FREMONT, Calif., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Lam Research Corporation (the “Company,” “Lam,” “Lam Research”) today announced financial results for the quarter ended December 29, 2024 (the “December 2024 quarter”).

Highlights for the December 2024 quarter were as follows:

• Revenue of $4.38 billion.
• U.S. GAAP gross margin of 47.4%, U.S. GAAP operating income as a percentage of revenue of 30.5%, and U.S. GAAP diluted EPS of $0.92.
• Non-GAAP gross margin of 47.5%, non-GAAP operating income as a percentage of revenue of 30.7%, and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.91.

U.S. GAAP Financial Results

For the December 2024 quarter, revenue was $4,376 million, gross margin was $2,073 million, or 47.4% of revenue, operating expenses were $739 million, operating income was 30.5% of revenue, and net income was $1,191 million, or $0.92 per diluted share on a U.S. GAAP basis. This compares to revenue of $4,168 million, gross margin of $2,003 million, or 48.0% of revenue, operating expenses of $738 million, operating income of 30.3% of revenue, and net income of $1,116 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 29, 2024 (the “September 2024 quarter”).

Non-GAAP Financial Results

For the December 2024 quarter, non-GAAP gross margin was $2,077 million, or 47.5% of revenue, non-GAAP operating expenses were $735 million, non-GAAP operating income was 30.7% of revenue, and non-GAAP net income was $1,175 million, or $0.91 per diluted share. This compares to non-GAAP gross margin of $2,009 million, or 48.2% of revenue, non-GAAP operating expenses of $722 million, non-GAAP operating income of 30.9% of revenue, and non-GAAP net income of $1,122 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, for the September 2024 quarter.

“Lam is executing at a high level at a pivotal moment for semiconductor manufacturing. Increasing demands on chip performance play into Lam’s strengths, with advanced deposition and etch applications set to comprise a growing share of WFE,” said Tim Archer, Lam Research’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our investments to win at key technology inflections are paying off, with more exciting opportunities ahead.”

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Results

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash balances decreased to $5.7 billion at the end of the December 2024 quarter compared to $6.1 billion at the end of the September 2024 quarter. The decrease was primarily the result of cash deployed for capital return activities and capital expenditures during the quarter, partially offset by cash generated from operating activities.

Deferred revenue at the end of the December 2024 quarter decreased to $2,032 million compared to $2,047 million as of the end of the September 2024 quarter. Lam’s deferred revenue balance does not include shipments to customers in Japan, to whom control does not transfer until customer acceptance. Shipments to customers in Japan are classified as inventory at cost until the time of acceptance. The estimated future revenue from shipments to customers in Japan was approximately $453 million as of December 29, 2024 and $184 million as of September 29, 2024.

Revenue

The geographic distribution of revenue during the December 2024 quarter is shown in the following table:

The following table presents revenue disaggregated between system and customer support-related revenue:

Systems revenue includes sales of new leading-edge equipment in deposition, etch and clean markets.

Customer support-related revenue includes sales of customer service, spares, upgrades, and non-leading-edge equipment from our Reliant® product line.

Outlook

For the quarter ended March 30, 2025, Lam is providing the following guidance: 

The information provided above is only an estimate of what the Company believes is realizable as of the date of this release and does not incorporate the potential impact of any business combinations, asset acquisitions, divestitures, restructuring, balance sheet valuation adjustments, financing arrangements, other investments, or other significant arrangements that may be completed or realized after the date of this release, except as described below. U.S. GAAP to non-GAAP reconciling items provided include only those items that are known and can be estimated as of the date of this release. Actual results will vary from this model and the variations may be material. Reconciling items included above are as follows:

• Gross margin as a percentage of revenue – amortization related to intangible assets acquired through business combinations, $2.8 million.
• Operating income as a percentage of revenue – amortization related to intangible assets acquired through business combinations, $3.4 million.
• Net income per diluted share – amortization related to intangible assets acquired though business combinations, $3.4 million; amortization of debt discounts, $0.8 million; and associated tax benefit for non-GAAP items ($0.3 million); totaling $3.9 million.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Results

In addition to U.S. GAAP results, this press release also contains non-GAAP financial results. The Company’s non-GAAP results for both the December 2024 and September 2024 quarters exclude amortization related to intangible assets acquired through business combinations, the effects of elective deferred compensation-related assets and liabilities, amortization of note discounts, and the net income tax effect of non-GAAP items. Additionally, the non-GAAP results for the December 2024 quarter exclude the income tax benefit from a change in tax law.

Management uses non-GAAP gross margin, operating expense, operating income, operating income as a percentage of revenue, net income, and net income per diluted share to evaluate the Company’s operating and financial results. The Company believes the presentation of non-GAAP results is useful to investors for analyzing business trends and comparing performance to prior periods, along with enhancing investors’ ability to view the Company’s results from management’s perspective. Tables presenting reconciliations of non-GAAP results to U.S. GAAP results are included at the end of this press release and on the Company’s website at https://investor.lamresearch.com.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this press release that are not of historical fact are forward-looking statements and are subject to the safe harbor provisions created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements relate to, but are not limited to: our outlook and guidance for future financial results, including revenue, gross margin, operating income and net income; our operational execution; the prospects for semiconductor manufacturing and for demand for wafer fabrication equipment (“WFE”); chip performance demands; the competitive positioning of Lam’s products; growth in the significance of advanced deposition and etch applications as a proportion of wafer fabrication equipment spending; the success of our investments at key technology inflections; and the opportunities ahead of us. Some factors that may affect these forward-looking statements include: the actions of our customers and competitors may be inconsistent with our expectations; business, political and/or regulatory conditions in the consumer electronics industry, the semiconductor industry and the overall economy may deteriorate or change; trade regulations, export controls, trade disputes, and other geopolitical tensions may inhibit our ability to sell our products; supply chain cost increases and other inflationary pressures have impacted and may continue to impact our profitability; supply chain disruptions or manufacturing capacity constraints may limit our ability to manufacture and sell our products; and natural and human-caused disasters, disease outbreaks, war, terrorism, political or governmental unrest or instability, or other events beyond our control may impact our operations and revenue in affected areas; as well as the other risks and uncertainties that are described in the documents filed or furnished by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including specifically the Risk Factors described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 29, 2024. These uncertainties and changes could materially affect the forward-looking statements and cause actual results to vary from expectations in a material way. The Company undertakes no obligation to update the information or statements made in this release.

Lam Research Corporation is a global supplier of innovative wafer fabrication equipment and services to the semiconductor industry. Lam’s equipment and services allow customers to build smaller and better performing devices. In fact, today, nearly every advanced chip is built with Lam technology. We combine superior systems engineering, technology leadership, and a strong values-based culture, with an unwavering commitment to our customers. Lam Research (Nasdaq: LRCX) is a FORTUNE 500® company headquartered in Fremont, Calif., with operations around the globe. Learn more at www.lamresearch.com. (LRCX)

Consolidated Financial Tables Follow.