TSM vs AMAT vs INTC vs LRCX

For growth investors, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) is the stronger pick with 33.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 5% for Intel Corporation (INTC). Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) offers the better valuation at 38. 8x trailing P/E (0. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) a "Buy" — based on 25 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) is the cheapest at 38.

8x versus Lam Research Corporation at 69. 0x. On forward P/E, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited is actually cheaper at 0. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited wins at 0. 03x versus Lam Research Corporation's 2. 26x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Lam Research Corporation (LRCX) delivered a total return of +360.

5%, compared to +95. 8% for Intel Corporation (INTC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LRCX returned +38. 2% versus INTC's +299. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

91β versus Lam Research Corporation's 2. 54β — meaning LRCX is approximately 33% more volatile than TSM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 18% versus 48% for Lam Research Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) is pulling ahead at 33.

0% versus -0. 5% for Intel Corporation (INTC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Intel Corporation grew EPS 98. 7% year-over-year, compared to 0. 6% for Applied Materials, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, TSM leads at 19. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) is the more profitable company, earning 45.

1% net margin versus -0. 5% for Intel Corporation — meaning it keeps 45. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TSM leads at 50. 8% versus -0. 0% for INTC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TSM leads at 59. 9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 03x versus Lam Research Corporation's 2. 26x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) trades at 0. 8x forward P/E versus 105. 1x for Intel Corporation — 104. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AMAT: 3. 9% to $426. 39.

In this comparison, TSM (0.

7% yield), AMAT (0. 4% yield), LRCX (0. 3% yield) pay a dividend. INTC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0.

7% yield, +1740% 10Y return). Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) carries a higher beta of 2. 14 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (TSM: +1740%, AMAT: +20. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: TSM is a mega-cap high-growth stock; AMAT is a large-cap quality compounder stock; INTC is a large-cap quality compounder stock; LRCX is a large-cap high-growth stock. TSM pays a dividend while AMAT, INTC, LRCX do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.