Yahoo · Oct 8, 2026
If You Invested $1000 in KLA a Decade Ago, This is How Much It'd Be Worth Now
Why investing for the long run, especially if you buy certain popular stocks, could reap huge rewards.
NASDAQ · KLAC
KLA Corporation
Technology · Semiconductors
$195.57
Down-$1.15 (-0.58%)
Updated Oct 10, 2026, 9:15 PM
SID Score
5.8/10
Composite research score
Smart Money
49/100
Neutral
- Market cap
- 163.8B
- P/E ratio
- 38.77
- Dividend yield
- 3.78%
- 52-week range
- $165.89 – $2,156.69
- Volume
- 5.35M
- Avg. volume
- 1.02M
Price performance · KLAC
KLAC price history
1M range · 21 trading sessions · Daily adjusted prices
Prices through Oct 9, 2026
KLAC closed at $195.57 after 21 trading sessions, up 8.27% for the selected period.
- Last close
- $195.57
- Period change
- +8.27%
- Period low
- $167.36
- Period high
- $206.89
Daily close
View OHLC price history
| Date | Open | High | Low | Close | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 9, 2026 | $200.23 | $201.71 | $195.08 | $195.57 | 5.35M |
| Oct 8, 2026 | $192.715 | $202.22 | $191.09 | $196.72 | 10.15M |
| Oct 7, 2026 | $192.04 | $197.18 | $191.20 | $196.83 | 7.16M |
| Oct 6, 2026 | $207.335 | $207.66 | $196.83 | $197.46 | 9.61M |
| Oct 5, 2026 | $205.29 | $206.87 | $199.6057 | $206.85 | 7.99M |
| Oct 2, 2026 | $207.81 | $208.68 | $204.06 | $206.89 | 7.36M |
| Oct 1, 2026 | $196.69 | $201.98 | $194.90 | $200.33 | 8.7M |
| Sep 30, 2026 | $196.01 | $197.60 | $193.95 | $194.93 | 6.86M |
| Sep 29, 2026 | $194.94 | $197.47 | $192.57 | $196.53 | 7.78M |
| Sep 28, 2026 | $186.71 | $190.70 | $182.70 | $189.17 | 8.71M |
| Sep 25, 2026 | $187.33 | $189.56 | $186.015 | $187.92 | 7.15M |
| Sep 24, 2026 | $185.81 | $187.96 | $182.40 | $187.11 | 7.8M |
| Sep 23, 2026 | $186.25 | $188.00 | $181.73 | $187.86 | 8.86M |
| Sep 22, 2026 | $180.71 | $188.60 | $179.70 | $188.32 | 9.31M |
| Sep 21, 2026 | $179.30 | $185.94 | $178.31 | $183.97 | 9.65M |
| Sep 18, 2026 | $170.50 | $177.14 | $169.72 | $176.99 | 20.07M |
| Sep 17, 2026 | $172.995 | $173.79 | $167.26 | $168.98 | 9.9M |
| Sep 16, 2026 | $171.52 | $171.72 | $165.892 | $167.36 | 6.71M |
| Sep 15, 2026 | $172.00 | $172.07 | $165.93 | $168.02 | 7.91M |
| Sep 14, 2026 | $168.08 | $173.029 | $167.57 | $169.09 | 12.06M |
| Sep 11, 2026 | $181.71 | $182.41 | $177.01 | $180.64 | 7.49M |
Latest KLAC news
The latest Smart Investors Daily articles mentioning KLAC.
Stock researchCompany · Overview
Company
Market Activity
Research & News
KLAC research
Overview
Company profile and research snapshot.
Company profile
KLA is one of the largest semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment, or WFE, manufacturers in the world. It specializes in the market segment of semiconductor process control, wherein machines inspect semiconductor wafers during research and development and manufacturing for defects and verify precise measurements. In this section of the market, KLA holds a majority share. It also has a small exposure to the etch and deposition segments of the WFE market. It counts as top customers the largest chipmakers in the world, including TSMC and Samsung.
Visit company websiteAnalyst outlook
Consensus and target data currently published for this company.
- Consensus
- Buy
- Average target
- $1,294.86
- Implied upside
- —
- Analysts
- 19
| Date | Firm | Rating | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 6, 2026 | Morgan Stanley | Overweight | — |
| Sep 1, 2026 | UBS | Neutral | — |
| Jul 29, 2026 | Needham | Buy | — |
| Jul 29, 2026 | Jefferies | Buy | — |
| Jul 29, 2026 | Deutsche Bank | Hold | — |
News briefing
No generated briefing is available yet.
Yahoo · Oct 7, 2026
The Bull Case For KLA (KLAC) Could Change Following Rising AI Focus Amid Export And Cyclical Risks
In recent days, KLA Corporation has attracted renewed attention as analysts highlighted its essential process-control role in easing the chip shortage and supporting AI-focused semiconductor manufacturing, while also pointing to ongoing risks from U.S. export restrictions and cyclical wafer equipment spending. At the same time, upward revisions to earnings estimates and commentary about KLA’s differentiated tools for advanced packaging and complex chip designs have reinforced the company’s...
Benzinga · Oct 7, 2026
$100 Invested In KLA 15 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today
KLA (NASDAQ:KLAC) has outperformed the market over the past 15 years by 15.65% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 28.88%. Currently, KLA has a market capitalization of $256.59 billion. Buying
Yahoo · Oct 7, 2026
Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. LRCX and KLAC: Can AI-Driven Chip Complexity Unlock Further Upside?
Is AMAT a good stock to buy? We came across a bullish thesis on Applied Materials, Inc. on Astute Optics – US’s Substack. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on AMAT. Applied Materials, Inc.’s share was trading at $530.27 as of October 6th 2026. AMAT’s trailing and forward P/E were 36.01 and 23.42 respectively […]
AI research layers
Interpretive context generated from the platform’s current data sources.
KLA Corporation Stock Performance
KLA Corporation shares currently trade at $195.57, reflecting a 10.38% gain over the past month but a 12.0% decline over the trailing three-month period, per SID market data. On a one-year basis, KLAC has experienced a significant drawdown of 84.69%, substantially underperforming its prior trading range. The stock is currently trading above its 50-day moving average of $187.98, suggesting near-term price momentum has shifted positive. However, it remains dramatically below its 200-day moving average of $994.86, underscoring the magnitude of the longer-term decline. The 14-day relative strength index stands at 64.6, indicating the stock is approaching but has not yet reached overbought territory. KLAC carries a beta of 1.437, according to Massive/Polygon data, confirming its elevated volatility relative to the broader market. Average daily trading volume stands at approximately 1.02 million shares, with the current market capitalization at roughly $163.8 billion.
KLA Corporation Valuation Analysis
KLA Corporation's current valuation metrics reflect a premium positioning within the Technology sector. The stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.77, per SID market data, indicating investors are paying a significant multiple for each dollar of earnings. The PEG ratio stands at 8.11, according to SEC filings, suggesting the P/E ratio is elevated even when adjusted for expected earnings growth, as a PEG above 1.0 generally signals that growth may not fully justify the current multiple. KLA's price-to-book ratio of 32.95 further highlights the premium valuation, reflecting substantial intangible asset value and market expectations for sustained profitability. The company maintains a dividend yield of approximately 0.59%, providing a modest income component for shareholders. Collectively, these metrics position KLAC at elevated valuation levels relative to historical norms, with the high PEG ratio in particular indicating that current pricing embeds significant future growth assumptions.
Smart Money Activity for KLAC
KLA Corporation's composite smart money score sits at 49 out of 100, reflecting a neutral overall signal, per SID market data. Institutional positioning is notably strong, scoring a perfect 25 out of 25, indicating broad and sustained accumulation by major fund managers according to 13F institutional filings. Congressional trading activity scores 15.6 out of 25, suggesting moderate interest from lawmakers with disclosed portfolios. In contrast, the dark pool activity score of 8.5 out of 25 indicates relatively subdued off-exchange institutional block trading. Insider activity presents a cautionary signal, scoring 0.0 out of 25. According to SEC Form 4 filings, there have been 20 insider transactions over the past 90 days, with 18 sell transactions compared to just 2 buy transactions. This pronounced sell-to-buy imbalance suggests that company insiders have been consistently reducing their exposure to KLAC shares during the recent period. The divergence between strong institutional ownership and weak insider conviction warrants careful monitoring by investors.
KLA Corporation Earnings Outlook
KLA Corporation has demonstrated a pattern of exceeding analyst expectations in its most recent reported quarters. In the quarter ending April 2026, the company posted earnings of $9.40 per share against a consensus estimate of $9.15, delivering a positive surprise of $0.25, according to company earnings reports. The following quarter reported in July 2026 showed earnings of $1.05 per share versus the $1.00 estimate, representing a $0.05 beat. Looking ahead, analyst estimates project earnings of $1.00 per share for the quarter expected to be reported on July 30, 2026, and $1.18 per share for the October 28, 2026 quarter, per analyst estimates. The sequential increase in forward estimates from $1.00 to $1.18 suggests analysts anticipate improving earnings trajectory. KLA's consistent ability to surpass consensus forecasts in prior quarters establishes a track record that may factor into investor expectations heading into upcoming reporting periods.
Wall Street Analyst Ratings for KLAC
Wall Street analyst coverage of KLA Corporation reflects a moderately constructive but divided outlook. According to SID consensus data, Morgan Stanley reiterated its Overweight rating on October 6, 2026, representing the most recent and bullish major call on the stock. Both Needham and Jefferies maintained Buy ratings following the July 29, 2026 earnings report, per Wall Street analyst reports, signaling confidence in the company's fundamental trajectory. Conversely, Deutsche Bank reiterated its Hold rating on the same date, while UBS maintained its Neutral stance on September 1, 2026, reflecting a more cautious perspective on risk-reward at current levels. The distribution shows three firms carrying positive ratings (Overweight or Buy) against two firms maintaining neutral positions (Hold or Neutral), with no active Sell ratings among the most recent coverage updates. Notably, none of the five tracked analysts changed their directional stance in their latest updates, indicating established conviction levels across the coverage universe.
