KLA Corporation (KLAC)
KLA Corporation makes the high-tech inspection and measurement tools that chipmakers rely on to ensure their tiny, complex semiconductors actually work.
Is KLA Corporation a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: KLA Corporation makes the high-tech inspection and measurement tools that chipmakers rely on to ensure their tiny, complex semiconductors actually work.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
KLA remains the industry standard for next-generation chip manufacturing
Major shifts in chip design that reduce the need for current inspection tools
What does KLA Corporation do?
Think of KLA as the quality control department for the entire global chip industry. They build incredibly precise machines that scan silicon wafers for microscopic defects, helping manufacturers like TSMC or Intel avoid wasting expensive materials. The revenue is generated by selling these essential tools and providing the ongoing software and service support needed to keep them running, making it a vital cog in the AI and computing revolution.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on quality and income, and weakest on value.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 0.5% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 15% over the year
- ✓Very profitable - turns about 36% of sales into profit
- !High P/E of 49 - big growth is already priced in
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 87%)
- Quality screens high (75/100)
- Dominant position in a niche but essential part of the chip supply chain
- Very high profit margins indicating strong pricing power
- Exceptional efficiency in generating returns on shareholder capital
- Value screens low (15/100)
- Geopolitical tensions affecting global semiconductor trade and supply chains
- A downturn in the tech sector leading to reduced spending on new factory equipment
- Technological changes that could make current inspection methods obsolete
What do KLA Corporation's numbers mean?
How much money does KLA Corporation make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does KLA Corporation pay a dividend?
Yes - KLA Corporation currently pays a dividend of about 0.5% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does KLA Corporation report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
KLA Corporation is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-28 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-28 | $1.00 | $1.05 | Beat +5% |
| 2026-04-29 | $0.92 | $0.94 | Beat +2% |
| 2026-01-29 | $0.88 | $0.89 | In line |
| 2025-10-29 | $0.86 | $0.88 | Beat +2% |
| 2025-07-31 | $0.86 | $0.94 | Beat +10% |
| 2025-04-30 | $0.81 | $0.84 | Beat +4% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, KLA Corporation came in ahead of what analysts expected 5 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
More in Technology
Micron Technology
Western Digital
NVIDIA
Gen Digital
Dell Technologies
Teradyne
Fidelity National Information Services
Hewlett Packard EnterpriseWhat are the scenarios for KLA Corporation?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of KLA Corporation?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Dominant position in a niche but essential part of the chip supply chain
- Very high profit margins indicating strong pricing power
- Exceptional efficiency in generating returns on shareholder capital
- High valuation multiples suggest investors have already priced in significant growth
- The business is highly dependent on the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry
- Share price can be more volatile than the average company
- Geopolitical tensions affecting global semiconductor trade and supply chains
- A downturn in the tech sector leading to reduced spending on new factory equipment
- Technological changes that could make current inspection methods obsolete
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A sustained decline in global semiconductor manufacturing investment
- A significant loss of market share to a new competitor in inspection technology
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.