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KLA (KLAC)
NASDAQ:KLAC

KLA (KLAC) AI Stock Analysis

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KLAC

KLA

(NASDAQ:KLAC)

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Outperform 78 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:78Outperform
Price Target:
$1,628.00
▲(20.10% Upside)
The score is driven primarily by outstanding financial performance (industry-leading margins and strong free cash flow) and a constructive earnings outlook with continued share gains. Offsetting factors are an expensive valuation (high P/E, low yield) and mixed near-term technical signals indicating consolidation rather than strong momentum.
Positive Factors
Industry-leading margins and profitability
Sustained high gross and net margins reflect pricing power and product differentiation in critical process control tools. Durable margin structure supports reinvestment in R&D, funds operating leverage through cycles, and underpins long-term returns on capital even with cyclical revenue swings.
Strong cash generation and capital returns
Robust FCF generation and high cash conversion (FCF ≈91% of net income) create durable financial flexibility. This funds consistent buybacks/dividends, R&D and strategic investments, and provides a buffer versus cyclical downturns while preserving investment-grade credit access.
Durable services and advanced packaging momentum
A long-tenured services franchise (recurring, high-margin) plus rapid advanced-packaging share gains diversify revenue beyond capital equipment. This mix increases revenue stability, strengthens customer stickiness, and supports multiyear growth as foundry, logic and packaging demand evolve.
Negative Factors
Elevated leverage versus equity
While leverage has improved, net debt remains meaningful relative to equity and cash balances. Higher leverage amplifies earnings volatility, constrains optionality for large M&A or further capital returns, and raises refinancing risk if semiconductor cycles weaken materially.
Semiconductor cycle exposure and uneven growth
KLA’s revenue and equipment demand remain tied to semiconductor capex cycles, producing volatile year-to-year growth. Such cyclicality complicates capacity planning, R&D timing and capital allocation, meaning near-term results can swing sharply despite strong structural positioning.
China market uncertainty and recovery risk
Significant revenue exposure to China subjects KLA to geopolitical, policy and demand volatility. Uneven China recovery and past restrictions can limit addressable demand and complicate customer access or supply chains, making regional risk a structural headwind for growth predictability.

KLA (KLAC) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

KLA Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionKLA Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets process control, process-enabling, and yield management solutions for the semiconductor and related electronics industries worldwide. It operates through four segments: Semiconductor Process Control; Specialty Semiconductor Process; PCB, Display and Component Inspection; and Other. The company offers integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing products that comprises wafer inspection and review, and metrology; wafer and substrate defect inspection and metrology; reticle defect inspection and metrology; chemical/materials quality analysis; in situ process management and wafer handling diagnostics for IC and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) manufacturing; software products to provide run-time process control, defect excursion identification, process corrections, and defect classification; and refurbished and remanufactured products. It also provides specialty semiconductor manufacturing, benchtop metrology, surface characterization, and electrical property measurement services for general purpose/ lab applications; etch, plasma dicing, deposition, and other wafer processing technologies and solutions for the semiconductor and microelectronics industry. In addition, the company offers direct imaging, inspection, optical shaping, additive printing, and computer-aided manufacturing and engineering solutions for the PCB market; inspection and electrical testing systems to identify and classify defects, as well as systems to repair defects for the display market; and inspection and metrology systems for quality control and yield improvement in advanced and traditional semiconductor packaging markets. The company was formerly known as KLA-Tencor Corporation and changed its name to KLA Corporation in July 2019. KLA Corporation was incorporated in 1975 and is headquartered in Milpitas, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyKLA generates revenue primarily through the sale of its semiconductor equipment and related services. The company's key revenue streams include the sale of inspection and metrology tools, which are critical for ensuring quality and precision in semiconductor manufacturing. KLA also earns revenue from software solutions that aid in data analysis and process optimization, as well as from service contracts that provide ongoing support and maintenance for its equipment. Significant partnerships with leading semiconductor manufacturers and technology companies further bolster KLA's earnings by integrating their solutions into high-volume production environments. Additionally, ongoing advancements in semiconductor technology and increasing demand for chips in various applications, such as AI and IoT, contribute positively to KLA's revenue growth.

KLA Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Geography
Revenue by Geography
Breaks down revenue across different regions, revealing where the company is strongest and where it may face risk or growth potential due to local economic conditions or market share shifts.
Chart InsightsKLA's revenue in China and Taiwan is surging, driven by strong demand in advanced packaging and high-bandwidth memory, aligning with the company's earnings call highlighting growth in these areas. Despite global trade uncertainties impacting margins, KLA's market share in process control remains robust. North America and Japan show fluctuating trends, but recent upticks suggest potential recovery. The company's strategic focus on advanced packaging and services is paying off, with both segments showing resilience and growth, which is crucial given the challenges posed by export controls and tariffs.
Data provided by:The Fly

KLA Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jan 29, 2026
(Q2-2026)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 23, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call presented a strong financial and operational performance picture: record revenue, double-digit top-line growth, substantial EPS expansion, industry-leading margins, robust free cash flow, and continued share gains in process control and advanced packaging. Management provided a constructive 2026 outlook (mid-single digit company growth and market outperformance) while flagging near-term headwinds — chiefly elevated DRAM costs that are expected to pressure gross margins (~75–100 bps in 2026) and supply/lead-time constraints that limit first-half shipments. On balance, the positives (scaleable profitability, cash generation, market share momentum, and strong guidance cadence) materially outweigh the manageable near-term challenges.
Q2-2026 Updates
Positive Updates
Record 2025 Revenue and Strong Top‑Line Growth
Full-year 2025 revenue grew 17% year-over-year to a record $12.745 billion; December-quarter revenue was $3.3 billion, above the guidance midpoint.
Significant EPS Expansion
Earnings per share grew 29% year-over-year for 2025. December-quarter non-GAAP diluted EPS was $8.85 and GAAP diluted EPS was $8.68, each above guidance midpoints.
Industry-Leading Margins
Maintained strong margin profile in 2025 with gross margin ~62% and operating margin ~43.6%; December-quarter gross margin was 62.6%, ~60 basis points above guidance midpoint.
Robust Free Cash Flow and Capital Returns
Free cash flow for 2025 grew 30% to $4.4 billion; quarterly free cash flow was a record $1.26 billion. Returned $3.0 billion to shareholders over the past 12 months (Q4 capital return $797 million: $548M buybacks, $250M dividends).
Process Control and Services Growth
Process control systems revenue grew 19% for 2025; service business grew 15% for the year. December-quarter services revenue was $786 million, up 6% sequentially and 18% year-over-year; services business has 16 consecutive years of annual growth with a >12% CAGR.
Advanced Packaging Momentum
Calendar 2025 total systems revenue for advanced packaging was $950 million, representing over 70% year-over-year growth; company expects mid- to high‑teens year-over-year growth in advanced packaging in 2026 driven by faster-than-market share gains.
Strong Cash Position and Credit Profile
Ended the quarter with $5.2 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities; maintains investment-grade ratings and a flexible bond maturity profile.
Positive 2026 Market and Company Outlook
Company expects core WFE to grow high single to low double digits in 2026 (core WFE low $120B) and combined WFE + advanced packaging in the mid-$130B range; KLA expects to outgrow the market and forecasted 2026 revenue growth in the mid-single digits with acceleration in the second half.
Solid Operational Execution and R&D Investment
Operating expenses of $653 million (R&D $384M, SG&A $269M) reflect continued investment in next-generation products; management reiterated long-term operating model delivering strong incremental operating margin leverage.
Negative Updates
DRAM Cost Headwind to Gross Margins
Rapidly escalating DRAM prices for image processing computers are a near-term headwind. Management expects this to be transitory but to persist through 2026, creating an estimated ~75–100 basis point negative impact on gross margins for the calendar year.
Supply Constraints and Extended Lead Times
Customer lead times are increasing and KLA is virtually sold out across many products in the first half; long lead items (optics, some components) and customers' facility readiness constrain near‑term shipment growth and limit first‑half upside.
Near-Term Margin Pressure and Mix Variability
March-quarter guidance reflects modestly weaker product mix versus the December quarter (forecast gross margin ~61.75% ±1.0%), and company cites tariffs and component cost dynamics contributing to margin volatility (tariff impact estimated 50–100 basis points currently).
China Market Still Recovering / Modest Growth
China WFE was modestly negative in 2025; management now expects China to be flat to slightly positive in 2026 with China ~mid-to-high 20% of KLA revenue. Prior restrictions and uneven market dynamics create ongoing uncertainty.
Operational Constraints Could Delay Some Demand Realization
Customers face facility build and shell readiness issues that can delay equipment installation and ramping; many customer orders and greenfield builds push deliveries later into 2026 and into 2027 which can shift when revenue is recognized.
Debt vs. Cash Balance
Quarter-end debt was $5.9 billion versus $5.2 billion in cash and marketable securities; while supported by investment-grade ratings, leverage is a datapoint to watch alongside capital returns and M&A activity.
Company Guidance
KLA guided March-quarter revenue of $3.35 billion ± $150 million with non‑GAAP diluted EPS of $9.80 ± $0.78 and GAAP diluted EPS of $8.85 ± $0.78 based on ~131.7 million diluted shares; semiconductor process-control mix assumptions: foundry logic ~60% and memory ~40% (memory split ~85% DRAM / 15% NAND). Quarterly gross margin guidance is 61.75% ± 1.0 percentage point, with company‑level 2026 gross margins modeled at ~62% ± 50 bps (noting a transitory DRAM cost headwind of roughly 75–100 bps for the year); March-quarter operating expenses are forecasted at ~$645 million with OpEx expected to grow ~$15 million sequentially through 2026. Other income/expense is expected to be about $25 million per quarter, the planning tax rate for 2026 is 14.5%, and KLA expects 2026 revenue to grow mid‑single digits versus 2025 (2025 revenue was $12.745 billion) while the broader WFE market is seen rising to the low ~$120 billion range and total WFE + advanced packaging to the mid‑$130 billion range (advanced packaging ≈ $12 billion).

KLA Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Excellent profitability and cash generation (best-in-class margins and strong free cash flow) support a high score, tempered by moderate leverage and semiconductor cyclicality that can drive uneven year-to-year growth.
Income Statement
92
Very Positive
KLAC shows exceptional profitability, with TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) gross margin around 62% and net margin around 34%, supported by strong operating profitability (EBIT margin ~41%). Revenue has re-accelerated meaningfully in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) after a softer FY2024, and earnings appear to be scaling well with revenue. Key watchouts are the industry’s inherent cyclicality and the fact that growth has been uneven year-to-year (including a revenue decline in FY2024).
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
The balance sheet is solid but moderately leveraged: TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) debt is higher than equity (debt-to-equity ~1.22), though leverage has improved materially versus FY2022–FY2024 when debt-to-equity was much higher (~2.0 to ~4.8). Profitability on shareholder capital is extremely strong (TTM return on equity ~0.98), but that is partly amplified by leverage and a comparatively modest equity base. Overall, the company looks financially capable, but leverage remains a constraint versus best-in-class balance sheets.
Cash Flow
88
Very Positive
Cash generation is strong, with TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) operating cash flow (~$4.8B) and free cash flow (~$4.4B) both robust and free cash flow growing sharply (TTM free cash flow growth ~13%). Cash conversion is healthy, with free cash flow running at roughly 91% of net income in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months), indicating earnings quality is generally supported by cash. A mild caution is that operating cash flow relative to net income is only slightly above 1.0 in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months), and prior years showed more variability.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue12.16B9.81B10.50B9.21B6.92B
Gross Profit7.58B5.88B6.28B5.62B4.15B
EBITDA5.34B3.90B4.50B4.01B2.85B
Net Income4.06B2.76B3.39B3.32B2.08B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets16.07B15.43B14.07B12.60B10.27B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments4.49B4.50B3.24B2.71B2.49B
Total Debt6.09B6.82B6.06B6.77B3.55B
Total Liabilities11.38B12.07B11.15B11.20B6.90B
Stockholders Equity4.69B3.37B2.92B1.40B3.38B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow3.74B3.03B3.33B3.01B1.95B
Operating Cash Flow4.08B3.31B3.67B3.31B2.19B
Investing Cash Flow-202.48M-1.48B-486.87M-876.46M-500.40M
Financing Cash Flow-3.79B-1.78B-2.83B-2.26B-1.50B

KLA Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price1355.54
Price Trends
50DMA
1320.67
Positive
100DMA
1217.35
Positive
200DMA
1028.25
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
46.93
Positive
RSI
44.09
Neutral
STOCH
5.34
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For KLAC, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 1355.54 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 1479.04, above the 50-day MA of 1320.67, and above the 200-day MA of 1028.25, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 46.93 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 44.09 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 5.34 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for KLAC.

KLA Risk Analysis

KLA disclosed 39 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. KLA reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

KLA Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
80
Outperform
$296.58B48.6865.56%0.56%25.66%46.68%
78
Outperform
$184.88B40.97100.73%0.58%22.27%45.32%
77
Outperform
$154.83B69.426.57%1.43%16.89%39.29%
77
Outperform
$260.40B37.9235.51%0.69%4.47%0.48%
76
Outperform
$400.94B119.665.32%31.83%80.45%
61
Neutral
$37.18B12.37-10.20%1.83%8.50%-7.62%
57
Neutral
$243.81B-601.34-0.25%-1.49%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
KLAC
KLA
1,355.54
611.32
82.14%
AMD
Advanced Micro Devices
242.11
122.61
102.60%
ADI
Analog Devices
311.29
108.62
53.60%
AMAT
Applied Materials
318.67
141.88
80.25%
INTC
Intel
49.25
29.96
155.31%
LRCX
Lam Research
230.10
150.92
190.60%

KLA Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesDividendsShareholder Meetings
KLA Announces Cash Dividend Amid Shareholder Meeting
Positive
Nov 7, 2025

On November 5, 2025, KLA held its annual meeting of stockholders where three proposals were considered, including the election of ten directors, ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent auditor, and approval of executive compensation. Notably, Emiko Higashi and Gary Moore ended their terms, with Michael McMullen appointed as Chair of the Compensation and Talent Committee. Additionally, on November 6, 2025, KLA announced a cash dividend of $1.90 per share, payable on December 2, 2025, reflecting the company’s ongoing commitment to returning value to shareholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (KLAC) stock is a Buy with a $1450.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on KLA stock, see the KLAC Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jan 31, 2026