Between Lam Research and Teradyne, Which Stock Looks Set to Break Out?
Teradyne surged 19% during the past month. You may be tempted to buy more or may want to reduce your exposure. But there is an entirely different perspective you might be missing. Is there a better alternative? Turns out, its peer Lam Research gives you more. Lam Research (LRCX) stock offers superior revenue growth across key periods, better profitability, and relatively lower valuation vs. Teradyne (TER) stock, suggesting you may be better off investing in LRCX
- LRCX’s quarterly revenue growth was 27.7%, vs. TER’s 4.3%.
- In addition, its Last 12 Months revenue growth came in at 25.7%, ahead of TER’s 4.5%.
- LRCX leads on profitability over both periods – LTM margin of 33.0% and 3-year average of 30.2%.
These differences become even clearer when you look at the financials side by side. The table highlights how TER’s fundamentals stack up against those of LRCX on growth, margins, momentum, and valuation multiples.
Valuation & Performance Overview
| TER | LRCX | Preferred | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valuation | |||
| P/EBIT Ratio | 67.5 | 41.9 | LRCX |
| Revenue Growth | |||
| Last Quarter | 4.3% | 27.7% | LRCX |
| Last 12 Months | 4.5% | 25.7% | LRCX |
| Last 3 Year Average | -4.3% | 4.0% | LRCX |
| Operating Margins | |||
| Last 12 Months | 18.8% | 33.0% | LRCX |
| Last 3 Year Average | 19.4% | 30.2% | LRCX |
| Momentum | |||
| Last 3 Year Return | 138.3% | 367.0% | TER |
Note: For “Last 3 Year Return” metric, preferred stock is one with higher returns unless the returns are too high (>300%) which creates risk of sell off.
See more revenue details: TER Revenue Comparison | LRCX Revenue Comparison
See more margin details: TER Operating Income Comparison | LRCX Operating Income Comparison
See detailed fundamentals on Buy or Sell LRCX Stock and Buy or Sell TER Stock. Below we compare market return and related metrics across years.
Historical Market Performance
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Total [1] | Avg | Best | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | |||||||||
| TER Return | 37% | -46% | 25% | 17% | 54% | 18% | 95% | ||
| LRCX Return | 54% | -41% | 89% | -7% | 139% | 25% | 379% | <=== | |
| S&P 500 Return | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 16% | 2% | 85% | ||
| Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||||
| TER Win Rate | 58% | 50% | 58% | 67% | 67% | 100% | 67% | ||
| LRCX Win Rate | 67% | 33% | 58% | 42% | 58% | 100% | 60% | ||
| S&P 500 Win Rate | 75% | 42% | 67% | 75% | 67% | 100% | 71% | <=== | |
| Max Drawdowns [4] | |||||||||
| TER Max Drawdown | -13% | -56% | -5% | -12% | -46% | 0% | -22% | ||
| LRCX Max Drawdown | 0% | -56% | -1% | -10% | -18% | 0% | -14% | ||
| S&P 500 Max Drawdown | -1% | -25% | -1% | -2% | -15% | 0% | -7% | <=== | |
[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2021
[2] 2026 data is for the year up to 1/14/2026 (YTD)
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents the maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
No matter how good the numbers, stock investment is never a smooth ride. There is a risk you must factor in. Read LRCX Dip Buyer Analyses and TER Dip Buyer Analyses to see how these stocks have fallen and recovered in the past.
Still not sure about TER or LRCX? Consider portfolio approach.
Smart Investing Begins With Portfolios
Individual picks can be volatile but staying invested is what matters. A diversified portfolio helps you stay the course, capture upside and reduce downside
The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, with a collection of 30 stocks, has a track record of comfortably outperforming its benchmark that includes all 3 – the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 indices. Why is that? As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.