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KLIC vs QCOM
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Kulicke and Soffa Industries (KLIC) vs. QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- KLIC has delivered exceptional YTD returns of over 100%, significantly outperforming the broader market amid semiconductor equipment demand.
- QCOM recently surged more than 10% in a single session following strong earnings, a $20 billion buyback announcement, and AI hyperscaler wins.
- Both stocks operate in the semiconductor space, with KLIC focusing on assembly equipment and QCOM on wireless chips and licensing, showing correlated 74% price movements.
- QCOM boasts superior profitability with 22% profit margins and positive EPS of $9.31, contrasting KLIC's negative margins at -9%.
- Market caps differ sharply: QCOM at ~$197B vs. KLIC at $4.8B, influencing liquidity and volatility profiles.
- Recent momentum favors QCOM on AI catalysts, while KLIC benefits from sector recovery signals.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines KLIC and QCOM, two key players in the semiconductor industry. Kulicke and Soffa Industries provides essential equipment for semiconductor assembly, while QUALCOMM Incorporated leads in wireless technology and chip design. Traders seeking exposure to chip manufacturing and AI-driven connectivity, as well as long-term investors tracking relative performance and market positioning, will find value in analyzing their recent trajectories, growth drivers, and risk profiles amid evolving sector dynamics.
KLIC Overview and Recent Performance
Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (KLIC) designs, manufactures, and sells capital equipment and consumables used in semiconductor assembly, serving markets like automotive, consumer electronics, and computing. Headquartered in Singapore, the company holds a strong position in ball bonding and advanced packaging tools.
In recent market activity, KLIC shares hit a 52-week high near $92, reflecting YTD gains exceeding 100% and 1-year returns around 185%, far outpacing the S&P 500. This momentum stems from positive Q1 FY2026 results, with EPS of $0.44 beating estimates and revenue of $199.6 million, alongside signals of early sales recovery in semiconductor equipment. Sentiment has been influenced by sector rallies, analyst upgrades like Needham's Buy rating with a $70 target, and broader chip demand, though challenges persist with negative profit margins (-9.4%) and EPS (-$1.20 TTM). Upcoming Q2 earnings on May 7 could further shape trajectory.
QCOM Overview and Recent Performance
QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) develops foundational wireless technologies, including semiconductors for mobile devices, automotive, IoT (Internet of Things), and emerging AI applications. Operating through QCT (chipset business) and QTL (licensing), it powers global connectivity.
Recent weeks have seen QCOM stock surge over 10% in a day to around $187, with pre-market levels near $199, driven by Q2 FY2026 earnings that exceeded expectations (EPS $2.65 vs. $2.56 estimated, revenue $10.6B). A $20 billion share buyback, hyperscaler AI data center wins, and automotive growth fueled optimism, boosting YTD returns to ~10% and 1-year gains to 37%. Positive factors include robust 22% profit margins, EPS of $9.31 TTM, and analyst upgrades like Cantor Fitzgerald's raised price target. Despite some quarterly revenue softness, AI and diversification have enhanced sentiment.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
KLIC and QCOM both thrive in semiconductors but diverge in business models: KLIC supplies assembly equipment (cyclical, capex-driven), while QCOM emphasizes fabless chip design and high-margin licensing (recurring revenue). Growth drivers contrast with KLIC's reliance on wafer fabrication equipment (WFE, wafer fabrication equipment) spending recovery versus QCOM's AI edge computing, automotive, and hyperscaler catalysts.
Recent momentum shows KLIC leading longer-term (YTD 102% vs. 10%) but QCOM accelerating short-term on earnings beats. Risk factors include KLIC's higher beta (1.67), negative profitability, and smaller scale ($4.8B market cap) amplifying volatility, compared to QCOM's ($197B) stability but client concentration risks. Sector exposure overlaps in tech semis (74% correlation), yet QCOM edges in diversification. Market sentiment tilts toward QCOM's profitability and buybacks over KLIC's recovery potential.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors QCOM due to its trend consistency post-earnings surge, financial stability with positive EPS and margins, fresh AI catalysts, and substantial buyback support. While KLIC offers explosive upside from equipment demand, QCOM's relative positioning suggests higher probabilistic near-term outperformance amid semiconductor momentum.
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 KLIC is a StrongBuy and QCOM is a Buy.
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).
KLIC’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green whileQCOM’s FA Score has 4 green FA rating(s).
- KLIC’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- QCOM’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 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.
KLIC’s TA Score shows that 2 TA indicator(s) are bullish while QCOM’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- KLIC’s TA Score: 2 bullish, 4 bearish.
- QCOM’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
KLIC (@Electronic Production Equipment) experienced а -4.68% price change this week, while QCOM (@Semiconductors) price change was -14.27% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronic Production Equipment industry was -2.79%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +11.86%, and the average quarterly price growth was +139.94%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Semiconductors industry was -0.19%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +29.42%, and the average quarterly price growth was +88.66%.
Reported Earning Dates
KLIC is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
QCOM is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronic Production Equipment (-2.79% 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 (-0.19% 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.
| KLIC | QCOM | KLIC / QCOM | |
| Capitalization | 5.12B | 206B | 2% |
| EBITDA | 87.7M | 14B | 1% |
| Gain YTD | 115.532 | 15.093 | 765% |
| P/E Ratio | 94.67 | 21.03 | 450% |
| Revenue | 768M | 44.5B | 2% |
| Total Cash | 488M | 9.8B | 5% |
| Total Debt | 39.8M | 15.3B | 0% |
KLIC | QCOM | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 20 | 25 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 67 Overvalued | 25 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 42 | 53 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 81 | 26 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 35 | 8 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 40 | 19 | |
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 (25) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is somewhat better than the same rating for KLIC (67) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that QCOM’s stock grew somewhat faster than KLIC’s over the last 12 months.
KLIC's Profit vs Risk Rating (42) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as QCOM (53) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry. This means that KLIC’s stock grew similarly to QCOM’s over the last 12 months.
QCOM's SMR Rating (26) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is somewhat better than the same rating for KLIC (81) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that QCOM’s stock grew somewhat faster than KLIC’s over the last 12 months.
QCOM's Price Growth Rating (8) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is in the same range as KLIC (35) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that QCOM’s stock grew similarly to KLIC’s over the last 12 months.
QCOM's P/E Growth Rating (19) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is in the same range as KLIC (40) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that QCOM’s stock grew similarly to KLIC’s over the last 12 months.
| KLIC | QCOM | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 83% | 2 days ago 56% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 70% | 2 days ago 73% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | N/A | 7 days ago 70% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | N/A | N/A |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 76% | 2 days ago 68% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 69% | 2 days ago 67% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 67% | 2 days ago 65% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 74% | 16 days ago 72% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 71% | 2 days ago 76% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 67% |
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KLIC and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, KLIC has been closely correlated with POWI. These tickers have moved in lockstep 81% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if KLIC jumps, then POWI could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To KLIC | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KLIC | 100% | -1.48% | ||
| POWI - KLIC | 81% Closely correlated | +0.98% | ||
| NXPI - KLIC | 79% Closely correlated | +0.89% | ||
| DIOD - KLIC | 78% Closely correlated | -1.22% | ||
| RMBS - KLIC | 78% Closely correlated | -1.36% | ||
| ADI - KLIC | 77% Closely correlated | -1.02% | ||
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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% | -3.94% | ||
| LRCX - QCOM | 80% Closely correlated | -1.65% | ||
| KLAC - QCOM | 78% Closely correlated | -0.90% | ||
| AMKR - QCOM | 76% Closely correlated | -0.76% | ||
| AMAT - QCOM | 74% Closely correlated | -1.61% | ||
| KLIC - QCOM | 74% Closely correlated | -1.48% | ||
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