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KLAC vs QCOM
Which Stock Would AI Choose? KLA Corporation (KLAC) vs. Qualcomm (QCOM) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- KLAC is riding accelerating demand tied to AI infrastructure, with revenue up roughly 29% year over year and stronger-than-expected guidance, while QCOM is navigating a shrinking handset segment and margin pressure.
- Tickeron AI Verdict: Based on relative trend consistency, stability, and near-term catalysts, Tickeron's AI currently favors KLAC over QCOM in this pairing.
- The two companies occupy very different parts of the semiconductor value chain: KLA sells inspection and process-control equipment, while Qualcomm designs chips and licenses wireless technology.
- KLAC has maintained broad-based growth across foundry, logic, memory, and advanced packaging, whereas QCOM's diversification into automotive and data centers is still offsetting weakness in its core handset business.
- For deeper context on each company's key developments, explore the KLAC Major News and KLAC Today's Price Move pages, as well as QCOM Major News and QCOM Today's Price Move.
- To see how automated strategies are positioning across the market, explore Trending AI Robots.
Introduction
Semiconductors sit at the center of the artificial intelligence buildout, but not all chip companies are positioned the same way. This stock comparison examines two leaders on opposite sides of the industry: KLA Corporation, a dominant supplier of process-control and inspection equipment used in semiconductor manufacturing, and Qualcomm, a designer of smartphone, automotive, and connected-device chips with a valuable patent-licensing arm. Investors and traders weighing semiconductor exposure may find the contrast useful, because the two stocks currently reflect different phases of the cycle. KLAC is benefiting directly from rising capital spending on advanced fabs, while QCOM is working through a handset downturn and an accelerating shift toward new end markets. Understanding their relative performance and market positioning can help frame near-term risk and reward.
KLAC Overview and Recent Performance
KLAC (KLA Corporation) supplies advanced process control, metrology, and inspection systems that chipmakers rely on to improve manufacturing yields, along with services and printed-circuit-board (PCB) inspection tools. In recent weeks, the company reported record quarterly revenue of roughly $4.14 billion, up about 29% year over year, and issued guidance for the following quarter above consensus expectations. Management has pointed to the AI ecosystem buildout as a primary driver, with rising demand across leading-edge foundry and logic, high-bandwidth memory (HBM), and advanced packaging.
Sentiment has been supported by accelerating backlog growth and a raised outlook for the broader wafer fabrication equipment (WFE) market. Profitability remains strong, with gross margins in the low-60% range and operating margins near 46%. The company completed a 10-for-one stock split in mid-2026, and its shares have held firm after a period of consolidation. The main risks center on memory-component costs, tariff-related headwinds, and the semiconductor cycle's sensitivity to capital spending.
QCOM Overview and Recent Performance
QCOM (Qualcomm) designs the Snapdragon processors and modems that power a large share of smartphones, while also licensing foundational wireless patents. In recent weeks, however, the company's core handset segment has been under pressure. Its most recent quarterly revenue declined about 4% year over year to roughly $9.95 billion, with handset revenue falling about 20% as original equipment manufacturers adjusted inventories amid elevated memory prices and supply constraints.
Offsetting this weakness, Qualcomm's automotive business grew roughly 61% year over year to a record, and the company is ramping custom data-center silicon engagements with large cloud providers. Management also announced a global workforce reduction aimed at improving performance and margins. Shares fell sharply in late October after earnings, reflecting investor concern about the pace of the transition away from smartphones and the expected decline in Apple-related revenue. The stock trades well below its 52-week high, and the market is weighing whether automotive, Internet of Things (IoT), and data-center growth can arrive quickly enough to stabilize results.
Trending AI Robots
Tickeron maintains a large library of automated trading strategies, with hundreds of AI trading bots actively trading thousands of different tickers across varied styles, timeframes, and performance statistics. Because market conditions change, only a subset of these bots is currently well suited to the prevailing environment. The Trending AI Robots section curates that subset, highlighting the bots whose recent signals and statistics stand out relative to current conditions. Each bot uses a distinct approach, from short-term technical patterns to longer-horizon trend-following systems, and each focuses on its own set of tickers. For traders interested in systematic approaches to the semiconductor space and beyond, exploring the curated list can offer a useful starting point for understanding how automated strategies are positioned today.
Head-to-Head Comparison
The core contrast between these two names is structural. KLAC is a capital-equipment provider whose revenue tracks chipmakers' manufacturing investments, making it a leveraged play on rising fab construction and process-control intensity. QCOM is a fabless chip designer whose fortunes are tied more directly to end-device demand, particularly smartphones, and to its licensing model.
Growth drivers also differ. KLAC benefits from several simultaneous inflections, including leading-edge node investment, memory complexity, and advanced packaging, which raises the value of inspection and metrology. Qualcomm's growth increasingly depends on automotive and data-center wins that are still smaller than its handset business, meaning execution risk remains elevated during the transition.
On momentum, KLAC has demonstrated stronger, more consistent recent performance, while QCOM has experienced sharper volatility and a pronounced pullback. Risk profiles diverge as well: KLAC faces cyclical capital-spending sensitivity and cost inflation, while QCOM faces customer insourcing, competitive pressure from rivals like MediaTek, and margin dilution from its data-center ramp. Sector exposure is shared, but their positioning within the semiconductor ecosystem is fundamentally different.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as trend consistency, relative stability, and the presence of near-term catalysts, Tickeron's AI would currently lean toward KLAC in this pairing. The company's accelerating revenue growth, above-consensus guidance, and broad-based demand across multiple AI-related applications suggest a more favorable near-term trend profile. By contrast, QCOM is contending with declining handset revenue, margin compression, and an ongoing business transition that introduces greater uncertainty into its forward path. This assessment is probabilistic rather than definitive: it reflects a relative preference based on current momentum and positioning, not a guarantee of future performance, and either stock's outlook could shift as new data emerges.
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 KLAC is a Hold and QCOM is a Hold.
KLAC's RSI Oscillator recovers from oversold territory
The RSI Indicator for KLAC moved out of oversold territory on October 27, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is shifting from a downward trend to an upward trend. Traders may want to buy the stock or call options. The A.I.dvisor looked at 12 similar instances when the indicator left oversold territory. In 11 of the 12 cases the stock moved higher. This puts the odds of a move higher at 90%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Stochastic Oscillator suggests the stock price trend may be in a reversal from a downward trend to an upward trend. 49 of 60 cases where KLAC's Stochastic Oscillator exited the oversold zone resulted in an increase in price. Tickeron's analysis proposes that the odds of a continued upward trend are 82%.
Following a +8.96% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where KLAC advanced for three days, in 268 of 345 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 78%.
KLAC may jump back above the lower band and head toward the middle band. Traders may consider buying the stock or exploring call options.
Bearish Trend Analysis
The Momentum Indicator moved below the 0 level on October 13, 2026. You may want to consider selling the stock, shorting the stock, or exploring put options on KLAC as a result. In 62 of 100 cases where the Momentum Indicator fell below 0, the stock fell further within the subsequent month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 62%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence Histogram (MACD) for KLAC turned negative on October 13, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to turn lower in the coming weeks. Traders may want to sell the stock or buy put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 49 similar instances when the indicator turned negative. In 30 of the 49 cases the stock turned lower in the days that followed. This puts the odds of success at 61%.
KLAC moved below its 50-day moving average on October 13, 2026 date and that indicates a change from an upward trend to a downward trend.
The 10-day moving average for KLAC crossed bearishly below the 50-day moving average on October 19, 2026. This indicates that the trend has shifted lower and could be considered a sell signal. In 10 of 16 past instances when the 10-day crossed below the 50-day, the stock continued to move higher over the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 62%.
The 50-day moving average for KLAC moved below the 200-day moving average on October 27, 2026. This could be a long-term bearish signal for the stock as the stock shifts to an downward trend.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where KLAC declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 59%.
The Aroon Indicator for KLAC entered a downward trend on November 03, 2026. This could indicate a strong downward move is ahead for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 15 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating very strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 33 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to outstanding earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 50 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating well-balanced risk and returns. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 73, placing this stock slightly better than average.
The Tickeron Seasonality Score of 50 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. The Tickeron Seasonality score describes the variance of predictable price changes around the same period every calendar year. These changes can be tied to a specific month, quarter, holiday or vacation period, as well as a meteorological or growing season.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 63 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating steady price growth. KLAC’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 89 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is significantly overvalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: KLAC's P/B Ratio (32.102) is very high in comparison to the industry average of (6.389). P/E Ratio (42.446) is within average values for comparable stocks, (83.490). KLAC's Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (1.809) is slightly higher than the industry average of (0.801). Dividend Yield (0.006) settles around the average of (0.009) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (16.260) is also within normal values, averaging (27.897).
QCOM in upward trend: price may jump up because it broke its lower Bollinger Band on October 30, 2026
QCOM may jump back above the lower band and head toward the middle band. Traders may consider buying the stock or exploring call options. In 30 of 37 cases where QCOM's price broke its lower Bollinger Band, its price rose further in the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 81%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Stochastic Oscillator is in the oversold zone. Keep an eye out for a move up in the foreseeable future.
Following a +4.70% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where QCOM advanced for three days, in 219 of 329 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 67%.
Bearish Trend Analysis
The Momentum Indicator moved below the 0 level on October 30, 2026. You may want to consider selling the stock, shorting the stock, or exploring put options on QCOM as a result. In 67 of 88 cases where the Momentum Indicator fell below 0, the stock fell further within the subsequent month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 76%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence Histogram (MACD) for QCOM turned negative on October 30, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to turn lower in the coming weeks. Traders may want to sell the stock or buy put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 48 similar instances when the indicator turned negative. In 36 of the 48 cases the stock turned lower in the days that followed. This puts the odds of success at 75%.
QCOM moved below its 50-day moving average on October 30, 2026 date and that indicates a change from an upward trend to a downward trend.
The 10-day moving average for QCOM crossed bearishly below the 50-day moving average on October 30, 2026. This indicates that the trend has shifted lower and could be considered a sell signal. In 10 of 16 past instances when the 10-day crossed below the 50-day, the stock continued to move higher over the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 62%.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where QCOM declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 74%.
The Aroon Indicator for QCOM entered a downward trend on November 03, 2026. This could indicate a strong downward move is ahead for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron Seasonality Score of 4 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is seriously undervalued in the industry. The Tickeron Seasonality score describes the variance of predictable price changes around the same period every calendar year. These changes can be tied to a specific month, quarter, holiday or vacation period, as well as a meteorological or growing season.
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 31 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating very strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 39 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to consistent earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 59 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (6.350) is normal, around the industry mean (6.097). P/E Ratio (18.622) is within average values for comparable stocks, (18.355). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (0.832) is also within normal values, averaging (3.803). Dividend Yield (0.022) settles around the average of (0.012) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (4.513) is also within normal values, averaging (46.468).
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 61 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating steady price growth. QCOM’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 67 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating that the returns do not compensate for the risks. QCOM’s unstable profits reported over time resulted in significant Drawdowns within these last five years. A stable profit reduces stock drawdown and volatility. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 77, placing this stock better than average.
KLAC | QCOM | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 6 | 16 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 89 Overvalued | 59 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 50 | 67 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 15 | 31 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 63 | 61 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 33 | 39 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 4 |
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.
QCOM's Valuation (59) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is in the same range as KLAC (89) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that QCOM’s stock grew similarly to KLAC’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's Profit vs Risk Rating (50) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as QCOM (67) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry. This means that KLAC’s stock grew similarly to QCOM’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's SMR Rating (15) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as QCOM (31) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry. This means that KLAC’s stock grew similarly to QCOM’s over the last 12 months.
QCOM's Price Growth Rating (61) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is in the same range as KLAC (63) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that QCOM’s stock grew similarly to KLAC’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's P/E Growth Rating (33) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as QCOM (39) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry. This means that KLAC’s stock grew similarly to QCOM’s over the last 12 months.
| KLAC | QCOM | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 90% | N/A |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 82% | 2 days ago 81% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 62% | 2 days ago 76% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 61% | 2 days ago 75% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 77% | 2 days ago 70% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 70% | 2 days ago 70% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 78% | 9 days ago 67% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 59% | 3 days ago 74% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 82% | 2 days ago 81% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 59% | 2 days ago 69% |
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).
KLAC’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green while QCOM’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- KLAC’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- QCOM’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 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 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while QCOM’s TA Score has 3 bullish TA indicator(s).
- KLAC’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 7 bearish.
- QCOM’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 6 bearish.
Price Growth
KLAC (@Electronic Production Equipment) experienced а +1.65% price change this week, while QCOM (@Semiconductors) price change was -10.72% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronic Production Equipment industry was -13.36%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -30.80%, and the average quarterly price growth was -37.32%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Semiconductors industry was -10.92%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -23.61%, and the average quarterly price growth was -26.40%.
Reported Earning Dates
KLAC is expected to report earnings on Feb 04, 2027.
QCOM is expected to report earnings on Nov 04, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronic Production Equipment (-13.36% 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 (-10.92% 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.
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QCOM and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, QCOM has been closely correlated with LRCX. These tickers have moved in lockstep 80% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if QCOM jumps, then LRCX could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To QCOM | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QCOM | 100% | +1.45% | ||
| LRCX - QCOM | 80% Closely correlated | +1.39% | ||
| KLAC - QCOM | 78% Closely correlated | +2.02% | ||
| AMKR - QCOM | 76% Closely correlated | +1.79% | ||
| AMAT - QCOM | 74% Closely correlated | +1.97% | ||
| KLIC - QCOM | 74% Closely correlated | +1.74% | ||
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