Lam Research 10-Q 2024-03-31

Filed 2024-04-29. 8 sections, 210K characters. Original on sec.gov · Markdown · JSON

Cover and table of contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

☒QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024

or

☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission file number 0-12933


LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware94-2634797
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
4650 Cushing Parkway, Fremont, California94538
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (510) 572-0200

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, Par Value $0.001 Per ShareLRCXThe Nasdaq Stock Market
(Nasdaq Global Select Market)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer☒Accelerated filer☐
Non-accelerated filer☐Smaller reporting company☐
Emerging growth company☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

As of April 25, 2024, the Registrant had 130,741 thousand shares of Common Stock outstanding.

LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page No.
PART I. Financial Information
Item 1.Financial Statements (Unaudited):
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2024, and March 26, 20233
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2024, and March 26, 20234
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2024, and June 25, 20235
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended March 31, 2024, and March 26, 20236
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2024, and March 26, 20237
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements9
Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations18
Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk25
Item 4.Controls and Procedures25
PART II. Other Information
Item 1.Legal Proceedings26
Item 1A.Risk Factors26
Item 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds38
Item 3.Defaults Upon Senior Securities39
Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures39
Item 5.Other Information39
Item 6.Exhibits40
Signatures41

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
March 31, 2024March 26, 2023March 31, 2024March 26, 2023
Revenue$3,793,558$3,869,569$11,033,879$14,221,259
Cost of goods sold1,977,8202,197,2375,783,0877,835,743
Restructuring charges, net - cost of goods sold15,20266,72038,09966,720
Total cost of goods sold1,993,0222,263,9575,821,1867,902,463
Gross margin1,800,5361,605,6125,212,6936,318,796
Research and development512,274429,4511,404,6151,325,211
Selling, general, and administrative215,904193,500651,770632,922
Restructuring charges, net - operating expenses15,24640,40818,95540,408
Total operating expenses743,424663,3592,075,3401,998,541
Operating income1,057,112942,2533,137,3534,320,255
Other income (expense), net36,073(3,331)68,513(74,660)
Income before income taxes1,093,185938,9223,205,8664,245,595
Income tax expense(127,359)(124,914)(398,376)(537,201)
Net income$965,826$814,008$2,807,490$3,708,394
Net income per share:
Basic$7.38$6.03$21.32$27.28
Diluted$7.34$6.01$21.22$27.20
Number of shares used in per share calculations:
Basic130,838134,924131,663135,945
Diluted131,518135,395132,282136,314

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Lam Research Corporation 2024 Q3 10-Q 3

LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
March 31, 2024March 26, 2023March 31, 2024March 26, 2023
Net income$965,826$814,008$2,807,490$3,708,394
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustment(14,215)3,727(20,363)11,588
Cash flow hedges:
Net unrealized gains (losses) during the period8,145(3,320)18,414(3,135)
Net (gains) losses reclassified into net income(4,231)2,546(25,974)(5,478)
3,914(774)(7,560)(8,613)
Available-for-sale investments:
Net unrealized gains during the period306523141,222
Net gains reclassified into net income—(105)(10)(158)
305473041,064
Defined benefit plans, net change in unrealized component177276537848
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax(10,094)3,776(27,082)4,887
Comprehensive income$955,732$817,784$2,780,408$3,713,281

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Lam Research Corporation 2024 Q3 10-Q 4

LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except per share data)

March 31, 2024June 25, 2023
(unaudited)(1)
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents$5,672,232$5,337,056
Investments—37,641
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $5,286 as of March 31, 2024, and $5,344 as of June 25, 20232,203,7072,823,376
Inventories4,322,9674,816,190
Prepaid expenses and other current assets289,530214,149
Total current assets12,488,43613,228,412
Property and equipment, net2,181,7411,856,672
Goodwill1,626,5191,622,489
Intangible assets, net142,479168,454
Other assets1,840,4751,905,616
Total assets$18,279,650$18,781,643
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Trade accounts payable$531,648$470,702
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities1,791,6422,010,637
Deferred profit1,601,7331,695,221
Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease obligations505,0668,358
Total current liabilities4,430,0894,184,918
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations, less current portion4,478,3855,003,183
Income taxes payable832,397882,084
Other long-term liabilities516,678501,286
Total liabilities

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

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 limited to, the adequacy of prior tax payments, future tax benefits or liabilities, and the adequacy of our accruals relating to them); hedging transactions; debt or financing arrangements; our investment portfolio; our access to capital markets; uses of, payments of, and impact of interest rate fluctuations on, our debt; our intention to pay quarterly dividends and the amounts thereof, if any; our ability and intention to repurchase our shares; credit risks; controls and procedures; recognition or amortization of expenses; our ability to manage and grow our cash position; our strategic relevance with our customers; our ability to scale our operations to respond to changes in our business; the value of our patents; the materiality of potential losses arising from legal proceedings; the probability of making payments under our guarantees; and the sufficiency of our financial resources or liquidity to support future business activities (including, but not limited to, operations, investments, debt service requirements, dividends, and capital expenditures). Such statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and changes in condition, significance, value, and effect, including without limitation those discussed below under the heading “Risk Factors” within Part II Item 1A and elsewhere in this report and other documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), such as our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 25, 2023 (our “2023 Form 10-K”), our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended September 24, 2023 and December 24, 2023, and our current reports on Form 8-K. Such risks, uncertainties, and changes in condition, significance, value, and effect could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in this report and in ways not readily foreseeable. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof and are based on information currently and reasonably known to us. We do not undertake any obligation to release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence or effect of anticipated or unanticipated events.

Documents To Review In Connection With Management’s Discussion and Analysis Of Financial Condition and Results Of Operations

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.

Lam Research Corporation 2024 Q3 10-Q 18

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Lam Research Corporation is a global supplier of innovative wafer fabrication equipment and services to the semiconductor industry. We have built a strong global presence with core competencies in areas like nanoscale applications enablement, chemistry, plasma and fluidics, advanced systems engineering and a broad range of operational disciplines. Our products and services are designed to help our customers build smaller and better performing devices that are used in a variety of electronic products, including mobile phones, personal computers, servers, wearables, automotive vehicles, and data storage devices.

Our customer base includes leading semiconductor memory, foundry, and integrated device manufacturers that make products such as non-volatile memory, dynamic random-access memory, and logic devices. Their continued success is part of our commitment to driving semiconductor breakthroughs that define the next generation. Our core technical competency is integrating hardware, process, materials, software, and process control, enabling results on the wafer.

Semiconductor manufacturing, our customers’ business, involves the complete fabrication of multiple dies or integrated circuits on a wafer. This involves the repetition of a set of core processes and can require hundreds of individual steps. Fabricating these devices requires highly sophisticated process technologies to integrate an increasing array of new materials with precise control at the atomic scale. Along with meeting technical requirements, wafer processing equipment must deliver high productivity and be cost-effective.

Demand from cloud computing, artificial intelligence, 5G, the Internet of Things, and other markets is driving the need for increasingly powerful and cost-efficient semiconductors. At the same time, there are growing technical challenges with traditional two-dimensional scaling. These trends are driving significant inflections in semiconductor manufacturing, such as the increasing importance of vertical scaling strategies like three-dimensional architecture as well as multiple patterning to enable shrinks.

We believe we are in a strong position with our leadership and expertise in deposition, etch, and clean markets to facilitate some of the most significant innovations in semiconductor device manufacturing. Our Customer Support Business Group provides products and services to maximize installed equipment performance, predictability, and operational efficiency. Several factors create opportunities for sustainable differentiation for us: (i) our focus on research and development, with several on-going programs relating to sustaining engineering, product and process development, and concept and feasibility; (ii) our ability to effectively leverage cycles of learning from our broad installed base; (iii) our collaborative focus with semi-ecosystem partners, including our close-to-customer focus; (iv) our ability to identify and invest in the breadth of our product portfolio to meet technology inflections; and (v) our focus on delivering our multi-product solutions with a goal to enhance the value of Lam’s solutions to our customers.

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.

Lam Research Corporation 2024 Q3 10-Q 19

The following table summarizes certain key financial information for the periods indicated below:

Three Months Ended
March 31, 2024December 24, 2023
(in thousands, except per share data and percentages)
Revenue$3,793,558$3,758,259
Gross margin$1,800,536$1,757,455
Gross margin as a percent of total revenue47.5%46.8%
Total operating expenses$743,424$700,243
Net income$965,826$954,266
Diluted net income per share$7.34$7.22

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.

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.

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.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Revenue

Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
March 31, 2024December 24, 2023March 31, 2024March 26, 2023
Revenue (in millions)$3,794$3,758$11,034$14,221
China42%40%43%26%
Korea24%19%20%20%
Japan9%14%11%10%
Taiwan9%13%10%20%
United States6%5%7%9%
Southeast Asia5%4%4%9%
Europe5%5%5%6%

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.

Lam Research Corporation 2024 Q3 10-Q 20

The following table presents our revenue disaggregated between systems and customer support-related revenue:

Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
March 31, 2024December 24, 2023March 31, 2024March 26, 2023
(In thousands)
Systems revenue$2,395,817$2,299,286$6,751,758$8,985,538
Customer support-related revenue and other1,397,7411,458,9734,282,1215,235,721
$3,793,558$3,758,259$11,033,879$14,221,259

Please refer to Note 3, “Revenue,” to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-Q for additional information regarding the composition of the two categories into which revenue has been disaggregated.

The percentage of leading- and non-leading-edge equipment and upgrade revenue from each of the markets we serve was as follows:

Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
March 31, 2024December 24, 2023March 31, 2024March 26, 2023
Memory44%48%44%46%
Foundry44%38%39%36%
Logic/integrated device manufacturing12%14%17%18%

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.

Gross Margin

Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
March 31, 2024December 24, 2023March 31, 2024March 26, 2023
(in thousands, except percentages)
Gross margin$1,800,536$1,757,455$5,212,693$6,318,796
Percent of revenue47.5%46.8%47.2%44.4%

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.

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 and reduced spending on material costs.

Research and Development

Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
March 31, 2024December 24, 2023March 31, 2024March 26, 2023
(in thousands, except percentages)
Research & development (“R&D”)$512,274$469,712$1,404,615$1,325,211
Percent of revenue13.5%12.5%12.7%9.3%

We continued to make significant R&D investments in the March 2024 quarter focused on leading-edge deposition, etch, clean and other semiconductor manufacturing processes. The increase in R&D expense in the March 2024 quarter compared to the December 2023 quarter was primarily driven by increases in employee-related costs as a result of seasonality and the extra week in the quarter, as well as increased spending on transformational activities.

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.

Lam Research Corporation 2024 Q3 10-Q 21

Selling, General, and Administrative

Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
March 31, 2024December 24, 2023March 31, 2024March 26, 2023
(in thousands, except percentages)
Selling, general, and administrative (“SG&A”)$215,904$228,843$651,770$632,922
Percent of revenue5.7%6.1%5.9%4.5%

SG&A expense during the March 2024 quarter decreased in comparison to the December 2023 quarter, primarily driven by decreases in transformational costs.

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.

Restructuring Charges, Net

Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
March 31, 2024December 24, 2023March 31, 2024March 26, 2023
(in thousands, except percentages)
Restructuring charges, net$30,448$16,645$57,054$107,128
Percent of revenue0.8%0.4%0.5%0.8%

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.

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.

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.

Please refer to Note 15, “Restructuring charges, net,” to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Part I of this Form 10-Q for additional information.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income (expense), net consisted of the following:

Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
March 31, 2024December 24, 2023March 31, 2024March 26, 2023
(in thousands)
Interest income$71,752$57,595$185,911$83,155
Interest expense(47,153)(46,313)(138,797)(139,930)
Gains on deferred compensation plan-related assets, net26,49525,53049,1243,588
Foreign exchange losses, net(4,344)(568)(3,643)(8,812)
Other, net(10,677)(6,405)(24,082)(12,661)
$36,073$29,839$68,513$(74,660)

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.

Interest expense is consistent across all periods presented.

Lam Research Corporation 2024 Q3 10-Q 22

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.

Foreign exchange fluctuations were primarily due to currency movements against portions of our unhedged balance sheet exposures for all periods presented.

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.

Income Tax Expense

Our provision for income taxes and effective tax rate for the periods indicated were as follows:

Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
March 31, 2024December 24, 2023March 31, 2024March 26, 2023
(in thousands, except percentages)
Income tax expense$127,359$132,785$398,376$537,201
Effective tax rate11.7%12.2%12.4%12.7%

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.

International revenues account for a significant portion of our total revenues, such that a material portion of our pre-tax income is earned and taxed outside the United States. International pre-tax income is taxable in the United States at a lower effective tax rate than the federal statutory tax rate. Please refer to Note 7, “Income Taxes,” to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of our 2023 Form 10-K for additional information.

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.

We re-evaluate uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, effectively settled issues under audit, and new audit activity. Any change in recognition or measurement would result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

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:

  • the recognition and valuation of revenue from arrangements with multiple performance obligations which impacts revenue;

  • the valuation of inventory, which impacts gross margin;

  • 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

  • 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.

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.

Lam Research Corporation 2024 Q3 10-Q 23

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2 - Recent Accounting Pronouncements, of our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Part 1 of this Form 10-Q.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

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.

Net cash provided by operating activities of $3,789.8 million during the nine months ended March 31, 2024, consisted of (in thousands):

Net income$2,807,490
Non-cash charges:
Depreciation and amortization271,342
Equity-based compensation expense213,966
Deferred income taxes(137,606)
Changes in operating asset and liability accounts620,405
Other14,242
$3,789,839

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.

Cash Flow from Investing Activities

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.

Cash Flow from Financing Activities

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.

Liquidity

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.

In the longer term, liquidity will depend to a great extent on our future revenues and our ability to appropriately manage our costs based on demand for our products and services. While we have substantial cash balances, we may require additional funding and need or choose to raise the required funds through borrowings or public or private sales of debt or equity securities. We believe that, if necessary, we will be able to access the capital markets on terms and in amounts adequate to meet our objectives. However, domestic and global macroeconomic and political conditions could cause disruptions to the capital markets and otherwise make any financing more challenging, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain such financing on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

For financial market risks related to changes in interest rates, marketable equity security prices, and foreign currency exchange rates, refer to Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk”, in our 2023 Form 10-K. Our exposure related to market risk has not changed materially since June 25, 2023.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Design of Disclosure Controls and Procedures and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting that are designed to comply with Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act. In designing and evaluating the controls and procedures associated with each, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and that the effectiveness of controls cannot be absolute because the cost to design and implement a control to identify errors or mitigate the risk of errors occurring should not outweigh the potential loss caused by the errors that would likely be detected by the control. Moreover, we believe that a control system cannot be guaranteed to be 100% effective all of the time. Accordingly, a control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(b), as of March 31, 2024, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e). Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer, along with our Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable assurance level.

We intend to review and evaluate the design and effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures on an ongoing basis and to correct any material deficiencies that we may discover. Our goal is to ensure that our senior management has timely access to material information that could affect our business.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Effectiveness of Controls

While we believe the present design of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting is effective, future events affecting our business may cause us to modify our disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings

Please refer to the subsection entitled “Legal Proceedings” within Note 13 “Commitments and Contingencies," to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to the other information in this Form 10-Q, the following risk factors should be carefully considered in evaluating us and our business because such factors may significantly impact our business, operating results, and financial condition. As a result of these risk factors, as well as other risks discussed in our other SEC filings, our actual results could differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. No priority or significance is intended by, nor should be attached to, the order in which the risk factors appear.

INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMER RISKS

The Semiconductor Capital Equipment Industry Is Subject to Variability and Periods of Rapid Growth or Decline; We Therefore Face Risks Related to Our Strategic Resource Allocation Decisions

The semiconductor capital equipment industry has historically been characterized by rapid changes in demand. Variability in our customers’ business plans may lead to changes in demand for our equipment and services, which could negatively impact our results. The variability in our customers’ investments during any particular period is dependent on several factors, including, but not limited to, electronics demand, economic conditions (both general and in the semiconductor and electronics industries), industry supply and demand, prices for semiconductors, and our customers’ ability to develop and manufacture increasingly complex and costly semiconductor devices. The changes in demand may require our management to adjust spending and other resources allocated to operating activities.

During periods of rapid growth or decline in demand for our products and services, we face significant challenges in maintaining adequate financial and business controls, management processes, information systems, and procedures for training, assimilating, and managing our workforce, and in appropriately sizing our supply chain infrastructure and facilities, work force, and other components of our business on a timely basis. If we do not adequately meet these challenges during periods of increasing or declining demand, our gross margins and earnings may be negatively impacted.

We continuously reassess our strategic resource allocation choices in response to the changing business environment. If we do not adequately adapt to the changing business environment, we may lack the infrastructure and resources to scale up our business to meet customer expectations and compete successfully during a period of growth, or we may expand our capacity and resources too rapidly and/or beyond what is appropriate for the actual demand environment, resulting in excess fixed costs.

Especially during transitional periods, resource allocation decisions can have a significant impact on our future performance, particularly if we have not accurately anticipated industry changes. Our success will depend, to a significant extent, on the ability of our executive officers and other members of our senior management to identify and respond to these challenges effectively.

Future Declines in the Semiconductor Industry, and the Overall World Economic Conditions on Which It Is Significantly Dependent, Could Have a Material Adverse Impact on Our Results of Operations and Financial Condition

Our business depends on the capital equipment expenditures of semiconductor manufacturers, which in turn depend on the current and anticipated market demand for integrated circuits. With the consolidation of customers within the industry, the semiconductor capital equipment market may experience rapid changes in demand driven both by changes in the market generally and the plans and requirements of particular customers. The economic, regulatory, political, and business conditions occurring nationally, globally, or in any of our key sales regions, which are often unpredictable, have historically impacted customer demand for our products and services and normal commercial relationships with our customers, suppliers, and creditors. Additionally, in times of economic uncertainty, our customers’ budgets for our products, or their ability to access credit to purchase them, could be adversely affected. This would limit their ability to purchase our products and services. As a result, changing economic, regulatory, political or business conditions can cause material adverse changes to our results of operations and financial condition, including, but not limited to:

  • a decline in demand for our products or services;

  • an increase in reserves on accounts receivable due to our customers’ inability to pay us;

  • an increase in reserves on inventory balances due to excess or obsolete inventory as a result of our inability to sell such inventory;

  • valuation allowances on deferred tax assets;

  • restructuring charges;

  • asset impairments including the potential impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets;

  • a decline in the value of our investments;

Lam Research Corporation 2024 Q3 10-Q 26

  • exposure to claims from our suppliers for payment on inventory that is ordered in anticipation of customer purchases that do not come to fruition; and

  • challenges maintaining reliable and uninterrupted sources of supply.

Fluctuating levels of investment by semiconductor manufacturers may materially affect our aggregate shipments, revenues, operating results, and earnings. Where appropriate, we will attempt to respond to these fluctuations with cost management programs aimed at aligning our expenditures with anticipated revenue streams, which sometimes result in restructuring charges. Even during periods of reduced revenues, we must continue to invest in R&D and maintain extensive ongoing worldwide customer service and support capabilities to remain competitive, which may temporarily harm our profitability and other financial results.

We Have a Limited Number of Key Customers

Sales to a limited number of large customers constitute a significant portion of our overall revenue, shipments, cash flows, collections, and profitability. As a result, the actions of even one customer may subject us to variability in those areas that is difficult to predict. In addition, large customers may be able to negotiate requirements that result in decreased pricing, increased costs, and/or lower margins for us and limitations on our ability to share technology with others. Similarly, significant portions of our credit risk may, at any given time, be concentrated among a limited number of customers so that the failure of even one of these key customers to pay its obligations to us could significantly impact our financial results.

We Face a Challenging and Complex Competitive Environment

We face significant competition from multiple competitors, and our competitors may be able to develop products comparable or superior to those we offer or may adapt more quickly to new technologies or evolving customer requirements. In particular, while we continue to develop product enhancements that we believe will address future customer requirements, we may fail in a timely manner to identify those future customer requirements, to devote appropriate resources to developing products to address those requirements, or to complete the development or introduction of these additional product enhancements successfully, or these product enhancements may not achieve market acceptance or be competitive. Accordingly, competition may intensify, and we may be unable to continue to compete successfully in our markets, which could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, operating results, financial condition, and/or cash flows.

With increased consolidation efforts in our industry, as well as the emergence and strengthening of new, regional competitors, we may face increasing competitive pressures. Other companies continue to develop systems and/or acquire businesses and products that are competitive to ours and may introduce new products and product capabilities that may af

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Item 5. Other Information

Rule 10b5-1 and Non-Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangements

During the Company’s fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024, except for the following arrangements, none of the Company’s directors or officers adopted, modified, or terminated a trading arrangement for the purchase or sale of the Company’s common stock that was intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) (a “Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement”) or a non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (as defined in Item 408(c) of Regulation S-K):

  • On February 27, 2024, Timothy M. Archer, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, adopted a Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement. Mr. Archer’s Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement provides for: (i) the potential sale of up to 9,650 shares of the Company’s common stock; and (ii) the potential exercise of 19,347 stock options expiring on December 6, 2025, and the associated sale of up to 19,347 shares of the Company’s common stock resulting from such exercise. Mr. Archer’s Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement has a termination date of February 27, 2025.

  • On February 15, 2024, Neil J. Fernandes, the Senior Vice President, Global Customer Operations, of the Company, adopted a Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement. Mr. Fernandes’ Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement provides for a contribution of up to 4,409 shares of the Company’s common stock to an exchange fund in exchange for shares of that fund. Mr. Fernandes’ Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement has a termination date of June 27, 2024.

  • In addition, on February 23, 2024, Mr. Fernandes adopted a second Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement. Mr. Fernandes’ second Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement provides for the potential sale of up to 2,370 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the terms of the Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement. Trading under Mr. Fernandes’ second Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement is not authorized to begin until after all transactions under his earlier-commencing Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement are completed or expired without execution. Mr. Fernandes’ second Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement has a termination date of March 14, 2025.

The Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangements contain pricing conditions that preclude or limit the sale of shares below predetermined minimum prices. Each of the Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangements will terminate on the earlier of: (a) its respective termination date indicated above; (b) execution of all trades or expiration of all the orders relating to such trades under the Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement; or (c) such date as the Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement is otherwise terminated according to its terms.

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Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibit NumberDescription
10.1*Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (U.S. Participants) - 2015 Stock Incentive Plan
10.2*Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (International Participants) - 2015 Stock Incentive Plan
10.3*Form of Market-Based Performance Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (U.S. Participants) - 2015 Stock Incentive Plan
10.4*Form of Market-Based Performance Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (International Participants) - 2015 Stock Incentive Plan
31.1Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification (Principal Executive Officer)
31.2Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification (Principal Financial Officer)
32.1Section 1350 Certification (Principal Executive Officer)
32.2Section 1350 Certification (Principal Financial Officer)
101.INSInline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
101.SCHInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CALInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEFInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LABInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PREInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

*Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

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LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date:April 29, 2024LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION (Registrant)
/s/ Douglas R. Bettinger
Douglas R. Bettinger
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

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