Tearsheet

KLA (KLAC)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $1200.8 | Market Cap: $158.2 Bil
Sector: Information Technology | Industry: Semiconductor Materials & Equipment

KLA (KLAC)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $1200.8
Market Cap: $158.2 Bil
Sector: Information Technology
Industry: Semiconductor Materials & Equipment

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Artificial Intelligence, Automation & Robotics, Advanced Materials, and 5G & Advanced Connectivity. Show more.
 
0 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Artificial Intelligence, Automation & Robotics, Advanced Materials, and 5G & Advanced Connectivity. Show more.

Valuation, Metrics & Events

KLAC Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

KLA Corporation (KLAC) experienced a significant stock movement of 39.2% between August 31, 2025, and December 4, 2025, driven by several key factors: **1. Strong Financial Performance and Positive Outlook.** The company reported robust financial results for both its fiscal fourth quarter of 2025 (ending June 30, 2025) and fiscal first quarter of 2026 (ending September 30, 2025). For Q4 FY2025, KLA exceeded revenue and earnings per share guidance, generating record quarterly free cash flow. Similarly, for Q1 FY2026, KLA surpassed analyst expectations for both revenue and profit, reporting $3.21 billion in revenue and $8.81 non-GAAP earnings per share, and provided strong guidance for the following quarter.

**2. Increased Capital Returns to Shareholders.** KLA demonstrated a strong commitment to shareholder value by announcing an increase in its quarterly dividend to $1.90 per share (effective May 2025) and authorizing an additional $5 billion for share repurchases. These actions signal management's confidence in the company's long-term financial health and future prospects.

**3. Positive Analyst Sentiment and Price Target Upgrades.** Following strong earnings reports, multiple analysts reiterated positive ratings and raised their price targets for KLAC around August 1, 2025, and again around October 30, 2025. Analysts highlighted KLA's confident outlook for industry growth in 2026 and its strong position relative to peers.

**4. Booming Semiconductor Equipment Market Driven by AI.** KLA is a key beneficiary of the robust demand in the semiconductor equipment market, particularly fueled by the global buildout of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, advanced packaging, and leading-edge logic and memory technologies. Global sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment are forecasted to reach a new record of $125.5 billion in 2025, a 7.4% year-on-year increase.

**5. Leadership in Process Control and Advanced Packaging.** The company's critical role in providing process control and yield management solutions, coupled with its expanding advanced packaging business, positions it strongly within the industry. KLA notably raised its advanced packaging revenue target for calendar year 2025 to over $925 million, up from a previous estimate of $850 million, driven by increasing AI demand.

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Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
KLAC Return48%68%-11%56%9%90%618%
Peers Return36%45%-19%47%2%61%291%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
KLAC Win Rate67%75%42%67%42%60% 
Peers Win Rate50%52%30%52%35%46% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
KLAC Max Drawdown-36%0%-38%-5%-6%-8% 
Peers Max Drawdown-28%-0%-33%-2%-6%-14% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: LRCX, AMAT, ADI, Q, KLAC. See KLAC Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/3/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventKLACS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-40.8%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven69.1%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven221 days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-37.5%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven60.1%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven75 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-33.6%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven50.7%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven87 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-75.6%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven309.8%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven1790 days1480 days

Compare to LRCX, AMAT, ADI, Q, KLAC


In The Past

KLA's stock fell -40.8% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 1/14/2022. A -40.8% loss requires a 69.1% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About KLA (KLAC)

Latest Trefis Analyses

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to KLAC. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
ENPH_11302025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11302025ENPHEnphase EnergyDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
0.9%0.9%-0.9%
PD_11262025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11262025PDPagerDutyDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
0.8%0.8%0.0%
CRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CRMSalesforceDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
3.3%3.3%-0.1%
HUBS_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11212025HUBSHubSpotDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
5.1%5.1%0.0%
FIVN_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11212025FIVNFive9Dip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
4.0%4.0%0.0%
KLAC_11212025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11212025KLACKLAQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
8.5%8.5%0.0%
KLAC_9302022_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield09302022KLACKLADip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
32.8%53.5%-13.0%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
ENPH_11302025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11302025ENPHEnphase EnergyDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
0.9%0.9%-0.9%
PD_11262025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11262025PDPagerDutyDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
0.8%0.8%0.0%
CRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CRMSalesforceDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
3.3%3.3%-0.1%
HUBS_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11212025HUBSHubSpotDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
5.1%5.1%0.0%
FIVN_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11212025FIVNFive9Dip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
4.0%4.0%0.0%
KLAC_11212025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11212025KLACKLAQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
8.5%8.5%0.0%
KLAC_9302022_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield09302022KLACKLADip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
32.8%53.5%-13.0%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for KLA

Peers to compare with:

Financials

KLACLRCXAMATADIQMedian
NameKLA Lam Rese.Applied .Analog D.Qnity El. 
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Growth & Margins

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Valuation

KLACLRCXAMATADIQMedian
NameKLA Lam Rese.Applied .Analog D.Qnity El. 
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Returns

KLACLRCXAMATADIQMedian
NameKLA Lam Rese.Applied .Analog D.Qnity El. 
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Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20252024202320222021
Semiconductor Process Control8,7349,3247,9255,7354,745
Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) and Component Inspection552632832813727
Specialty Semiconductor Process529543457369330
Corporate allocations and effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates-3-3-210
Other   14
Total9,81210,4969,2126,9195,806


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity3,710,400
Short Interest: % Change Since 1031202516.9%
Average Daily Volume1,056,267
Days-to-Cover Short Interest3.51
Basic Shares Quantity131,757,000
Short % of Basic Shares2.8%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251031202510-Q 9/30/2025
6302025808202510-K 6/30/2025
3312025501202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024131202510-Q 12/31/2024
93020241031202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024805202410-K 6/30/2024
3312024426202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023126202410-Q 12/31/2023
93020231027202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023804202310-K 6/30/2023
3312023428202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022127202310-Q 12/31/2022
93020221028202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022805202210-K 6/30/2022
3312022429202210-Q 3/31/2022
12312021128202210-Q 12/31/2021