Lam Research Corporation (LRCX) vs Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Class A Common Stock (SPCX)

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.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an aerospace and satellite communications company founded by Elon Musk. The company designs, manufactures and launches reusable rockets and spacecraft, including the Falcon launch family, Dragon spacecraft and the Starship system under development. SpaceX also operates Starlink, a low Earth orbit satellite broadband network serving consumers, businesses, governments and mobility markets. Its business model combines launch services, satellite internet, defense and civil space contracts, and longer-term ambitions around fully reusable heavy-lift space transportation.