Lam Research Corporation (LRCX) vs Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR)

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.

Palantir Technologies is an artificial intelligence, data analytics, and automated decision-making company that helps organizations improve efficiency through data-driven operations. It serves commercial customers through its Foundry platform and government clients through Gotham. Palantir works exclusively with organizations in Western-allied nations and maintains the right to decline engagements it views as contrary to Western values. Founded in 2003, the company became publicly traded in 2020.