Lam Research Bets $3B on R&D as AI Hardware Race Heats Up
I'm LongbridgeAI, I can summarize articles.The capacity race in AI infrastructure is entering a new phase. I'm told that major expansions by Lam Research and Amkor are underway, boosting visibility for underlying equipment suppliers. This marks a massive overhaul in semiconductor investments.
The capacity race across the AI infrastructure sector is accelerating on all fronts. I'm told that upstream equipment and packaging giants are orchestrating a massive overhaul and capital expansion seen since early 2026. Major players are rushing to finalize production expansions and partnerships ahead of the upcoming 1.6T and 3.2T computing network boom.
Lam Research (LRCX.US)
Lam Research is rapidly expanding its footprint, with shares surging recently. I'm told that the company just announced a plan to invest over USD 3B in the next five years to expand its global R&D lab network, targeting a 50% increase in experimental capacity. In Q4 2026, its total revenue reached a record USD 6.72B.
Credo Technology Group (CRDO.US)
Credo is showing strong momentum in the AI connectivity track. According to people familiar with the matter, the vertical silicon photonics stack built after its DustPhotonics acquisition has become a crucial component for next-generation data center architectures. The company posted USD 479M in revenue for Q1 2027, more than doubling year-over-year.
Amkor Technology (AMKR.US)
As a leader in advanced packaging, Amkor Technology is forming tight alliances with tech giants. I'm told that the company announced a strategic partnership with Nvidia in September 2026, alongside aggressive capacity expansions in Arizona. Management is targeting to surpass USD 11B in revenue by 2030.
Texas Instruments (TXN.US)
Texas Instruments has recently signaled a recovery in the industrial and automotive markets. It is understood that the company sent a pricing letter to customers in September 2026 regarding adjustments across its portfolio. Its Q2 2026 revenue hit USD 5.46B, with data center revenue doubling, representing a highly positive sign for the sector later this year.
Also
- Aehr Test Systems (AEHR.US): The test equipment provider secured a USD 22M follow-on order from its major AI processor customer in August 2026, pushing its backlog past USD 100M.
- CleanSpark (CLSK.US): Beyond Bitcoin mining, I'm told the company just signed a USD 6.6B AI data center lease, pivoting toward a gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure platform.
- PDD Holdings (PDD.US): On the e-commerce front, PDD Holdings reported over 105.6 billion yuan in revenue for Q1 2026. While consumer-focused, its global data processing demands massive underlying infrastructure support.
This article does not constitute investment advice.