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KLAC vs NVMI
Which Stock Would AI Choose? KLA Corporation (KLAC) vs. Nova Ltd. (NVMI) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both KLAC and NVMI have delivered exceptional performance, with YTD returns of 54% and 59%, respectively, and 1-year gains exceeding 167% for KLAC and 179% for NVMI.
- KLAC boasts a larger scale with $13.1B TTM revenue and $244B market cap, while NVMI shows higher growth momentum in a smaller $16.5B market cap profile.
- Recent catalysts include KLAC's 10-for-1 stock split, dividend hike, and strong Q3 earnings beat, driving recent price surges amid AI-driven demand.
- Valuation metrics reveal elevated multiples: KLAC at 52.9 trailing P/E (price-to-earnings ratio, a measure of stock price relative to earnings) versus NVMI's 65.4, reflecting premium pricing for semiconductor metrology leaders.
- Both firms benefit from AI infrastructure and advanced packaging trends, with robust ROE (return on equity, profitability relative to shareholders' equity) of 95% for KLAC and 23% for NVMI.
- Investor sentiment favors stability and capital returns at KLAC, while NVMI offers higher relative upside potential ahead of Q1 earnings.
Introduction
In the semiconductor process control and metrology sector, KLAC and NVMI stand out as key players enabling advanced chip manufacturing amid surging AI and data center demand. This comparison analyzes their business models, recent market performance, and relative positioning to help traders seeking short-term momentum and investors focused on long-term growth in the semiconductor equipment space. With both stocks outperforming broader indices significantly over the past year, understanding their contrasts in scale, catalysts, and valuation provides actionable insights for portfolio allocation in a high-growth industry.
KLAC Overview and Recent Performance
KLA Corporation is a leading provider of process control and yield management solutions for semiconductor manufacturing, including inspection and metrology systems critical for wafer fabrication. In recent market activity, KLAC has shown robust momentum, with shares surging on announcements of a 10-for-1 forward stock split and a 21% increase in its quarterly dividend to $2.30 per share (adjusted post-split to $0.23). These shareholder-friendly moves, coupled with Q3 FY2026 earnings that beat expectations—reporting $3.42B revenue and $9.40 non-GAAP EPS—have bolstered sentiment. AI infrastructure demand, particularly in advanced packaging expected to approach $1B revenue, has driven YTD gains of 54% and positioned KLAC favorably amid sector tailwinds.
NVMI Overview and Recent Performance
Nova Ltd., an Israel-based innovator in metrology and process control solutions, supports semiconductor production through advanced dimensional, materials, and chemical measurement technologies. Recent weeks have seen steady gains for NVMI, with shares up 3% in the latest session amid anticipation for Q1 2026 earnings on May 14. The company's full-year 2025 results highlighted record revenue of $881M (up 31% YoY) and net income of $259M, fueled by demand in memory, advanced logic, and high-bandwidth memory (HBM). YTD performance of 59% reflects strong positioning in AI-enabling technologies like gate-all-around transistors, though at a smaller scale than peers, contributing to heightened volatility and growth potential.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
KLAC and NVMI operate in complementary semiconductor metrology niches, with KLAC's broader process control portfolio driving scale advantages—$13.1B TTM revenue versus NVMI's $881M—while both leverage AI-driven growth in advanced packaging and logic chips. Recent momentum favors NVMI slightly on YTD basis (59% vs. 54%), but KLAC exhibits greater stability via superior ROE (95% vs. 23%) and cash generation ($4.4B operating cash flow TTM). Risk profiles differ: KLAC's higher debt/equity (105% vs. 61%) contrasts NVMI's nimbler structure, while valuations show NVMI trading at a premium trailing P/E (65 vs. 53) amid earnings anticipation. Sector exposure aligns on AI catalysts, but KLAC benefits from diversified end-markets and capital returns like buybacks.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI leans toward KLAC in the current environment, citing its trend consistency, unmatched profitability margins (36% net margin), and fresh catalysts like the stock split and $7B repurchase program amid stable AI demand. While NVMI shows sharper relative momentum and lower leverage, KLAC's scale and capital discipline offer higher probability of sustained outperformance over broader horizons.
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 Disclaimers and Limitations.
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 KLAC is a Hold and NVMI 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).
KLAC’s FA Score shows that 4 FA rating(s) are green whileNVMI’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- KLAC’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 red.
- NVMI’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.
KLAC’s TA Score shows that 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while NVMI’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- KLAC’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
- NVMI’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
KLAC (@Electronic Production Equipment) experienced а -3.47% price change this week, while NVMI (@Electronic Production Equipment) price change was -2.30% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronic Production Equipment industry was -0.97%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +20.42%, and the average quarterly price growth was +140.48%.
Reported Earning Dates
KLAC is expected to report earnings on Jul 23, 2026.
NVMI is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronic Production Equipment (-0.97% 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.
| KLAC | NVMI | KLAC / NVMI | |
| Capitalization | 236B | 16.2B | 1,457% |
| EBITDA | 6.06B | 276M | 2,196% |
| Gain YTD | 48.687 | 55.044 | 88% |
| P/E Ratio | 51.10 | 63.88 | 80% |
| Revenue | 13.1B | 881M | 1,487% |
| Total Cash | 4.96B | 1.05B | 473% |
| Total Debt | 6.15B | 799M | 769% |
KLAC | NVMI | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 80 | 88 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 84 Overvalued | 73 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 6 | 7 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 14 | 41 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 12 | 38 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 12 | 9 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 90 | 90 |
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.
NVMI's Valuation (73) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as KLAC (84). This means that NVMI’s stock grew similarly to KLAC’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's Profit vs Risk Rating (6) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as NVMI (7). This means that KLAC’s stock grew similarly to NVMI’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's SMR Rating (14) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as NVMI (41). This means that KLAC’s stock grew similarly to NVMI’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's Price Growth Rating (12) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as NVMI (38). This means that KLAC’s stock grew similarly to NVMI’s over the last 12 months.
NVMI's P/E Growth Rating (9) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as KLAC (12). This means that NVMI’s stock grew similarly to KLAC’s over the last 12 months.
| KLAC | NVMI | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 65% | 3 days ago 76% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 70% | 3 days ago 86% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 74% | 3 days ago 84% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 71% | 3 days ago 61% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 64% | 3 days ago 70% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 77% | 3 days ago 69% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 75% | 4 days ago 78% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 61% | 14 days ago 68% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 67% | 3 days ago 62% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 84% | 3 days ago 74% |
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| 1 Day | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs / NAME | Price $ | Chg $ | Chg % |
| TPLC | 47.79 | -0.61 | -1.25% |
| Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF | |||
| BGRO | 42.16 | -0.65 | -1.52% |
| iShares Large Cap Growth Active ETF | |||
| PSC | 63.10 | -1.03 | -1.61% |
| Principal US Small Cap ETF | |||
| PIEQ | 34.80 | -0.64 | -1.81% |
| Principal International Equity ETF | |||
| HTEC | 32.80 | -0.61 | -1.82% |
| Robo Global® Hlthcare Tech & Innovt ETF | |||
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 85% 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% | -4.68% | ||
| LRCX - KLAC | 85% Closely correlated | -4.82% | ||
| AMAT - KLAC | 84% Closely correlated | -0.89% | ||
| ADI - KLAC | 79% Closely correlated | -2.18% | ||
| NVMI - KLAC | 77% Closely correlated | -8.44% | ||
| QCOM - KLAC | 77% Closely correlated | +0.70% | ||
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NVMI and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, NVMI has been closely correlated with KLAC. These tickers have moved in lockstep 78% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if NVMI jumps, then KLAC could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To NVMI | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVMI | 100% | -8.44% | ||
| KLAC - NVMI | 78% Closely correlated | -4.68% | ||
| LRCX - NVMI | 78% Closely correlated | -4.82% | ||
| CAMT - NVMI | 76% Closely correlated | -1.76% | ||
| AMAT - NVMI | 73% Closely correlated | -0.89% | ||
| ASML - NVMI | 69% Closely correlated | -5.22% | ||
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