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KLA(KLAC) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
KLAKLA(US:KLAC)2025-07-31 22:00

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - KLA reported revenue of $3,175,000,000 for the quarter, representing a 24% year-over-year growth [5][8] - Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $9.38, while GAAP diluted EPS was $9.06, both at or above the high end of guidance [11][12] - Free cash flow reached a record of over $1,000,000,000 for the quarter, totaling $1,065,000,000 [10][12] - Gross margin was 63.2%, slightly above the midpoint of guidance [12][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Advanced Packaging revenue is expected to exceed $925,000,000 in calendar 2025, up from a previous estimate of $850,000,000 [9] - The Services segment grew to $703,000,000 in June, up 5% sequentially and 14% year-over-year [9] - The process control systems business, particularly inspection, saw a 50% year-to-date increase, while patterning remained flat [35][36] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - KLA's assessment for wafer fabrication equipment (WFE) in 2025 remains consistent with previous expectations, with mid-single-digit growth anticipated [16][22] - Foundry logic revenue is forecasted to be approximately 75% of semiconductor process control systems revenue, with memory expected to be about 25% [18] - The company expects DRAM to account for about 79% of memory revenue, with NAND making up the remaining 21% [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - KLA is focusing on enhancing AI capabilities, which has driven growth in the semiconductor industry through complex designs and advanced packaging [6][7] - The company aims to capitalize on strong growth and expanded market share by prioritizing innovation in product roadmaps [7][22] - KLA's strategy includes maintaining a disciplined capital allocation to maximize long-term shareholder value [10][14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in outperforming the overall WFE market in 2025, driven by strong business momentum and expanding market share opportunities [16][22] - Early customer discussions indicate constructive expectations for growth in 2026, particularly in advanced logic and packaging [27][28] - The company remains cautious about geopolitical trends but is encouraged by customer engagement and technology transitions [22][22] Other Important Information - KLA announced a new $5,000,000,000 share repurchase authorization and a 12% increase in quarterly dividends [14][15] - The company maintains a flexible bond maturity profile supported by strong investment-grade ratings [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on growth expectations for 2026 - Management is optimistic about growth in 2026 based on early customer discussions, particularly in high-performance computing and advanced logic [27][28] Question: Impact of competition in China - It is too early to determine the extent of competition in China, but management expects some headwinds in investment levels [31][32] Question: Drivers of strength in inspection business - The inspection business has seen strong growth due to supply constraints being alleviated and increased demand for advanced packaging [35][36] Question: Expectations for memory revenue - Management anticipates DRAM revenue to strengthen in December compared to September, driven by timing of revenue recognition [65][66] Question: Market share gains and revenue targets for 2026 - KLA is well-positioned for market share gains, with expectations of achieving a revenue target of $14,000,000,000 for 2026 based on current growth rates [67][71]