KLAC
KLA CorporationNASDAQInformation TechnologySemiconductor Equipment & MaterialsSnapshot 2026-05-08
As of May 8, 2026, KLAC has a composite score of 16.2, categorized as "mild favorable" with high confidence at 87.2. The score is influenced by a combination of factors, including a macro score of 32.3 and a management score of 84.6. Key drivers include macroeconomic conditions related to rates, growth, inflation, and labor. The valuation is noted as expensive with a score of 25.8.
Price
Daily closes from AlphaVantage. Earnings/event dots are placed inline.
Factor signals
Read top-to-bottom: thesis (is this a strong company over a 1–3 year hold), watch flags (has something changed worth re-reading), and position context (how violent might the path be). Each pill is a parallel diagnostic — never aggregated into a single score.
Thesis
— is this a strong company over a 1–3 year hold?Why this rank
- Direction share1.00
- Slope (norm)0.02
- Bonus0.00
Why this rank
Trailing four: 2025-Q3, 2026-Q1, 2026-Q2, 2026-Q3
Why this rank
Watch
— has something changed worth re-reading?Why this setup
EPS estimate $9.80 → $9.96 (+1.7% / 30d). 18 raised, 5 cut, 23 covering analysts.
0 upgrades, 0 downgrades / 30d, 10 maintained. 63% of analysts rate Buy.
10 PT revisions / 30d. Avg target 6.1% above current price.
0 positive, 0 negative / 30d.
F4 · Management deep-dive — recent events, stated priorities, guidance track record
Recent 8-K events
8 material events in the last 24 months — top 5 listed below.
Stated priorities
3 priorityies extracted from earnings transcripts (as of 2026-05-08).
- 1.Maintain strong gross marginscostbehind30% progress
4/29: “GAAP gross margin is expected to be in a range of 60.72% +/- 1.00%.”
Why this status
Stated in 4 of last 4 quarters. Gross margin guidance for 2026-Q3 is 60.72% +/- 1.00%. The focus on maintaining strong gross margins is consistent, but the actual delivery remains to be seen in upcoming results.
- 2.Achieve revenue growthgrowthbehind30% progress
4/29: “Total revenues are expected to be in a range of $3.575 billion +/- $200 million.”
Why this status
Stated in 4 of last 4 quarters. Revenue grew from $3.15 billion in 2025-Q4 to $3.575 billion in 2026-Q3, indicating a positive trajectory. Management's focus on revenue growth is delivering results.
- 3.Focus on EPS targetsgrowthbehind30% progress
4/29: “GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be in a range of $9.66 +/- $1.00.”
Why this status
Stated in 4 of last 4 quarters. EPS guidance increased from $8.28 in 2025-Q4 to $9.66 in 2026-Q3, showing progress towards EPS targets. Management's focus on EPS is on track with the upward trajectory.
Guidance track record
Last 8 quarters of EPS guidance with actuals.
Per-quarter detail
| Period | Guidance | Actual | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-06-30 | $5.06 – $6.26 | $6.60 | beat |
| 2024-09-30 | $6.09 – $7.29 | $7.01 | inside |
| 2024-12-31 | $6.85 – $8.05 | $8.20 | beat |
| 2025-03-31 | $7.45 – $8.65 | $8.41 | inside |
| 2025-06-30 | $7.50 – $9.06 | $9.38 | beat |
| 2025-09-30 | $7.51 – $9.05 | $8.81 | inside |
| 2025-12-31 | $7.68 – $9.24 | $8.85 | inside |
| 2026-03-31 | $8.07 – $9.63 | $9.40 | inside |
Beat / inside / miss is computed from the guided range when issued; for point-estimate quarters a ±5% tolerance band around the mid is used. surprise_pct_vs_mid is unstable when guided EPS is near zero, so it is not surfaced as a headline.
Position context
— how violent might the path be while I hold it?Why this risk level
Recent vol — 30d annualized 52%; 252d 46%.
Drawdown — Max 1y −22%. Bad day move −4%.
Beta to sector ETF (XLK) — 0.13 over 1y.
Liquidity — score 100/100.
Sub-scores — vol 24/100, drawdown 55/100, beta 13/100, earnings vol —.
via XLK
Tailwind = sector leading the S&P 500; headwind = trailing. Both can be constructive — historically, headwind regimes have averaged stronger forward returns than tailwind.
Context label only — describes the market state (e.g. real bear vs narrative panic, healthy uptrend vs late-stage froth). It is not a per-ticker buy/sell signal and does not predict factor performance.
Not investment advice. As of 2026-05-08.
What changed
The most important moves since the prior daily snapshot.
- No material changes since the prior snapshot.
No material changes since the prior snapshot.
as of 2026-05-08
Management scorecard
How management runs the business — capital, margins, balance sheet, and how reliably they guide and deliver.
Met or beat guidance 100% of the last 8 guided quarters · 8.8% avg surprise
What management is focused on
Priorities management has stated in recent disclosures, with status and evidence drawn from earnings calls, filings, and press releases.
- #1
Maintain strong gross margins
CostNew since 2026-05-04Continue to focus on maintaining strong gross margins as a key financial metric.
Mixed →BehindStated in 4 of last 4 quarters. Gross margin guidance for 2026-Q3 is 60.72% +/- 1.00%. The focus on maintaining strong gross margins is consistent, but the actual delivery remains to be seen in upcoming results.
30%CEO/CFO:“GAAP gross margin is expected to be in a range of 60.72% +/- 1.00%.”Multiple sourcesSource dated 2026-04-29Stated 4 of last 8 quartersFirst seen 2026-05-04Show history (4)
- 2026-Q3Multiple sources
“GAAP gross margin is expected to be in a range of 60.72% +/- 1.00%.”
- 2026-Q2Multiple sources
“GAAP gross margin is expected to be in a range of 60.62% +/- 1.00%.”
- 2026-Q1Multiple sources
“GAAP gross margin is expected to be in a range of 60.8% +/- 1.0%.”
- 2025-Q4Multiple sources
“GAAP gross margin is expected to be in a range of 60.7% +/- 1.0%.”
- #2
Achieve revenue growth
GrowthNew since 2026-05-04Focus on achieving consistent revenue growth across quarters.
On track →BehindStated in 4 of last 4 quarters. Revenue grew from $3.15 billion in 2025-Q4 to $3.575 billion in 2026-Q3, indicating a positive trajectory. Management's focus on revenue growth is delivering results.
Revenue grew from $3.15 billion in 2025-Q4 to $3.575 billion in 2026-Q330%CEO/CFO:“Total revenues are expected to be in a range of $3.575 billion +/- $200 million.”Multiple sourcesSource dated 2026-04-29Stated 4 of last 8 quartersFirst seen 2026-05-04Show history (4)
- 2026-Q3Multiple sources
“Total revenues are expected to be in a range of $3.575 billion +/- $200 million.”
- 2026-Q2Multiple sources
“Total revenues are expected to be in a range of $3.35 billion +/- $150 million.”
- 2026-Q1Multiple sources
“Total revenues are expected to be in a range of $3.225 billion +/- $150 million.”
- 2025-Q4Multiple sources
“Total revenues is expected to be in a range of $3.15 billion +/- $150 million.”
- #3
Focus on EPS targets
GrowthNew since 2026-05-04Maintain focus on achieving EPS targets as a key performance indicator.
On track →BehindStated in 4 of last 4 quarters. EPS guidance increased from $8.28 in 2025-Q4 to $9.66 in 2026-Q3, showing progress towards EPS targets. Management's focus on EPS is on track with the upward trajectory.
EPS guidance increased from $8.28 in 2025-Q4 to $9.66 in 2026-Q330%CEO/CFO:“GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be in a range of $9.66 +/- $1.00.”Multiple sourcesSource dated 2026-04-29Stated 4 of last 8 quartersFirst seen 2026-05-04Show history (4)
- 2026-Q3Multiple sources
“GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be in a range of $9.66 +/- $1.00.”
- 2026-Q2Multiple sources
“GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be in a range of $8.85 +/- $0.78.”
- 2026-Q1Multiple sources
“GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be in a range of $8.46 +/- $0.78.”
- 2025-Q4Multiple sources
“GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be in a range of $8.28 +/- $0.77.”
How this stock is priced
Two ways to read price: against peers in the same business, and against the company's own history.
Looks more expensive than peers.
Richer than its own typical valuation.
P/E over the last 5 years
71 monthly pointsHow this compares
A side-by-side read on composite, valuation, and risk versus peers.
| Stock | Composite | Valuation | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
KLAC KLA Corporation | +16 | expensive | elevated |
NVDA NVIDIA Corporation | +20 | full | moderate |
AAPL Apple Inc | +19 | full | moderate |
MSFT Microsoft | +27 | fair | elevated |
AVGO Broadcom | +11 | expensive | elevated |
Risk — how this stock moves
What a normal day looks like, what a bad day looks like, and the worst the last year has thrown at it.
What could change this view
Conditional scenarios — if X happens, the score would shift by about Y points. These are not predictions.
- If information_technology sector trend rises from +0.08 into 'improving' (>= +0.20)+5.0 pts
- If next-quarter guidance is raised (currently NEW as of 2026-04-29)+4.0 pts
- If next-quarter guidance is cut (currently NEW as of 2026-04-29)-8.0 pts
- If rates state reverses from -0.37 (negative) to +0.37 (positive)-7.3 pts
- If information_technology sector trend falls from +0.08 into 'weakening' (<= -0.20)-5.0 pts
Material updates
Recent SEC 8-K filings ranked by likely impact, confidence, and recency.
- 2026-04-299d agoItem 2.02
of this Current Report on Form 8-K and the exhibit attached hereto shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.
earnings preannouncementneutralscore 53 - 2026-05-071d agoItem 8.01
Other Events. On May 7, 2026, KLA Corporation (the “Company”) announced that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) had approved a ten-for-one forward stock split (the “Stock Split”) of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), to be effected through an amendment to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Charter Amendment”), which will also effect a proportionate increase in the number of authorized shares of the Compan…
capital allocationneutralscore 51 - 2026-03-121mo agoItem 8.01
Other Events. On March 11, 2026, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) established a quarterly dividend level of $2.30 per share on the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, which represents the anticipated level at which dividends will be declared by the Board until the Board determines otherwise, beginning with the dividend expected to be declared in May 2026. This new dividend level represents a 21% increase over the Company’s most recent quarterly dividend of $1.…
capital allocationneutralscore 14 - 2026-01-293mo agoItem 2.02
of this Current Report on Form 8-K and the exhibit attached hereto shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.
earnings preannouncementneutralscore 7 - 2026-02-053mo agoItem 8.01
Other Events. On February 5, 2026, KLA Corporation (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $1.90 per share on the Company’s common stock. Such dividend shall be payable on March 3, 2026 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 17, 2026. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
capital allocationneutralscore 6
Score history
The composite score, snapshot by snapshot. The dotted line at zero separates leaning-positive from leaning-negative.
Not investment advice. Scores describe historical and current data; they are not forecasts of future returns. Consult a licensed advisor before making investment decisions.