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KLAC vs QCOM
Which Stock Would AI Choose? KLA Corporation (KLAC) vs. Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- KLAC has significantly outperformed QCOM year-to-date with gains around 43% versus roughly 10%, driven by strong demand for semiconductor process control equipment amid AI infrastructure buildouts.
- KLAC trades at a premium trailing P/E ratio (price-to-earnings) of about 49 compared to QCOM's more attractive 20, reflecting higher growth expectations for wafer fabrication tools.
- Recent momentum favors KLAC, bolstered by Q3 earnings beats, a $7 billion share repurchase program, and dividend hikes, while QCOM benefits from AI edge computing deals and a $20 billion buyback.
- Both stocks offer dividends, but QCOM provides a higher yield near 2% versus KLAC's 0.4%, appealing to income-oriented investors.
- Semiconductor sector risks like cyclical downturns and supply chain issues affect both, though KLAC shows greater stability in recent market activity.
Introduction
This comparison examines KLAC and QCOM, two key players in the semiconductor industry riding the wave of AI-driven demand. KLAC, a leader in process control and yield management equipment, supports advanced chip manufacturing, while QCOM, a fabless designer of wireless technologies, powers mobile, automotive, and IoT devices. Traders seeking exposure to semiconductor growth and investors tracking relative performance in recent market volatility will find value in analyzing their business models, momentum, and positioning. With AI catalyzing infrastructure and edge computing, this head-to-head highlights contrasts in valuation, catalysts, and risks.
KLAC Overview and Recent Performance
KLA Corporation (KLAC) designs, manufactures, and markets process control and yield management solutions for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing. Its tools inspect wafers, measure dimensions, and enable higher yields in advanced nodes critical for AI chips. In recent weeks, KLAC shares have shown resilience, trading around $1,733 with a market cap exceeding $226 billion. Year-to-date gains of approximately 43% outpace the S&P 500, fueled by Q3 fiscal 2026 results surpassing estimates at $3.42 billion in revenue and strong free cash flow.
Sentiment has been lifted by a $7 billion share repurchase authorization, a 21% quarterly dividend increase to $2.30 per share, and analyst upgrades ahead of ongoing AI-related wafer fabrication equipment (WFE) spending. Despite short-term volatility from sector rotations, performance reflects robust demand from foundries like TSMC, with trailing P/E near 49 signaling premium growth prospects.
QCOM Overview and Recent Performance
Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM) develops foundational wireless technologies, including Snapdragon processors for mobile, automotive, and IoT applications, alongside a robust licensing business. Its shift toward AI edge computing and diversification beyond handsets positions it for multi-year growth. Recently, QCOM shares surged around 11% in a session to near $187, with a market cap of about $197 billion. Year-to-date returns hover around 10%, lagging broader tech but rebounding sharply on positive catalysts.
Key drivers include a $20 billion buyback announcement, hyperscaler AI wins, and Q2 fiscal 2026 earnings beating estimates despite handset softness, with revenue at $10.6 billion. Automotive and IoT segments showed strength, boosting sentiment amid AI PC and 6G optimism. Trading at a trailing P/E of about 20 with a 2% dividend yield, QCOM offers relative value, though recent market activity highlights volatility from consumer exposure.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
KLAC and QCOM both anchor the semiconductor space but differ sharply in models: KLAC provides upstream process control equipment essential for AI chip yields, while QCOM excels in downstream fabless design and IP licensing for wireless connectivity.
Growth drivers highlight trade-offs—KLAC capitalizes on sustained WFE from AI infrastructure (e.g., advanced packaging), boasting higher margins from services; QCOM diversifies into automotive ADAS (advanced driver-assistance systems), IoT, and edge AI, offsetting handset cyclicality. Recent momentum strongly favors KLAC with steadier uptrends versus QCOM’s volatility.
Risk factors include semi cycles and geopolitics for both, but KLAC ties to capex sensitivity while QCOM faces competition in PCs and licensing disputes. KLAC’s premium valuation (P/E ~49) contrasts QCOM’s cheaper multiples (~20), with overlapping AI exposure—KLAC in fabs, QCOM in devices—driving divergent sentiment.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors KLAC over QCOM due to superior trend consistency, YTD outperformance, and stronger positioning in AI wafer fabrication catalysts like advanced node inspections. KLAC’s repurchase activity and earnings stability suggest higher near-term probability of upside, though QCOM’s lower valuation and edge AI diversification offer compelling relative value if handset recovery materializes.
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. 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 QCOM is a StrongBuy.
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 whileQCOM’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- KLAC’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 red.
- QCOM’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 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while QCOM’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- KLAC’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- QCOM’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
KLAC (@Electronic Production Equipment) experienced а +31.94% price change this week, while QCOM (@Semiconductors) price change was -1.95% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronic Production Equipment industry was +17.31%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +9.95%, and the average quarterly price growth was +135.39%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Semiconductors industry was +4.34%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +5.81%, and the average quarterly price growth was +92.59%.
Reported Earning Dates
KLAC is expected to report earnings on Jul 23, 2026.
QCOM is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronic Production Equipment (+17.31% 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 (+4.34% 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 | QCOM | KLAC / QCOM | |
| Capitalization | 332B | 223B | 149% |
| EBITDA | 6.06B | 14B | 43% |
| Gain YTD | 115.257 | 25.031 | 460% |
| P/E Ratio | 72.09 | 22.77 | 317% |
| Revenue | 13.1B | 44.5B | 29% |
| Total Cash | 613M | 9.8B | 6% |
| Total Debt | 6.15B | 15.3B | 40% |
KLAC | QCOM | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 37 | 88 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 91 Overvalued | 45 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 2 | 48 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 13 | 27 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 2 | 40 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 9 | 22 | |
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.
QCOM's Valuation (45) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is somewhat better than the same rating for KLAC (91) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that QCOM’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 QCOM (48) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry. This means that KLAC’s stock grew somewhat faster than QCOM’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's SMR Rating (13) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as QCOM (27) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry. This means that KLAC’s stock grew similarly to QCOM’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's Price Growth Rating (2) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is somewhat better than the same rating for QCOM (40) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry. This means that KLAC’s stock grew somewhat faster than QCOM’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's P/E Growth Rating (9) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as QCOM (22) 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 (%) | 3 days ago 65% | 3 days ago 79% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 65% | 3 days ago 59% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 81% | 3 days ago 73% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 84% | 3 days ago 73% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 77% | 3 days ago 68% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 79% | 3 days ago 67% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 77% | 3 days ago 65% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 17 days ago 61% | 5 days ago 72% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 66% | 3 days ago 76% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 80% | 3 days ago 64% |
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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 86% 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% | +5.55% | ||
| LRCX - KLAC | 86% Closely correlated | +1.18% | ||
| AMAT - KLAC | 85% Closely correlated | +2.64% | ||
| NVMI - KLAC | 81% Closely correlated | +4.19% | ||
| ADI - KLAC | 79% Closely correlated | +1.37% | ||
| QCOM - KLAC | 77% Closely correlated | +4.32% | ||
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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% | +4.32% | ||
| LRCX - QCOM | 80% Closely correlated | +1.18% | ||
| KLAC - QCOM | 78% Closely correlated | +5.55% | ||
| AMKR - QCOM | 76% Closely correlated | +8.71% | ||
| AMAT - QCOM | 74% Closely correlated | +2.64% | ||
| KLIC - QCOM | 74% Closely correlated | +1.17% | ||
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