Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX) Downgraded to Hold Rating by Erste Group Bank

Key Points

• Erste Group Bank downgraded Lam Research from "buy" to "hold," even as several other analysts raised price targets (Citigroup/JPMorgan to ~$300, Cantor Fitzgerald to $320), leaving an overall consensus of Moderate Buy with an average target of $245.35.
• Lam reported better-than-expected quarterly results (EPS $1.27 vs. $1.17 estimate; revenue $5.34B, +22.1% YoY) and set Q3 FY2026 guidance of $1.25–1.45 EPS, which has supported recent bullish analyst revisions.
• Insiders have been net sellers recently—CFO sold ~50,057 shares (~$11.2M) and insiders sold 130,886 shares in the past 90 days—while the stock traded at $215.66 (market cap ~$269.3B, PE 44.2) on the latest session.

Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX - Get Free Report) was downgraded by Erste Group Bank from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a note issued to investors on Thursday, Marketbeat reports.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Argus increased their price objective on shares of Lam Research from $175.00 to $280.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Lam Research from $265.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. HSBC upped their target price on shares of Lam Research from $181.00 to $221.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $320.00 price target (up from $265.00) on shares of Lam Research in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Lam Research from $165.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-seven have given a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $245.35.

Lam Research Price Performance

NASDAQ LRCX traded down $6.35 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $215.66. 926,798 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 11,797,609. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $227.05 and a 200-day moving average of $183.95. Lam Research has a one year low of $56.32 and a one year high of $256.68. The stock has a market cap of $269.31 billion, a PE ratio of 44.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 1.78. The company has a current ratio of 2.26, a quick ratio of 1.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37.

Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The semiconductor company reported $1.27 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.17 by $0.10. Lam Research had a return on equity of 62.81% and a net margin of 30.22%.The company had revenue of $5.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.23 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.91 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 22.1% on a year-over-year basis. Lam Research has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 1.250-1.450 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Lam Research will post 3.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Lam Research

In related news, insider Ava Harter sold 4,000 shares of Lam Research stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $232.50, for a total transaction of $930,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 54,705 shares of the company's stock, valued at $12,718,912.50. This trade represents a 6.81% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CFO Douglas R. Bettinger sold 50,057 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $224.03, for a total transaction of $11,214,269.71. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 1,081,705 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $242,334,371.15. This represents a 4.42% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 130,886 shares of company stock worth $29,658,802. 0.31% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lam Research

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. PMV Capital Advisers LLC bought a new position in shares of Lam Research during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Bayban bought a new stake in shares of Lam Research in the fourth quarter worth $26,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Lam Research during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Core Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Lam Research during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, University of Illinois Foundation acquired a new stake in shares of Lam Research in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. 84.61% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

More Lam Research News

Here are the key news stories impacting Lam Research this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analyst price-target increase — New Street Research boosted its price target to $235 (from $140) while keeping a "neutral" rating, signaling higher valuation expectations even as the rating stayed cautious. New Street adjusts price target on Lam Research
• Positive Sentiment: Positive analyst/media coverage — Zacks and MSN ran feature pieces arguing LRCX is a top long-term holding based on sustained AI-driven semiconductor capex and favorable earnings trends, reinforcing buy-side interest. Why Lam Research (LRCX) is a top stock for the long term Zacks: Why Lam Research is a Top Stock
• Positive Sentiment: Fundamentals & market positioning — Recent analysis (Seeking Alpha) highlights Lam as a critical supplier for AI-era chips, citing improved margins, tighter working capital and aggressive capacity expansion — supportive for medium/long-term revenue and margins. Lam Research: Poised For Growth
• Positive Sentiment: Recent quarter strength — Coverage noting that strong demand lifted Q4 results (beat on revenue and EPS) and management's upbeat guidance/supporting margins remains a tailwind for sentiment. Strong Demand Lifted Lam Research in Q4
• Neutral Sentiment: Quarterly conference call scheduled — Lam set its March-quarter earnings webcast for April 22, giving investors a date to get updated guidance and management color; event-driven volatility is possible. Lam Research Announces March Quarter Financial Conference Call
• Neutral Sentiment: Broader market/sector context — Industry and market headlines (Applied Materials product pushes, broader market rally on geopolitical developments) can lift peers and flow into LRCX; these are market-driven rather than company-specific. AMAT Deepens its AI-Centric Product Expertise
• Negative Sentiment: Big investor trimming — Reporting shows Bridgewater/Ray Dalio trimmed its stake in LRCX after adding it to a 13F; large-fund rebalancing can pressure shares or signal profit-taking even if conviction remains. Lam Research: Billionaire Ray Dalio Trims Stake

Lam Research Company Profile

Lam Research Corporation NASDAQ: LRCX is a global supplier of wafer fabrication equipment and services to the semiconductor industry. Founded in 1980 by David K. Lam and headquartered in Fremont, California, the company develops and manufactures systems used in multiple stages of semiconductor device production, including thin film deposition, plasma etch, wafer cleaning and related process modules and automation.

Lam's product portfolio covers core process technologies employed by logic and memory manufacturers, with equipment designed to support advanced-node patterning, 3D NAND and other emerging device architectures.

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