LAM RESEARCH CORP
For the period ended Sep 29, 2024. Filed Oct 28, 2024.
View on SEC.govAbout this filing
A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.
Sep 29, 2024 · Filed Oct 28, 2024
LRCX$200.44+8.2%Stored close · as of Nov 6, 2026
What changed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis?
Read the current filingPrevious report: 10-Q
Period ended 2024-03-31; filed 2024-04-29.
0000707549-24-000067
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsCurrent report: 10-Q
Period ended 2024-09-29; filed 2024-10-28.
0000707549-24-000128
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsThe baseline is this issuer’s latest earlier reporting period of the same form that was filed before the current report. A previous 10-Q is a different quarter, not a year-over-year comparison. Amendments are excluded.
Compared 77 previous paragraphs and 71 current paragraphs.
38 unchanged; 25 reworded; 8 added; 14 removed; 0 previous and 0 current paragraphs rearranged.
Tables are not compared: 11 previous and 11 current tables excluded. Dates, whitespace, punctuation and numbering changes are ignored; changes to financial figures remain significant.
A changed paragraph is not evidence that risk increased or decreased. An unchanged paragraph does not establish that risk stayed the same.
Added paragraphs (8)
Current report
Lam Research Corporation 2025 Q1 10-Q 15
Current report
On May 21, 2024, the Company announced a ten-for-one stock split which was effective October 2, 2024. All references made to share or per share amounts throughout this Form 10-Q, including those presented in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the stock split.
Current report
Lam Research Corporation 2025 Q1 10-Q 16
Current report
In the September 2024 quarter, revenue increased 8% compared to the three months ended June 30, 2024 (the “June 2024 quarter”), driven by increases in systems revenue as a result of strengthened investments in the dynamic random access memory (“DRAM”) market segment as well as increases in customer support-related revenue. The deferred revenue balance was $2,047.0 million at the end of the September 2024 quarter, an increase relative to the balance at the end of the June 2024 quarter of $1,551.6 million, mainly due to an increase in customer advanced deposits.
Current report
Lam Research Corporation 2025 Q1 10-Q 17
Current report
Interest income increased in the September 2024 quarter as compared to the June 2024 quarter, primarily due to higher cash balances. Interest income increased for the three months ended September 29, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, because of higher yields and higher cash balances.
Current report
Interest expense was flat for all periods presented.
Current report
The effective tax rate for the September quarter compared to the same period in the prior year remained consistent.
Removed paragraphs (14)
Previous report
Lam Research Corporation 2024 Q3 10-Q 21
Previous report
Restructuring charges in the March 2024 quarter increased compared to the December 2023 quarter, due primarily to employee severance and separation costs associated with workforce reduction activities during the March 2024 quarter.
Previous report
Restructuring charges decreased during the nine months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in the prior year due primarily to lower employee severance and separation costs.
Previous report
Interest income increased for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended December 24, 2023, and nine months ended March 26, 2023, respectively, primarily due to higher yields and higher average balances.
Previous report
Interest expense is consistent across all periods presented.
Previous report
Lam Research Corporation 2024 Q3 10-Q 22
Previous report
On August 16, 2022, the IRA was signed into law. In general, the provisions of the IRA are effective beginning with our fiscal year 2024, with certain exceptions. The IRA includes a new 15% corporate minimum tax. We have evaluated the potential impacts of the IRA and do not expect it to have a material impact on our effective tax rate. However, we expect future guidance from the Treasury Department and will further analyze when the guidance is issued.
Previous report
A critical accounting policy is defined as one that has both a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations and requires us to make difficult, complex and/or subjective judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make certain judgments, estimates and assumptions that could affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. We base our estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on various other assumptions we believe to be applicable and evaluate them on an ongoing basis to ensure they remain reasonable under current conditions. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates, which could have a material impact on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. Our critical accounting estimates include:
Previous report
•the recognition and valuation of revenue from arrangements with multiple performance obligations which impacts revenue;
Previous report
•the valuation of inventory, which impacts gross margin;
Previous report
•the recognition and measurement of current and deferred income taxes, including the measurement of uncertain tax positions, which impact our provision for income tax expenses; and
Previous report
•the valuation and recoverability of long-lived assets, which impacts gross margin and operating expenses when we record asset impairments or accelerate their depreciation or amortization.
Previous report
Lam Research Corporation 2024 Q3 10-Q 23
Previous report
Lam Research Corporation 2024 Q3 10-Q 24
Reworded paragraphs (25)
Previous wording
With the exception of historical facts, the statements contained in this discussion are forward-looking statements, which are subject to the safe harbor provisions created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain, but not all, of the forward-looking statements in this report are specifically identified as forward-looking, by use of phrases and words such as “believe,” “estimated,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “probable,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “continue,” and other future-oriented terms. The identification of certain statements as “forward-looking” does not mean that other statements not specifically identified are not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that relate to: trends and opportunities in the global economic environment; trends and opportunities in the semiconductor industry, including in the end markets and applications for semiconductors, and in device complexity; growth or decline in the industry and the market for, and spending on, wafer fabrication equipment; the anticipated levels of, and rates of change in, margins, market share, served available market, capital expenditures, research and development expenditures, international sales, revenue (actual and/or deferred), operating expenses and earnings generally; management’s plans and objectives for our current and future operations and business focus; restructuring activities; business process improvements and initiatives; volatility in our quarterly results; the makeup of our customer base; customer and end user requirements and our ability to satisfy those requirements; customer spending and demand for our products and services, and the reliability of indicators of change in customer spending and demand; the effect of variability in our customers’ business plans or demand for our products and services; our competition, and our ability to defend our market share and to gain new market share; the success of joint development and collaboration relationships with customers, suppliers, or others; outsourced activities; our supply chain and the role of suppliers in our business, including the impacts of supply chain constraints and material costs; our leadership and competency, and our ability to facilitate innovation; our research and development programs; our ability to create sustainable differentiation; technology inflections in the industry and our ability to identify those inflections and to invest in research and development programs to meet them; our ability to deliver multi-product solutions; the resources invested to comply with evolving standards and the impact of such efforts; changes in state, federal and international tax laws, our estimated annual tax rate and the factors that affect our tax rates; legal and regulatory compliance; the estimates we make, and the accruals we record, in order to implement our critical accounting policies (including, but not li…
Excerpt shortened here; the source contains the full paragraph.
Current wording
With the exception of historical facts, the statements contained in this discussion are forward-looking statements, which are subject to the safe harbor provisions created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain, but not all, of the forward-looking statements in this report are specifically identified as forward-looking, by use of phrases and words such as “believe,” “estimated,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “probable,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “continue,” and other future-oriented terms. The identification of certain statements as “forward-looking” does not mean that other statements not specifically identified are not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that relate to: trends and opportunities in the global economic environment; trends and opportunities in the semiconductor industry, including in the end markets and applications for semiconductors, in device complexity, and in the complexity of device manufacturing; growth or decline in the industry and the market for, and spending on, wafer fabrication equipment; the anticipated levels of, and rates of change in, margins, market share, served available market, capital expenditures, research and development expenditures, international sales, revenue (actual and/or deferred), operating expenses and earnings generally; management’s plans and objectives for our current and future operations and business focus; restructuring activities; business process improvements and initiatives; volatility in our quarterly results; the makeup of our customer base; customer and end user requirements and our ability to satisfy those requirements; the performance and benefits of our products and services; customer spending and demand for our products and services, and the reliability of indicators of change in customer spending and demand; the effect of variability in our customers’ business plans or demand for our products and services; our competition, and our ability to defend our market share and to gain new market share; the success of joint development and collaboration relationships with customers, suppliers, or others; outsourced activities; our supply chain and the role of suppliers in our business, including the impacts of supply chain constraints and material costs; our leadership and competency, and our ability to facilitate innovation; our research and development programs; the opportunities in our industry for, and our ability to create sustainable differentiation; technology inflections in the industry and our ability to identify those inflections and to invest in research and development programs to meet them; our ability to deliver multi-product solutions; the resources invested to comply with evolving standards and the impact of such efforts; changes in state, federal and international tax laws, our estimated annual tax rate and the factors that affect our tax rates; legal and regula…
Excerpt shortened here; the source contains the full paragraph.
Previous wording
For a full understanding of our financial position and results of operations for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2024, and the related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations below, you should also read the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and notes presented in this Form 10-Q and the financial statements and notes in our 2023 Form 10-K.
Current wording
For a full understanding of our financial position and results of operations for the three months ended September 29, 2024, and the related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations below, you should also read the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and notes presented in this Form 10-Q and the financial statements and notes in our 2024 Form 10-K.
Previous wording
In calendar year 2024, we anticipate higher wafer fabrication equipment spending, driven primarily by an increase in memory and non-memory market segments. In calendar year 2023, customer demand weakened due to wafer fabrication equipment spending reductions resulting primarily from weakness in the memory market. We initiated a restructuring plan in the quarter ended March 26, 2023 designed to better align the Company’s cost structure with our outlook. We continue to work towards a number of business process improvements and initiatives throughout the 2024 fiscal year and expect to incur expenditures from these activities in the range of $300 million, inclusive of the restructuring activity. Risks and uncertainties such as trade restrictions and the semiconductor demand environment may continue to negatively impact our revenue and operating margin. Over the longer term, we believe that secular demand for semiconductors, combined with technology inflections in our industry, including 3D device scaling, multiple patterning, process flow, and advanced packaging chip integration, will drive sustainable growth and lead to an increase in the served available market for our products and services in the deposition, etch, and clean businesses.
Current wording
In calendar year 2024, we anticipate higher wafer fabrication equipment spending, driven by an increase in both memory and non-memory market segments versus calendar year 2023. In the short term, volatility in the semiconductor demand environment, as well as other risks and uncertainties, may negatively impact our revenue and operating margin. Over the longer term, we believe that secular demand for semiconductors, combined with technology inflections in our industry, including 3D device scaling, multiple patterning, process flow, and advanced packaging chip integration, will drive sustainable growth and lead to an increase in the served available market for our products and services in the deposition, etch, and clean businesses.
Previous wording
In the March 2024 quarter, revenue increased 1% compared to the three months ended December 24, 2023 (the “December 2023 quarter”), primarily driven by an increase in revenue generated in our China region. The deferred revenue balance was $1,745.8 million at the end of the March 2024 quarter, a decrease relative to the balance at the end of the December 2023 quarter of $1,928.0 million, mainly due to a decrease in advanced deposits. We aim to balance the requirements of our customers with the availability of resources, as well as performance to our operational and financial objectives. As a result, from time to time, we exercise discretion and judgment as to the timing and prioritization of manufacturing and delivery of products, which has impacted, and may in the future impact, the timing of revenue recognition with respect to such products.
Current wording
We aim to balance the requirements of our customers with the availability of resources, as well as performance to our operational and financial objectives. As a result, from time to time, we exercise discretion and judgment as to the timing and prioritization of manufacturing and deliveries of products, which has impacted, including in the current fiscal year, and may in the future impact, the timing of revenue recognition with respect to such products.
Previous wording
The increase in gross margin as a percentage of revenue in the March 2024 quarter compared to the December 2023 quarter was primarily a result of favorable changes in product and customer mix, as well as improved factory efficiencies, partially offset by increased transformational charges and costs associated with the impairment of long-lived assets. The increase in operating expenses in the March 2024 quarter compared to the December 2023 quarter was driven by increases in employee-related costs as a result of the extra week in the March 2024 quarter and seasonality, partially offset by reduced spending on transformational activities.
Current wording
The increase in gross margin as a percentage of revenue in the September 2024 quarter compared to the June 2024 quarter was primarily a result of improved factory efficiencies, partially offset by increased incentive compensation expense. The increase in operating expenses in the September 2024 quarter compared to the June 2024 quarter was driven by higher headcount and incentive compensation expense, as well as increases in outside services spend, partially offset by lower spending for supplies.
Previous wording
Our cash and cash equivalents, investments, and restricted cash and investments balances increased slightly to $5.7 billion at the end of the March 2024 quarter compared to $5.6 billion at the end of the December 2023 quarter. This increase was primarily the result of $1,384.8 million of cash generated from operating activities, partially offset by $980.6 million of share repurchases, including net share settlement of employee stock-based compensation; $262.7 million of dividends paid to stockholders; and $103.7 million of capital expenditures. Employee headcount as of March 31, 2024 was approximately 17,200.
Current wording
Our cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash balances increased to $6.1 billion at the end of the September 2024 quarter compared to $5.9 billion at the end of the June 2024 quarter. This increase was primarily the result of $1,568.5 million of cash generated from operating activities, partially offset by $997.0 million of share repurchases, including net share settlement of employee stock-based compensation; $261.0 million of dividends paid to stockholders; and $110.6 million of capital expenditures. Employee headcount as of September 29, 2024 was approximately 17,700.
Previous wording
The decrease in revenue for the nine months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the same period in 2023 is primarily due to decreases in NAND as well as Foundry and Logic spending by our customers, partially offset by increases in dynamic random-access memory (“DRAM”) spending during this period.
Current wording
The increase in revenue for the September 2024 quarter compared to the same period in 2023 is primarily due to increases in Foundry and DRAM spending by our customers, partially offset by decreases in non-volatile memory spending during this period.
Previous wording
The decrease in the memory market segment for the March 2024 quarter compared to the December 2023 quarter is primarily attributable to DRAM spending. This is partially offset by increases in the Foundry market segment predominantly related to spending by our domestic China customers in the same period.
Current wording
The decrease in the memory market segment for the September 2024 quarter compared to the June 2024 quarter is primarily attributable to decreases in non-volatile memory spending, partially offset by increased investments in DRAM. Additionally, the Logic market segment saw strengthened investments as compared to the June 2024 quarter.
Previous wording
Gross margin as a percentage of revenue was higher in the March 2024 quarter compared to the December 2023 quarter primarily as a result of favorable changes in product and customer mix, as well as improved factory efficiencies, partially offset by increased transformational charges and costs associated with the impairment of long-lived assets.
Current wording
Gross margin as a percentage of revenue was higherin the September 2024 quarter compared to the June 2024 quarter primarily as a result of improved factory efficiencies, partially offset by increased incentive compensation expense.
Previous wording
The increase in gross margin as a percentage of revenue in the nine months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due to favorable customer mix andreduced spending on material costs.
Current wording
The increase in gross margin as a percentage of revenue in the three months ended September 29, 2024 compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due to improved factory efficiencies and reduced spending on material costs, offset by unfavorable changes in customer and product mix, increased transformational charges, and increased employee-related expenses.
Previous wording
We continued to make significant R&D investments in the March 2024 quarter focused on leading-edge deposition, etch, clean and other semiconductor manufactu ring processes. The increase in R&D expense in the March 2024 quarter compared to the December 2023 quarter was primarily driven byincreases in employee-related costs as a result of seasonality and the extra week in the quarter, as well as increased spending on transformational activities.
Current wording
We continued to make significant R&D investments in the September 2024 quarter focused on leading-edge deposition, etch, clean and other semiconductor manufactu ring processes. Thedecrease in R&D expense in the September 2024 quarter compared to the June 2024 quarter was primarily driven by a decrease in supplies spending, partially offset by increased headcount and incentive compensation expense, as well as higher elective deferred compensation plan-related costs.
Previous wording
R&D expense in the nine months ended March 31, 2024 increased compared to the same period in the prior year, driven by increases in employee-related costs, deferred compensation plan-related costs and depreciation, as well as higher spending on supplies.
Current wording
R&D expense in the three months ended September 29, 2024 increased compared to the same period in the prior year, driven by increases in headcount and incentive compensation expense, elective deferred compensation plan-related costs, as well as higher spending on outside services.
Previous wording
SG&A expense during the March 2024 quarter decreased in comparison to the December 2023 quarter, primarily driven by decreases in transformational costs.
Current wording
SG&A expense during the September 2024 quarter increased in comparison to the June 2024 quarter, primarily driven by increases in headcount and incentive compensation expense.
Previous wording
SG&A expense during the nine months ended March 31, 2024 increased compared to the same period in the prior year, driven by increases in transformational and deferred compensation-related costs, partially offset by decreases in spending for outside services and supplies.
Current wording
SG&A expense during the three months ended September 29, 2024 increased compared to the same period in the prior year, driven by higher spending for transformational activities, as well as increases in headcount and incentive compensation expense.
Previous wording
During fiscal year 2023, we initiated a restructuring plan designed to better align our cost structure with our outlook for the economic environment and business opportunities. Under the plan we terminated approximately 1,760 employees, incurring expenses related to employee severance and separation costs. Employee severance and separation costs primarily relate to severance, non-cash severance, including equity award compensation expense, pension and other termination benefits. Additionally, we made a strategic decision to relocate certain manufacturing activities to pre-existing facilities.
Current wording
In fiscal year 2023, we initiated a restructuring plan that continued into fiscal year 2024, designed to better align our cost structure with our outlook for the economic environment and business opportunities. Under the plan we terminated approximately 1,760 employees, incurring expenses related to employee severance and separation costs. Employee severance and separation costs were primarily related to severance, non-cash severance, including equity award compensation expense, pension and other termination benefits. Additionally, we made a strategic decision to relocate certain manufacturing activities to pre-existing facilities. The restructuring plan was substantially completed as of June 30, 2024.
Previous wording
The gains on deferred compensation plan-related assets, net were driven by fluctuations in the fair market value of the underlying funds for all periods presented.
Current wording
The gains and losses on deferred compensation plan-related assets, net were driven by fluctuations in the fair market value of the underlying funds for all periods presented.
Previous wording
The losses in other, net for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2024 increased compared to the three months ended December 24, 2023 and nine months ended March 26, 2023, respectively, primarily driven by fluctuations in the fair market value of equity investments.
Current wording
The variations in other, net for the September 2024 quarter compared to the June 2024 quarter and September 2023 quarter were primarily driven by fluctuations in the fair market value of equity investments.
Previous wording
The decrease in the effective tax rate for the March 2024 quarter compared to the December 2023 quarter and for the nine months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due to the change in level and proportion of income in higher and lower tax jurisdictions and higher stock-based compensation excess tax benefits.
Current wording
The increase in the effective tax rate for the September 2024 quarter compared to the June 2024 quarter was primarily due to the change in level and proportion of income in higher and lower tax jurisdictions.
Previous wording
Refer to our “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” included in Part II, Item 7 of our 2023 Form 10-K for a discussion of the critical accounting estimates identified above.
Current wording
Our critical accounting policies and estimates are unchanged from those disclosed in “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in Part II, Item 7 of our 2024 Form 10-K.
Previous wording
Total gross cash, cash equivalents, investments, and restricted cash and investments balances were $5.7 billion at March 31, 2024 compared to $5.6 billion as of June 25, 2023. This slight increase was primarily driven by cash generated from operating activities totaling $3,789.8 million, partially offset by $2,469.3 million of share repurchases, including net share settlement on employee stock-based compensation; $757.5 million in dividends paid, $295.9 million in capital expenditures; and $255.2 million of repayment of debt largely associated with the purchase of certain properties under finance leases.
Current wording
Total gross cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash balances were $6.1 billion at September 29, 2024 compared to $5.9 billion as of June 30, 2024. This slight increase was primarily driven by cash generated from operating activities totaling $1,568.5 million, partially offset by $997.0 million of share repurchases, including net share settlement on employee stock-based compensation; $261.0 million in dividends paid; and $110.6 million in capital expenditures.
Previous wording
Net cash provided by operating activities of $3,789.8 million during the nine months ended March 31, 2024, consisted of (in thousands):
Current wording
Net cash provided by operating activities of $1,568.5 million during the three months ended September 29, 2024, consisted of (in thousands):
Previous wording
Significant changes in operating asset and liability accounts, net of foreign exchange impact, included the following sources of cash: decreases in accounts receivable of $614.5 million and inventory of $439.4 million, and an increase in trade accounts payable of $55.9 million. These sources of cash are offset by the following uses of cash: a decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities of $354.3 million, a decrease in deferred gross profit of $93.5 million, and an increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets of $41.6 million.
Current wording
Significant changes in operating asset and liability accounts, net of foreign exchange impact, included the following sources of cash: an increase in deferred gross profit of $519.5 million, an increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities of $240.4 million and an increase in trade accounts payable of $82.6 million. These sources of cash are offset by the following uses of cash: increases in accounts receivable of $414.1 million, inventory of $23.8 million, and prepaid expenses and other current assets of $17.8 million.
Previous wording
Net cash used for investing activities during the nine months ended March 31, 2024, was $269.0 million, primarily consisting of $295.9 million in capital expenditures, partially offset by proceeds from net maturities of available-for-sale securities of $37.8 million.
Current wording
Net cash used for investing activities during the three months ended September 29, 2024, was $110.6 million, primarily consisting of capital expenditures.
Previous wording
Net cash used for financing activities during the nine months ended March 31, 2024, was $3,421.7 million, primarily consisting of $2,469.3 million in treasury stock repurchases, including net share settlement on employee stock-based compensation, $757.5 million in dividends paid, and $255.2 million of repayment of debt, largely associated with the purchase of certain properties under finance leases.
Current wording
Net cash used for financing activities during the three months ended September 29, 2024, was $1,259.3 million, primarily consisting of $997.0 million in treasury stock repurchases, including net share settlement on employee stock-based compensation, and $261.0 million in dividends paid.
Previous wording
Given that the semiconductor industry is highly competitive and has historically experienced rapid changes in demand, we believe that maintaining sufficient liquidity reserves is important to support sustaining levels of investment in R&D and capital infrastructure. Anticipated cash flows from operations based on our current business outlook, combined with our current levels of cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments as of March 31, 2024, are expected to be sufficient to support our anticipated levels of operations, investments, debt service requirements, capital expenditures, capital redistributions, and dividends through at least the next twelve months. However, factors outside of our control, including uncertainty in the global economy and the semiconductor industry, as well as disruptions in credit markets, have in the past, are currently, and could in the future, impact customer demand for our products, as well as our ability to manage normal commercial relationships with our customers, suppliers, and creditors.
Current wording
Given that the semiconductor industry is highly competitive and has historically experienced rapid changes in demand, we believe that maintaining sufficient liquidity reserves is important to support sustaining levels of investment in R&D and capital infrastructure. Anticipated cash flows from operations based on our current business outlook, combined with our current levels of cash and cash equivalents as of September 29, 2024, are expected to be sufficient to support our anticipated levels of operations, investments, debt service requirements, capital expenditures, capital redistributions, and dividends through at least the next twelve months. However, factors outside of our control, including uncertainty in the global economy and the semiconductor industry, as well as disruptions in credit markets, have in the past, are currently, and could in the future, impact customer demand for our products, as well as our ability to manage normal commercial relationships with our customers, suppliers, and creditors.