⚠ Five Customers Owe 72% of the ReceivablesLow threat

Lam Research (LRCX) — threat to the moat

Five customers owed Lam 72% of its receivables at the end of fiscal 2026, and the days it waits for payment are rising.

A customer that knows it is qualified on a Lam tool also knows how much Lam needs it. The receivables show where that leverage sits. At 28 June 2026 five customers accounted for approximately 20%, 16%, 15%, 11% and 10% of Lam's accounts receivable1, together 72%2. A year earlier three customers accounted for 19%, 15% and 12%3.

Largest single customer share of accounts receivable (%)18%FY201921%FY202023%FY202120%FY202232%FY202316%FY202419%FY202520%FY2026Lam Research Forms 10-K FY2020-FY2026, credit risk note
One customer owed a third in FY2023.

The concentration has been higher. At the end of fiscal 2023 one customer alone accounted for approximately 32% of receivables4. Lam says it does not generally require collateral on sales5, so those balances are unsecured credit to a handful of very large chipmakers.

The credit risk is small; these are some of the strongest companies in the industry. The commercial risk is larger: customers who owe this much can push for longer payment terms, and Lam's days sales outstanding rose to 72 days from 64 in the June 2026 quarter6.

Lam carries little provision against those balances. The 10-K says its allowance for doubtful accounts "is not material"7, which reflects the quality of the customers rather than any promise that the balances will stay this size.

The figure to follow is days sales outstanding. A rise into the 80s while revenue grows would say the largest customers are using their position to finance their expansion with Lam's money.

References
  1. ReportedAt 28 June 2026 five customers accounted for approximately 20%, 16%, 15%, 11% and 10% of Lam's accounts receivable, together 72%.
    Lam Research Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 (year ended 28 June 2026) - financial statements and notes: income, cash flow, balance sheet, deferred revenue, debt and customer concentration. — FY2026 · publ. 7 August 2026 · source ↗
  2. Moat Explorer calcAt 28 June 2026 five customers accounted for approximately 20%, 16%, 15%, 11% and 10% of Lam's accounts receivable, together 72%.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Lam Research's reported figures ($ millions unless stated; fiscal years end in late June). Revenue growth: FY2019 9,653.6 / 11,077.0 - 1 = -12.9%; FY2020 10,044.7 / 9,653.6 - 1 = +4.1%; FY2021 14,626.2 / 10,044.7 - 1 = +45.6%; FY2022 17,227.0 / 14,626.2 - 1 = +17.8%; FY2023 17,428.5 / 17,227.0 - 1 = +1.2%; FY2024 14,905.4 / 17,428.5 - 1 = -14.5%; FY2025 18,435.6 / 14,905.4 - 1 = +23.7%; revenue FY2015-FY2026 23,232.7 / 5,259.3 = 4.4 times. Q4 FY2026 revenue 6,722.2 / 5,171.4 - 1 = +30.0%; Q4 systems 4,249.8 / 3,437.6 - 1 = +23.6%; Q4 customer support 2,472.4 / 1,733.8 - 1 = +42.6%; FY2025 quarterly systems 3,437.6 / 2,392.7 - 1 = +43.7%. Revenue by type: systems FY2023 10,695.9 / 11,322.3 - 1 = -5.5%; FY2024 8,921.6 / 10,695.9 - 1 = -16.6%; customer support FY2023 6,732.6 / 5,904.8 - 1 = +14.0%; FY2024 5,983.7 / 6,732.6 - 1 = -11.1%, a fall of 748.9; FY2021 growth systems +47.4%, support +42.2%; FY2022 systems +16.0%, support +21.5%; FY2025 systems +28.8%, support +16.1%; FY2026 systems +29.5%, support +20.2%; support less systems growth -5.2, +5.5, +19.5, +5.5, -12.7, -9.3 points (FY2021-FY2026). Multiples FY2019-FY2026: customer support 8,347.2 / 3,202.5 = 2.6 times (14.7% a year); systems 14,885.5 / 6,451.1 = 2.3 times (12.7% a year). Cumulative FY2019-FY2026 customer support 45,396.0 of 125,553.6 = 36%. Customer support share of revenue: 3,202.5 / 9,653.6 = 33.2% (FY2019); 3,419.6 / 10,044.7 = 34.0%; 4,861.3 / 14,626.2 = 33.2%; 5,904.8 / 17,227.0 = 34.3%; 6,732.6 / 17,428.5 = 38.6%; 5,983.7 / 14,905.4 = 40.1% (FY2024); 6,944.3 / 18,435.6 = 37.7%; 8,347.2 / 23,232.7 = 35.9% (FY2026). Systems share 65.7%, 61.4%, 59.9%, 62.3%, 64.1% (FY2022-FY2026). Quarterly FY2026 support share 1,776.6 / 5,324.2 = 33.4%; 1,987.3 / 5,344.8 = 37.2%; 2,110.9 / 5,841.5 = 36.1%; 2,472.4 / 6,722.2 = 36.8%. Research and development 2,375.9 / 23,232.7 = 10.2% (FY2026); 825.2 / 5,259.3 = 15.7% (FY2015); 1,033.7 / 8,013.6 = 12.9% (FY2017); 1,191.3 / 9,653.6 = 12.3% (FY2019); 1,493.4 / 14,626.2 = 10.2% (FY2021); 1,727.2 / 17,428.5 = 9.9% (FY2023); 1,902.4 / 14,905.4 = 12.8% (FY2024); 2,375.9 / 825.2 = 2.9 times. Gross margin 2,284.3 / 5,259.3 = 43.4% (FY2015); 3,603.4 / 8,013.6 = 45.0% (FY2017); 4,358.5 / 9,653.6 = 45.1% (FY2019); 6,805.3 / 14,626.2 = 46.5% (FY2021); 7,776.9 / 17,428.5 = 44.6% (FY2023); 7,052.8 / 14,905.4 = 47.3% (FY2024). Operating margin 788.0 / 5,259.3 = 15.0% (FY2015); 1,902.1 / 8,013.6 = 23.7%; 2,464.7 / 9,653.6 = 25.5%; 4,482.0 / 14,626.2 = 30.6%; 5,174.9 / 17,428.5 = 29.7%; 4,263.9 / 14,905.4 = 28.6% (FY2024). Segment gross margin 12,120.0 / 23,232.7 = 52.2%. Region FY2026: China 7,859.8 / 23,232.7 = 33.8%; Taiwan 5,222.9 / 23,232.7 = 22.5%; Korea 4,505.3 / 23,232.7 = 19.4%; Japan 2,171.1 / 23,232.7 = 9.3%; Taiwan 5,222.9 / 3,445.2 - 1 = +51.6%; Korea 2,874.0 / 4,037.5 - 1 = -28.8%. China share 1,040.0 / 5,885.9 = 17.7% (FY2016); 1,784.4 / 11,077.0 = 16.1% (FY2018); 3,083.9 / 10,044.7 = 30.7% (FY2020); 5,137.9 / 14,626.2 = 35.1% (FY2021); 4,462.7 / 17,428.5 = 25.6% (FY2023). China revenue FY2022-FY2023 5,411.5 - 4,462.7 = 948.8 lower. Foundry plus memory 54 + 39 = 93%. Long-lived assets in the United States 2,003.4 / 3,353.8 = 60%. Customer concentration (percentages of total revenue): FY2026 16 + 15 + 12 + 12 = 55%; FY2025 17 + 15 = 32%; FY2024 17%; FY2023 22 + 16 = 38%; FY2022 21 + 12 + 12 + 11 = 56%; FY2021 25 + 12 + 10 = 47%; FY2020 24 + 14 + 10 + 10 = 58%; FY2019 15 + 14 + 14 + 14 = 57%; FY2018 25 + 14 + 14 + 13 + 12 = 78%. Accounts receivable June 2026 20 + 16 + 15 + 11 + 10 = 72%. Deferred revenue within a year 1,798.1 / 2,434.0 = 74%; deferred revenue against Q4 revenue 2,434.0 / 6,722.2 = 36%. Cash and capital: free cash flow 5,857.7 - 966.4 = 4,891.3 (FY2026); 6,173.3 - 759.2 = 5,414.1 (FY2025); 4,652.3 - 396.7 = 4,255.6 (FY2024). Shareholder returns 3,851.3 + 1,270.6 = 5,121.9, 5,121.9 / 4,891.3 = 104.7%; FY2025 (3,422.3 + 1,149.5) / 5,414.1 = 84.4%; FY2024 (2,842.8 + 1,018.9) / 4,255.6 = 90.7%. Dividends 1,270.6 / 7,265.4 = 17.5% of net income; 1,270.6 / 4,891.3 = 26% of free cash flow. Net cash 5,579.2 - 3,722.1 = 1,857.1 (FY2026); 6,390.7 - 4,469.4 = 1,921.3 (FY2025); 5,847.9 - 4,967.4 = 880.5 (FY2024). Treasury stock 31,597.9 / retained earnings 34,950.3 = 0.90. Per share: diluted shares 1,261.1 / 1,770.7 - 1 = -28.8% (FY2015 177.07M pre-split x 10); EPS 5.76 / 0.37 = 15.6 times; net income 7,265.4 / 655.6 = 11.1 times. Additional: Taiwan share 1,671.8 / 14,905.4 = 11.2% (FY2024), 3,477.9 / 17,428.5 = 20.0% (FY2023); Korea 2,205.3 / 3,832.8 - 1 = -42% (FY2019); research growth 2,096.4 / 1,902.4 - 1 = +10.2% (FY2025), 2,375.9 / 2,096.4 - 1 = +13.3% (FY2026); research staff 23,300 x 26% = more than 6,000; United States and Southeast Asia (1,528.9 + 1,245.9) / 23,232.7 = 12.0%; Southeast Asia 1,245.9 / 837.2 - 1 = +48.8%; systems FY2020 6,625.1 / 6,451.1 - 1 = +2.7%, support 3,419.6 / 3,202.5 - 1 = +6.8%; FY2022 to FY2025 support 6,944.3 / 5,904.8 - 1 = +17.6%, systems 11,491.3 / 11,322.3 - 1 = +1.5%; support March 2025 quarter 1,684.9 / 4,720.2 = 35.7%, 2,472.4 / 1,684.9 - 1 = +46.7%; support Q1 to Q4 FY2026 2,472.4 / 1,776.6 - 1 = +39.2%; deferred revenue 2,681 - 2,434 = 247 lower, 2,681 / 5,171.4 = 52% of the June 2025 quarter revenue; receivables 5,339.7 / 6,722.2 = 79%; return on equity 5,358.2 / ((8,539.5 + 9,861.6) / 2) = 58.2% (FY2025), 7,265.4 / ((9,861.6 + 12,470.9) / 2) = 65.1% (FY2026); market value 57.32 / 101.26 - 1 = -43% (calendar 2022); price target 373.13 / 307.16 - 1 = +21%; revenue 23,232.7 / 4,607.3 = 5.0 times (FY2014-FY2026); lab plan 3,000 / 5 = 600 a year. Further: Europe 698.7 / 23,232.7 = 3.0%; China 7,859.8 / 623.4 = 12.6 times (FY2014-FY2026); Korea 4,505.3 / 1,127.4 = 4.0 times; Taiwan 5,222.9 / 1,049.2 = 5.0 times; dividends declared per share 0.92 / 0.80 - 1 = +15%, 1.04 / 0.92 - 1 = +13%; diluted shares (1,261.1 / 1,319.9) ^ (1/2) - 1 = -2.3% a year; buybacks FY2015-FY2026 573.2 + 158.4 + 811.7 + 2,653.2 + 3,780.6 + 1,369.6 + 2,697.7 + 3,865.7 + 2,017.0 + 2,842.8 + 3,422.3 + 3,851.3 = 28,043.5; dividends paid 116.1 + 190.4 + 243.5 + 307.6 + 678.3 + 656.8 + 727.0 + 815.3 + 907.9 + 1,018.9 + 1,149.5 + 1,270.6 = 8,081.9; net income FY2015-FY2026 = 39,567.4; (28,043.5 + 8,081.9) / 39,567.4 = 91%; customer support fell only in FY2024 among FY2020-FY2026, systems fell in FY2023 and FY2024. Cash conversion: operating cash flow / net income 6,173.3 / 5,358.2 = 115% (FY2025); 5,857.7 / 7,265.4 = 81% (FY2026). Valuation: price 307.16 / 52-week high 438.50 - 1 = -30.0%; free cash flow yield 4,891.3 / 384,360 = 1.3%; P/E 384,360 / 7,265.4 = 52.9; P/S 384,360 / 23,232.7 = 16.5 - revenue mix, geography and customer concentration. — FY2015-FY2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Lam Research's Forms 10-K, quarterly results releases, XBRL filings and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  3. ReportedA year earlier three customers accounted for 19%, 15% and 12%.
    Lam Research Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 (year ended 28 June 2026) - Item 1 business: products, strategy, competitors, customers and employees. — FY2026 · publ. 7 August 2026 · source ↗
  4. ReportedAt the end of fiscal 2023 one customer alone accounted for approximately 32% of receivables.
    Lam Research Form 10-K for fiscal 2024 - end-market mix and revenue by region for fiscal 2022-2024, and accounts receivable concentration at June 2023. — FY2024 · publ. August 2024 · source ↗
  5. ReportedLam says it does not generally require collateral on sales, so those balances are unsecured credit to a handful of very large chipmakers.
    Lam Research Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 (year ended 28 June 2026) - financial statements and notes: income, cash flow, balance sheet, deferred revenue, debt and customer concentration. — FY2026 · publ. 7 August 2026 · source ↗
  6. ReportedThe commercial risk is larger: customers who owe this much can push for longer payment terms, and Lam's days sales outstanding rose to 72 days from 64 in the June 2026 quarter.
    The Motley Fool via Yahoo Finance, Lam Research Q4 fiscal 2026 earnings call transcript - installed base, end-market mix of systems revenue, WFE outlook, served market, customer support, China and margin targets - installed base, customer support, inventory, receivables and records. — Q4 FY2026 · publ. 29 July 2026 · source ↗
  7. ReportedThe 10-K says its allowance for doubtful accounts "is not material", which reflects the quality of the customers rather than any promise that the balances will stay this size.
    Lam Research Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 (year ended 28 June 2026) - Item 1 business: products, strategy, competitors, customers and employees. — FY2026 · publ. 7 August 2026 · source ↗
Sources
Generated September 25, 2026