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KLAC vs NXPI
Which Stock Would AI Choose? KLA Corporation (KLAC) vs. NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- KLAC has significantly outperformed NXPI year-to-date, with gains around 49% compared to NXPI's approximately 7%.
- Both stocks showed strong one-month momentum of about 19%, reflecting broader semiconductor sector recovery.
- KLAC's market capitalization stands at roughly $238 billion, dwarfing NXPI's $58 billion, indicating larger scale in process control equipment.
- NXPI recently beat Q1 earnings expectations with 12% revenue growth, boosting shares over 16% after hours amid automotive strength.
- KLAC trades at a higher price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 53 versus NXPI's 22, suggesting premium valuation for growth prospects.
- Semiconductor sector volatility persists due to earnings anticipation and geopolitical factors affecting both stocks.
Introduction
KLA Corporation (KLAC) and NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) operate in the semiconductor industry, a cornerstone of technology driven by artificial intelligence (AI), automotive electrification, and industrial automation. This comparison analyzes their recent market performance, business models, and positioning, aiding investors and traders navigating sector rotations and growth opportunities. With both stocks exhibiting momentum in recent weeks amid broader chip demand recovery, understanding their relative strengths helps in portfolio allocation for those exposed to technology and semiconductors.
KLAC Overview and Recent Performance
KLA Corporation is a leading provider of process control and yield management solutions for semiconductor manufacturing, enabling chipmakers to detect defects and optimize production. In recent market activity, KLAC shares have demonstrated robust gains, with year-to-date returns near 49% and one-month appreciation around 19%, outpacing the broader market. Sentiment has been buoyed by AI-related demand for advanced chips, though shares dipped about 5% in a recent session amid pre-earnings caution and sector selloffs linked to data-center spending concerns. Analysts have raised price targets, reflecting optimism on systems revenue growth.
NXPI Overview and Recent Performance
NXP Semiconductors designs and manufactures high-performance mixed-signal semiconductors, focusing on automotive, industrial, Internet of Things (IoT), and mobile applications. Recently, NXPI reported Q1 2026 results surpassing estimates, with revenue of $3.18 billion (up 12% year-over-year) and earnings per share (EPS) of $3.05, driving a sharp after-hours surge of over 16%. Year-to-date performance stands at about 7%, with one-month gains near 18%, supported by strength in automotive and industrial segments. However, shares faced pressure from broader semiconductor declines, underscoring cyclical risks despite positive guidance for Q2.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
KLAC focuses on semiconductor process equipment, benefiting from upstream demand in wafer fabrication tied to AI and advanced nodes, while NXPI emphasizes downstream applications in automotive (e.g., electrification) and IoT, providing more diversified end-market exposure. Growth drivers differ: KLAC leverages broad chip production cycles, with superior long-term momentum (157% one-year return vs. NXPI's 25%), whereas NXPI shows resilience in auto amid EV transitions but lags in scale. Risk factors include geopolitical tensions on exports and cyclical downturns, with KLAC's higher P/E signaling growth premium but potential volatility pre-earnings. Market sentiment favors KLAC's stability in recent weeks, though NXPI's earnings catalysts offer short-term upside trade-offs.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron's AI currently leans toward KLAC due to its consistent trend strength, superior relative performance year-to-date and over one year, and positioning in critical semiconductor process control amid sustained AI demand. NXPI's recent earnings beat provides a positive catalyst, but KLAC's momentum and scale suggest higher probability of outperformance in the near term, based on observable technical and fundamental factors.
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 NXPI 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 whileNXPI’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- KLAC’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 red.
- NXPI’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 NXPI’s TA Score has 3 bullish TA indicator(s).
- KLAC’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 4 bearish.
- NXPI’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
KLAC (@Electronic Production Equipment) experienced а +7.63% price change this week, while NXPI (@Semiconductors) price change was +3.54% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronic Production Equipment industry was +9.74%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +27.52%, and the average quarterly price growth was +154.84%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Semiconductors industry was +5.94%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +15.19%, and the average quarterly price growth was +107.27%.
Reported Earning Dates
KLAC is expected to report earnings on Jul 23, 2026.
NXPI is expected to report earnings on Jul 28, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronic Production Equipment (+9.74% 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.
@Semiconductors (+5.94% weekly)The semiconductor industry manufacturers all chip-related products, including research and development. These chips are used in innumerable electronic devices, including computers, cell phones, smartphones, and GPSs. Intel Corporation, NVIDIA Corp., and Broadcomm are some of the prominent players in this industry. Semiconductor companies usually tend to do well during periods of healthy economic growth, thereby inducing further research and development in the industry – which in turn augurs well for productivity and growth in the economy. In the near future, demand for semiconductor products (and possibly innovation within the segment) should only expand further, with the proliferation of 5G, autonomous vehicles, IoT, and various AI-driven electronics set to herald a new, advanced chapter in the technology-driven world as we know it. With burgeoning prospects comes great competition. In 2015, SIA estimated that U.S. semiconductor industry ranks as the second most competitive U.S. industry out of 2882 U.S. industries designated manufacturers by the U.S. Census Bureau.
| KLAC | NXPI | KLAC / NXPI | |
| Capitalization | 339B | 79.1B | 429% |
| EBITDA | 6.06B | 4.72B | 128% |
| Gain YTD | 119.502 | 45.073 | 265% |
| P/E Ratio | 73.51 | 29.95 | 245% |
| Revenue | 13.1B | 12.6B | 104% |
| Total Cash | 613M | 3.38B | 18% |
| Total Debt | 6.15B | 11.7B | 53% |
KLAC | NXPI | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 42 | 78 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 91 Overvalued | 46 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 2 | 48 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 13 | 37 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 3 | 8 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 8 | 29 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 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.
NXPI's Valuation (46) in the Semiconductors industry is somewhat better than the same rating for KLAC (91) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that NXPI’s stock grew somewhat faster than KLAC’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's Profit vs Risk Rating (2) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is somewhat better than the same rating for NXPI (48) in the Semiconductors industry. This means that KLAC’s stock grew somewhat faster than NXPI’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's SMR Rating (13) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as NXPI (37) in the Semiconductors industry. This means that KLAC’s stock grew similarly to NXPI’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's Price Growth Rating (3) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as NXPI (8) in the Semiconductors industry. This means that KLAC’s stock grew similarly to NXPI’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's P/E Growth Rating (8) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as NXPI (29) in the Semiconductors industry. This means that KLAC’s stock grew similarly to NXPI’s over the last 12 months.
| KLAC | NXPI | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 56% | 3 days ago 76% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 64% | 3 days ago 74% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | N/A | 3 days ago 78% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 66% | 3 days ago 86% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 77% | 3 days ago 69% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 80% | 3 days ago 69% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 77% | 6 days ago 65% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 23 days ago 61% | 4 days ago 65% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 64% | 3 days ago 72% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 77% | 3 days ago 60% |
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NXPI and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, NXPI has been closely correlated with ENTG. These tickers have moved in lockstep 78% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if NXPI jumps, then ENTG could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To NXPI | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NXPI | 100% | +5.05% | ||
| ENTG - NXPI | 78% Closely correlated | +13.62% | ||
| LRCX - NXPI | 77% Closely correlated | +3.97% | ||
| MCHP - NXPI | 76% Closely correlated | +6.01% | ||
| KLAC - NXPI | 76% Closely correlated | +8.73% | ||
| ACLS - NXPI | 73% Closely correlated | +6.89% | ||
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