Advertisement
LRCX vs UMC
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Lam Research Corporation (LRCX) vs. United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- LRCX and UMC have both posted robust year-to-date gains around 51-54%, fueled by semiconductor demand tied to AI and data center expansion.
- LRCX, a leader in etch and deposition equipment, benefits from advanced node investments, with recent earnings showing 24% revenue growth from AI catalysts.
- UMC, a pure-play foundry, emphasizes mature nodes like 22nm, reporting record segment revenue and planning $1.5 billion CAPEX (capital expenditures) for 2026 expansion.
- LRCX trades at a higher PE ratio (price-to-earnings, ~49 trailing) versus UMC's (~23), reflecting growth premium but elevated valuation risk.
- UMC offers a higher dividend yield (~3.9%) compared to LRCX (~0.4%), appealing to income-focused investors amid sector volatility.
- Recent AI trading bots on Tickeron highlight semiconductor momentum, with several featuring LRCX and peers showing gains over 100% in short periods.
Introduction
This stock comparison pits LRCX, a premier provider of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, against UMC, a leading pure-play wafer foundry. Both operate in the dynamic semiconductor industry, where AI-driven demand for advanced chips has propelled sector gains. Traders seeking momentum plays and investors eyeing value in cyclical semis may find value here. Recent market activity underscores contrasts in growth trajectories, valuations, and risk profiles, offering insights into relative performance amid geopolitical tensions and supply chain shifts. This analysis draws on key metrics and developments to aid informed decision-making.
LRCX Overview and Recent Performance
Lam Research Corporation (LRCX) specializes in wafer fabrication equipment for etch, deposition, and clean processes, serving advanced logic, memory, and packaging needs in AI and high-performance computing. In recent weeks, LRCX reported Q3 fiscal 2026 results exceeding expectations, with revenue of $5.84 billion (up 24% year-over-year) and non-GAAP EPS (earnings per share) of $1.47, driven by AI-fueled demand for DRAM, NAND, and advanced packaging. The stock has surged over 50% year-to-date, hitting 52-week highs near $276 before recent pullbacks amid U.S.-China export concerns. Sentiment remains positive, bolstered by analyst upgrades like JPMorgan's $315 target and raised wafer fab equipment spending forecasts to $140 billion annually. However, high beta (1.79, volatility measure vs. market) exposes it to sector swings.
UMC Overview and Recent Performance
United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) is a Taiwan-based semiconductor foundry producing wafers for mature and specialty nodes, targeting consumer, automotive, and IoT applications. Recent market activity saw UMC shares surge over 9% in a session, extending year-to-date gains past 54%, with a 52-week high near $12.80. Q4 2025 revenue hit NT$61.81 billion (up 4.5% quarter-over-quarter), led by 31% growth in 22nm revenue to a record high, comprising over 13% of total. Partnerships in thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonics and hybrid bonding enhance prospects, alongside $1.5 billion 2026 CAPEX for capacity. Lower beta (1.01) signals relative stability, though Taiwan geopolitics weighs on sentiment. March 2026 sales reports reinforced steady demand.
Trending AI Robots
Tickeron’s Trending AI Robots page features the top 25 performers curated from 351 AI trading bots that analyze thousands of tickers across stocks, ETFs, and crypto. These bots employ AI/ML strategies in timeframes like 5min to 60min, delivering average win rates of 60-65%, annualized returns around 60-80%, and profit factors from 1.5 to 11.7. Top bots show gains up to +167%, with max drawdowns $1,500-$48,000; many focus on semiconductors, including one with LRCX, TER, AMAT at +103% gain (64% win rate, 3.61 profit factor over 8 days). Diverse styles—trend-following, scalping with TP/SL corridors—adapt to volatility. Explore these for potential edges in current conditions.
Head-to-Head Comparison
LRCX and UMC differ fundamentally: LRCX supplies capital equipment for cutting-edge nodes, tying growth to fab expansions by TSMC and Intel, while UMC manufactures wafers at cost-optimized mature/specialty nodes (e.g., 22/28nm). Growth drivers contrast—LRCX leverages AI packaging (50%+ projected rise) and memory recovery; UMC ramps 22nm tape-outs, photonics, and U.S./Singapore diversification. Recent momentum favors UMC's surge on sales/dividends, but LRCX shows trend consistency post-earnings. Risks include LRCX's China exposure and high PE/beta versus UMC's dividend appeal and lower valuation, though Taiwan risks persist. Sector exposure overlaps in semis, but LRCX offers higher upside in AI supercycle trades, UMC stability in diversified demand.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI models currently lean toward LRCX with moderate conviction, based on superior trend consistency, earnings beats, and inclusion in high-performing semi bots amid AI catalysts like advanced packaging and memory ramps. UMC's value metrics and dividend provide balance, but LRCX's relative positioning in growth trajectories suggests higher probability of outperformance in the near term, barring trade disruptions.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is LRCX is a Buy and UMC is a Buy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
LRCX’s FA Score shows that 4 FA rating(s) are green whileUMC’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- LRCX’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 red.
- UMC’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
LRCX’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while UMC’s TA Score has 2 bullish TA indicator(s).
- LRCX’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- UMC’s TA Score: 2 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
LRCX (@Electronic Production Equipment) experienced а +3.64% price change this week, while UMC (@Semiconductors) price change was +6.55% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronic Production Equipment industry was -1.18%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +10.49%, and the average quarterly price growth was +132.32%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Semiconductors industry was +4.13%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +36.18%, and the average quarterly price growth was +103.14%.
Reported Earning Dates
LRCX is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
UMC is expected to report earnings on Jul 29, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronic Production Equipment (-1.18% weekly)The electronic production equipment industry makes equipment used to produce semiconductors. Such equipment includes wafer fabrication, plasma etching and photo-resist processing equipment. The industry also makes chemical vapor deposition processing systems and photomasks, which are high-purity quartz plates that contain patterns to define integrated circuits layouts. Applied Materials, Inc., Lam Research Corporation, and KLA-Tencor Corporation are examples of electronic production equipment manufacturing companies.
@Semiconductors (+4.13% weekly)The semiconductor industry manufacturers all chip-related products, including research and development. These chips are used in innumerable electronic devices, including computers, cell phones, smartphones, and GPSs. Intel Corporation, NVIDIA Corp., and Broadcomm are some of the prominent players in this industry. Semiconductor companies usually tend to do well during periods of healthy economic growth, thereby inducing further research and development in the industry – which in turn augurs well for productivity and growth in the economy. In the near future, demand for semiconductor products (and possibly innovation within the segment) should only expand further, with the proliferation of 5G, autonomous vehicles, IoT, and various AI-driven electronics set to herald a new, advanced chapter in the technology-driven world as we know it. With burgeoning prospects comes great competition. In 2015, SIA estimated that U.S. semiconductor industry ranks as the second most competitive U.S. industry out of 2882 U.S. industries designated manufacturers by the U.S. Census Bureau.
| LRCX | UMC | LRCX / UMC | |
| Capitalization | 418B | 56.5B | 740% |
| EBITDA | 8.07B | 118B | 7% |
| Gain YTD | 95.590 | 185.751 | 51% |
| P/E Ratio | 63.22 | 35.85 | 176% |
| Revenue | 21.7B | 241B | 9% |
| Total Cash | 4.75B | 134B | 4% |
| Total Debt | 3.73B | 56.7B | 7% |
LRCX | UMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 34 | 38 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 86 Overvalued | 37 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 2 | 9 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 17 | 65 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 3 | 34 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 6 | 6 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 47 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
UMC's Valuation (37) in the Semiconductors industry is somewhat better than the same rating for LRCX (86) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that UMC’s stock grew somewhat faster than LRCX’s over the last 12 months.
LRCX's Profit vs Risk Rating (2) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as UMC (9) in the Semiconductors industry. This means that LRCX’s stock grew similarly to UMC’s over the last 12 months.
LRCX's SMR Rating (17) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is somewhat better than the same rating for UMC (65) in the Semiconductors industry. This means that LRCX’s stock grew somewhat faster than UMC’s over the last 12 months.
LRCX's Price Growth Rating (3) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as UMC (34) in the Semiconductors industry. This means that LRCX’s stock grew similarly to UMC’s over the last 12 months.
LRCX's P/E Growth Rating (6) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as UMC (6) in the Semiconductors industry. This means that LRCX’s stock grew similarly to UMC’s over the last 12 months.
| LRCX | UMC | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 69% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 62% | 2 days ago 62% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 68% | N/A |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 81% | N/A |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 80% | 2 days ago 68% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 81% | 2 days ago 67% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 81% | 7 days ago 62% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 65% | about 1 month ago 62% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 73% | 2 days ago 60% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 81% | 2 days ago 74% |
Advertisement
| 1 Day | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| STOCK / NAME | Price $ | Chg $ | Chg % |
| OMAB | 103.51 | 3.23 | +3.22% |
| Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte S.A.B. de C.V. ADS | |||
| BKR | 64.54 | 1.57 | +2.49% |
| Baker Hughes Company | |||
| ACCL | 1.44 | -0.01 | -0.68% |
| Acco Group Holdings Limited | |||
| NERV | 4.80 | -0.05 | -0.93% |
| Minerva Neurosciences | |||
| LUCK | 7.76 | -0.22 | -2.76% |
| Lucky Strike Entertainment Corporation | |||
UMC and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, UMC has been loosely correlated with LRCX. These tickers have moved in lockstep 58% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if UMC jumps, then LRCX could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To UMC | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMC | 100% | -1.88% | ||
| LRCX - UMC | 58% Loosely correlated | +5.45% | ||
| KLAC - UMC | 57% Loosely correlated | +5.42% | ||
| AMAT - UMC | 55% Loosely correlated | +6.96% | ||
| ACLS - UMC | 51% Loosely correlated | +5.62% | ||
| KLIC - UMC | 51% Loosely correlated | +4.89% | ||
More | ||||