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AMAT vs KLAC
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Applied Materials (AMAT) vs. KLA Corporation (KLAC) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both AMAT and KLAC supply critical semiconductor equipment and have posted record results amid AI-driven demand for advanced chips.
- Applied Materials reported fiscal Q3 2026 revenue of $9.12 billion, up 25% year over year, with strong sequential growth in Semiconductor Systems.
- KLA Corporation delivered fiscal Q4 2026 revenue of $3.66 billion, up 15% year over year, alongside raised wafer equipment market expectations for calendar 2026.
- Recent market activity shows both stocks pulling back from 52-week highs, with AMAT trading near $456 and KLAC near $181 as of the September 11, 2026 close.
- Valuations reflect premium pricing for growth, with forward price-to-earnings ratios in the mid-20s to low-30s range amid elevated analyst targets.
- Sector exposure centers on wafer fabrication equipment (WFE), where AI infrastructure build-out supports multi-year visibility for both companies.
Introduction
Applied Materials (AMAT) and KLA Corporation (KLAC) rank among the leading providers of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, making them direct beneficiaries of the ongoing expansion in artificial intelligence infrastructure. Investors and traders focused on the semiconductor supply chain often compare the two names to assess relative exposure to logic, memory, and process-control segments. This analysis examines recent financial results, price behavior, and market positioning to highlight observable differences in scale, growth drivers, and risk profiles for those evaluating opportunities in the equipment sector.
AMAT Overview and Recent Performance
Applied Materials, Inc. develops materials engineering solutions used in the fabrication of advanced semiconductors, including deposition, etch, and inspection tools. In fiscal Q3 2026, the company posted record revenue of $9.12 billion, a 25% year-over-year increase, driven by strength in Semiconductor Systems and services. Non-GAAP earnings per share reached $3.50, up 41% from the prior year. Management raised calendar 2026 Semiconductor Systems revenue expectations and noted sustained customer demand visibility extending into 2027. Shares have traded lower in recent weeks after earlier gains, reflecting broader sector rotation while remaining well above year-ago levels.
KLAC Overview and Recent Performance
KLA Corporation specializes in process control and yield management solutions essential for semiconductor manufacturing. Fiscal Q4 2026 revenue totaled $3.66 billion, up 15% year over year, with non-GAAP earnings per share of $1.50. The company raised its wafer equipment market outlook to the low $150 billion range for calendar 2026 and highlighted accelerating growth expectations into 2027, supported by advanced packaging and logic investments. Shares have also experienced a pullback in recent market activity following prior advances, consistent with sector-wide movements amid shifting sentiment around near-term growth pacing.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Applied Materials operates at larger scale with broader exposure across deposition, etch, and services, while KLA maintains a specialized focus on inspection and process control, often commanding higher operating margins. Both companies benefit from AI-related wafer fabrication equipment demand, yet AMAT has shown stronger recent revenue growth and raised guidance more aggressively. KLAC’s market outlook revisions reflect similar optimism but from a narrower product base. Recent price action indicates comparable drawdowns from peaks, with valuation multiples remaining elevated for both amid expectations of continued sector expansion. Trade-offs include AMAT’s larger revenue base versus KLAC’s historically higher return on invested capital and margin profile.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as trend consistency in recent quarters, stability of raised guidance, and relative positioning within the AI-driven equipment cycle, Tickeron’s AI models currently assign a modest probabilistic edge to Applied Materials over KLA Corporation. This assessment reflects AMAT’s broader revenue momentum and customer visibility rather than a definitive forecast. Market conditions can shift rapidly, and any preference remains subject to ongoing data inputs and volatility measures.
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 StrongBuy and KLAC is a StrongBuy.
| AMAT | KLAC | AMAT / KLAC | |
| Capitalization | 362B | 236B | 153% |
| EBITDA | 11.5B | 6.28B | 183% |
| Gain YTD | 78.263 | 52.934 | 148% |
| P/E Ratio | 39.39 | 49.36 | 80% |
| Revenue | 30.8B | 13.6B | 226% |
| Total Cash | 9.23B | 4.9B | 188% |
| Total Debt | 7.35B | 6.15B | 119% |
AMAT | KLAC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 50 | 50 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 67 Overvalued | 84 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 42 | 40 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 25 | 15 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 40 | 48 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 7 | 11 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 75 |
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 (67) 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.
KLAC's Profit vs Risk Rating (40) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as AMAT (42). This means that KLAC’s stock grew similarly to AMAT’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's SMR Rating (15) 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 (40) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as KLAC (48). This means that AMAT’s stock grew similarly to KLAC’s over the last 12 months.
AMAT's P/E Growth Rating (7) 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 (%) | 3 days ago 86% | 3 days ago 75% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 80% | 3 days ago 71% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 73% | 3 days ago 70% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 70% | 3 days ago 75% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 77% | 3 days ago 78% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 68% | 3 days ago 68% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 78% | 6 days ago 77% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 65% | 4 days ago 59% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | N/A | N/A |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 72% | 3 days ago 57% |
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 overvalued. 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 while KLAC’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 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while KLAC’s TA Score has 3 bullish TA indicator(s).
- AMAT’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 3 bearish.
- KLAC’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
AMAT (@Electronic Production Equipment) experienced а +0.39% price change this week, while KLAC (@Electronic Production Equipment) price change was -2.67% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronic Production Equipment industry was +2.14%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -15.15%, and the average quarterly price growth was +25.24%.
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 (+2.14% 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.
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