CME Group Inc (CME)vsLam Research Corp (LRCX)
CME
CME Group Inc
$293.93
-2.89%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $105.67B
LRCX
Lam Research Corp
$233.45
-2.26%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $299.99B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Lam Research Corp generates 216% more annual revenue ($20.56B vs $6.51B). CME leads profitability with a 62.6% profit margin vs 30.2%. LRCX appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.64. LRCX earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 74/100 (B).
CME
Buy63
out of 100
Grade: C+
LRCX
Strong Buy74
out of 100
Grade: B
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
+43.8%
Fair Value
$522.76
Current Price
$293.93
$228.83 discount
Margin of Safety
-2.4%
Fair Value
$227.92
Current Price
$233.45
$5.53 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Keeps 63 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 63.8%
Large-cap with strong market position
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Earnings expanding 35.0% YoY
Generating 1.1B in free cash flow
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Every $100 of equity generates 66 in profit
Keeps 30 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 33.9%
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Revenue surging 22.1% year-over-year
Areas to Watch
Moderate valuation
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Trading at 28.8x book value
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : CME
The strongest argument for CME centers on Profit Margin, Operating Margin, Market Cap. Profitability is solid with margins at 62.6% and operating margin at 63.8%.
Bull Case : LRCX
The strongest argument for LRCX centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 30.2% and operating margin at 33.9%. Revenue growth of 22.1% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : CME
The primary concerns for CME are P/E Ratio, Piotroski F-Score, PEG Ratio.
Bear Case : LRCX
The primary concerns for LRCX are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio, Price/Book. A P/E of 49.0x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
CME profiles as a mature stock while LRCX is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
LRCX carries more volatility with a beta of 1.79 — expect wider price swings.
LRCX is growing revenue faster at 22.1% — sustainability is the question.
LRCX generates stronger free cash flow (1.3B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
LRCX scores higher overall (74/100 vs 63/100), backed by strong 30.2% margins and 22.1% revenue growth. CME offers better value entry with a 43.8% margin of safety. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
CME Group Inc
FINANCIAL SERVICES · FINANCIAL DATA & STOCK EXCHANGES · USA
CME Group Inc. (Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago Board of Trade, New York Mercantile Exchange, The Commodity Exchange) is an American global markets company. It is the world's largest financial derivatives exchange, and trades in asset classes that include agricultural products, currencies, energy, interest rates, metals, stock indexes and cryptocurrencies futures.
Visit Website →Lam Research Corp
TECHNOLOGY · SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS · USA
Lam Research Corporation is an American corporation that engages in the design, manufacture, marketing, and service of semiconductor processing equipment used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. Its products are used primarily in front-end wafer processing, which involves the steps that create the active components of semiconductor devices (transistors, capacitors) and their wiring (interconnects). The company also builds equipment for back-end wafer-level packaging (WLP), and for related manufacturing markets such as for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). The company is headquartered in Fremont, California, in the Silicon Valley.
Compare with Other FINANCIAL DATA & STOCK EXCHANGES Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?