KLA Corporation (KLAC), formerly KLA-Tencor Corporation, is a leading provider of process control and yield management solutions for the semiconductor and electronics industries. Founded to enhance manufacturing precision through advanced inspection and metrology technologies, it is headquartered in Milpitas, California. The company has a market capitalization of $191.91 billion. Over the past year, KLAC’s stock has been soaring due to robust fundamentals, strong investments in AI infrastructure, and mom ...

ET was the first to report on Nov 3 that the American wafer fab equipment maker “India has been a critical part of KLA’s global growth story for over two decades,” Dominic David, president, KLA India said in a statement. “This MoU continues our long-term vision to scale India as a global centre for AI and software-led Planned on a 12-acre site, the campus is envisioned as one of KLA’s largest innovation hubs, building on the company’s existing operations in Chennai, with a potential capacity of up to 1.5 mi ...

Company Performance - CTS has achieved a year-to-date performance increase of approximately 32.8%, significantly outperforming the average return of -2.1% for the Computer and Technology sector [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CTS' full-year earnings has increased by 0.4% over the past quarter, indicating an improving earnings outlook [3] Industry Comparison - CTS is part of the Electronics - Miscellaneous Components industry, which consists of 26 stocks and currently ranks 52 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This industry has seen an average gain of 8% so far this year, with CTS outperforming this average [5] - Another notable stock in the Computer and Technology sector is KLA (KLAC), which has increased by 19.4% year-to-date and belongs to the Electronics - Miscellaneous Products industry, currently ranked 57 [4][6]

US-based KLA Corporation, a semiconductor process control company, has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Tamil Nadu to establish a new research & development (R&D) and innovation campus in Chennai. As part of the agreement, KLA will invest up to $400 million (₹3,600 crore) over the next decade. The facility, designed to support advanced research and engineering, and is expected to generate up to 4,000 jobs over 10 years.R&D facilityThe company had earlier th ...

Core Insights - KLA Corporation (KLAC) shares fell 15.1% following the release of second-quarter fiscal 2026 results due to disappointing guidance and operational challenges [1] - The company anticipates third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues of $3.35 billion (+/- $150 million), indicating a weak product mix and rising costs of DRAM chips impacting gross margins [1] - Supply constraints and negative tariff impacts are expected to create near-term headwinds for the company [1] Performance Overview - KLA shares have increased by 90.6% over the past 12 months, significantly outperforming the Zacks Computer and Technology sector's return of 23.1% and the Zacks Electronics-Miscellaneous Products industry's growth of 37.4% [2] - The company has outperformed competitors such as Applied Materials (81.9%), ASML Holding (87%), and Axcelis Technologies (48.1%) during the same period [3] Growth Drivers - KLA is experiencing strong demand for advanced packaging, with revenues expected to grow in the mid-to-high teens year-over-year in 2026, driven by AI demand [6][9] - The core WFE market is projected to grow in the high single to low double digits in 2026, reaching approximately $120 billion, with advanced packaging contributing to a total market forecast in the mid-$130 billion range [10] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings is $36.58 per share, reflecting a 9.9% increase from 2025 [11] - For the third quarter of fiscal 2026, earnings are estimated at $9.12 per share, indicating an 8.4% growth year-over-year, with revenues expected to reach $3.37 billion, a 9.9% increase from the previous year [12] Valuation Metrics - KLA shares are currently trading at a premium, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 33.83, higher than the broader sector average of 26.08 [13] - The stock is technically positioned above the 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating a bullish trend [16] Investment Recommendation - Despite the recent dip in share price, KLA is recommended as a buy due to strong demand for advanced packaging and robust AI investments, which justify its premium valuation [19]

KLA Corporation (NASDAQ:KLAC) is one of the 13 Best Extremely Profitable Stocks to Invest in Now. Citi Remains Bullish on KLA (KLAC) Amid Persistent Phase 2 Upcycle in Wafer Fab Equipment and Potential Upside On January 30, 2026, KLA Corporation (NASDAQ:KLAC) attracted increased attention from analysts when Citi increased its price target from $1,450 to $1,800 while reiterating a ‘Buy’ rating. The bullish analyst stance comes amid a persistent Phase 2 upcycle in wafer fab equipment and potential upside a ...

Market Overview - The U.S. equity markets have experienced a downtrend over the past three trading days, with intensified sell-offs in the technology sector as investors shift focus away from riskier bets due to fears of AI disruption [1] - A significant decline in the cryptocurrency market, particularly Bitcoin dropping below $70,000 to a low of $60,062, has contributed to the negative sentiment [1][2] Labor Market Concerns - Weakness in the labor market has added to the downbeat sentiment, highlighted by the ADP report showing fewer-than-expected job additions in January [2] Momentum Investing Strategy - Momentum investing is characterized by the strategy of "buying high and selling higher," based on the belief that stocks with established trends are likely to continue in that direction [3] - This strategy aims to capitalize on the human tendency to project current trends into the future before mean reversion occurs [3] Screening Parameters for Momentum Stocks - The screening process identifies the top 50 stocks with the best percentage price change over the last 52 weeks, ensuring selection of stocks that have appreciated steadily [5] - From these, the bottom 10 performers over a one-week period are chosen to identify those experiencing short-term pullbacks [6] - Stocks with a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and a Momentum Style Score of B or better are prioritized, indicating a higher probability of success [7] - Additional criteria include a current price greater than $5, being among the top 3000 in market capitalization, and an average 20-day trading volume exceeding 100,000 [8] Selected Momentum Stocks - Micron Technology has seen a 305% increase over the past year but experienced a 12.1% decline in the past week, holding a Momentum Score of B [11] - Lam Research has surged 157.5% in the past year but lost 14.1% in the past week, with a Momentum Score of A [12] - KLA Corporation has increased by 74.7% over the past year but faced a 21% decline in the past week, also holding a Momentum Score of A [13]

Core Insights - The Japanese semiconductor manufacturing equipment market is projected to grow by 14% to 5.59 trillion yen in 2025, marking the first time sales exceed 5 trillion yen and reflecting a robust growth trend in the global semiconductor equipment industry [1] - The growth is driven by two main factors: the explosion of AI chip demand and the recovery of the storage supercycle [2] Group 1: Semiconductor Equipment Market Growth - Japan's semiconductor equipment market is the second largest globally, with a market share of approximately 30% [1] - The sales forecast for 2025 significantly surpasses the 2024 figure of 4.44 trillion yen, indicating strong momentum in the sector [1] - Major semiconductor equipment manufacturers like ASML, Lam Research, KLA, and DISCO have reported strong financial results, highlighting the industry's growth potential [1] Group 2: AI and Storage Demand - The demand for semiconductor equipment is primarily driven by advancements in AI chips and a resurgence in storage technology [2] - The performance enhancement of chips relies on two main technological paths: advancing process technology (e.g., 3nm, 2nm) and adopting complex packaging techniques [3] - The competition among industry giants like TSMC, Intel, and Samsung for advanced nodes is translating into a rigid demand for high-end semiconductor equipment [3] Group 3: Financial Performance of Key Players - ASML reported a net sales increase of 4.92% year-on-year for Q4 2025, with logic orders reaching 5.8 billion euros, reflecting seasonal demand fluctuations [4] - Lam Research achieved record revenue of $20.6 billion in 2025, a 27% increase year-on-year, driven by strong market demand [6] - KLA's revenue for Q2 FY2026 reached $3.3 billion, exceeding market expectations, supported by robust demand for inspection equipment [13] Group 4: Equipment Demand Dynamics - The demand for advanced semiconductor equipment is expected to continue growing, driven by AI technology and the ongoing evolution of storage technologies [18][19] - The structure of orders is shifting, with storage orders now accounting for 56% of ASML's new orders, surpassing logic orders for the first time [19] - The transition to advanced DRAM architectures and NAND stacking technologies is expected to further increase the demand for high-end equipment [21][22] Group 5: Capital Expenditure Trends - Major semiconductor manufacturers are significantly increasing their capital expenditures, with TSMC planning to invest $52-56 billion in 2026, a 28-37% increase year-on-year [26] - Micron and SK Hynix are also ramping up their capital expenditures, focusing on HBM and advanced DRAM production lines [27] - The overall capital expenditure growth for storage manufacturers is projected to be around 40% in 2026, indicating a strong demand for semiconductor equipment [27] Group 6: Future Outlook - The semiconductor equipment market is expected to maintain high growth rates, with ASML projecting revenues between €34 billion and €39 billion for FY 2026 [29] - The introduction of High-NA EUV technology is anticipated to drive significant growth in the coming years, particularly as the industry moves towards 2nm and below processes [32] - The ongoing AI-driven demand and technological advancements are expected to support a long-term growth cycle in the semiconductor equipment industry [33]

Core Viewpoint - The semiconductor equipment market in Japan is projected to grow significantly, with sales expected to reach 5.59 trillion yen in 2025, marking a 14% increase and surpassing the 5 trillion yen threshold for the first time, driven by strong demand from AI and storage sectors [2][25]. Group 1: Semiconductor Equipment Market Growth - Japan's semiconductor equipment market holds a global market share of approximately 30%, indicating robust growth and reflecting the vitality of the global semiconductor equipment industry [2][25]. - The growth is primarily fueled by two key drivers: the explosion of AI chip demand and the recovery of the storage supercycle [4][25]. Group 2: AI Chip Demand - The rapid development of AI technology serves as a core engine for growth, with AI chips requiring advanced manufacturing processes such as 3nm and 2nm nodes, leading to increased demand for sophisticated semiconductor equipment [5][6]. - Major players like TSMC, Intel, and Samsung are engaged in intense competition around advanced nodes, translating into a rigid demand for high-end semiconductor equipment [6][9]. Group 3: Financial Performance of Equipment Manufacturers - ASML reported a net sales increase to €9.72 billion in Q4 2025, with logic orders reaching €5.8 billion, reflecting seasonal demand fluctuations due to chip process upgrades [7][8]. - Lam Research achieved a record revenue of $20.6 billion in 2025, a 27% year-over-year increase, driven by strong market demand and a gross margin of 49.9%, the highest since its merger in 2012 [9][11]. - KLA's revenue for Q2 FY2026 reached $3.3 billion, exceeding market expectations, supported by the strong demand for inspection equipment driven by AI chip production [21][24]. Group 4: Storage Supercycle - The storage chip industry is experiencing a supercycle characterized by explosive demand and deep technological changes, driven by AI servers' need for HBM, advanced DRAM, and NAND flash [25][26]. - The shift in order structure indicates that storage orders now account for 56% of ASML's new orders, surpassing logic orders for the first time, highlighting storage's role as a core driver of equipment demand [25][26]. Group 5: Capital Expenditure Trends - Major semiconductor manufacturers are significantly increasing their capital expenditures, with TSMC planning to invest $52-56 billion in 2026, focusing on advanced processes and packaging capacity [33][34]. - Micron and SK Hynix are also ramping up their capital expenditures, with Micron increasing its 2026 spending to $20 billion, reflecting a strong focus on HBM and advanced DRAM production [35][36]. Group 6: Future Outlook - The semiconductor equipment market is expected to maintain high growth rates, with projections indicating that the current supercycle will last until at least 2027, driven by AI and storage technology advancements [27][41]. - ASML's CEO has reiterated a long-term vision of achieving annual revenues of €44-60 billion by 2030, supported by sustained demand for AI-driven semiconductor solutions [43][51].

Market Overview - U.S. stock markets began 2026 positively, with major indexes like the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite rising by 1.7%, 1.4%, and 1% respectively in January, while the Russell 2000 increased by over 5% [2] Investment Opportunities - Five stocks with favorable Zacks Rank and momentum for February include Amphenol Corp. (APH), Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX), Ulta Beauty Inc. (ULTA), Coeur Mining Inc. (CDE), and KLA Corp. (KLAC), all rated as Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) with a Momentum Score of A [3] Amphenol Corp. (APH) - Amphenol benefits from a diversified business model and holds a 33% market share in AI-powered data center interconnects, with strong demand for high-speed and power interconnect products [5][6] - Increased spending on defense technologies and strong demand across Commercial Air, Industrial, and IT Datacom sectors support top-line growth [6] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 24.1% and 30.2% respectively, with a 1.2% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [9] Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX) - Seagate is experiencing strong demand driven by cloud and AI, with a focus on balancing performance and cost efficiency [10] - High-capacity nearline production is booked through 2026, ensuring strong demand visibility [11] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 24.6% and 52.6% respectively, with a 6.5% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [14] Ulta Beauty Inc. (ULTA) - Ulta's retail model combines mass, prestige, and luxury beauty, driving consistent customer engagement [15] - Strong loyalty programs and digital capabilities enhance customer relationships and repeat purchases [16] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 6.1% and 11.4% respectively, with a slight improvement in earnings estimates [18] Coeur Mining Inc. (CDE) - Coeur Mining is a primary silver and gold producer with operations in the Americas, including key properties in Mexico, Bolivia, Nevada, and Alaska [19] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 30.2% and over 100% respectively, with a 10.6% improvement in earnings estimates over the last month [20] KLA Corp. (KLAC) - KLA is benefiting from strong demand in the semiconductor industry, particularly in AI infrastructure and advanced packaging [21] - The company’s leadership in process control systems supports revenue growth amid increasing design complexity [22] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 7.92% and 8.8% respectively, with a 1.2% improvement in earnings estimates over the last week [23]