klac stock price — KLA Corp snapshot

KLAC (KLA Corporation) — Stock price

KLAC stock price is the focus of this article: KLA Corporation (KLAC) is a Nasdaq-listed leader in semiconductor process‑control, metrology and inspection tools, and understanding the klac stock price helps investors and market watchers interpret how industry cycles, corporate actions and macro forces drive valuation. Read on for a practical, beginner‑friendly explanation of KLAC’s business, price history, trading characteristics, valuation metrics, and recommended sources for live and historical price data.

Company overview

KLA Corporation makes process‑control and yield‑management systems used across semiconductor manufacturing and advanced electronics. The company’s product lines include metrology and inspection systems, specialty process tools, measurement software, and services that help chipmakers detect defects, measure critical dimensions, and optimize manufacturing yield.

Headquartered in Milpitas, California, KLA traces roots through multiple industry acquisitions and the well‑known KLA‑Tencor combination. The firm was founded in the mid‑1970s (with a corporate history that includes major mergers and rebranding across decades). KLA’s customers are primarily semiconductor manufacturers and foundries, including large logic and memory producers and specialty fabs.

Corporate developments such as new product launches, large customer orders, mergers or buybacks, and changes in management guidance typically influence the klac stock price by altering expectations for revenue growth, margins and capital allocation. For example, a substantial order from a leading foundry or faster‑than‑expected growth in metrology demand can push the klac stock price higher, while deferral of fab spending or supply chain problems can pressure the share price.

Ticker and listing information

• Trading symbol: KLAC
• Primary exchange: Nasdaq (United States)
• Trading currency: USD
• ISIN and identifiers: KLAC is listed on Nasdaq under ISIN US4824801009 (confirm with official sources before trading)
• Trading hours: Regular U.S. equity market hours (pre‑market and after‑hours sessions are available through many brokers)
• ADRs/other listings: KLAC is primarily a U.S. domestic listing on Nasdaq; secondary listings/ADRs are not typical for KLA.

When monitoring the klac stock price, use the primary exchange feed (Nasdaq) for best accuracy and timestamp alignment.

Price history and major price events

IPO and early trading

KLA’s corporate history involves early public listings and later consolidations (notably the KLA‑Tencor era). The company established itself as a listed semiconductor equipment firm decades ago, growing through organic R&D and strategic acquisitions. Early public market milestones set the foundation for the long‑term appreciation that accompanies periodic semiconductor capex cycles.

Stock splits, dividends and corporate actions

KLA has historically pursued share repurchases and has a record of returning capital to shareholders. The company has also paid dividends in recent years. Stock splits have not been a frequent part of KLA’s capital‑return story; instead, management has often favored buybacks and steady dividends when cash flow permitted.

Material corporate actions—share repurchase authorization increases, large buybacks, or a special dividend announcement—can materially affect the klac stock price by reducing shares outstanding or signaling management confidence in future cash flow.

Notable price milestones

Across multiple semiconductor cycles, KLAC has experienced significant multi‑year moves linked to industry upturns and downturns. All‑time highs typically coincide with periods of aggressive semiconductor capital expenditure (capex) and strong demand for advanced node process control. Deep drawdowns have corresponded to periods when fab spending slowed, macro growth cooled, or when industry inventories rose and orders were pushed out.

Investors tracking the klac stock price historically should map these milestones to known industry cycles (memory booms, foundry expansions, and the AI/machine‑learning driven demand waves) to see the correlation between end‑market demand and equipment vendor valuations.

Recent price performance

To summarize recent performance for the klac stock price, include standard fields such as last close (with a timestamp), intraday range, day‑trade volume, and 52‑week high/low. Common return windows are intraday, year‑to‑date (YTD), 1‑year, and 5‑year returns. Volatility metrics (historical volatility, implied volatility from options) and trend indicators (moving average crossovers) are useful to describe how the klac stock price has behaved in the short and medium term.

Example guidance for a snapshot (always date‑stamp these figures):

• Last close: [timestamped value, source]
• Day range: low — high
• 52‑week range: lower bound — upper bound
• YTD return: X% (as of [date])
• 1‑year return: X% (as of [date])
• 5‑year return: X% (as of [date])

As of January 27, 2026, according to Yahoo Finance, KLAC’s market capitalization was approximately $85.2 billion and its average daily trading volume was near 1.4 million shares. These two figures are commonly used alongside the klac stock price to assess liquidity and the market’s valuation of the business (note: update these numbers with primary sources before publishing a live page).

Key market and valuation metrics

Investors evaluate the klac stock price using a set of standard metrics. Below are the common measures, what they mean, and how they relate to share price movements:

• Market capitalization: Price × shares outstanding; a broad measure of company size. Changes in the klac stock price directly change market cap and can shift KLA into different index buckets or ETF weightings.
• Shares outstanding: Share count (basic vs. diluted) affects per‑share metrics. Repurchases lower shares outstanding and can boost EPS, which may support a higher klac stock price.
• Price‑to‑Earnings (P/E) ratio (TTM and forward): P/E shows how the market values each dollar of earnings. A rising P/E (all else equal) signals higher valuation expectations; declines can signal negative sentiment or earnings upgrades outweighing price.
• Earnings per share (EPS): Actual and projected EPS drive forward P/E and are key to valuation changes for the klac stock price.
• Price‑to‑Sales (P/S): Useful for cyclical businesses; it smooths short‑term EPS swings and helps compare across peers.
• Dividend yield and payout ratio: KLA’s dividend yield communicates part of total shareholder return. Changes in yield (via price movements or dividend policy) can attract income investors or signal capital allocation shifts.
• Price‑to‑Free‑Cash‑Flow (P/FCF): For capital‑intensive firms, P/FCF measures how the market values cash generation, a driver of buybacks and sustainable dividends.
• Beta: Measures correlation with the overall market; higher beta means the klac stock price tends to move more with broader equities.

Valuation metrics should be viewed against peers and historical averages. For example, in the Jan 2026 industry context, Bank of America observed that KLA’s PEG (price/earnings‑to‑growth) looked more reasonable than many tool‑makers, a datapoint that can influence relative valuation conversations about the klac stock price.

Trading characteristics and liquidity

Trading characteristics that affect the klac stock price include average daily volume (liquidity), bid‑ask spreads, institutional vs. retail ownership mix, short interest, and options market activity.

• Average daily volume: Higher volume generally supports tighter spreads and easier execution; lower volume can amplify price swings when large orders hit the market.
• Bid‑ask behavior: Tight spreads reduce transaction costs; the bid‑ask snapshot is an important field when watching intraday klac stock price moves.
• Institutional vs. retail ownership: A high institutional ownership level can produce steadier trading, but large institutional rebalancing can create abrupt price moves. Institutional investors (mutual funds, pension funds, hedge funds) often drive the longer‑term trends in the klac stock price.
• Short interest: Elevated short interest can create potential for short squeezes if positive catalysts appear, amplifying moves in the klac stock price.
• Options activity: High open interest or notable option trades (large calls or puts) can signal directional sentiment and affect implied volatility; options expiration dates sometimes produce short‑term price behavior.

Understanding these features helps explain why the klac stock price may gap, trend, or mean‑revert on a given day.

Drivers of KLAC’s stock price

Fundamental drivers

Fundamental factors influencing the klac stock price include revenue and earnings growth, ASP (average selling price) and margin trends, product mix, customer orders and backlog, and management guidance.

• Revenue/earnings growth: Strong top‑line growth driven by fab expansions (logic, memory, packaging) supports a rising klac stock price.
• Foundry and memory capex cycles: When foundries and memory houses increase capital spending, demand for metrology and inspection equipment tends to rise, lifting KLAC’s order book and the klac stock price.
• Product demand (inspection/metrology): Superior performance or first‑to‑market tools for new nodes increases competitive advantage and can raise market expectations embedded in the klac stock price.
• Margins and ASP trends: Improving gross and operating margins signal pricing power or cost efficiencies and are supportive of the klac stock price.

Industry and macro drivers

• Semiconductor capex cycles: The primary industry driver is cyclical fab investment; booms lead to rising order activity and higher klac stock price, while busts depress demand.
• Technology nodes: Adoption of advanced nodes (e.g., sub‑5nm, EUV process steps) often requires more sophisticated inspection and metrology—benefitting KLA.
• Geopolitical/regulatory factors: Export controls, trade restrictions, or changes in customer access (notably demand from China) can materially affect KLAC’s addressable market and thus the klac stock price.
• Broader market sentiment and macro inputs: Rate decisions, risk appetite, and sector rotations (for instance, a rotation into compute names) change relative demand for semicap stocks and can move the klac stock price.

Notably, as of January 26, 2026, according to a Yahoo Finance report summarizing Bank of America research, the bank suggested a sector “reshuffling” away from expensive tool‑makers into compute names; within that view, KLA stood out as a more reasonable value among tool makers with a PEG near 1.8x. That industry context can influence investor flows and, therefore, the klac stock price.

Company‑specific catalysts

Company events that often move the klac stock price include:

• Quarterly earnings releases and guidance updates
• Major customer announcements or design wins with foundries such as TSMC or large IDMs
• New product launches that extend KLA’s addressable market
• Mergers, acquisitions or divestitures
• Significant increases in buyback programs or dividend policy changes
• Management commentary at industry conferences and investor days

Each catalyst can alter expectations for growth, margins, or capital allocation and thereby move the klac stock price.

Analyst coverage and price targets

Analyst research and consensus price targets are common reference points for the klac stock price. When analysts raise or lower targets, or when consensus earnings estimates materially change, the klac stock price often reacts.

How to present coverage:

• Consensus rating (buy/hold/sell mix) and median price target (with a date stamp)
• Range of price targets (high/low from recent analyst notes)
• Recent notable upgrades or downgrades and the reasoning cited by the analyst
• Changes to earnings estimates that underpin target revisions

Analyst notes can act as catalysts—an upgrade with higher revenue/earnings forecasts can lift the klac stock price, while downgrades or target cuts can pressure it. For example, sector research that reweights capital toward compute engines (per BofA) can shift relative analyst preferences and affect flows into or out of KLAC‑linked funds.

Technical analysis overview

Traders often use technical indicators and chart patterns in conjunction with fundamentals to time entries and exits around the klac stock price. Common tools include:

• Moving averages (50‑day, 100‑day, 200‑day): Crossovers and slope indicate trend strength; price staying above a moving average is a bullish sign, while crossing below can be bearish.
• Relative Strength Index (RSI): Shows overbought/oversold conditions; extremes can precede pullbacks or rebounds in the klac stock price.
• Support and resistance levels: Historic lows, prior swing highs, and round numbers often act as psychological barriers to moves in the klac stock price.
• Trendlines and channels: Visualize momentum and help identify breakout or breakdown points.
• Volume confirmation: Breakouts with above‑average volume are more reliable and more likely to sustain moves in the klac stock price.

Technical signals are frequently reported alongside price action: for example, an analyst note might state “KLAC broke above its 200‑day moving average on heavy volume,” which communicates both price and technical context.

Ownership and major shareholders

Understanding who owns KLAC shares helps explain price dynamics:

• Institutional ownership: Large mutual funds, pension funds, and active managers often own significant KLAC positions. High institutional ownership can lead to stable long‑term holders but also to sizable rebalances when portfolios shift.
• Insider holdings: Share ownership by executives and board members is a signal of management alignment with shareholders; insider buying or selling can influence sentiment and the klac stock price.
• ETFs and sector funds: KLAC is commonly held in semiconductor and technology ETFs; flows into or out of these ETFs affect demand for the stock and can move the klac stock price, particularly around reconstitution dates.

Concentration of ownership can make the klac stock price more sensitive to large holders’ trades. Monitoring institutional 13F filings and ETF weight changes provides insight on potential large flows.

Dividends, buybacks and capital return policy

KLA has a history of returning capital through dividends and share repurchases. Key points on capital return and their impact on the klac stock price:

• Dividends: A stable or growing dividend supports income investors and can provide a valuation floor in some market environments. Dividend yield is inversely related to the klac stock price (if the dividend is unchanged).
• Buybacks: Repurchases reduce shares outstanding and can lift EPS, which often supports the klac stock price. Announcements of large buyback programs are typically received positively, assuming buybacks are funded sensibly.
• Capital allocation signaling: Shifts from buybacks to M&A or vice versa can change investor perception of management priorities and influence the klac stock price.

When evaluating the klac stock price, track the company’s quarterly commentary and 10‑K/10‑Q filings for updated repurchase authorizations and dividend declarations.

Risks affecting KLAC’s stock price

Primary risks that can pressure the klac stock price include:

• Cyclical equipment demand: Semiconductor capital equipment is cyclical; downturns in capex reduce order flow and hurt revenue outlooks.
• Customer concentration: A small number of large fabs account for a significant share of equipment spending; order delays from these customers can impact the klac stock price.
• Supply chain constraints: Shortages or lead‑time issues for critical components can delay deliveries and weigh on revenue and the klac stock price.
• Competition: Competitors such as leading equipment makers continue to innovate; increased competition can erode market share and margin expectations.
• Regulatory and geopolitical risk: Export controls, tariffs, or changes in access to key markets (for example, China) can limit addressable markets and affect the klac stock price.
• Macroeconomic conditions: A rising rate environment, weakening demand, or risk‑off sentiment can reduce valuations across semiconductors and move the klac stock price lower.

These risks are commonly disclosed in KLA’s filings and should be considered in any analysis of the klac stock price.

How to follow live price data

Reliable real‑time and delayed sources for the klac stock price include exchange quote feeds (Nasdaq), major financial sites, brokerage platforms, and professional terminals. When monitoring quotes, be aware of the following fields and meanings:

• Last trade/last price: Most recent executed price (date/time stamped)
• Bid and ask: Highest buyer price and lowest seller price; useful to see current market liquidity
• Volume: Number of shares traded during the session; helps interpret move strength
• 52‑week high/low: Context for where the klac stock price sits in a longer window
• Market capitalization and shares outstanding: Reflect total market value and per‑share calculations

Recommended practices:

• Use the exchange feed or a reputable data provider for real‑time quotes; many brokerage platforms provide real‑time streaming data for clients.
• For mobile or quick checks, major financial websites and charting platforms provide near‑real‑time or delayed quotes (note any delay disclaimer).
• For trading execution, place orders through a regulated broker or a trusted platform such as Bitget (for users who trade on that platform). Bitget offers trading via a secure interface and supports market/limit order types; check the platform for streaming quotes and execution confirmation.

Caution: Always verify whether a feed is real‑time or delayed; retail websites sometimes show quotes delayed by 15–20 minutes unless explicitly marked real time.

Historical data and resources

When compiling historical klac stock price datasets, include:

• Daily OHLC (open, high, low, close) and volume
• Adjusted close (reflecting splits and dividends)
• Corporate action records: split dates and ratios, dividend amounts and ex‑dividend dates, buyback authorizations
• Longer time ranges: 1‑year, 5‑year, 10‑year, and full historic coverage when available

Suggested charting ranges depend on the analysis purpose: short‑term traders may use intraday or 3‑month charts; investors often prefer 1‑ to 10‑year charts to capture cyclical effects on the klac stock price.

Common data providers and APIs used by professionals and retail analysts include exchange data feeds, major financial portals, and dedicated market data APIs. Always verify dataset completeness (e.g., adjusted closes and corporate actions) before performing backtests or long‑term performance calculations.

See also

• Semiconductor equipment industry overview
• Comparable tickers: ASML, AMAT, LRCX
• Semiconductor capital expenditure cycle and drivers

References and external links

Sources used to compile this overview of the klac stock price include primary company investor relations materials, Nasdaq market data, and major financial news and data providers. Key resources to consult when updating numeric fields and prices (use the primary exchange where possible):

• KLA Investor Relations (company filings and historical stock data)
• Nasdaq KLAC quote and market activity
• Yahoo Finance — KLA Corporation (KLAC) quote and company overview
• CNBC and Bloomberg coverage for market commentary and analyst notes
• TradingView for charting and technical indicators
• Morningstar and Finviz for valuation snapshots and analyst actions

As of January 26, 2026, according to Yahoo Finance and industry reporting, Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya observed a sector reshuffle away from some tool‑makers toward compute names; within semicap tool‑makers, KLA was cited as relatively reasonable with a PEG near 1.8x compared with peers. This dated note provides helpful context when assessing relative valuation embedded in the klac stock price.

Practical checklist when researching the klac stock price

1. Always note the timestamp of price data (e.g., "As of [date], last close was … per Nasdaq/Yahoo Finance").
2. Cross‑check market cap and average volume against multiple data vendors.
3. For trade execution, use a regulated broker or the Bitget trading platform for order placement and real‑time streaming quotes.
4. Before acting on analyst notes or media headlines, verify the underlying estimates (earnings revisions, revenue drivers).
5. Track corporate filings (10‑K, 10‑Q, 8‑K) for definitive corporate actions affecting the klac stock price.

Further exploration: explore Bitget’s trading interface and Bitget Wallet for portfolio tracking and secure custody when engaging in equity markets or derivatives exposure (note: Bitget is suggested here for platform features; always confirm available instruments and regulatory status in your jurisdiction).

If you want an updated numeric snapshot for the klac stock price with live quotes, specify the timestamp you need (e.g., "as of market close on [date]") and I can prepare a sourced data table and chart recommendations to embed in your workflow.