KLACSemiconductor equipment
KLA
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By Kevin Amado
Updated
- Price
- $158.77
- Analysts view
- Analysts Bullish
- Discount category
- Below intrinsic value
- Top pick
- Top pick
- Next earnings
- Earnings Jan 28 · · estimated
- Market cap
- $207B
- Shares of Aug 3, 2026
- P/E (trailing)
- 43.4
- Price of Oct 29, 2026
- EPS (trailing)
- $3.66
- 12 months to Jun 30, 2026
- 52-week range
- $107.20 – $307.37
- To Oct 29, 2026
- Beta
- 1.45
- Vs S&P 500, 5 years monthly, to Sep 30, 2026
- Average volume
- 9.8M
- 3 months, to Oct 29, 2026
In short
- Thesis
- The market prices KLA for a peak in chip equipment spending and for China risk, and steady growth in process control through 2027 with a stable margin can close the gap.
- Gap
- Can close. The Q2 fiscal 2027 report, expected in late January 2027, and the end of the U.S. export rule suspension in November 2026 show whether growth continues into 2027.
Company guidance: Total revenues of $4.7 billion +/- $200 million and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $1.44 +/- $0.11 for the December 2026 quarter (, Q1 fiscal 2027 earnings release (8-K Ex. 99.1))
About
KLA makes process control equipment for chipmakers. Its inspection and metrology systems find defects and measure the features on wafers and photomasks during production, so chipmakers can raise their yields. It also sells software and services for its installed base. It has three segments.
In Q1 fiscal 2027, which ended on September 30, 2026, Semiconductor Process Control had revenue of $3.75 billion, Specialty Semiconductor Process had revenue of $139 million, and PCB and Component Inspection had revenue of $242 million. Revenue for fiscal 2026, which ended on June 30, 2026, was $13.58 billion. KLA split its stock ten for one on June 11, 2026.
Thesis
The market prices KLA as a supplier at a high point of the chip equipment cycle. AI chips need more and smaller features, more memory and more advanced packaging, and each step needs more inspection and measurement. This drove revenue up 29% to $4.14 billion in Q1 fiscal 2027, and KLA guides $4.7 billion for the December 2026 quarter. But chipmakers can cut spending quickly.
China gave 29.8% of revenue in fiscal 2026, and one customer gave about 19%. A U.S. rule that extends export limits to companies that listed parties own is suspended only until November 2026. For the gap to close, three things must be true. Revenue must keep growing through calendar 2027, as KLA expects.
Non-GAAP gross margin must stay near the guided 62.5%. Growth from leading-edge logic, memory and packaging must be larger than any fall in sales to China. The Q2 fiscal 2027 report, expected in late January 2027, is the next test. If these checks pass, the gap can close over the next four to six quarters.
The main reason it may not close is a fall in chip equipment spending after the AI build-out slows.
Checkpoints
- Nov 2026PendingU.S. export rule for affiliates of listed partiesAn extension of the suspension or no new loss of China sales passes; a return of the rule that cuts sales to more Chinese customers fails.
- Jan 28, 2027 · est.PendingQ2 fiscal 2027 results: December quarterRevenue near the $4.7 billion guidance and a view of growth through calendar 2027 pass; revenue below the range or a weaker 2027 view fail.
Recent events
- October 28, 2026KLA reported Q1 fiscal 2027 results. Revenue was $4.14 billion, up 29%, and above the midpoint of guidance. GAAP EPS was $1.18 and non-GAAP EPS was $1.22. Free cash flow was $1.34 billion, and capital returns were $1.24 billion. For the December 2026 quarter, KLA guided revenue of $4.7 billion, plus or minus $200 million, and non-GAAP EPS of $1.44, plus or minus $0.11.
- August 6, 2026KLA declared a quarterly dividend of $0.23 per share, its first dividend after the stock split.
- July 28, 2026KLA reported Q4 fiscal 2026 results. Revenue was $3.66 billion, and non-GAAP EPS was $1.05. For fiscal 2026, revenue was $13.58 billion, GAAP EPS was $3.66 and free cash flow was $3.77 billion. KLA said that it expects growth to speed up in the second half of calendar 2026 and to continue through 2027.
Show 5 older eventsHide older events
- June 11, 2026KLA's ten-for-one stock split took effect after the market closed. The shares started to trade on a split-adjusted basis on June 12, 2026.
- May 7, 2026KLA announced the ten-for-one stock split and declared a quarterly dividend of $2.30 per share before the split, 21% more than the dividend of February 2026.
- April 29, 2026KLA reported Q3 fiscal 2026 results. Revenue was $3.415 billion, and non-GAAP EPS was $9.40 before the stock split ($0.94 after the split).
- March 12, 2026KLA held an investor day. On March 11, 2026, the board set a new quarterly dividend level of $2.30 per share before the split and approved a new $7 billion share buyback program.
- January 29, 2026KLA reported Q2 fiscal 2026 results. Revenue was $3.30 billion, and non-GAAP EPS was $8.85 before the stock split.
Latest news and filings
- Last earnings
- October 28, 2026 (8-K on sec.gov)
- Next earnings
- Expected about January 28, 2027. The company has not confirmed the date.
- 8-KEarnings releaseFiled · klac-20261028
- 10-KAnnual report for the period ended Jun 30, 2026Filed · klac-20260630
- 8-KOther company newsFiled · Read it on sec.gov
- 8-KEarnings releaseFiled · klac-20260728
- 8-KChange to shareholder rights or bylawsFiled · Read it on sec.gov
- 8-KOther company newsFiled · Read it on sec.gov
- 10-QQuarterly report for the period ended Mar 31, 2026Filed · klac-20260331
- 8-KEarnings releaseFiled · klac-20260429
- 8-KInvestor disclosure and Other company newsFiled · Read it on sec.gov
- 8-KOther company newsFiled · Read it on sec.gov
Risks
- Chip equipment spending is cyclical. KLA's growth in 2026 depends on AI spending by chipmakers and their customers. If AI spending slows, chipmakers can cut orders quickly, and revenue and margins can fall together.
- China gave 29.8% of revenue in fiscal 2026. U.S. export rules limit sales to many Chinese customers. A rule that extends these limits to companies that listed parties own is suspended only until November 2026.
- One customer gave about 19% of revenue in fiscal 2026 and in fiscal 2025. A delay in that customer's factory plans can lower revenue for several quarters.
- New global minimum tax rules (Pillar Two) added $20.2 million of tax in Q1 fiscal 2027. KLA expects this tax to reverse if a planned safe harbor for U.S. groups is adopted, but the timing is not certain.
Balance sheet
- Cash
- $4.7B
- Debt
- $6.0B
- Net debt
- $1.2B
- Interest cover
- 27×
- times profit pays interest
- Credit line
- $1.5B
- undrawn, to July 2030
Cash against debt
debt covered by cashnet debt $1.2B
When the debt is due
The last debt is due in 2062.
KLA funds itself with senior unsecured notes. Principal was $5.95 billion at June 30, 2026, due from March 2029 to July 2062, and the carrying value of long-term debt was $5.72 billion at September 30, 2026. KLA swaps $2.00 billion of the fixed-rate notes to floating rates. At September 30, 2026, cash and cash equivalents were $1.53 billion and marketable securities were $3.21 billion. Interest cover is operating income divided by interest expense for Q1 fiscal 2027. The $1.50 billion revolving credit facility runs to July 2030 and had no borrowings at June 30, 2026. Free cash flow was $4.04 billion for the twelve months to September 30, 2026. In Q1 fiscal 2027, KLA paid $936 million for share buybacks and $305 million for dividends. About $9.74 billion of buyback authorization was left at June 30, 2026.
Dividends
- Dividend yield
- 0.5% (last 12 months, at today’s price of $158.77)
- Paid per share
- $0.84 in the last 12 months (4 payments)
- Current annual rate
- $0.92 ($0.23 × 4 a year)
- Payout ratio
- 22% of the last fiscal year’s earnings (the year that ended June 30, 2026)
- Latest ex-dividend date
- August 17, 2026, $0.23 per share
Dividends per share by year
| 2016 | $0.21 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $0.226 | |
| 2018 | $0.284 | |
| 2019 | $0.31 | |
| 2020 | $0.35 | |
| 2021 | $0.39 | |
| 2022 | $0.47 | |
| 2023 | $0.535 | |
| 2024 | $0.605 | |
| 2025 | $0.74 |
Over the last 5 years, the dividend grew by about 17.5% a year. Over the last 10 years, the dividend grew by about 15.0% a year.
Source: company filings and market data, read on October 29, 2026. The ex-dividend date is the first day a buyer no longer gets the next payment.
Questions about KLA
What does KLA do?
KLA makes process control equipment for chipmakers. Its inspection and metrology systems find defects and measure the features on wafers and photomasks during production, so chipmakers can raise their yields. Its market cap is $207B at the current price of $158.77.
When does KLA report earnings next?
This is an estimate: KLA may report on January 28, 2027. It last reported results on October 28, 2026.
Is KLA stock below its intrinsic value?
KLA stock is below intrinsic value. This is general information, not advice.
What changed recently at KLA?
The latest update is from October 28, 2026. KLA reported Q1 fiscal 2027 results.
What are the main risks for KLA?
Chip equipment spending is cyclical. China gave 29.8% of revenue in fiscal 2026. One customer gave about 19% of revenue in fiscal 2026 and in fiscal 2025.
How much debt and cash does KLA have?
At September 30, 2026, KLA had $6.0B of debt and $4.7B of cash.
Does KLA pay a dividend?
Yes. KLA paid $0.84 per share in the last 12 months. That is a dividend yield of 0.5% at the current price of $158.77. The latest ex-dividend date was August 17, 2026.
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