AMAT vs LRCX: Applied Materials and Lam Research as AI Stocks
Applied Materials (AMAT) and Lam Research (LRCX) are both tracked in the Supercycle AI universe. The two are similar in size, at $376.47B and $384.51B, and AMAT carries the higher AI Exposure Score (78 vs 50, Core tier), meaning its business depends more directly on AI demand.
Market data as of the close on . Prices are end of day, not live.
Side by side
| Metric | AMAT | LRCX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $474.38 | $307.28 |
| Market cap | $376.47B | $384.51B |
| 24h change | +0.41% | -1.18% |
| 7d change | +14.20% | +14.13% |
| 1y change | +136.80% | +140.31% |
| P/E ratio | 41.0 | 51.7 |
| AI Exposure Score | 78 (Core) | 50 (Strategic) |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Buildout layers | Chip Equipment & Foundries | Chip Equipment & Foundries |
AMAT's role in the buildout
Applied Materials sits in the Chip Equipment & Foundries layer of the buildout, supplying the machines that make AI chips possible. Chipmakers need its deposition, etch, and inspection equipment to fabricate leading-edge AI processors and memory, and AI-driven fab capacity is now the dominant demand engine for semiconductor equipment spending. That puts the AI cycle at the center of its thesis and earns it an AI Exposure Score of 78 out of 100.
LRCX's role in the buildout
Lam Research sits in the Chip Equipment & Foundries layer of the AI buildout. Its deposition and etch equipment fabricates the AI logic chips and the high-bandwidth memory those chips require, making Lam essential whenever foundries and memory makers add AI capacity. That expansion is a key demand driver for its tools. Orders still cycle with overall semiconductor capital spending, so the AI wave lifts a business that remains tied to the broader chip cycle.
Both stocks sit in Chip Equipment & Foundries, so they compete for the same slice of AI spending.
Frequently asked questions
Is AMAT or LRCX the bigger company?
Lam Research is bigger: $384.51B versus $376.47B by market cap, as of the latest end-of-day data.
Which has more AI exposure, AMAT or LRCX?
Applied Materials does: its AI Exposure Score is 78 (Core tier) versus 50 (Strategic). The score measures how much of the business depends on AI, not which stock is the better investment.
Related comparisons
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