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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 operate in the semiconductor equipment sector, benefiting from artificial intelligence (AI) demand for advanced chip manufacturing and process control.
- AMAT reported record fiscal Q3 2026 revenue of $9.12 billion, up 25% year over year, with non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) of $3.50, driven by broad materials engineering solutions.
- KLAC posted fiscal Q4 2026 revenue of $3.66 billion, up 15% year over year, with a 62.4% gross margin and a backlog exceeding $12 billion supporting visibility into 2027.
- Recent market activity shows both stocks experiencing volatility, with AMAT trading near $444.57 and KLAC near $176.99 as of mid-September 2026, amid sector rebounds.
- AMAT demonstrates stronger year-to-date (YTD) price performance compared to KLAC, while KLAC maintains higher gross margins and process-control specialization.
- Sector exposure to AI infrastructure and advanced packaging remains a shared growth driver, with differing emphasis on deposition/etch versus inspection and metrology.
Introduction
Applied Materials (AMAT) and KLA Corporation (KLAC) represent two leading players in the semiconductor capital equipment industry. Their products enable the production and quality control of advanced chips essential for AI, high-performance computing, and electronics. This comparison examines their business models, recent financial results, relative stock performance, and market positioning in the current environment. Institutional investors, growth-oriented traders, and sector specialists may find the analysis useful for assessing complementary or alternative exposure within the semiconductor supply chain. The focus remains on verifiable developments and observable metrics rather than forward projections.
AMAT Overview and Recent Performance
Applied Materials provides materials engineering solutions, including deposition, etch, and other processes critical for semiconductor fabrication. In fiscal Q3 2026, ended July 26, the company achieved record revenue of $9.12 billion, a 25% increase year over year, with non-GAAP EPS rising 41% to $3.50. Strong demand tied to AI compute drove expectations for continued outperformance relative to the broader wafer equipment market. Recent market activity included a rebound following earlier pullbacks, with the stock closing at $444.57 on September 18, 2026. Sentiment has been supported by management commentary on multi-year visibility from customers and investments in manufacturing capacity. Broader sector volatility and valuation considerations have influenced price movements in recent weeks.
KLAC Overview and Recent Performance
KLA Corporation specializes in process control and yield management solutions, including inspection, metrology, and data analytics for semiconductor manufacturing. Fiscal Q4 2026 results showed revenue of $3.66 billion, up 15% year over year, with a gross margin of 62.4% and non-GAAP EPS of $1.05. The company highlighted a backlog of approximately $12.6 billion and expected advanced-packaging process-control revenue to reach about $1.1 billion in calendar 2026. As of September 18, 2026, the stock traded at $176.99. Recent performance reflects sector dynamics, with gains amid rebounds in chip equipment names. Customer commitments extending into 2027 and 2028 provide visibility, while elevated valuations have contributed to price sensitivity in recent market activity.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Applied Materials (AMAT) focuses on deposition and etch technologies that enable chip structure formation, while KLA Corporation (KLAC) emphasizes inspection and metrology for defect detection and process control. Both benefit from AI-driven demand, yet AMAT has shown broader revenue growth in recent quarters, whereas KLAC delivers higher gross margins and specialized exposure to advanced packaging. Recent momentum favors AMAT on a YTD basis, though KLAC maintains a substantial backlog supporting longer-term visibility. Risk factors include cyclical semiconductor spending for both, with AMAT carrying larger scale and KLAC higher valuation multiples. Market sentiment reflects shared tailwinds from AI infrastructure alongside periodic sector rotations.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as recent revenue growth consistency, backlog visibility, and relative positioning within AI-related semiconductor demand, Tickeron’s AI models indicate a probabilistic preference toward AMAT in the current environment. Stronger sequential and year-over-year expansion in key segments, combined with favorable estimate revisions, contribute to this assessment. However, KLAC demonstrates resilience through margin leadership and specialized process-control exposure. Outcomes remain subject to broader market conditions and execution variability.
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 Buy and KLAC is a Buy.
AMAT | KLAC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 50 | 50 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 71 Overvalued | 88 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 37 | 35 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 25 | 15 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 36 | 38 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 9 | 13 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 85 | 85 |
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 (71) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as KLAC (88). This means that AMAT’s stock grew similarly to KLAC’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's Profit vs Risk Rating (35) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as AMAT (37). 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 (36) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as KLAC (38). This means that AMAT’s stock grew similarly to KLAC’s over the last 12 months.
AMAT's P/E Growth Rating (9) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as KLAC (13). This means that AMAT’s stock grew similarly to KLAC’s over the last 12 months.
| AMAT | KLAC | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 70% | 3 days ago 65% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 73% | 3 days ago 70% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 73% | 3 days ago 76% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 82% | 3 days ago 77% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 77% | 3 days ago 77% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 79% | 3 days ago 80% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 79% | 3 days ago 77% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 19 days ago 65% | 11 days ago 59% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | N/A | N/A |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 69% | 3 days ago 67% |
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 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while KLAC’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- AMAT’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
- KLAC’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
AMAT (@Electronic Production Equipment) experienced а +11.35% price change this week, while KLAC (@Electronic Production Equipment) price change was +10.09% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronic Production Equipment industry was +7.24%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +18.77%, and the average quarterly price growth was +32.75%.
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 (+7.24% 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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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 87% 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% | +3.27% | ||
| LRCX - KLAC | 87% Closely correlated | +2.17% | ||
| AMAT - KLAC | 87% Closely correlated | +2.03% | ||
| NVMI - KLAC | 86% Closely correlated | +2.46% | ||
| ASML - KLAC | 81% Closely correlated | +3.25% | ||
| ONTO - KLAC | 81% Closely correlated | +4.09% | ||
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