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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.

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La posible compra del negocio de fundición de Intel por parte de TSMC podría ampliar su cuota de mercado al 75 %, afectando a Samsung.

Intel y TSMC: ¿Cómo afectaría su posible fusión a Samsung y al mercado de chips?

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Shares of companies in the broader technology sector are trading lower amid overall market weakness on US consumer and economic concerns.

Shares of semiconductor companies are trading lower amid overall market weakness on US consumer and economic concerns.

KLA's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NYSE">KLAC</a>) short percent of float has fallen 14.53% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 2.66 million shares sold short, which is 2.0% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.92 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?utm_source=insights&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?utm_source=insights&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>KLA Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739995217_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for KLA has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing KLA's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, KLA's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 9.20%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?utm_source=insights&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

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Peering Into KLA's Recent Short Interest

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) rumored acquisition of Intel Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) could hinder&nbsp;Samsung Electronics Co&#8217;s (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSNLF#OTC">SSNLF</a>) push to narrow the gap with the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taiwanese contract chipmaker</a>.
The Trump administration has proposed an acquisition of Intel&#8217;s struggling foundry business, which reported a net loss of $19.2 billion in 2024.
On the other side, Samsung noted slow <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/02/43440540/samsungs-jay-y-lee-acquitted-shifting-focus-to-business-challenges" rel="noreferrer noopener">demand for conventional chips</a> in personal computers and mobile phones, which affected its memory business.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/02/43788975/amd-closing-competitive-gpu-gap-with-nvidia-gains-market-share-from-intel-in-client-and-server-markets-analyst" rel="noreferrer noopener">AMD Closing Competitive GPU Gap With Nvidia, Gains Market Share From Intel In Client And Server Markets: Analyst</a>
Rising R&amp;D costs and early investments in expanding advanced-chip processing capability also affected its earnings.
Samsung lagged behind&nbsp;SK Hynix in making the best memory chips for artificial intelligence, affecting its chip-making profit. Also, the Trump administration&#8217;s aggressive tariffs perpetrated uncertainty over Samsung&#8217;s mobile and consumer businesses.
Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) has been examining Intel&#8217;s chip design and marketing business, fueling rumors of a potential takeover.
Samsung&#8217;s foundry unit failed to become profitable over the years.
Last November, Samsung named Han Jin-man, executive vice president of its U.S. semiconductor business, to lead its foundry unit. His inaugural message stressed the importance of&nbsp;a &#8220;rapid ramp-up&#8221; of foundry production&nbsp;using the 2-nm process.
Kim Hyung-jun Kim of South Korea&#8217;s Next-Generation Intelligent Semiconductor Foundation Group and Seoul National University <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kedglobal.com/korean-chipmakers/newsView/ked202502180005" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a> the Korea Economic Daily that if Taiwan Semiconductor could employ Intel&#8217;s .U.S factories, it could help boost the former&#8217;s market share to ~75% (up from 64.9% in the third quarter of 2024) at the cost of Samsung, which has a 9.3% market share.
Needham&#8217;s Charles Shi expects the takeover to lead to capital efficiency, a long-term negative for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/02/43792756/taiwan-semiconductors-intel-foundry-acquisition-could-be-negative-for-asml-kla-synopsys-and-cadence-analyst" rel="noreferrer noopener">Semiconductor Capital Equipment (Semicap)&nbsp;companies</a>. Shi noted that the takeover would negatively impact ASML Holding (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>) and KLA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) due to the cancellation or scaling back of Intel&#8217;s aggressively pushing high-NA EUV program.
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Taiwan Semiconductor's Potential Intel Takeover Could Widen Gap, Threatening Samsung's Chip Business: Report

Needham analyst Charles Shi reiterated Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) with a Buy and a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TSM/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">$225&nbsp;price target</a>.
In conjunction with Shi&#8217;s Taiwan Semiconductor note on a pro forma analysis of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43761300/intel-could-be-split-in-two-as-broadcom-and-tsmc-explore-deals-trump-white-house-resists-foreign-ownership-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">contract chipmaker&#8217;s potential acquisition</a> of Intel Corp&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) Intel Foundry, the analyst noted through the implications for Semiconductor Capital Equipment (Semicap) and Electronic Design Automation&nbsp;(EDA) and concluded that the takeover will inevitably lead to capital efficiency, which is a long-term negative for semicap.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43708265/ciscos-ai-expansion-and-cloud-growth-drive-analyst-upgrades-and-price-hikes-citing-growth-like-extreme-juniper" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cisco&#8217;s AI Expansion and Cloud Growth Drive Analyst Upgrades And Price Hikes, Citing Growth Like Extreme &amp; Juniper</a>
Also, post-closing, the Taiwanese chipmaker will likely pursue capital expenditure synergies to improve Intel Foundry&#8217;s cash flow and maximize equipment reuse, especially in lithography, process control, hybrid bonding, and potential cancellation of specific programs such as high-NA EUV.
Post-closing, Taiwan Semiconductor will likely cancel specific Intel Foundry programs, such as building its own EDA/IP ecosystem, which could reduce IP purchases from EDA companies.
The analyst notes that Taiwan Semiconductor will migrate Intel Products onto the Taiwanese contract chipmaker&#8217;s processes starting from 14A node. A majority of the Intel Foundry fabs will become &#8220;orphan&#8221; fabs, which will eventually be sold by Taiwan Semiconductor, resulting in reduced demand for mature-node semicap equipment.
Overall, Shi noted that Taiwan Semiconductor&#8217;s taking over Intel Foundry may be a net negative for the small-cap and EDA industries, at least in the near—to medium-term.
The analyst writes that if the takeover materialized, ASML Holding (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>), KLA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>), Synopsys, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNPS#NASDAQ">SNPS</a>), and Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CDNS#NASDAQ">CDNS</a>) would feel more near-term pain than peers.
Shi noted that Intel&#8217;s aggressively pushing high-NA EUV program may be canceled or scaled back, given Taiwan Semiconductor&#8217;s lack of interest in high-NA and the technical limitations of high-NA EUV in printing large dies essential for AI chips.
This is a direct negative to ASML, which depends more on the pricing uplift of high NA EUV to generate top-line growth as overall litho intensity plateaus.
The analyst noted Taiwan Semiconductor will be unable to backfill Intel Foundry&#8217;s old fabs with its volume due to significant process and toolset differences. Instead, Taiwan Semiconductor may reuse Intel Foundry tools when the tool configurations are standardized and not customized.
Shi noted an excellent opportunity for Taiwan Semiconductor to reuse Intel&#8217;s existing lithography and process control equipment fleet, as those tools are rarely customized to a specific customer.
This is a direct negative read for ASML and KLA Corp, which shipped a decent volume to Intel during the Intel IDM 2.0 era.
The EDA industry benefited from Intel Foundry over the past two years as Intel ramped up spending on its foundry ecosystem, especially on building an IP ecosystem that allows customers to easily port designs from Taiwan Semiconductor to Intel Foundry.
Intel&#8217;s significant investment in creating a baseline IP ecosystem has juiced up Synopsys and Cadence Design Systems&#8217; IP revenue growth.
However, if Taiwan Semiconductor takes over Intel Foundry, Shi noted that ecosystem spending will likely be cut. As such, Shi noted potential downside risks to Synopsys and Cadence Design Systems&#8217; IP revenue growth in 2025 and beyond.
Price Action: TSM stock is down 0.83% at $202.21 at last check Tuesday.
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Taiwan Semiconductor's Intel Foundry Acquisition Could Be Negative For ASML, KLA, Synopsys, And Cadence: Analyst

KLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 6.18% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 14.64%. Currently, KLA has a market capitalization of $99.76 billion. 
Buying $100 In KLAC: If an investor had bought $100 of KLAC stock 20 years ago, it would be worth $1,574.21 today based on a price of $750.74 for KLAC at the time of writing.
<h3>KLA's Performance Over Last 20 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739801709_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

$100 Invested In This Stock 20 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

On Wednesday, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/chip-stocks" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. chip equipment maker</a> Lam Research Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LRCX#NASDAQ">LRCX</a>) committed over 100 billion rupees ($1.2 billion) in India&#8217;s southern Karnataka state to bolster its semiconductor ecosystem, Reuters reports.
The Indian administration launched initiatives, including a $10 billion stimulus, to make India a global semiconductor manufacturing and design hub.
The country expects its semiconductor market to reach $63 billion in valuation by 2026.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43636975/tower-semiconductor-adapts-to-nvidias-architectural-shift-analyst-sees-growth-in-ai-optical-networks" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tower Semiconductor Adapts To Nvidia&#8217;s Architectural Shift, Analyst Sees Growth In AI Optical Networks</a>
Karnataka includes Bengaluru, the IT hub, and is a major exporter of software, IT services, and manufactured goods.
The Indian government has already approved Micron Technology, Inc&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>) Sadanand facility, Tata Electronics Private Limited&#8217;s chip fabrication unit in partnership with Taiwanese Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp, and CG Power&#8217;s project in collaboration with Renesas Electronics Corp, Japan, and Stars Microelectronics, Thailand, the Economic Times <a target="_blank" href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/lam-research-announces-rs-1000-crore-investment-in-india/articleshow/118152773.cms?from=mdr" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
The Chip equipment industry has benefited from the artificial intelligence boom by helping manufacture AI chips. Lam Research&#8217;s products help chipmakers create smaller, faster, and more powerful electronic devices.&nbsp;
Lam Research&#8217;s peers include Netherlands&#8217; ASML Holding (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>), which designs and manufactures machines that make microchips, and U.S.&#8217;s Applied Materials, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) and KLA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>), which helps create the chips that power many of everyday devices.&nbsp;
Countries, including the U.S., Japan, China, and Europe, have also provided subsidies and incentives to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43541019/chip-equipment-stocks-gain-traction-as-ai-demand-tsmcs-capex-and-semiconductor-expansion-drive-valuations" rel="noreferrer noopener">boost local semiconductor</a> production, especially after the 2020 pandemic in China, which disrupted global semiconductor supply chains and triggered a semiconductor chip crisis.&nbsp;
According to <a target="_blank" href="http://SEMI" rel="noreferrer noopener">SEMI</a>, semiconductor manufacturing equipment growth will likely reach $121 billion in 2025 and $139 billion in 2026 from ~$113 billion in 2024, backed by demand for advanced chips in devices like smartphones, PCs, and IoT gadgets.
Lam Research stock surged 15% year-to-date. At least four Wall Street firms reduced their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LRCX/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">price forecasts on</a> the stock, and two increased their price targets in 2025. At least two Wall Street firms, including KeyBanc and Cantor Fitzgerald, upgraded their stock rating and a downgrade by Wolfev Research in 2025.
CNBC&#8217;s Jim Cramer recommended buying&nbsp;Lam Research, citing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/01/43191894/jim-cramer-wont-get-in-the-way-of-this-meme-stock-calls-lam-research-so-cheap" rel="noreferrer noopener">its cheap valuation</a>.
Goldman Sachs&#8217; Toshiya Hari&nbsp;expects Lam Research to outperform its peers backed by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42924519/nvidia-amd-broadcom-lead-semiconductor-stock-decline-amid-us-china-ai-chip-export-ban-concerns-amd-downgraded-by-goldman-sachs-and-more" rel="noreferrer noopener">recovery in the</a> wafer fab equipment market, adoption of Gate-All-Around transistors in leading-edge foundry/logic, and technology transitions in 3D NAND.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Price Action: LRCX stock closed lower by 2.89% at $80.90 at the last check on Wednesday.
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</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

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Lam Research Commits $1.2 Billion Investment In India, Eyes $63 Billion Semiconductor Growth Market

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/semiconductor" rel="noreferrer noopener">Semiconductor equipment companies</a> ASML Holding (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>), Applied Materials, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>), KLA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>), and Lam Research Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LRCX#NASDAQ">LRCX</a>) became significant beneficiaries of the artificial intelligence boom, bearing testimony to the interconnectivity of the industry ecosystem.
Recently, CNBC&#8217;s Jim Cramer flagged how the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43138590/jim-cramer-says-taiwan-semiconductors-capex-plans-boost-applied-materials-lam-research-kla-stocks" rel="noreferrer noopener">capital equipment companies</a> got a boost from the &nbsp;Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) upbeat quarterly print and guidance.
It has committed $38 billion—$42 billion in fiscal 2025 capex versus the actual fiscal 2024 capex of $29.8 billion, including a boost of capex on equipment triggering a rally in its supplier stocks, including&nbsp;Applied Materials,&nbsp;Lam Research, and&nbsp;KLA, Cramer inferred.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43532222/entegris-q4-earnings-revenue-and-profit-beat-warns-of-2025-uncertainty-beyond-ai-growth" rel="noreferrer noopener">Entegris Q4 Earnings: Revenue And Profit Beat, Warns of 2025 Uncertainty Beyond AI Growth</a>
The contract chipmaker reported&nbsp;fourth-quarter revenue&nbsp;of $26.88 billion, up by 39%, topping the consensus of $26.28 billion. The company expects first-quarter revenue of $25.0 billion—$25.8 billion, compared to the&nbsp;$24.97 billion consensus.
Cramer correlated advanced process technologies with equipment catering to&nbsp;Nvidia Corp&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) GPUs and other accelerators.
ASML Holding, a $292 billion company, trades at a PE multiple of 37.2x versus Applied Materials&#8217; ($147 billion market cap) 18.8x, Lam Research&#8217;s ($105 billion market cap) 21.5x and KLA&#8217;s ($101 billion market cap) 24.2x.
The cash-rich chip equipment makers have consistently paid dividends, with a dividend yield of ~1%.
ASML Holdings&#8217; gross margin is 51.7%, compared to Applied Materials&#8217; 47.3%, KLA&#8217;s 60.30%, and Lam Research&#8217;s 47.4%.
Applied Materials analysts had flagged the impact of intensifying geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China, considering the company&#8217;s significant <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/earnings-beats/24/11/42015379/applied-materials-reports-solid-q4-beat-analysts-express-concern-around-high-exposure-to-china-spending-decline" rel="noreferrer noopener">exposure to the country</a>.
The U.S. is already ASML Holding&#8217;s largest market, overtaking China in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43301092/us-surpasses-china-as-chip-equipment-maker-nvidia-supplier-asmls-biggest-market-in-q4" rel="noreferrer noopener">the fourth quarter</a>. Applied Materials and Lam Research have contacted non-Chinese suppliers to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/11/41726213/applied-materials-and-lam-research-shift-supply-chains-away-from-china-to-meet-new-us-guidelines" rel="noreferrer noopener">comply with regulations</a>.
Goldman Sachs analyst Toshiya Hari&nbsp;expects Lam Research to outperform its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42924519/nvidia-amd-broadcom-lead-semiconductor-stock-decline-amid-us-china-ai-chip-export-ban-concerns-amd-downgraded-by-goldman-sachs-and-more" rel="noreferrer noopener">immediate peers in 2025</a>.
In addition to a quarterly recovery in the overall Wafer Fab Equipment market, he expects distinctive drivers like the adoption of Gate-All-Around transistors in leading-edge Foundry or Logic and the resumption of technology transitions in 3D NAND to support revenue growth that exceeds the overall WFE market.&nbsp;
Global sales of total semiconductor manufacturing equipment&nbsp;by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will likely reach $113 billion in 2024, up by 6.5%, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.semi.org/en/semi-press-release/global-total-semiconductor-equipment-sales-forecast-to-reach-a-record-of-dollar-139-billion-in-2026-semi-reports" rel="noreferrer noopener">SEMI</a>. Semiconductor manufacturing equipment growth will likely reach $121 billion in 2025 and $139 billion in 2026.&nbsp;
Rising demand for advanced chips in devices like smartphones, PCs, and IoT gadgets fueled the growth, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/01/07/3005364/0/en/Semiconductor-Equipment-Market-to-Worth-USD-254-Billion-by-2032-Driven-By-Advanced-Technologies-and-Growth-in-Various-Industries-Research-by-SNS-Insider.html#:~:text=A%20key%20market%20driver%20for,%2C%20AI%2C%20and%20autonomous%20vehicles." rel="noreferrer noopener">SNS Insider</a>.
Countries have also poured in money to stay ahead in the semiconductor race. Major countries, including the U.S., Japan, China, and Europe, initiated the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act, Japan&#8217;s ¥1 trillion R&amp;D investment, China&#8217;s Made in China 2025 strategy, and the European Chips Act to boost local semiconductor production.&nbsp;
According to SEMI, China, Taiwan, and Korea will likely remain the top three destinations&nbsp;for equipment spending through 2026.&nbsp;
MSCI World Semiconductors &amp; Semiconductor Equipment Index yielded a 37% return in the last 12 months. It trades at a PE multiple of 48.7x. S&amp;P Semiconductors Select Industry Index yielded over 19% in the same time frame.
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Chip Equipment Stocks Gain Traction as AI Demand, TSMC's Capex, and Semiconductor Expansion Drive Valuations

KLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 21.91% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 34.41%. Currently, KLA has a market capitalization of $100.88 billion. 
Buying $1000 In KLAC: If an investor had bought $1000 of KLAC stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $4,494.14 today based on a price of $759.15 for KLAC at the time of writing.
<h3>KLA's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738790111_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

$1000 Invested In This Stock 5 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bearish move on KLA. Our analysis of options history for KLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) revealed 8 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 25% of traders were bullish, while 37% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 4 were puts, with a value of $253,202, and 4 were calls, valued at $219,700.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $660.0 and $1040.0 for KLA, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in KLA's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to KLA's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $660.0 to $1040.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>KLA Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738688428_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$28.0</td>
<td>$25.9</td>
<td>$27.99</td>
<td>$660.00</td>
<td>$83.5K</td>
<td align="right">58</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$42.3</td>
<td>$38.7</td>
<td>$40.4</td>
<td>$700.00</td>
<td>$80.8K</td>
<td align="right">108</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$30.5</td>
<td>$29.3</td>
<td>$30.5</td>
<td>$1040.00</td>
<td>$79.3K</td>
<td align="right">22</td>
<td align="right">26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$78.8</td>
<td>$76.4</td>
<td>$76.4</td>
<td>$740.00</td>
<td>$76.4K</td>
<td align="right">35</td>
<td align="right">20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$51.1</td>
<td>$47.2</td>
<td>$48.5</td>
<td>$720.00</td>
<td>$48.5K</td>
<td align="right">84</td>
<td align="right">11</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About KLA</h3>
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.
In light of the recent options history for KLA, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of KLA</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 256,490, the KLAC's price is up by 2.13%, now at $756.0. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 79 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On KLA</h3>
Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $774.4.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Barclays persists with their Equal-Weight rating on KLA, maintaining a target price of $700. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Morgan Stanley keeps a Equal-Weight rating on KLA with a target price of $748. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Wells Fargo keeps a Overweight rating on KLA with a target price of $795. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Wells Fargo keeps a Overweight rating on KLA with a target price of $870. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Goldman Sachs has decided to maintain their Buy rating on KLA, which currently sits at a price target of $759. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for KLA, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

Markets

Smart Money Is Betting Big In KLAC Options

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on KLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the positions showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with KLAC, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 8 options trades for KLA.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 25% bullish and 50%, bearish.
Out of all of the options we uncovered, there was 1 put, for a total amount of $116,840, and 7, calls, for a total amount of $813,045.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $330.0 to $790.0 for KLA over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in KLA's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to KLA's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $330.0 to $790.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>KLA Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738614630_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$53.9</td>
<td>$48.2</td>
<td>$51.2</td>
<td>$790.00</td>
<td>$512.0K</td>
<td align="right">177</td>
<td align="right">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$51.1</td>
<td>$49.9</td>
<td>$50.8</td>
<td>$680.00</td>
<td>$116.8K</td>
<td align="right">22</td>
<td align="right">37</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$25.5</td>
<td>$23.9</td>
<td>$24.5</td>
<td>$780.00</td>
<td>$98.0K</td>
<td align="right">159</td>
<td align="right">48</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$82.9</td>
<td>$79.1</td>
<td>$79.1</td>
<td>$670.00</td>
<td>$79.2K</td>
<td align="right">42</td>
<td align="right">11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$423.1</td>
<td>$417.0</td>
<td>$421.5</td>
<td>$330.00</td>
<td>$42.1K</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About KLA</h3>
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.
Having examined the options trading patterns of KLA, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Current Position of KLA</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 765,662, the KLAC's price is up by 0.82%, now at $744.3. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 80 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on KLA</h3>
In the last month, 5 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $788.6.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Needham persists with their Buy rating on KLA, maintaining a target price of $830. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Stifel has decided to maintain their Buy rating on KLA, which currently sits at a price target of $825. 
&#x2A; An analyst from UBS has decided to maintain their Neutral rating on KLA, which currently sits at a price target of $780. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Morgan Stanley keeps a Equal-Weight rating on KLA with a target price of $748. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Barclays has decided to maintain their Equal-Weight rating on KLA, which currently sits at a price target of $760. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for KLA, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

KLA Unusual Options Activity For February 03

Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore maintains KLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $703 to $748.

Morgan Stanley Maintains Equal-Weight on KLA, Raises Price Target to $748

Goldman Sachs analyst Toshiya Hari maintains KLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $759 to $864.

Goldman Sachs Maintains Buy on KLA, Raises Price Target to $864

Major stock indices have completed their recovery following Monday's sharp drop, buoyed by tech stocks rallying on the back of solid earnings <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s">and positive macroeconomic data.</a>
The S&amp;P 500 index stands at 6,118 points at midday trading in New York, not far from the all-time high of 6,128 points reached last Friday.
The Personal Consumption Expenditure price index — the Fed's preferred inflation gauge — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/43390001/feds-favorite-inflation-gauge-rises-as-predicted-consumer-spending-jumps-at-fastest-pace-in-9-months">came in line with expectations in December</a>, easing market participants&#8217; concerns over interest rates. Fed futures continue to reflect expectations for two rate cuts by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, personal spending posted a robust 0.7% increase in December, signaling strong consumer appetite in the final month of the year — a promising sign for corporate earnings.
The Magnificent Seven — as tracked by the Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAGS#NASDAQ">MAGS</a>) – soared 1.6% on Friday, effectively erasing weekly losses after plunging as much as 3.1% on Monday due to the DeepSeek selloff.
Yet, within the elite group, NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) remains 12% lower than last Friday's close, with Friday&#8217;s gains primarily driven by Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)
The Dow Jones, flat on the day, attempted to break its all-time highs at the open but faced resistance from sellers. Sector-wise, tech leads the charge, while energy lags following mixed earnings results from oil giants Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) and Chevron Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>).
Gold climbed above $2,800 per ounce, extending new records as demand for the ultimate safe-haven asset surges amid rising geopolitical and trade risks. This comes after President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday his plan to introduce 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada starting Feb. 1.
WTI crude oil prices were down 0.3% at $72.3 per barrel, potentially marking their second consecutive weekly decline.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) paused for a breather, holding steady at $104,800.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Friday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day % chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>• Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>21,814.96</td>
<td>1.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>• S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>6,118.40</td>
<td>0.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>• Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,315.94</td>
<td>0.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>• Dow Jones</td>
<td>44,973.98</td>
<td>0.2%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:24 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent013125&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.7% to $609.38.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) edged up by 0.1% to $449.30.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;rallied 1.4% to $530.49.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) rose 0.5% to $229.68.</li>
<li>The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) outperformed, up 1.2%; the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) lagged, down 1.7%.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Friday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h2>
<ul>
<li>Stocks reacting to earning reports included:
<ul>
<li>Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), up 0.72%</li>
<li>Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>) up 0.80%</li>
<li>Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) up 0.17% </li>
<li>KLA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) up 2.11%, </li>
<li>PPG Industries Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPG#NYSE">PPG</a>) down 6.12%, </li>
<li>ResMed Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RMD#NYSE">RMD</a>) down 6.36%, </li>
<li>Baker Hughes Co. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKR#NASDAQ">BKR</a>) up 5.52%, </li>
<li>Deckers Outdoor Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DECK#NYSE">DECK</a>) down 16.5%,</li>
<li>LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LPLA#NASDAQ">LPLA</a>) up 1.99%.</li>
<li>Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>): down 1.31%</li>
<li>AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>): up 6.7%</li>
<li>Chevron Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>): down 3.7%</li>
<li>Colgate-Palmolive Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CL#NYSE">CL</a>): down 4.5%</li>
<li>Phillips 66 (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSX#NYSE">PSX</a>): down 0.8%</li>
<li>Charter Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHTR#NASDAQ">CHTR</a>): up 3.6%</li>
<li>Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAH#NYSE">BAH</a>): down 0.6%</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
Read Now: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/43398182/trumps-25-tariffs-could-slaughter-canada-mexico-economies-hit-us-auto-industry-analysts-warn">Trump&#8217;s 25% Tariffs Could Slaughter Canada, Mexico Economies, Hit US Auto Industry, Analysts Warn</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Earnings

Equities

Large Cap

Macro Economic Events

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Commodities

Econ #s

Economics

ETFs

$BTC

AAPL

ABBV

AMZN

CHTR

DECK

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

LPLA

MAGS

TSLA

Tech Stocks Rally, S&P 500 Flirts With Records, Gold Extends All-Time Highs: What's Driving Markets Friday?

Stifel analyst Brian Chin maintains KLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $800 to $825.

Stifel Maintains Buy on KLA, Raises Price Target to $825

Wells Fargo analyst Joseph Quatrochi maintains KLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $795 to $870.

Wells Fargo Maintains Overweight on KLA, Raises Price Target to $870

Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Matthew Prisco maintains KLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $800 to $875.

Cantor Fitzgerald Maintains Neutral on KLA, Raises Price Target to $875

Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley maintains KLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $700 to $760.

Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on KLA, Raises Price Target to $760

KLA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) posted better-than-expected second-quarter financial <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/KLAC/earnings">results on Thursday</a>.
KLA reported quarterly earnings of $8.20 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $7.75 per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $3.08 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $2.94 billion.
&#8220;KLA&#8217;s December quarter results were above the midpoint of our guidance ranges despite navigating through the business impact of new U.S. government export controls released late in the quarter. These results supported a strong finish to calendar 2024 for KLA highlighted by relative revenue growth outperformance and strong profitability,&#8221; said Rick Wallace, president and CEO, KLA Corporation. &#8220;The return to growth at the leading-edge continues to gain momentum led by expanding AI and high-performance computing investments. KLA&#8217;s differentiated portfolio of solutions aligns exceptionally well in helping enable our customers to navigate increasing technology complexity, growing design starts and larger semiconductor devices in an environment of rising semiconductor demand.&#8221;
KLA said it sees third-quarter total revenues of $3.0 billion +/- $150 million and adjusted EPS of $8.05 +/- $0.60.
KLA shares gained 4.1% to close at $742.43 on Thursday.
These analysts made changes to their price targets on KLA following earnings announcement.
<ul>
<li>Deutsche Bank analyst Sidney Ho maintained KLA with a Buy and raised the price target from $725 to $850.</li>
<li>Needham analyst Charles Shi maintained KLA with a Buy and raised the price target from $800 to $830.</li>
</ul>
Read This Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43335398/wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-spotlight-on-3-risk-off-stocks-delivering-high-dividend-yields">Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts Spotlight On 3 Risk Off Stocks Delivering High-Dividend Yields</a></li>
</ul>

KLA Analysts Boost Their Forecasts After Upbeat Earnings

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Goldman Sachs increased Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) price target from $280 to $294. Goldman Sachs analyst Michael Ng maintained a Buy rating. Apple shares closed at $237.59 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley cut the price target for Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAT#NYSE">CAT</a>) from $330 to $300. Morgan Stanley analyst Angel Castillo maintained an Underweight rating. Caterpillar shares closed at $374.98 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CAT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Deutsche Bank raised KLA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) price target from $725 to $850. Deutsche Bank analyst Sidney Ho maintained a Buy rating. KLA shares closed at $742.43 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/KLAC/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>B of A Securities raised the price target for Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>) from $331 to $363. B of A Securities analyst Jason Kupferberg maintained a Neutral rating. Visa shares closed at $343.05 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/V/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Northland Capital Markets cut the price target for Atlassian Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEAM#NASDAQ">TEAM</a>) from $154 to $140. Northland Capital Markets analyst Gus Richard maintained an Outperform rating. Atlassian shares closed at $266.95 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TEAM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Needham boosted Calix, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CALX#NYSE">CALX</a>) price target from $45 to $53. Mizuho analyst Gregg Moskowitz maintained an Outperform rating. Calix shares settled at $40.18 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CALX/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Citigroup slashed Afya Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFYA#NASDAQ">AFYA</a>) price target from $18 to $15. Citigroup analyst Leandro Bastos downgraded the stock from Neutral to Sell. Afya shares closed at $16.84 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AFYA/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>JP Morgan increased Carvana Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>) price target from $300 to $350. JP Morgan analyst Rajat Gupta maintained an Overweight rating. Carvana shares closed at $243.94 on Thursday.  <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CVNA/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Baird slashed the price target for United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>) from $160 to $130. Baird analyst Benjamin Hartford downgraded UPS from Outperform to Neutral. UPS shares settled at $114.90 on Thursday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UPS/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Goldman Sachs slashed Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>) price target from $50 to $44. Goldman Sachs analyst Michael Ng maintained a Buy rating. Comcast shares closed at $33.25 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CMCSA/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
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