Group 1: Company Overview - ASML Holding and Lam Research are essential players in the semiconductor equipment industry, with ASML leading in lithography technology and Lam Research focusing on etching and deposition systems, complementing each other in the chipmaking process [1][3] - ASML is the only company capable of producing extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines at scale, necessary for manufacturing chips at 5nm, 3nm, and soon 2nm levels, which are critical for AI processors and data centers [3][4] - Lam Research builds tools for manufacturing next-generation semiconductors, including high-bandwidth memory and advanced packaging, which are vital for AI and cloud data centers [7][8] Group 2: Financial Performance - ASML reported a revenue growth of 46% and a 93% increase in earnings per share in Q1 2025, with an expected revenue increase of 15% for the full year [5][6] - Lam Research's Q3 fiscal 2025 revenues reached $4.72 billion, up 24.5% year over year, with non-GAAP EPS of $1.04, reflecting a 33.3% increase [10][11] - Lam Research's non-GAAP operating margin improved to 32.8% in Q3, with further expansion projected in Q4, indicating effective management of supply-chain risks [12][13] Group 3: Market Dynamics and Risks - ASML's exposure to China is a concern, with 41% of its shipments in 2024 going to that market, and U.S. export restrictions could limit future sales [6] - Lam Research's shipments for gate-all-around nodes and advanced packaging exceeded $1 billion in 2024, with expectations to triple to over $3 billion in 2025, indicating strong demand [9][11] Group 4: Investment Comparison - Year-to-date, ASML shares have risen 14.1%, while Lam Research shares have increased by 33.9% [14] - ASML trades at a forward earnings multiple of 27.34X, higher than Lam Research's 24.17X, suggesting Lam Research is more reasonably priced given its stronger near-term momentum [15] - Lam Research is currently viewed as the better investment option due to better recent stock performance, improving margins, strong product demand, and a lower valuation [17][19]

Core Viewpoint - Investing in artificial intelligence (AI) remains a leading theme in the market, with significant upside potential for both facilitators and deployers of AI technology [1] Facilitators - Facilitators are companies that produce the hardware necessary for AI development, with Nvidia being the most prominent player due to its widely used graphics processing units (GPUs) [4] - Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is a competitor in the GPU space, showing strong growth despite not having the same market dominance as Nvidia [4] - Broadcom is developing custom AI accelerators known as XPUs, which are designed for specific workloads and can outperform GPUs in certain tasks [5] - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is the leading contract chipmaker for AI chips, projecting a 45% compound annual growth rate in AI-related revenue over the next five years [6] - ASML Holding, the sole manufacturer of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, is expected to benefit from increased chip demand as AI technology grows [7] - The facilitators are currently experiencing significant financial benefits from AI investments, outperforming deployers in terms of immediate results [8] Deployers - Deployers are companies that are integrating AI into their products, with major players including Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta Platforms, all investing billions to enhance their AI capabilities [9] - Alphabet and Amazon also operate large cloud computing businesses, providing essential computing resources for AI development [10] - Although these deployers are heavily investing in AI, they are only beginning to see incremental improvements in their financials, with potential for significant growth as AI enhances workforce efficiency [11] - Other notable companies integrating AI into their products include SentinelOne, which offers AI-driven cybersecurity solutions, and Adobe, which has embraced generative AI trends [12] - Adobe has continued to grow earnings despite concerns about disruption from generative AI, while SentinelOne reported a 23% revenue increase in the first quarter, highlighting its strong performance in cybersecurity [13] - The deployers are expected to experience substantial growth in the coming years as their AI investments mature [14]

In this articleNVDA"Compared to Nvidia's export-restricted chips, the performance gap between Huawei and the H20 is less than a full generation," said Dylan Patel, founder, CEO and chief analyst of SemiAnalysis. Sinology | Moment | Getty ImagesWith the U.S. restricting China from buying advanced semiconductors used in artificial intelligence development, Beijing is placing hopes on domestic alternatives such as Huawei. The task has been made more challenging by the fact that U.S. curbs not only inhibit Chin ...

Artificial intelligence (AI) is disrupting many industries thanks to the efficiency gains that the technology can bring, such as by automating tasks or predicting potential challenges that a business may face. Because of that, spending on AI solutions and infrastructure has been growing at an incredible pace. Companies benefiting directly from this saw nice surges in their stock prices, a fact reflected in the 67% jump that the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite index managed in the past three years. However, not ...

As the only manufacturer of EUV lithography machines in the world, NASDAQ: ASML ( ASML ) is regarded as the most important link in the semiconductor value chain. With a near monopoly on chip manufacturing technology, ASMLI am a passionate value investor with a focus on identifying investment opportunities in large-cap companies with risk / reward supported by fundamental analysis to reliably outperform the S&P500 index. I am also a Popular Investor on eToro, where I manage a stock portfolio copied by other ...