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.
NYSE · KLAC
KLA Corporation
Technology · Semiconductors
$184.00
Down-$5.75 (-3.13%)
Updated Oct 14, 2026, 5:54 PM
SID Score
5.5/10
Composite research score
Smart Money
49/100
Neutral
- Market cap
- 163.8B
- P/E ratio
- 38.77
- Dividend yield
- 4.02%
- 52-week range
- $165.89 – $2,156.69
- Volume
- 10.47M
- Avg. volume
- 1.02M
Price performance · KLAC
KLAC price history
1M range · 21 trading sessions · Daily adjusted prices
Prices through Oct 13, 2026
KLAC closed at $184.00 after 21 trading sessions, up 9.51% for the selected period.
- Last close
- $184.00
- Period change
- +9.51%
- Period low
- $167.36
- Period high
- $206.89
Daily close
View OHLC price history
| Date | Open | High | Low | Close | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 13, 2026 | $185.415 | $187.30 | $179.84 | $184.00 | 10.47M |
| Oct 12, 2026 | $193.68 | $193.99 | $189.44 | $190.12 | 7.72M |
| 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 |
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 are currently trading at $184.00, positioning below both key moving averages, with the 50-day moving average at $188.15 and the 200-day moving average significantly higher at $983.41, per SID market data. The stock has experienced a sharp decline of 85.62% over the trailing twelve months, reflecting substantial downside pressure in the semiconductor equipment space. Over the past three months, KLAC has fallen 18.04%, though a modest 8.82% rebound over the last month suggests some near-term stabilization. The 14-day RSI stands at 45.9, indicating neutral momentum without oversold or overbought conditions. KLA maintains a beta of 1.437, confirming elevated volatility relative to the broader market, according to Massive/Polygon data. Average daily trading volume registers at approximately 1.02 million shares, while the company's market capitalization stands at roughly $163.8 billion despite the significant price deterioration.
KLA Corporation Valuation Analysis
KLA Corporation currently trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.77, a premium multiple relative to broader market averages, according to SID market data. The PEG ratio stands at 8.11, suggesting that the current valuation significantly exceeds the company's anticipated earnings growth rate, which may indicate stretched valuations on a growth-adjusted basis. The price-to-book ratio registers at 32.95, reflecting the asset-light, high-margin business model characteristic of semiconductor equipment companies, per SEC filings. KLA offers a dividend yield of approximately 0.59%, providing modest income to shareholders amid the stock's broader decline. Within the Technology sector, KLA's valuation metrics reflect the market's recognition of its dominant position in process control and yield management solutions for semiconductor manufacturers. These elevated multiples persist despite the substantial year-over-year price decline, indicating that fundamental earnings power has also adjusted downward alongside the stock price deterioration observed over the past twelve months.
Smart Money Activity for KLAC
KLA Corporation's composite smart money score stands at 49 out of 100, signaling a neutral stance among sophisticated market participants, per SID market data. Institutional positioning is notably strong, scoring a perfect 25 out of 25, indicating robust accumulation by large fund managers as reflected in 13F institutional filings. Congressional trading activity also shows elevated interest, registering at 15.6 out of 25. In contrast, insider activity scores 0.0 out of 25, reflecting a decidedly bearish posture from company executives. Over the past 90 days, SEC Form 4 filings reveal 20 insider transactions, with only 2 purchases against 18 sales, indicating a 9-to-1 sell-to-buy ratio among corporate insiders. Dark pool activity registers a modest 8.5 out of 25, suggesting limited off-exchange accumulation. The divergence between strong institutional conviction and persistent insider selling creates a mixed signal for investors, as management appears to be reducing personal exposure while institutional allocators maintain substantial positions in the semiconductor equipment leader.
KLA Corporation Earnings Outlook
KLA Corporation has demonstrated consistent earnings outperformance in its most recent reported quarters, according to company earnings reports. In the quarter ending April 2026, KLA posted actual earnings of $9.40 per share against analyst estimates of $9.15, delivering a positive surprise of $0.25 or approximately 2.7%. The July 2026 quarter similarly showed a beat, with actual earnings of $1.05 per share versus the $1.00 consensus estimate, representing a $0.05 positive surprise. Looking ahead, analysts project earnings of $1.00 per share for the quarter reporting 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 implies anticipated earnings acceleration. KLA's track record of exceeding expectations across consecutive quarters establishes a pattern of operational execution, though the magnitude of beats has been relatively modest in recent periods.
Wall Street Analyst Ratings for KLAC
Wall Street analyst consensus on KLA Corporation reflects a moderately constructive outlook, with the majority of recent coverage maintaining or reiterating existing ratings, per SID consensus data. Morgan Stanley reiterated its Overweight rating on October 6, 2026, representing the most bullish recent stance among major coverage firms. Both Needham and Jefferies maintained Buy ratings following the July 29, 2026 earnings report, reinforcing positive conviction from growth-oriented research teams, according to Wall Street analyst reports. Conversely, UBS reiterated a Neutral rating on September 1, 2026, while Deutsche Bank maintained its Hold rating on July 29, 2026, reflecting more cautious positioning. Notably, none of the five most recent analyst actions involved a downgrade or upgrade, with all firms holding their prior ratings unchanged. This stability suggests that KLAC's recent performance and guidance have largely aligned with existing analyst frameworks. The distribution skews positive, with three of five recent ratings at Buy or Overweight versus two neutral-equivalent ratings.
