Good morning. Stocks began trading on a more upbeat note on Tuesday as falling oil prices and Treasury yields lifted sentiment, helping markets shake off concerns about US tensions with Iran and Canada.
Here's a check of the markets in the first few minutes of trading, based on a heat map powered by Yahoo Finance AlphaSpace data.
Tech (XLK) stocks bounced back after posting losses on Monday, showing broad strength across semiconductor, software, and hardware stocks. Nvidia (NVDA) stock rose by about 2%, putting shares on track to end a seven-day losing streak if today's gains hold.
Investors fled Consumer Staples (XLP) names, reversing Monday's trading pattern. As Treasury yields and oil prices pull back and inflation jitters subside for now, it's creating a rotation into growth and technology plays.
Here are some notable stocks that Yahoo Finance readers are viewing this morning: Sandisk (SNDK), Marvell (MRVL), Intel (INTC), SK Hynix (SKHY), AMD (AMD), Bloom Energy (BE), and Lam Research (LRCX).

#finance

Good morning. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 opened in the red as chip stocks came under pressure and investors awaited a new sanction campaign against Iran and a breakdown in US-Canada trade talks.
Here's a check of the markets in the first few minutes of trading, based on a heat map powered by Yahoo Finance AlphaSpace data.
Tech (XLK) stocks led the S&P 500 (^GSPC) lower, echoing declines in Asian markets overnight. Memory chip makers Sandisk (SNDK) and Micron (MU) saw sharp drops following rumors over the weekend that the Trump administration could allow Apple (AAPL) to source chips from China's CXMT.
Consumer staples stocks (XLP) were the best performers in early trading.
Here are some notable stocks that Yahoo Finance readers are viewing this morning: ****** eX (SPCX), Sandisk (SNDK), Alibaba (BABA), Marvell (MRVL), SK Hynix (SKHY), Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI), and Lam Research (LRCX).

#trading

Guinness Global Innovators, an investment management company, recently released its Q2 2026 quarterly investor update for its "Guinness Global Innovators Fund". You can download the letter here. The Guinness Global Innovators Fund focuses on investing in global companies that benefit from innovation in technology, communication, globalization, and management strategies. In the second quarter of 2026, the Guinness Global Innovators Fund returned 13.8% in GBP, compared with 13.0% for the MSCI World Index and 13.1% for the IA Global sector average. Easing Middle East tensions, falling oil prices, and renewed enthusiasm for artificial intelligence helped reverse much of the caution seen earlier in the year, with investors rotating back toward growth stocks and AI infrastructure beneficiaries. The Fund benefited from its overweight position in the Information Technology sector, while its overweight position in Communication Services detracted. Avoiding weaker Utilities, Materials, and Energy also supported relative performance. Also, please check the Fund's top five holdings to see its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Guinness Global Innovators Fund highlighted Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX). Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) is a leading semiconductor equipment company that supplies semiconductor processing equipment used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. On August 21, 2026, Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) closed at $314.00 per share. The one-month return of Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) was 7.68%, while its shares gained 210.03% over the past 52 weeks. Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) has a market capitalization of $383.62 billion.
Guinness Global Innovators Fund stated the following regarding Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The Fund holds three semiconductor equipment manufacturers, which provide wafer fabrication equipment (WFE). They were the top performers over the quarter: Applied Materials (+111.8% in USD) KLA (+105.2%), and Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) (+103.0%). WFE companies sit at the heart of the semiconductor value chain, supplying the highly specialised tools needed to manufacture advanced chips. As demand for AI, high-performance computing and data centre infrastructure has accelerated, foundries and integrated device manufacturers have responded with record levels of capital expenditure, driving a strong upcycle in WFE spending. The AI infrastructure build-out is particularly supportive, as hyperscalers require not only more chips, but increasingly complex and advanced architectures, materially increasing equipment intensity across the manufacturing process. As a result, these companies have been printing strong quarterly earnings reports. Lam, which specialises in etch and deposition, has been supported by accelerating DRAM and high-bandwidth memory demand, resilient China revenues, and faster-than-expected

With a market cap of around $392.9 billion, Lam Research Corporation (LRCX) designs and manufactures the highly specialized equipment that chipmakers use to build advanced semiconductors. The Fremont, California-based company's systems play a critical role in key wafer-fabrication processes, including thin-film deposition, plasma etching, photoresist strip, wafer cleaning, and metrology, helping semiconductor manufacturers produce smaller, faster, and more powerful chips.
Lam Research has been one of the market's biggest winners, with its stock delivering eye-popping gains that have left the broader market behind. Over the past year, LRCX stock has jumped 219.5% while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied 20.5%. The rally has remained red-hot in 2026, with shares climbing another 83.5% year to date, compared with the benchmark's 12.1% gain.
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#lrcx

Good morning. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 opened in the red as chip stocks came under pressure and investors awaited a new sanction campaign against Iran and a breakdown in US-Canada trade talks.
Here's a check of the markets in the first few minutes of trading, based on a heat map powered by Yahoo Finance AlphaSpace data.
Tech (XLK) stocks led the S&P 500 (^GSPC) lower, echoing declines in Asian markets overnight. Memory chip makers Sandisk (SNDK) and Micron (MU) saw sharp drops following rumors over the weekend that the Trump administration could allow Apple (AAPL) to source chips from China's CXMT.
Consumer staples stocks (XLP) were the best performers in early trading.
Here are some notable stocks that Yahoo Finance readers are viewing this morning: ***** eX (SPCX), Sandisk (SNDK), Alibaba (BABA), Marvell (MRVL), SK Hynix (SKHY), Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI), Lam Research (LRCX).

#stocks #trading #NASDAQ

Guinness Global Innovators, an investment management company, recently released its Q2 2026 quarterly investor update for its "Guinness Global Innovators Fund". You can download the letter here. The Guinness Global Innovators Fund focuses on investing in global companies that benefit from innovation in technology, communication, globalization, and management strategies. In the second quarter of 2026, the Guinness Global Innovators Fund returned 13.8% in GBP, compared with 13.0% for the MSCI World Index and 13.1% for the IA Global sector average. Easing Middle East tensions, falling oil prices, and renewed enthusiasm for artificial intelligence helped reverse much of the caution seen earlier in the year, with investors rotating back toward growth stocks and AI infrastructure beneficiaries. The Fund benefited from its overweight position in the Information Technology sector, while its overweight position in Communication Services detracted. Avoiding weaker Utilities, Materials, and Energy also supported relative performance. Also, please check the Fund's top five holdings to see its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Guinness Global Innovators Fund highlighted Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX). Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) is a leading semiconductor equipment company that supplies semiconductor processing equipment used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. On August 21, 2026, Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) closed at $314.00 per share. The one-month return of Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) was 7.68%, while its shares gained 210.03% over the past 52 weeks. Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) has a market capitalization of $383.62 billion.
Guinness Global Innovators Fund stated the following regarding Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"The Fund holds three semiconductor equipment manufacturers, which provide wafer fabrication equipment (WFE). They were the top performers over the quarter: Applied Materials (+111.8% in USD) KLA (+105.2%), and Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) (+103.0%). WFE companies sit at the heart of the semiconductor value chain, supplying the highly specialised tools needed to manufacture advanced chips. As demand for AI, high-performance computing and data centre infrastructure has accelerated, foundries and integrated device manufacturers have responded with record levels of capital expenditure, driving a strong upcycle in WFE spending. The AI infrastructure build-out is particularly supportive, as hyperscalers require not only more chips, but increasingly complex and advanced architectures, materially increasing equipment intensity across the manufacturing process. As a result, these companies have been printing strong quarterly earnings reports. Lam, which specialises in etch and deposition, has been supported by accelerating DRAM and high-bandwidth memory demand, resilient China revenues, and faster-than-expected

Latest 13F filings show that billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller's family office fund and Brad Gerstner's Altimeter Capital both sold Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO) during the second quarter and opened new stakes in Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ: LRCX) instead.
Bulls say Lam's multiple compression is due to the overall semiconductor selloff, not a fundamental issue. In fiscal Q4, the company beat earnings estimates and guided to a 52% gross margin for Q1, well above previous expectations. Wafer fab equipment demand remains strong, with memory and advanced packaging contributing more meaningfully. Industry-wide equipment spending guidance for fiscal 2027 was also raised. Advanced packaging growth guidance was raised. The company is expected to benefit from rising capex as companies spend to complete AI infrastructure buildouts.
However, bears point to risks that spending on wafer fab equipment will prove less durable. The company's EPS estimates ******* ume demand will stay strong, but customers can delay deliveries if memory prices weaken and utilization rates fall. Despite the multiple compression, its multiple of over 30x is still above the company's historical average, and cyclical volatility could create valuation issues if the AI capex cycle slows.
Brad Gerstner of Altimeter CapitalBroadcom Falling Out of Favor?
AVGO is up just about 13% so far this year. The stock recently wavered amid disclosure of a security vulnerability in VMware. In Q2, the company signed over $30 billion in AI orders during the quarter. For fiscal Q3, the company expects AI semiconductor revenue up 200% year over year. For fiscal 2027, Broadcom expects $100 billion in AI revenue.

#year #altimeter #broadcom

What happened: Shares of chip equipment makers rose on Monday, with ASML (ASML) leading Applied Materials (AMAT) and Lam Research (LRCX) higher.
What's behind the move: The companies, which provide advanced semiconductor-making equipment to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM), moved higher after TSMC said its revenue jumped 5.6% in July to around $14.51 billion from the prior month and 44.7% from a year earlier.
On an annualized basis, TSMC's revenue for January through July 2026 totaled roughly $89.11 billion, up 37% from the same period in 2025.
What else you need to know: TSMC is the world's largest chipmaker, and its business has boomed, driven by demand for semiconductors used in artificial intelligence.
Last month, the company reported record second quarter revenue of $40.2 billion, up 36% from a year earlier, and raised its 2026 revenue growth forecast to more than 40%.

#higher

Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX) makes the machines chipmakers use to etch and deposit the microscopic layers of a semiconductor. It has never been a household name. But it got investors' attention on Thursday.
Shares of the semiconductor equipment specialist jumped 18% to about $298, the stock's biggest one-day gain since April 2025. The move followed record results for Lam's fiscal fourth quarter of 2026 (the three months ended June 28) and guidance for a much bigger quarter ahead.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
A pop like that is a good excuse to ask the long-term question precisely: What would a $10,000 investment in Lam Research made 10 years ago be worth today?
About $320,000, before counting dividends.

#Research #flashing #quarter #NASDAQ

July 30, 2026, 11:57 am EDT
Lam Research
LRCX
-1.58%
stock was pacing toward its best day in 27 years on Thursday, drawing a stark contrast to an industry peer’s post-earnings slide.
LRCX
-1.58%
Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

#lrcx

The Nasdaq composite spiked up Thursday, with chip stocks a driver in the stock market's rebound from a sell-off in the previous session following the Federal Reserve's policy meeting. Chip equipment maker Lam Research (LRCX) shot higher on the stock market today on its raised outlook, while Meta Platforms (META) sank after its earnings report.
Near the end of the lunch hour in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose more than 500 points, or 1%. But a minority of the 30 stocks in the share-price-weighted index actually rose. Travelers (TRV) was the worst performer, falling 17 points, or 4%, to 371.75. The blue-chip index tumbled 2.1% on Wednesday. In Thursday's session, the S&P 500 reaccelerated its advance, rising 1.3% and not straying far from its intraday high of 7,417.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite, for now, was doing a better job of holding opening-hour gains than other indexes. It leaped 2.3%, adding to a jump of 1.7% minutes after the open. The composite index hit a session high of 25,112, up 8% for the year.
The Nasdaq-100 index picked up more than 3% following brutal sessions recently for memory and storage stocks. Lam shares on Thursday shot up 18%. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) climbed nearly 7%.
Amazon (AMZN) and Apple (AAPL) are the next Big Tech companies set to release earnings reports, with their latest figures due late Thursday.

#NASDAQ #index

Columbia Threadneedle Investments, an investment management company, released its "Columbia Seligman Global Technology Fund" second quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. During the quarter, the Fund's Institutional Class shares returned 50.34%, outperforming the MSCI World Information Technology Index's 33.65% gain. Stock selection in semiconductors, technology hardware and software, together with an off-benchmark electrical equipment allocation, supported relative performance, while exposure to financials, consumer discretionary and healthcare detracted. Technology stocks rallied as concerns over the Iran conflict eased and AI infrastructure spending boosted demand for semiconductors, memory, networking, servers and power solutions. The Fund expects AI and data-centre investment to remain strong, supported by broadening earnings growth and improving software bookings, cloud consumption and customer spending. However, geopolitical uncertainty, higher interest rates and heavy AI investment could pressure valuations and free cash flow. The strategy holds 50–75 technology companies across market capitalisations and uses bottom-up GARP research to identify misunderstood and undervalued businesses in the technology industry. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Columbia Seligman Global Technology Fund highlighted Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX). Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) designs, manufactures, markets, refurbishes, and services semiconductor processing equipment used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. On July 27, 2026, Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) closed at $291.61 per share. One-month return of Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) was -32.70% and its shares gained 194.73% over the past 52 weeks. Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) has a market capitalization of $364.68 billion with a 52-week trading range between $90.94 – $438.50.
Columbia Seligman Global Technology Fund stated the following regarding Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) was one of the largest positions in the fund during the quarter. The stock appreciated as investors became increasingly optimistic that AI-driven data-center spending would sustain robust demand for advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment, while memory customers accelerated investments in high-bandwidth memory and dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) capacity. Lam stock also benefited from improving semiconductor-industry fundamentals, strong earnings execution and growing confidence that leading-edge logic and memory capital expenditures would remain elevated through 2026, supporting Lam's revenue and margin outlook."

#lrcx

Carillon Tower Advisers, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Carillon Eagle Growth & Income Fund". A copy of the letter is available to download here. The second quarter of 2026 was driven by a sharp rally in AI-related stocks, although gains were concentrated in highly cyclical semiconductor, memory and optical companies. The S&P 500 gained 15.2%, while the semiconductor index surged 87.8%. Unlike earlier AI rallies led by megacaps and strong earnings growth, some smaller technology stocks rose 200% to 300%, making the advance more fragile. Software and services stocks declined as investors questioned the impact of AI disruption. Oil prices also rose during the Iran conflict before retreating, briefly increasing inflation and interest-rate concerns. Despite the volatility, economic data and corporate earnings remained strong. S&P 500 earnings are projected to rise 25% in 2026 and 15% in 2027, with the market trading near 20x earnings. The Fund continues to focus on financially strong companies with durable earnings growth that can perform across different economic conditions. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Carillon Eagle Growth & Income Fund highlighted Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX). Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) designs, manufactures, markets, refurbishes, and services semiconductor processing equipment used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. On July 27, 2026, Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) closed at $291.61 per share. One-month return of Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) was -32.70% and its shares gained 194.73% over the past 52 weeks. Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) has a market capitalization of $364.68 billion with a 52-week trading range between $90.94 - $438.50.
Carillon Eagle Growth & Income Fund stated the following regarding Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Lam Research Corporation's (NASDAQ:LRCX) shares continued to benefit from increased capital expenditure spending by its semiconductor clients. With the demand for silicon and memory at record highs and a very tight supply/demand dynamic, this appetite for Lam Research's product appears unlikely to slow any time soon."
Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 123 hedge fund portfolios held Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) at the end of the first quarter, up from 104 in the previous quarter. Lam Research Corporation's (NASDAQ:LRCX) revenue for the March quarter of 2026 was $5.84 billion, representing a 9% sequential increase and a 24% increase compared to March quarter of 2025. While we acknowledge the potential of Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and

What happened: Semiconductor stocks fell on Tuesday, with the PHLX Semiconductor Index (^SOX) falling more than 3% as investors continued to unwind positions in one of the market's hottest AI-driven sectors this year.
US-listed shares of memory and storage leaders Micron Technology (MU), SK Hynix (SKHY), and Sandisk (SNDK) all fell more than 8% and 13%, respectively. Among the semiconductor equipment makers, ASML (ASML), Applied Materials (AMAT), and Lam Research (LRCX) also dropped.
AI chip heavyweight Nvidia (NVDA) stock reversed early morning losses to climb into green territory following a 5% drop on Monday. Peer AMD (AMD) fell more than 7%. Chip maker Intel (INTC), along with Marvell (MRVL) and Qualcomm (QCOM), also slid.
What's behind the move: The sell-off followed declines in semiconductor stocks abroad. In South Korea, SK Hynix fell more than 14%, while Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) dropped more than 13%.
European semiconductor stocks also moved lower as concerns about circular financing and intensifying competition from China have weighed on the sector.

#fell #asml

NZS Capital, LLC, an investment management company, released its "NZS Growth Equity Strategy" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. Equity markets delivered a strong performance in the second quarter of 2026, driven by demand for AI infrastructure, geopolitical stabilization, and positive earnings reports. The portfolio achieved a gross return of +24.96% and a net return of +24.76%, significantly outperforming the +14.79% return for the Morningstar Global Target Market Exposure Index. Overweight in Semiconductors, stock selection in areas like Software and Industrials, and zero exposure to Energy contributed to the Strategy's outperformance in the quarter. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, NZS Growth Equity Strategy highlighted Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX). Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) is a leading semiconductor equipment company that supplies semiconductor processing equipment for the fabrication of integrated circuits. On July 20, 2026, Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) closed at $306.76 per share. One-month return of Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) was -17.39%, and its shares gained 214.01% over the past 52 weeks. Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) has a market capitalization of $383.62 billion.
NZS Growth Equity Strategy stated the following regarding Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Information Technology contributed the most to absolute returns, though Industrials and Communication Services also outperformed. Each of the top-five individual contributors to absolute returns were in the Semiconductor industry and, more importantly, in the AI infrastructure ecosystem. Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX), which is a critical supplier of etching equipment used in the production of semiconductors, saw strengthening tailwinds to their outlook as some key chip manufacturing customers publicly committed to higher capital expenditures to expand capacity."
Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 123 hedge fund portfolios held Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) at the end of the first quarter, up from 104 in the previous quarter. Lam Research Corporation's (NASDAQ:LRCX) revenue for the March quarter of 2026 was $5.84 billion, representing a 9% sequential increase and a 24% increase compared to Q1 2025. While we acknowledge the potential of Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

#lrcx #return

What happened: Semiconductor stocks jumped on Monday in early trading, recovering from a rout that left the PHLX Semiconductor Index (^SOX) down more than 9% last week.
AI chip heavyweight Nvidia (NVDA) rose more than 2%, while AMD (AMD) jumped 4% on ****** yst price target calls. Broadcom (AVGO) and Intel (INTC) also gained on Monday. Marvell (MRVL) and Qualcomm (QCOM) rose as well, reversing Friday's losses.
Memory and storage leaders Micron Technology (MU) and SK Hynix (SKHY), meanwhile, jumped 5%. Highflier Sandisk (SNDK) gained more than 3%. Among the semiconductor equipment makers, ASML (ASML), Applied Materials (AMAT), and Lam Research (LRCX) edged higher.
What's behind the move: Chipmaker AMD was selected as a "top pick" by Rosenblatt, which raised its price target on the stock to $665 from $490. UBS ****** ysts also raised their price target on the stock to $700, maintaining a Buy rating ahead of the chipmaker's annual AI conference this week.
Despite the semiconductor pullback, Wall Street sees the AI trade intact with the semiconductor index 20% decline over the past month signaling "a positioning unwind following a 90% year-to-date rally," according to UBS ****** ysts.

What happened: Semiconductor stocks retreated on Friday. Memory and storage highfliers Micron Technology (MU) and Sandisk (SNDK) stocks dropped more than 2%, and Western Digital (WDC) fell more than 3%.
Chipmakers, including Nvidia (NVDA), AMD (AMD), Broadcom (AVGO), Intel (INTC), and Marvell (MRVL), also moved lower. Qualcomm (QCOM) retreated as well.
Among semiconductor equipment makers, Applied Materials (AMAT) and Lam Research (LRCX) each declined more than 4%.
Going into Friday's trading session, global semiconductor stocks had shed $3.3 trillion in market value since June 22.
What's behind the move: Semiconductor stocks have been volatile in recent weeks over concerns that investors will want to see a return on investment from big spenders on AI infrastructure.

We recently published Jim Cramer Insisted Recent AI Chip Selloff Wasn't A Bottom & Discussed These 17 Stocks. Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) is one of the stocks discussed by Jim Cramer.
Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) is one of the largest semiconductor manufacturing equipment providers in the world. Its shares are up by 233% over the past year and by 79% year-to-date. Susquehanna increased Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX)'s share price target to $475 from $385 and kept a Positive rating on the stock on June 30th. In its coverage, the financial firm discussed the backlog for semiconductor manufacturing equipment and remarked that it appeared to have extended beyond the one year mark. With Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX)'s shares gaining 2.7% on Wednesday, Cramer tweeted about the firm:
"The action in Lam Research, at the heart of the intellectual property when it comes to the data center away from Nvidia, is quite positive
Broadcom and Lam great tells today!
For illustration purposes only. Photo from Pixabay/Pexels

Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) was among the stocks Jim Cramer commented on as he advised investors on how to take advantage of Wednesday's market rotation. Cramer mentioned the stock during the episode and said:
Oh, how about the semiconductor capital equipment makers? Oh, did I ever know them well. I've been adamant that these companies own a huge amount of intellectual property. They're the answers to the production needs of the Microns, the Seagates of the world, but did the Trust buy Applied Materials? Did it pick up some Lam Research? Did it even scrutinize KLA, all of which were on the show? No. I kept waiting and waiting for a break in their stocks, a break that never came. I whiffed.
Photo by Yiorgos Ntrahas on Unsplash
Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) develops equipment for depositing, etching, and cleaning semiconductor materials. It includes systems for tungsten and copper metallization, plasma and atomic-layer deposition, dielectric and conductor etch, and wafer cleaning. When a caller inquired about the stock during the March 20 episode, Cramer replied:
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I agree. Lam is the winner of what happened in Micron. People didn't seem to notice. You buy, if you had to buy 100 shares, you buy 50 on Monday, okay? And then you wait, down 10%, and you buy another 50. You've got a winner in Lam Research.

Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) was among the stocks Jim Cramer commented on as he advised investors on how to take advantage of Wednesday's market rotation. Cramer mentioned the stock during the episode and said:
Oh, how about the semiconductor capital equipment makers? Oh, did I ever know them well. I've been adamant that these companies own a huge amount of intellectual property. They're the answers to the production needs of the Microns, the Seagates of the world, but did the Trust buy Applied Materials? Did it pick up some Lam Research? Did it even scrutinize KLA, all of which were on the show? No. I kept waiting and waiting for a break in their stocks, a break that never came. I whiffed.
Photo by Yiorgos Ntrahas on Unsplash
Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) develops equipment for depositing, etching, and cleaning semiconductor materials. It includes systems for tungsten and copper metallization, plasma and atomic-layer deposition, dielectric and conductor etch, and wafer cleaning. When a caller inquired about the stock during the March 20 episode, Cramer replied:
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I agree. Lam is the winner of what happened in Micron. People didn't seem to notice. You buy, if you had to buy 100 shares, you buy 50 on Monday, okay? And then you wait, down 10%, and you buy another 50. You've got a winner in Lam Research.

Vltava Fund, a value-focused investment management company, published its investor letter for the second quarter of 2026. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The letter explores the growing role of AI and how certain facets of human intelligence may become less valuable economically, while other skills become more important. The author emphasizes that despite AI's expanding capabilities in information collection and basic modeling, qualities like sound judgment, good taste, patience, original thinking, strategic skepticism, and the ability to recognize significance will continue to hold their value. Despite the excitement around A.I., fundamental investment principles remain unchanged. Please review the Fund's top five holdings to gain insights into their key selections for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Vltava Fund highlighted Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX). Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) is a leading semiconductor equipment company that supplies semiconductor processing equipment for the fabrication of integrated circuits. On July 2, 2026, Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) closed at $351.41 per share. One-month return of Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) was 15.87%, and its shares gained 255.64% over the past 52 weeks. Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) has a market capitalization of $439.46 billion.
Vltava Fund stated the following regarding Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"During the second quarter, we sold out four stock positions and added two new ones to the portfolio. We sold the troika Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX), Applied Materials, and KLA Corporation, all of which are key suppliers of manufacturing equipment and process control solutions for the semiconductor industry. These are undoubtedly excellent businesses, without which it would be impossible to produce increasingly advanced chips. Nevertheless, once the valuations of even the best companies begin to reach levels of 20× sales and 50× earnings, the balance between quality and price shifts significantly to the investor's disadvantage. In such a situation, it is no longer enough simply to recognize that these are excellent companies. It is also necessary for future growth, margins, and return on capital to remain exceptionally high over the long term and for practically no significant risks to materialize. In our view, this is an overly demanding and speculative combination. Despite the ongoing semiconductor boom, it is still good to remember that this is a pretty cyclical industry. There remained no margin of safety between price and value to speak of, and the high prices were therefore our impetus to sell."

The chip-equipment maker is posting record results at the heart of the AI buildout, but its premium price and history of sharp downturns frame a difficult decision for investors.
If you want to understand Lam Research (LRCX), think of it as a high-tech landlord in a gold rush. The company doesn't mine for gold, it doesn't make the semiconductors themselves, but it builds and sells the incredibly complex machinery that does. Specifically, it's a leader in deposition and etch, two fundamental steps in carving circuits onto silicon wafers. Right now, the AI gold rush is on, and Lam's business is booming. The stock has reflected this, soaring 326% over the past year and trading at the very top of its 52-week range. After such a powerful move, the practical question for any buyer is whether you're stepping into a long-term technology shift or simply arriving late to a cyclical party.
What The Stock Costs Today
There's no way around it: you are paying a steep premium for a piece of this business. Lam Research trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 70.6, nearly triple the S&P 500's multiple of 24.6. On a sales basis, the story is similar, with a price-to-sales ratio of 21.9 versus the market's 3.3. This isn't a stock the market has overlooked. Instead, it's one where investors are paying up for a specific story: that the "AI-driven demand environment is creating an ideal setup for continued outperformance," as management puts it. This valuation is only justified if the AI buildout proves to be a sustained, multi-year wave of investment, rather than a short-term spike, that keeps Lam's order books full and its high margins intact.
What You Get For It
What you get is a company firing on all cylinders. Lam just posted its "third consecutive record revenue quarter," hitting $5.8 billion in the most recent period, up 24% from a year ago. The engine here is the escalating complexity of AI chips, which management says is "driving higher deposition and etch intensity." This directly benefits Lam's core business. The company is also seeing strong growth in its Customer Support Business Group, which generated a record $2.1 billion in quarterly revenue by servicing and upgrading the large fleet of more than 100,000 of its chambers installed worldwide. This isn't a company struggling to fund its ambitions. With debt at just 0.8% of its market value, compared to 20.5% for the average S&P 500 company, and a balance sheet flush with cash, it can comfortably finance its growth, including a second manufacturing facility in Malaysia.

Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) is one of the 10 Best Semiconductor Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires.
On June 11, Barclays **** yst Tom O'Malley raised his price target on Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) to $335 from $275. The **** yst maintained an "Overweight" rating on the shares. He pointed out a wafer-fab-equipment capital spending cycle that appears "much stronger across the board." O'Malley said industry sales could exceed $200 billion in 2027. He also added that investors have already shifted their focus toward 2028 demand projections.
On June 23, BofA raised Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX)'s price target to $480 from $330. The **** yst is bullish and maintains a "Buy" rating on the stock. BofA updated semiconductor industry models and lifted its 2030 total addressable market forecast to $2.7 trillion from $2.3 trillion. The firm attributed the increase primarily to expected growth in memory and data-center markets, along with a recovery in automotive and industrial demand.
For illustration purposes only. Photo from Pixabay/Pexels
Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) designs, manufactures, markets, and provides semiconductor processing equipment used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. It functions through United States, China, Europe, **** an, Korea, Southeast Asia and Taiwan segments.

Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) is one of the best growth stocks to buy according to billionaire Dan Loeb. On June 23, Bank of America raised its price target on Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) to $480 from $330 while maintaining a Buy rating.
Portogas D Ace/Shutterstock.com
Lead ******* yst Vivek Arya said the price target hike was necessary to align with the firm's update to its semiconductor industry models. As part of the update, Arya and team identified five forces they believe will drive the next $1 trillion in chip industry revenues, which cover AI data centers, memory, semiconductor capital equipment, and reshoring, ******* og chips, and agentic CPU demand.
A key factor in the price target upgrade was BofA's revised forecast for wafer fabrication equipment (WFE) spending, the market in which Lam Research is a major player. The firm now projects the WFE spending to reach $250 billion by 2028, up from an earlier estimate of $203 billion. The spending can climb to $292 billion by 2030, the ******* ysts noted.
From the perspective of the broader semiconductor industry, BofA now projects total chip sales of $2.7 trillion by 2030, up from a prior estimate of $2.3 trillion. This implies a 28% compound annual growth rate from 2025 levels. The firm expects memory to be the single largest driver of this growth; it expects it to grow nearly 300% this year alone.

Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) is one of the best fast growth stocks to buy according to hedge funds. On June 17, Citi raised its price target on Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) to $450 from $315, which was one among similar moves for several semiconductor equipment makers. The firm said the move was part of updating its global wafer fabrication equipment (WFE) spending forecasts to reflect what it sees as a multi-year boom in chip manufacturing investment.
In the revised WFE spending model, Citi, projects a bull-case spending of around $145 billion in 2026, which will rise to $200 billion in 2027, and top $250 billion in 2028.
Citi said it aligned its price targets for all three stocks to this revised WFE model and rolled them forward based on 2028 earnings power. In other words, the firm is increasingly confident that the investment cycle in chip manufacturing is a sustained, multi-year trend.
A key pillar of Citi's revised model is the rise of agentic AI, which the firm said is driving a structural increase in demand for NAND flash memory. The ***** ysts pointed out that there is a growing mismatch between how much memory the agentic AI systems need and how much is currently available.
Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) is a semiconductor equipment company. It designs, manufactures, and services wafer fabrication equipment used in the production of integrated circuits, including etch, deposition, and clean systems essential to advanced chip manufacturing.

Palantir Technologies' (PLTR) stock has been under significant selling pressure for quite some time now. It recently crashed to a 52-week low, extending its year-to-date (YTD) decline to 36.03% and pushing it 45.3% below its previous 52-week high.
The sell-off has largely been driven by concerns surrounding valuation. For much of the past year, Palantir traded at a substantial premium to both traditional software companies and several large-cap technology peers.
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