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AMAT vs KLAC
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. KLA Corporation (KLAC) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- AMAT and KLAC both operate in the semiconductor equipment sector, supplying tools critical to advanced chip manufacturing and AI infrastructure.
- Recent market activity shows AMAT exhibiting stronger price resilience and positive analyst momentum ahead of its fiscal Q3 earnings, while KLAC has experienced greater volatility tied to export policy concerns.
- Both companies benefit from sustained demand in AI-driven semiconductor production, though KLAC faces relatively higher exposure to China-related regulatory risks.
- Analyst price targets indicate upside potential for both stocks, with broader sector sentiment supported by ongoing capital expenditures from chipmakers.
- Relative performance highlights trade-offs in growth drivers, with AMAT positioned for deposition and etch processes and KLAC focused on process control and inspection.
Introduction
Applied Materials (AMAT) and KLA Corporation (KLAC) represent two leading players in the semiconductor capital equipment industry, making them natural subjects for comparison among investors seeking exposure to AI and advanced chipmaking trends. This analysis examines their business models, recent performance dynamics, and relative positioning in the current market environment. Traders and long-term investors monitoring technology sector rotation, earnings catalysts, and supply chain developments may find this side-by-side evaluation useful for assessing portfolio allocation decisions within the semiconductor equipment space.
AMAT Overview and Recent Performance
Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) provides manufacturing equipment, services, and software for the semiconductor, display, and related industries, with a core focus on deposition, etching, and other wafer fabrication processes. In recent weeks, the stock has shown upward momentum amid broader AI-related demand signals, closing at approximately $539 on August 7, 2026, after a session gain. Market sentiment has been supported by analyst upgrades and expectations for robust fiscal Q3 results scheduled for August 13, with projected revenue near $8.95 billion. Factors influencing performance include strong visibility into customer spending on advanced nodes and ongoing capital investment by chip producers, tempered by periodic concerns over global trade policies.
KLAC Overview and Recent Performance
KLA Corporation (KLAC) specializes in process control and yield management solutions, including inspection, metrology, and data analytics tools essential for semiconductor manufacturing quality assurance. The stock has faced notable pressure in recent market activity, trading around $198 as of the August 7, 2026 close following a decline from earlier peaks. Performance has been shaped by a solid earnings beat in its fiscal fourth quarter alongside ongoing analyst optimism, yet offset by sensitivities to U.S. export regulations affecting China exposure. Broader sector tailwinds from AI infrastructure spending continue to underpin long-term positioning despite shorter-term volatility.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Applied Materials (AMAT) and KLA Corporation (KLAC) share exposure to the semiconductor equipment cycle but differ in core competencies: AMAT emphasizes thin-film deposition and etch technologies that enable advanced chip structures, while KLAC concentrates on inspection and metrology systems that optimize manufacturing yields. Recent momentum favors AMAT due to steadier price action and upcoming earnings visibility, whereas KLAC contends with sharper swings linked to geopolitical factors. Both benefit from AI-driven demand for leading-edge nodes, yet KLAC carries comparatively elevated regulatory risk from China exposure. Growth drivers center on customer capital expenditures for both, with trade-offs evident in valuation multiples and sector sentiment stability.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors including trend consistency and near-term catalysts, Tickeron’s AI would currently assign a higher probability of favorable positioning to Applied Materials (AMAT) over KLA Corporation (KLAC). This assessment reflects AMAT’s relatively stronger recent price behavior and earnings setup amid sustained AI demand, while acknowledging KLAC’s solid fundamentals tempered by greater volatility. The evaluation remains probabilistic and tied to evolving market data rather than guarantees of future outcomes.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is AMAT is a Hold and KLAC is a StrongBuy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
AMAT’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileKLAC’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- AMAT’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- KLAC’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
AMAT’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while KLAC’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- AMAT’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- KLAC’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
AMAT (@Electronic Production Equipment) experienced а +1.34% price change this week, while KLAC (@Electronic Production Equipment) price change was +2.83% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronic Production Equipment industry was +2.20%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +0.92%, and the average quarterly price growth was +46.47%.
Reported Earning Dates
AMAT is expected to report earnings on Nov 12, 2026.
KLAC is expected to report earnings on Oct 28, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronic Production Equipment (+2.20% weekly)The electronic production equipment industry makes equipment used to produce semiconductors. Such equipment includes wafer fabrication, plasma etching and photo-resist processing equipment. The industry also makes chemical vapor deposition processing systems and photomasks, which are high-purity quartz plates that contain patterns to define integrated circuits layouts. Applied Materials, Inc., Lam Research Corporation, and KLA-Tencor Corporation are examples of electronic production equipment manufacturing companies.
| AMAT | KLAC | AMAT / KLAC | |
| Capitalization | 403B | 266B | 152% |
| EBITDA | 11.1B | 6.06B | 183% |
| Gain YTD | 108.519 | 72.280 | 150% |
| P/E Ratio | 43.76 | 55.66 | 79% |
| Revenue | 29B | 13.1B | 221% |
| Total Cash | 8.24B | 613M | 1,344% |
| Total Debt | 7.27B | 6.15B | 118% |
AMAT | KLAC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 61 | 15 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 68 Overvalued | 84 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 36 | 37 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 25 | 13 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 37 | 39 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 8 | 11 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 75 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
AMAT's Valuation (68) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as KLAC (84). This means that AMAT’s stock grew similarly to KLAC’s over the last 12 months.
AMAT's Profit vs Risk Rating (36) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as KLAC (37). This means that AMAT’s stock grew similarly to KLAC’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's SMR Rating (13) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as AMAT (25). This means that KLAC’s stock grew similarly to AMAT’s over the last 12 months.
AMAT's Price Growth Rating (37) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as KLAC (39). This means that AMAT’s stock grew similarly to KLAC’s over the last 12 months.
AMAT's P/E Growth Rating (8) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as KLAC (11). This means that AMAT’s stock grew similarly to KLAC’s over the last 12 months.
| AMAT | KLAC | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 77% | 1 day ago 90% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 75% | 1 day ago 70% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 75% | 1 day ago 77% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 80% | 1 day ago 76% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 77% | 1 day ago 78% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 66% | 1 day ago 66% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 78% | 2 days ago 77% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 64% | 17 days ago 57% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 89% | 1 day ago 82% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 67% | 1 day ago 60% |
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