Lam Research Corporation

(NASDAQ Global Select)
Bullish +62

Own a Semiconductor ETF? Lam Research’s Buyback Move Affects You

📈 Lam Research shares jumped 7% after announcing a new $25 billion share buyback authorization.

💰 The company reported record free cash flow of $3.24 billion in the fiscal first quarter.

📉 Despite the buyback news, LRCX stock is still down 40% over the past month.

🚀 Lam raised its quarterly dividend to $0.33 per share from $0.26.

🌍 Management expects China revenue to be significantly lower in the December quarter compared to the previous 35% share.

📊 LRCX is a top holding in VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) with a weight of 17.55% as of June 2026.

🔄 The company spent approximately $1 billion on repurchases in the September quarter via an accelerated program.

📈 Lam guided for December quarter revenue between $8.2 billion and $9.0 billion.

⚠️ Investors are advised to monitor how quickly the company utilizes its new buyback authorization.

🏗️ Lam manufactures deposition, etch, and clean tools used by chipmakers for semiconductor production.

Bullish Signals
  • Lam Research announced a new $25 billion share buyback authorization to support shareholder returns.
  • The company achieved record free cash flow of $3.24 billion in the fiscal first quarter.
  • Non-GAAP EPS of $2.20 beat analyst estimates of $2.1771 in the latest quarter.
  • Lam increased its quarterly dividend to $0.33 per share, reflecting confidence in cash generation.
  • Revenue grew 54.4% year over year to reach $8.22 billion in the fiscal first quarter.
Risk Factors
  • The stock remains down 40% over the past month despite the recent buyback announcement.
  • Management expects China revenue share to be significantly lower in the December quarter compared to the previous 35%.
Full Analysis
Lam Research (LRCX) shares surged 7% following the company's announcement of a new $25 billion share buyback authorization on November 5. Despite this positive catalyst, the stock remains down approximately 40% over the past month and 21.8% in the last week, indicating that a single session of buying has not yet reversed the broader semiconductor selloff. The company reported strong fiscal first-quarter results with revenue reaching $8.22 billion, a 54.4% year-over-year increase, and non-GAAP EPS of $2.20 which beat analyst estimates. Free cash flow hit a record $3.24 billion, supporting the long-term goal to return 85% of free cash flow to shareholders through dividends and buybacks. Management provided guidance for the December quarter expecting revenue between $8.2 billion and $9.0 billion with non-GAAP EPS of $2.18 to $2.48. The quarterly dividend increased to $0.33 from $0.26, while the company noted a strategic shift in its China revenue mix, which is expected to be significantly lower than the 35% recorded in the September quarter. As a major holding in semiconductor ETFs like SMH and XLK, Lam's performance heavily influences these funds. The article highlights that Lam appears in all three major chip and tech funds, creating significant overlap for investors who hold both sector-specific and broad technology indices.