SeekingAlpha · Aug 27, 2026
KLA: The AI Yield Bottleneck Is Becoming More Valuable
KLA (KLAC) may outperform as chip complexity risesâAI-driven inspection demand, recurring services, and 2027 EPS outlook. See more here.
NYSE · KLAC
KLA Corporation
Technology · Semiconductors
$172.94
Up+$0.68 (+0.39%)
Updated Sep 4, 2026, 11:11 AM
SID Score
4.9/10
Composite research score
Smart Money
38/100
Bearish
- Market cap
- 163.8B
- P/E ratio
- 38.77
- Dividend yield
- 4.28%
- 52-week range
- $167.05 – $2,156.69
- Volume
- 6.86M
- Avg. volume
- 1.02M
Price performance
KLAC price history
1M range · 21 trading sessions · Daily adjusted prices
KLAC closed at $172.94 after 21 trading sessions, down 10.50% for the selected period.
- Last close
- $172.94
- Period change
- -10.50%
- Period low
- $170.89
- Period high
- $209.37
Daily close
View OHLC price history
| Date | Open | High | Low | Close | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 3, 2026 | $169.47 | $173.09 | $167.05 | $172.94 | 6.86M |
| Sep 2, 2026 | $171.76 | $172.95 | $167.56 | $172.26 | 6.47M |
| Sep 1, 2026 | $172.74 | $173.1965 | $168.07 | $170.89 | 10.48M |
| Aug 31, 2026 | $176.86 | $177.61 | $174.17 | $175.45 | 7.61M |
| Aug 28, 2026 | $182.04 | $182.60 | $174.70 | $175.54 | 9.97M |
| Aug 27, 2026 | $185.01 | $186.78 | $180.85 | $183.77 | 6.56M |
| Aug 26, 2026 | $183.41 | $184.26 | $179.70 | $183.83 | 5.96M |
| Aug 25, 2026 | $184.58 | $186.13 | $180.71 | $183.34 | 8.9M |
| Aug 24, 2026 | $180.02 | $182.84 | $176.45 | $181.57 | 9.87M |
| Aug 21, 2026 | $189.435 | $189.77 | $182.11 | $183.99 | 8.91M |
| Aug 20, 2026 | $185.56 | $189.36 | $184.55 | $185.86 | 7.33M |
| Aug 19, 2026 | $196.435 | $196.978 | $185.38 | $187.27 | 9.7M |
| Aug 18, 2026 | $195.47 | $199.52 | $191.78 | $194.79 | 13.53M |
| Aug 17, 2026 | $206.89 | $209.10 | $202.48 | $205.76 | 9.48M |
| Aug 14, 2026 | $206.80 | $208.87 | $200.86 | $203.72 | 7.36M |
| Aug 13, 2026 | $208.52 | $214.80 | $207.00 | $209.37 | 8.54M |
| Aug 12, 2026 | $210.10 | $210.27 | $205.22 | $208.25 | 11.95M |
| Aug 11, 2026 | $198.665 | $203.15 | $195.00 | $200.47 | 8.1M |
| Aug 10, 2026 | $204.78 | $205.06 | $192.47 | $192.74 | 10.32M |
| Aug 7, 2026 | $197.98 | $201.83 | $195.05 | $198.11 | 8.97M |
| Aug 6, 2026 | $189.585 | $198.32 | $185.77 | $193.22 | 13.26M |
Latest KLAC news
The latest Smart Investors Daily articles mentioning KLAC.
Stock researchCompany · Overview
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | UBS | Neutral | — |
| Jul 29, 2026 | Needham | Buy | — |
| Jul 29, 2026 | Jefferies | Buy | — |
| Jul 29, 2026 | Deutsche Bank | Hold | — |
| Jul 29, 2026 | Wells Fargo | Overweight | — |
News briefing
No generated briefing is available yet.
SeekingAlpha · Aug 25, 2026
KLA Corporation: Buy The 2027+ Double Tailwind
KLA Corporation is a Buy after a sharp selloff, with fundamentals and a 2027 outlook improving despite high market expectations. Read more on KLAC stock here.
Benzinga · Aug 25, 2026
Here’s How Much You Would Have Made Owning KLA Stock In The Last 10 Years
KLA (NASDAQ:KLAC) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 25.51% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 38.89%. Currently, KLA has a market capitalization of $241.58 billion. Buying
Yahoo · Aug 22, 2026
KLA (KLAC) Stock Looks Overvalued After Strong Earnings Based Optimism
KLA stock has delivered a very large 5 year return, yet the latest valuation checks suggest the shares now lean expensive rather than clear value. After that kind of run, investors are weighing strong historical gains against a low overall value score. KLA has returned approximately 463.3% over the past 5 years, which raises the bar for what future performance would need to justify the current share price. Expectations for ongoing demand in KLA's core semiconductor equipment markets can...
AI research layers
Interpretive context generated from the platform’s current data sources.
KLA Corporation Stock Performance
KLA Corporation shares have experienced significant downward pressure across multiple timeframes, with the stock trading at $172.26 per SID market data. Over the past month, KLAC has declined 6.49%, while the three-month and one-year losses stand at a steep 91.64% and 85.85%, respectively. The stock is trading well below both its 50-day moving average of $210.02 and its 200-day moving average of $1,175.26, confirming a sustained bearish technical trend. The 14-day relative strength index registers at just 11.2, placing the stock deep in oversold territory by conventional technical standards. KLAC carries a beta of 1.437, indicating higher volatility relative to the broader market, which has amplified the severity of the drawdown. Average daily trading volume stands at approximately 1,022,688 shares according to SID market data, reflecting sustained investor engagement amid the decline. The current market capitalization sits at approximately $163.8 billion.
KLA Corporation Valuation Analysis
KLA Corporation's current valuation metrics reflect elevated multiples relative to earnings growth expectations. The stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.77, according to SID market data, which remains above the broader semiconductor industry median. The PEG ratio stands at 8.11, suggesting the current P/E is significantly stretched relative to the company's projected earnings growth rate. Additionally, the price-to-book ratio sits at 32.95, per SEC filings, indicative of the asset-light, high-margin nature of KLA's process control and inspection equipment business. The company offers a dividend yield of approximately 0.59%, providing modest income to shareholders during the current drawdown. Within the Technology sector, KLA's premium valuation historically reflects its dominant market position in semiconductor yield management solutions. However, the combination of a high PEG ratio and substantial price declines raises questions about whether current multiples adequately reflect the company's forward earnings trajectory and cyclical positioning.
Smart Money Activity for KLAC
Smart money indicators for KLA Corporation present a decidedly bearish composite picture, with an aggregate smart money score of 38 out of 100 per SID market data. The institutional component scores a perfect 25 out of 25, reflecting strong continued positioning by large fund managers in the name. However, this is offset by notably weak readings in other categories. The insider trading score registers at just 4.0 out of 25, driven by a pronounced selling imbalance — SEC Form 4 filings reveal 20 insider transactions over the past 90 days, of which 17 were sales and only 3 were purchases. This sell-to-buy ratio of nearly 6-to-1 signals diminished confidence among corporate insiders. Dark pool activity scores 8.5 out of 25, suggesting limited accumulation through off-exchange venues. Congressional trading activity is minimal at 0.8 out of 25 per 13F institutional filings. The overall bearish smart money signal contrasts sharply with the strong institutional positioning, creating a divergence worth monitoring.
KLA Corporation Earnings Outlook
KLA Corporation has demonstrated consistent earnings execution in its most recent reported quarters, according to company earnings reports. In the quarter reported on July 28, 2026, KLAC posted earnings of $1.05 per share against an analyst estimate of $1.00, delivering a positive surprise of $0.05. The prior quarter reported on April 29, 2026, showed an even stronger beat, with actual earnings of $9.40 per share versus the consensus estimate of $9.15, representing a $0.25 upside surprise. Looking ahead, analysts project earnings of $8.97 per share for the quarter with results expected on January 30, 2026, and $1.00 per share for the subsequent quarter anticipated on July 30, 2026, per analyst estimates. The sequential decline in estimates from $9.40 to $1.00 in reported figures suggests potential seasonality or business cycle dynamics within KLA's semiconductor equipment segment that investors should contextualize when evaluating forward expectations.
Wall Street Analyst Ratings for KLAC
Wall Street coverage of KLA Corporation reflects a moderately constructive consensus with notable dispersion among firms, per SID consensus data. In the most recent rating actions, UBS maintained its Neutral stance on September 1, 2026, while multiple firms reiterated positive views following the July 29, 2026 earnings report. Needham maintained its Buy rating, Jefferies reiterated Buy, and Wells Fargo sustained its Overweight recommendation, according to Wall Street analyst reports. Deutsche Bank held its more cautious Hold rating. The distribution shows three out of five recent ratings skewing bullish, with two firms maintaining neutral or hold positions. Notably, no analyst among the recent coverage has issued a Sell or Underweight rating despite the stock's substantial year-over-year decline of 85.85%. The absence of downgrades following the significant price deterioration suggests analysts may view current levels as reflecting adequate risk-reward, though the lack of upgrades also indicates limited near-term catalysts for a recovery in consensus sentiment.
