Lam Research Corp. (NASDAQ:LRCX) stock traded mostly flat Thursday as investors assessed the shares near key technical levels following a strong 12-month run.
The broader market moved higher, with the Nasdaq up 0.58% and the S&P 500 gaining 0.46%.
The stock remains in a consolidation phase after reaching a recent swing high in June. Investors are now watching whether buyers defend nearby support.
Semiconductor Workforce Push
Separately, Lam Research is expanding its semiconductor talent pipeline. The company partnered with NY Creates to train about 3,500 students in semiconductor process integration over the next five years.
The program will use Lam’s SEMulator3D virtual fabrication software across colleges and universities in the Northeast. It aims to give engineering students hands-on chipmaking experience without requiring access to costly physical fabrication facilities.
Lam Research is also expanding its workforce in Singapore. The company plans to add about 200 jobs this year, with nearly 90% focused on engineering and technical roles, EE Times Asia reported.
The hiring will support advanced packaging, high-bandwidth memory, silicon photonics and other next-generation chip technologies.
Technical Analysis
Lam Research’s longer-term trend remains constructive. The stock trades 31.5% above its 200-day simple moving average of $248.63 and 8.1% above its 100-day SMA of $302.49.
However, shares remain 3.1% below the 50-day SMA of $337.50. That level could act as resistance if the stock attempts another move higher.
Near-term signals are mixed. The 20-day SMA of $304.91 remains below the 50-day SMA, a bearish technical signal. Still, Lam Research shares trade 7.2% above the 20-day average.
The relative strength index stands at 53.31. That is a neutral reading and suggests the stock is neither overbought nor oversold.
Key support: The $313 level is a nearby support area. It sits close to the 20-day exponential moving average of $313.70. A sustained move below that area could signal additional weakness.
Analyst Outlook
The stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of about 56.6, reflecting a premium valuation.
Lam Research carries a Buy consensus rating, with an average price forecast of $384.84. Recent analyst moves include:
Morgan Stanley maintained an Overweight rating on July 30 but lowered its price forecast to $367. B. Riley Securities maintained a Buy rating and cut its forecast to $350. Wells Fargo also maintained an Overweight rating and lowered its forecast to $350.
Benzinga Edge Rankings
The Benzinga Edge scorecard highlights Lam Research’s strengths in momentum, quality and growth. However, its value score remains weak.
The stock has a Momentum score of 96.84, a Quality score of 97.35 and a Growth score of 93.62. Its Value score stands at just 5.15.
The combination points to strong market momentum and growth expectations alongside a relatively expensive valuation.
For bullish investors, the next technical test is whether Lam Research can reclaim its 50-day moving average while holding support near $313.
Top ETF Exposure
Lam Research has significant exposure in several exchange-traded funds:
- Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF (NYSE:XYLD): 7.44%
- Global X S&P 500 Catholic Values ETF (NASDAQ:CATH): 7.81%
- Corgi Lithography & Semiconductor Photonics ETF (NASDAQ:EUV): 5.96%
Lam Research’s weighting in these funds means ETF inflows and outflows can contribute to buying or selling activity in the stock.
LRCX Price Action
LRCX Price Action: Lam Research shares were up 0.09% at $326.39 at the time of publication on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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