WallStSmart

AngloGold Ashanti plc (AU)vsLam Research Corp (LRCX)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Lam Research Corp generates 119% more annual revenue ($21.68B vs $9.89B). LRCX leads profitability with a 30.9% profit margin vs 26.7%. AU appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.78. AU earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 82/100 (A-).

AU

Exceptional Buy

82

out of 100

Grade: A-

Growth: 10.0Profit: 10.0Value: 6.3Quality: 8.0
Piotroski: 6/9Altman Z: 2.99

LRCX

Strong Buy

74

out of 100

Grade: B

Growth: 7.3Profit: 10.0Value: 4.7Quality: 7.8
Piotroski: 6/9Altman Z: 4.65
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Intrinsic Value Comparison

Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula

Intrinsic value data unavailable for AU.

LRCXUndervalued (+16.5%)

Margin of Safety

+16.5%

Fair Value

$343.11

Current Price

$294.05

$49.06 discount

UndervaluedFair: $343.11Overvalued

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

AU6 strengths · Avg: 9.7/10
Return on EquityProfitability
34.4%10/10

Every $100 of equity generates 34 in profit

Operating MarginProfitability
48.0%10/10

Strong operational efficiency at 48.0%

Revenue GrowthGrowth
75.3%10/10

Revenue surging 75.3% year-over-year

EPS GrowthGrowth
63.1%10/10

Earnings expanding 63.1% YoY

Market CapQuality
$50.67B9/10

Large-cap with strong market position

Profit MarginProfitability
26.7%9/10

Keeps 27 of every $100 in revenue as profit

LRCX6 strengths · Avg: 9.7/10
Market CapQuality
$358.31B10/10

Mega-cap, among the largest globally

Return on EquityProfitability
66.8%10/10

Every $100 of equity generates 67 in profit

Profit MarginProfitability
30.9%10/10

Keeps 31 of every $100 in revenue as profit

Operating MarginProfitability
35.0%10/10

Strong operational efficiency at 35.0%

Altman Z-ScoreHealth
4.6510/10

Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk

Revenue GrowthGrowth
23.8%8/10

Revenue surging 23.8% year-over-year

Areas to Watch

AU0 concerns · Avg: 0/10

No major concerns identified

LRCX3 concerns · Avg: 2.7/10
PEG RatioValuation
1.744/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

P/E RatioValuation
54.1x2/10

Premium valuation, high expectations priced in

Price/BookValuation
34.8x2/10

Trading at 34.8x book value

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : AU

The strongest argument for AU centers on Return on Equity, Operating Margin, Revenue Growth. Profitability is solid with margins at 26.7% and operating margin at 48.0%. Revenue growth of 75.3% demonstrates continued momentum.

Bull Case : LRCX

The strongest argument for LRCX centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 30.9% and operating margin at 35.0%. Revenue growth of 23.8% demonstrates continued momentum.

Bear Case : AU

No major red flags identified for AU, but monitor valuation.

Bear Case : LRCX

The primary concerns for LRCX are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio, Price/Book. A P/E of 54.1x leaves little room for execution misses.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

LRCX carries more volatility with a beta of 1.82 — expect wider price swings.

AU is growing revenue faster at 75.3% — sustainability is the question.

AU generates stronger free cash flow (917M), providing more financial flexibility.

Monitor GOLD industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.

Bottom Line

AU scores higher overall (82/100 vs 74/100), backed by strong 26.7% margins and 75.3% revenue growth. LRCX offers better value entry with a 16.5% margin of safety. Both earn "Exceptional Buy" and "Strong 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.

AngloGold Ashanti plc

BASIC MATERIALS · GOLD · USA

AngloGold Ashanti Limited is a gold mining company. The company is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa.

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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.

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