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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 are leading providers of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, benefiting from sustained capital expenditures driven by artificial intelligence and advanced chip production.
- In recent market activity, AMAT has demonstrated stronger year-to-date and trailing twelve-month returns compared with KLAC, supported by multiple analyst price-target upgrades.
- AMAT offers broader exposure across deposition, etch, and packaging technologies, while KLAC specializes in process control, inspection, and metrology solutions that enhance manufacturing yields.
- Both stocks reached 52-week highs near the end of June 2026 before experiencing sector-related volatility, reflecting shared sensitivity to semiconductor demand cycles and customer capex plans.
- Valuation multiples for AMAT remain comparatively lower than those for KLAC on a forward basis, creating distinct risk-reward profiles for growth-oriented investors.
- Market sentiment remains constructive for the semiconductor equipment group overall, with both companies positioned to capture incremental spending on high-bandwidth memory and leading-edge logic nodes.
Introduction
Applied Materials (AMAT) and KLA Corporation (KLAC) represent two of the most prominent names in the semiconductor capital equipment sector. Both companies supply critical tools that enable the production of advanced chips used in artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and other high-growth applications. Investors and traders seeking exposure to the semiconductor manufacturing cycle often evaluate these stocks together because their fortunes are closely tied to global foundry and memory-maker capital expenditures. This comparison examines recent price behavior, business positioning, and relative performance metrics to provide a factual framework for understanding how the two equities have fared in the current market environment.
AMAT Overview and Recent Performance
Applied Materials designs and manufactures equipment used in the fabrication of semiconductors, displays, and related products. Its portfolio spans materials engineering solutions that support deposition, etching, chemical mechanical polishing, and advanced packaging processes. In recent weeks, AMAT shares have exhibited notable strength, closing near $570 on July 8, 2026, after reaching a 52-week high of approximately $739 in late June. Year-to-date returns have exceeded 120 percent, outpacing broader market benchmarks. Performance has been supported by robust fiscal second-quarter results and a series of upward revisions to price targets by major research firms, reflecting optimism around accelerating demand for artificial-intelligence-related semiconductor capacity.
KLAC Overview and Recent Performance
KLA Corporation specializes in process control and yield-management solutions, including inspection, metrology, and data analytics tools essential for maintaining high manufacturing yields at advanced technology nodes. The company completed a 10-for-1 stock split in June 2026. In recent market activity, KLAC shares traded near $221 on July 8, 2026, following a 52-week high of roughly $307 at the end of June. Year-to-date gains have been substantial though more moderate than those recorded by AMAT. Recent price movement has reflected broader semiconductor sector pressures, including reactions to customer earnings reports, while the company prepares to release its fiscal fourth-quarter results amid continued focus on metrology demand tied to complex chip architectures.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Applied Materials maintains a diversified product lineup that addresses multiple steps in the semiconductor manufacturing flow, providing exposure to a broader set of growth drivers than KLA’s more specialized process-control focus. This breadth has contributed to relatively stronger recent momentum for AMAT. KLA’s emphasis on inspection and metrology creates a defensive characteristic within the equipment group, as yield optimization remains critical regardless of the specific technology node being produced. Both companies face similar risk factors, including cyclical capex spending by leading foundries and memory manufacturers, geopolitical tensions affecting supply chains, and valuation sensitivity to growth expectations. Forward valuation multiples show AMAT trading at a discount to KLAC on a price-to-sales basis, presenting a trade-off between growth breadth and specialized positioning within the same end-market theme.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as relative price momentum, analyst sentiment trends, and breadth of exposure to artificial-intelligence-driven demand, Tickeron’s AI models currently assign a modestly higher probability of favorable near-term positioning to AMAT over KLAC. This assessment reflects AMAT’s stronger recent performance consistency and multiple upward price-target revisions, while acknowledging that KLAC retains advantages in its specialized yield-management niche. Market conditions can shift rapidly, and both equities remain subject to sector-wide volatility.
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 Hold.
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 4 FA rating(s) are green whileKLAC’s FA Score has 4 green FA rating(s).
- AMAT’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 red.
- KLAC’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 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 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while KLAC’s TA Score has 3 bullish TA indicator(s).
- AMAT’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
- KLAC’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
AMAT (@Electronic Production Equipment) experienced а -2.38% price change this week, while KLAC (@Electronic Production Equipment) price change was -2.57% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronic Production Equipment industry was -1.00%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +0.92%, and the average quarterly price growth was +73.62%.
Reported Earning Dates
AMAT is expected to report earnings on Aug 13, 2026.
KLAC is expected to report earnings on Jul 23, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronic Production Equipment (-1.00% 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 | 467B | 300B | 156% |
| EBITDA | 11.1B | 6.06B | 183% |
| Gain YTD | 129.630 | 94.074 | 138% |
| P/E Ratio | 55.38 | 65.00 | 85% |
| 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 | 83 | 85 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 76 Overvalued | 91 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 14 | 17 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 24 | 13 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 2 | 4 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 7 | 10 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 85 | 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 (76) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as KLAC (91). This means that AMAT’s stock grew similarly to KLAC’s over the last 12 months.
AMAT's Profit vs Risk Rating (14) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as KLAC (17). 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 (24). This means that KLAC’s stock grew similarly to AMAT’s over the last 12 months.
AMAT's Price Growth Rating (2) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as KLAC (4). 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 (10). This means that AMAT’s stock grew similarly to KLAC’s over the last 12 months.
| AMAT | KLAC | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 58% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 76% | 2 days ago 90% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 71% | 2 days ago 63% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 67% | 2 days ago 57% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 64% | 2 days ago 60% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 78% | 2 days ago 80% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 78% | 2 days ago 78% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 64% | 9 days ago 57% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 71% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 75% | 2 days ago 78% |
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| 1 Day | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| MFs / NAME | Price $ | Chg $ | Chg % |
| BGATX | 13.81 | 0.08 | +0.57% |
| Baillie Gifford Global Alpha Equities 2 | |||
| GSPIX | 46.36 | N/A | N/A |
| Goldman Sachs Large Cap Equity Instl | |||
| FCVIX | 24.95 | N/A | N/A |
| Fidelity Advisor Small Cap Value I | |||
| PGIUX | 16.87 | N/A | N/A |
| Virtus Duff & Phelps Global Infras I | |||
| SUIRX | 72.93 | N/A | N/A |
| DWS CROCI International R6 | |||
KLAC and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, KLAC has been closely correlated with LRCX. These tickers have moved in lockstep 88% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if KLAC jumps, then LRCX could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To KLAC | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KLAC | 100% | +3.76% | ||
| LRCX - KLAC | 88% Closely correlated | +6.01% | ||
| AMAT - KLAC | 87% Closely correlated | +3.18% | ||
| NVMI - KLAC | 83% Closely correlated | +4.87% | ||
| ADI - KLAC | 79% Closely correlated | +2.14% | ||
| ASML - KLAC | 79% Closely correlated | +2.01% | ||
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