Record Revenues and Margins
Lam Research reported record revenues of $5.3 billion for the September quarter with a gross margin of 50.6% and a record operating margin of 35%.
Strong Demand in AI and Advanced Packaging
Lam is seeing robust demand driven by AI data centers and advanced packaging, estimating $8 billion of WFE spending for every $100 billion in data center investment.
NAND and DRAM Investments
The company anticipates continued strength in NAND upgrades, projecting $40 billion in WFE spending over several years, and strong DRAM investments driven by AI demand.
Product Differentiation and Market Leadership
Lam's products, like the Ether Dry Resist EUV patterning solution and ALD tools, are securing significant wins across multiple nodes and applications, reinforcing their market leadership.
Shareholder Returns and Financial Health
Lam returned approximately $990 million to shareholders through share buybacks and paid $292 million in dividends in the quarter, maintaining a strong cash position of $6.7 billion.