KLA(US:KLAC)2025-09-10 17:32Summary of KLA's Conference Call Company Overview - Company: KLA Corporation - Industry: Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Key Points and Arguments Business Performance and Outlook - The June quarter was strong, with raised guidance for the September quarter, indicating a positive business outlook for 2025 [5][6] - KLA's revenue from advanced packaging has shown significant growth, with expectations to reach approximately $925 million this year, up from over $500 million last year [7][8] - The service business is performing well despite challenges from U.S. export controls, maintaining double-digit growth [7][8] Market Trends and Opportunities - The advanced packaging market has grown from a few billion dollars to approximately $10 to $11 billion, driven by increased complexity and investment in high bandwidth memory [6][7] - KLA aims to achieve a process control share of wafer fab equipment (WFE) of 7.25% by 2026, currently trending closer to 8% [11][12] - The increase in die sizes and complexity in both logic and DRAM manufacturing is driving higher process control intensity, which benefits KLA [12][16] Financial Performance - KLA's gross margins are at 62.5%, with operating margins exceeding long-term targets of 40% to 50% [8][10] - The company has a long-term growth target of 12% to 14% for its service business, which correlates more closely with semiconductor revenue growth than WFE growth [47][48] Strategic Focus - KLA is shifting its portfolio towards packaging, reflecting the growing importance of this segment [42][45] - The company is leveraging its existing relationships and capabilities to enhance its service offerings and product development [24][49] - R&D spending is expected to remain around 12% to 13% of revenue, focusing on solving customer problems and maintaining competitive differentiation [51][52] Market Dynamics - The semiconductor industry is experiencing a proliferation of designs at the leading edge, benefiting KLA due to the complexity of managing high mix in fabs [18][19] - The N2 node is expected to be a significant driver of design activity, with many customers engaged in this area [20][33] - KLA anticipates growth in the NAND market, albeit from low levels, and expects the overall WFE market to grow in the mid-single digits [30][32] M&A and Capital Allocation - KLA is focused on internal growth and enhancing its existing portfolio rather than pursuing large-scale M&A, although it remains open to smaller, strategic acquisitions [58][59] - The company has a history of consistent dividend growth, with a recent increase to $1.90 per share per quarter, reflecting confidence in its long-term financial health [54][56] Additional Important Insights - The transition from traditional PCB to more integrated packaging solutions is driving the need for advanced process control tools [27][28] - KLA's service model is evolving to focus on performance and availability rather than just parts and repairs, which is crucial in high-performance computing environments [48][49] - The company is adapting to changes in the market, including the shift towards hybrid bonding technologies in HBM integration [38][41]