Lam Research Corporation (LRCX) vs Platinum Futures (PLATINUM)

Lam Research Corp is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment. The company specializes in deposition and etch technologies, which involve building layers on a semiconductor wafer and selectively removing patterns from each layer. Lam holds the leading market share in etch and ranks a clear second in deposition. It has greater exposure to memory chipmakers, particularly in DRAM and NAND. Its major customers include some of the world’s largest semiconductor companies, such as TSMC, Samsung, Intel, and Micron.

Platinum Futures represent standardized exchange-traded contracts linked to the future price of platinum. They are used by producers, consumers, traders, and investors to hedge exposure, express views on supply and demand, or gain commodity-market exposure. Their price is influenced by auto-catalyst demand, jewelry demand, industrial use, mine supply, investor flows, and the U.S. dollar.