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Lam Research Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 2 lowered. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 9% to $5.84 billion: Revenue was $5,841 million, up 9% from $5,345 million in the December 2025 quarter. Source
  • June quarter guidance set higher: Guidance for the quarter ending June 28, 2026 was set above the March quarter guidance on revenue, gross margin, operating margin and diluted EPS. The diluted share count guide was lowered. Source
  • Systems revenue grew faster than support: Systems revenue was $3,731 million, up 11% from $3,357 million. Customer support-related revenue and other was $2,111 million, up 6% from $1,987 million. Source
  • Gross margin rose to 49.8%: GAAP gross margin was 49.8% of revenue, up 20 basis points from 49.6%. Non-GAAP gross margin was 49.9%, up from 49.7%. GAAP operating margin was 35.0%, up 110 basis points. Source
  • Cash balance fell to $4.77 billion: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash fell by $1.43 billion in the quarter, mainly for capital returns, capital expenditures and debt principal, partly offset by operating cash flow. Source
  • Share repurchases of $1.16 billion: Treasury stock purchases, including excise tax, were $1,163 million, against $1,466 million in the December quarter. Dividends paid were $326 million, and $0.26 per share was declared. Source

“Lam delivered record revenue and EPS in the March quarter as AI-driven demand reshapes the semiconductor industry,”

Tim Archer, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceQuarter ending June 28, 2026$6.60 billion +/- $400 millionRaised from $5.70 billion +/- $300 million
Gross margin (U.S. GAAP and non-GAAP) SourceQuarter ending June 28, 202650.5% +/- 1%Raised from 49.0% +/- 1%
Operating margin (U.S. GAAP and non-GAAP) SourceQuarter ending June 28, 202636.5% +/- 1%Raised from 33.9% +/- 1% (U.S. GAAP); 34.0% +/- 1% (non-GAAP)
Diluted EPS (U.S. GAAP and non-GAAP) SourceQuarter ending June 28, 2026$1.65 +/- $0.15Raised from $1.35 +/- $0.10
Diluted share count SourceQuarter ending June 28, 20261.255 billionLowered from 1.26 billion
Non-GAAP reconciling items (diluted EPS) SourceQuarter ending June 28, 2026$3.3 millionLowered from $3.5 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Guidance for revenue, gross margin, operating margin and diluted EPS was set above the prior guidance for the March quarter. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Guidance for the diluted share count was reduced to 1.255 billion from 1.26 billion. Source
  • New: Workforce optimization expenses are now excluded from non-GAAP results for the March 2026 quarter, along with their income tax effect. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 9% to $5.84 billion: Revenue was $5,841 million, up 9% from $5,345 million in the December 2025 quarter. Source
  • Net income and EPS rose: Net income was $1,825 million, against $1,594 million. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.45, up 15% from $1.26; non-GAAP diluted EPS was $1.47, up 16% from $1.27. Source
  • Operating income rose 13%: GAAP operating income was $2,047 million, up 13% from $1,810 million. Non-GAAP operating income was $2,047 million, against $1,831 million. Source

Guidance for June quarter

  • June quarter guidance set higher: Guidance for the quarter ending June 28, 2026 was set above the March quarter guidance on revenue, gross margin, operating margin and diluted EPS. The diluted share count guide was lowered. Source

“Our strategic investments and the velocity of our execution are generating strong momentum, enabling customers' AI roadmaps and driving Lam's outperformance during this critical phase of industry growth.”

Tim Archer, President and Chief Executive Officer

Segments and regions

  • China remained largest region: Revenue by region in the March quarter: China 34%, Korea 23%, Taiwan 23%, Japan 8%, United States 6%, Southeast Asia 4%, Europe 2%. China was 35% in the December quarter. Source
  • Korea and Taiwan each rose to 23%: Korea and Taiwan were each 23% of revenue, up from 20% in the December 2025 quarter. Japan fell to 8% from 10%, and Southeast Asia to 4% from 8%.

Products and customers

  • Systems revenue grew faster than support: Systems revenue was $3,731 million, up 11% from $3,357 million. Customer support-related revenue and other was $2,111 million, up 6% from $1,987 million. Source
  • Systems revenue scope defined: Systems revenue covers new leading-edge equipment. Customer support-related revenue covers service, spares, upgrades and non-leading-edge Reliant equipment. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin rose to 49.8%: GAAP gross margin was 49.8% of revenue, up 20 basis points from 49.6%. Non-GAAP gross margin was 49.9%, up from 49.7%. GAAP operating margin was 35.0%, up 110 basis points. Source
  • Operating expenses rose 3%: Total GAAP operating expenses were $864 million, up from $841 million. Research and development and selling, general and administrative expenses both rose. Source
  • Other expense swung from income: Other expense was $35.5 million, against other income of $26.4 million in the December quarter. Non-GAAP results exclude a $27.3 million loss on an elective deferred compensation related asset. Source
  • Income tax expense declined: Income tax expense was $186 million, against $243 million in the December quarter, on pre-tax income of $2,012 million. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Deferred revenue edged lower: Deferred revenue was $2.22 billion at March 29, 2026, down slightly from $2.25 billion at December 28, 2025. Source
  • Japan future revenue rose to $434 million: Estimated future revenue from Japan shipments was $434 million, up from $226 million. Those shipments are classified as inventory at cost until customer acceptance. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Cash balance fell to $4.77 billion: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash fell by $1.43 billion in the quarter, mainly for capital returns, capital expenditures and debt principal, partly offset by operating cash flow. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell to $1.14 billion: Net cash from operating activities was $1,141 million, against $1,480 million. Changes in operating assets and liabilities used $875 million; accounts receivable rose to $4.13 billion. Source
  • Share repurchases of $1.16 billion: Treasury stock purchases, including excise tax, were $1,163 million, against $1,466 million in the December quarter. Dividends paid were $326 million, and $0.26 per share was declared. Source
  • Capex rose; debt principal repaid: Capital expenditures and intangible assets were $332 million, against $261 million. Principal payments on debt were $751 million, against $1 million in the December quarter. Source

Strategy and investment

  • R&D expense kept rising: Research and development expense was $583 million, up from $573 million, or 10.0% of revenue. Source

People and leadership

  • Workforce optimization charges excluded: Workforce optimization charges of $6.4 million in cost of goods sold and $16.4 million in operating expenses were excluded from non-GAAP results. Source

Coming up, as management said on 22 April 2026

  • June quarter guidance issued: Lam is providing guidance for the quarter ending June 28, 2026, covering revenue, margins, EPS and diluted share count. Source
  • Japan shipments await customer acceptance: Revenue on Japan shipments is not recognized until customer acceptance. Estimated future revenue from these shipments was $434 million at March 29, 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management said actual results may vary from the guidance model, and that the variations may be material. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.