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KLAC or LRCX or MU
Which Stock Would AI Choose? KLA Corporation (KLAC) vs. Lam Research Corporation (LRCX) vs. Micron Technology (MU) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- KLAC reported Q3 FY2026 revenue of $3.42 billion, up 11.5% year-over-year, driven by AI semiconductor inspection demand, with YTD gains around 43%.
- LRCX delivered Q1 FY2026 revenue of $5.84 billion, surpassing estimates with 23.8% growth, fueled by etch and deposition for advanced nodes, boasting 61% YTD returns.
- MU surged on AI memory demand, with recent quarters showing explosive growth like Q2 revenue up 196% year-over-year to $23.9 billion, leading with 124% YTD performance.
- All three benefit from semiconductor AI tailwinds, but MU shows highest momentum while equipment peers KLAC and LRCX offer stability with strong margins around 50%.
- Market caps exceed $200B each, with P/E ratios in the 48-52 range reflecting growth premiums amid relative 1-year returns of 152% for KLAC, 276% for LRCX, and nearly 700% for MU.
Introduction
KLA Corporation (KLAC), Lam Research Corporation (LRCX), and Micron Technology (MU) represent critical players in the semiconductor ecosystem, with KLAC and LRCX providing essential process control and wafer fabrication equipment, while MU manufactures memory chips. This comparison is particularly relevant for traders and investors tracking AI-driven demand, which has propelled semiconductor capital expenditures and memory pricing. In recent market activity, these stocks have demonstrated robust relative performance amid sector volatility, offering insights into growth drivers, valuation sensitivity, and positioning for ongoing technology inflections.
KLAC Overview and Recent Performance
KLA Corporation (KLAC) specializes in process control and yield management systems for semiconductor manufacturing, including metrology and inspection tools vital for advanced nodes. In recent weeks, the stock has traded around $1,730-$1,750, reflecting steady momentum with YTD returns of approximately 43% and 1-year gains over 150%. Q3 FY2026 revenue reached $3.42 billion, up 11.5% year-over-year and above guidance, supported by AI-related demand in foundry logic and high-bandwidth memory (HBM). Gross margins held firm near 62%, bolstered by service revenue growth. Sentiment has been positive on raised full-year guidance to high-teens growth, though tempered by geopolitical risks and China exposure. Analysts maintain a consensus price target around $1,814.
LRCX Overview and Recent Performance
Lam Research Corporation (LRCX) designs and services semiconductor processing equipment for etch, deposition, and clean processes, enabling complex chip architectures. Recent market activity shows shares around $276, with YTD performance near 61% and extraordinary 1-year returns exceeding 275%. Q1 FY2026 revenue hit $5.84 billion, up 23.8% year-over-year and beating estimates, driven by systems demand in AI infrastructure despite China-related curbs. Gross margins approached 50%, with analysts lifting targets to $310 amid confidence in memory and logic ramps. Performance reflects strong execution in advanced packaging, though recent pullbacks highlight sector rotations and regulatory sensitivities.
MU Overview and Recent Performance
Micron Technology (MU) produces DRAM, NAND, and storage solutions, with growing focus on HBM for AI data centers. The stock has led peers, surging to new highs around $640 with YTD gains over 124% and 1-year returns near 700%, fueled by memory supply tightness. Recent quarters underscore explosive growth, including Q2 FY2026 revenue up 196% year-over-year to $23.9 billion on AI demand, with gross margins expanding significantly. Sentiment remains buoyant on sold-out HBM capacity through 2026 and pricing surges, though elevated capex introduces leverage to demand cycles.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
KLAC and LRCX focus on equipment with stable service revenues (20-25% of total), high margins (50-62%), and exposure to wafer fabrication ramps, contrasting MU’s memory cyclicality tied to pricing and inventory. Growth drivers differ: equipment firms leverage AI node complexity, while MU rides HBM shortages. Recent momentum favors MU (124% YTD) over LRCX (61%) and KLAC (43%), but equipment peers show lower beta. Risks include U.S.-China restrictions hitting all, with MU most sensitive to capex cuts. Valuations cluster at P/E 48-52, with MU offering scale (largest market cap ~$730B). Sentiment tilts bullish across, with analyst targets implying 5-15% upside.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors MU due to superior trend consistency in AI memory demand, unmatched relative positioning with 124% YTD gains, and catalysts like HBM sellouts, though with higher volatility. LRCX ranks closely for balanced growth and margins, while KLAC provides stability. Probabilistic edge leans toward memory amid ongoing infrastructure buildout.
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
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).
KLAC’s FA Score shows that 4 FA rating(s) are green whileLRCX’s FA Score has 4 green FA rating(s), and MU’s FA Score reflects 4 green FA rating(s).
- KLAC’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 red.
- LRCX’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 red.
- MU’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 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.
KLAC’s TA Score shows that 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while LRCX’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s), and MU’s TA Score reflects 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- KLAC’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
- LRCX’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
- MU’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
KLAC (@Electronic Production Equipment) experienced а +4.53% price change this week, while LRCX (@Electronic Production Equipment) price change was +4.87% , and MU (@Semiconductors) price fluctuated +19.74% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronic Production Equipment industry was +3.21%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +27.85%, and the average quarterly price growth was +145.22%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Semiconductors industry was +6.79%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +44.87%, and the average quarterly price growth was +82.43%.
Reported Earning Dates
KLAC is expected to report earnings on Jul 23, 2026.
LRCX is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
MU is expected to report earnings on Jul 01, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronic Production Equipment (+3.21% 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 (+6.79% 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.
| KLAC | LRCX | MU | |
| Capitalization | 237B | 362B | 864B |
| EBITDA | 6.06B | 8.07B | 37.1B |
| Gain YTD | 49.266 | 69.171 | 168.702 |
| P/E Ratio | 51.30 | 54.68 | 36.18 |
| Revenue | 13.1B | 21.7B | 58.1B |
| Total Cash | 4.96B | 4.75B | 14.6B |
| Total Debt | 6.15B | 3.73B | 10.8B |
KLAC | LRCX | MU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 76 | 13 | 22 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 84 Overvalued | 83 Overvalued | 64 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 6 | 4 | 4 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 14 | 17 | 23 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 9 | 4 | 1 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 11 | 7 | 16 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 90 | 90 | 50 |
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.
MU's Valuation (64) in the Semiconductors industry is in the same range as LRCX (83) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry, and is in the same range as KLAC (84) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that MU's stock grew similarly to LRCX’s and similarly to KLAC’s over the last 12 months.
MU's Profit vs Risk Rating (4) in the Semiconductors industry is in the same range as LRCX (4) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry, and is in the same range as KLAC (6) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that MU's stock grew similarly to LRCX’s and similarly to KLAC’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's SMR Rating (14) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as LRCX (17) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry, and is in the same range as MU (23) in the Semiconductors industry. This means that KLAC's stock grew similarly to LRCX’s and similarly to MU’s over the last 12 months.
MU's Price Growth Rating (1) in the Semiconductors industry is in the same range as LRCX (4) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry, and is in the same range as KLAC (9) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that MU's stock grew similarly to LRCX’s and similarly to KLAC’s over the last 12 months.
LRCX's P/E Growth Rating (7) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as KLAC (11) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry, and is in the same range as MU (16) in the Semiconductors industry. This means that LRCX's stock grew similarly to KLAC’s and similarly to MU’s over the last 12 months.
| KLAC | LRCX | MU | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 71% | 1 day ago 66% | 1 day ago 67% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 63% | 1 day ago 69% | 6 days ago 72% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 72% | 1 day ago 70% | 6 days ago 77% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 71% | 1 day ago 79% | 6 days ago 81% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 74% | 1 day ago 80% | 1 day ago 77% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 77% | 1 day ago 80% | 1 day ago 76% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 8 days ago 74% | 3 days ago 81% | 3 days ago 75% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 61% | 15 days ago 65% | 24 days ago 72% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 71% | 1 day ago 72% | 1 day ago 67% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 82% | 1 day ago 80% | 1 day ago 82% |
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|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs / NAME | Price $ | Chg $ | Chg % |
| COIO | 8.77 | N/A | N/A |
| Leverage Shares 2x Cpd Acclrtd COINMnETF | |||
| SDG | 91.15 | -0.11 | -0.13% |
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| QQQ | 707.24 | -6.05 | -0.85% |
| Invesco QQQ Trust | |||
| TSME | 47.08 | -0.62 | -1.30% |
| Thrivent Small-Mid Cap Equity ETF | |||
| WANT | 45.37 | -1.27 | -2.72% |
| Direxion Daily Cnsmr Discret Bull 3X ETF | |||
KLAC and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, KLAC has been closely correlated with LRCX. These tickers have moved in lockstep 85% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if KLAC jumps, then LRCX could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To KLAC | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KLAC | 100% | -1.83% | ||
| LRCX - KLAC | 85% Closely correlated | -2.30% | ||
| AMAT - KLAC | 83% Closely correlated | -2.80% | ||
| ADI - KLAC | 79% Closely correlated | -0.73% | ||
| QCOM - KLAC | 77% Closely correlated | -11.46% | ||
| NVMI - KLAC | 77% Closely correlated | -6.28% | ||
More | ||||
LRCX and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, LRCX has been closely correlated with AMAT. These tickers have moved in lockstep 86% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if LRCX jumps, then AMAT could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To LRCX | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCX | 100% | -2.30% | ||
| AMAT - LRCX | 86% Closely correlated | -2.80% | ||
| KLAC - LRCX | 85% Closely correlated | -1.83% | ||
| RMBS - LRCX | 80% Closely correlated | -3.12% | ||
| ASML - LRCX | 80% Closely correlated | -2.87% | ||
| ADI - LRCX | 79% Closely correlated | -0.73% | ||
More | ||||
MU and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, MU has been closely correlated with LRCX. These tickers have moved in lockstep 80% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if MU jumps, then LRCX could also see price increases.