Barclays Identifies a Leading Contender in the Semiconductor Equipment Industry
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Oct 20 2025
0mins
Should l Buy KLAC?
Source: CNBC
Barclays Upgrade: Barclays upgraded KLA's stock rating to overweight from equal weight and increased its price target from $750 to $1,200, suggesting an 8% potential rise in shares.
Market Position: KLA is viewed as a leading player in semiconductor equipment, benefiting from AI investments and having a lower risk profile related to the Chinese market compared to its competitors.
Growth Forecast: Analyst Tom O'Malley predicts a 10% growth for KLA outside of China in 2026, indicating strong core revenue growth potential.
Analyst Sentiment: Among 28 analysts covering KLA, opinions are mixed with 17 holding a hold rating and 11 recommending a buy or strong buy.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy KLAC?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on KLAC
Wall Street analysts forecast KLAC stock price to fall
20 Analyst Rating
14 Buy
6 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 1480.300
Low
1214
Averages
1393
High
1750
Current: 1480.300
Low
1214
Averages
1393
High
1750
About KLAC
KLA Corporation is a supplier of process control and yield management solutions and services for the semiconductor and related electronics industries. The Company offers a portfolio of inspection and metrology products, and related services, software and other offerings, supports research and development (R&D) and manufacturing of integrated circuits (ICs), wafers and reticles. Its segments include Semiconductor Process Control, Specialty Semiconductor Process, and PCB and Component Inspection. Semiconductor Process Control segment provides comprehensive portfolio of inspection, metrology and software products, as well as related services, helping IC, wafer, reticle/mask and chemical/materials manufacturers achieve target yields throughout the entire fabrication process, from R&D to final volume production. The Specialty Semiconductor Process segment develops and sells advanced vacuum deposition and etch process tools, which are used by a range of specialty semiconductor customers.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
US Stock Market Under Pressure Amid AI Outlook Concerns
- Market Weakness: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.26%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 0.28%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.34%, reflecting market concerns over the outlook for artificial intelligence, particularly with poor performances from chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks.
- Mixed Economic Data: Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 23,000 to 206,000, marking a 5-week low and indicating a strong labor market; however, the December trade deficit widened to $70.3 billion, exceeding expectations and suggesting challenges in economic recovery.
- Earnings Season Nearing End: Over 75% of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings, with 75% exceeding expectations, and Q4 earnings growth is projected at 8.4%, marking the tenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth, demonstrating resilience in corporate earnings.
- Geopolitical Risks Intensify: WTI crude oil prices rose over 2% to a three-week high due to military buildup in the Middle East, potentially increasing inflationary pressures, which could affect market sentiment and investor confidence.
See More
US Stocks Decline Amid AI Outlook Concerns
- Market Decline: The S&P 500 Index fell by 0.44%, the Dow Jones by 0.57%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.66%, reflecting market concerns over the outlook for artificial intelligence, particularly impacting chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks.
- Mixed Economic Data: Weekly initial jobless claims dropped to 206,000, a five-week low, indicating a strong labor market; however, the December trade deficit widened to $70.3 billion, exceeding expectations, suggesting economic pressures that could affect market confidence.
- Earnings Season Nearing End: Over 75% of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings, with 75% exceeding expectations, and Q4 earnings growth projected at 8.4%, providing some support for the market, although overall sentiment remains cautious.
- Geopolitical Risks Intensify: WTI crude oil prices rose over 1% to a three-week high due to U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, heightening inflation concerns and potentially increasing expectations for Fed rate hikes.
See More
US Stock Markets Rise on Strong Economic Data
- Strong Economic Data: US December capital goods new orders rose 0.6% month-over-month, surpassing expectations of 0.3%, indicating a rebound in capital spending and boosting market confidence in economic recovery.
- Housing Market Recovery: December housing starts increased by 6.2% month-over-month to 1.404 million, significantly exceeding expectations of 1.304 million, suggesting a revival in the real estate market that could drive growth in related sectors.
- Manufacturing Production Growth: January manufacturing production rose 0.6% month-over-month, beating expectations of 0.4%, marking the largest increase in 11 months, which indicates a recovery momentum in manufacturing that may further propel economic growth.
- Optimistic Corporate Earnings: Over 75% of S&P 500 companies reported earnings that exceeded expectations, with Q4 earnings growth projected at 8.4%, which will further boost market sentiment and attract investor interest.
See More
Anthropic Leads AI Revolution, Software Industry Faces Challenges
- AI Disrupts Traditional Software: The rise of Anthropic poses significant challenges to traditional software companies like Workday and Salesforce, particularly in the application of AI technology, threatening their market share and customer loyalty.
- Surge in Capital Expenditures: Tech giants like Amazon and Google have significantly raised their capital expenditure outlooks, with Amazon projecting spending to reach $200 billion, far exceeding the $147 billion consensus, which could impact stock performance and investor confidence.
- Intensified Market Competition: The rapid advancement of AI technology raises questions about the value of enterprise software, leading investors to adopt a pessimistic view on the future of traditional software companies, especially in labor-intensive areas that may face workforce reductions due to AI adoption.
- Investor Confidence Shaken: Despite significant advancements by companies like Anthropic and OpenAI in the AI space, market confidence in traditional software companies is waning, resulting in poor stock performance over the past six months and raising concerns about future profitability.
See More
US Stocks Edge Up, Led by Chipmakers' Gains
- Chipmaker Rebound: Applied Materials (AMAT) reported Q1 adjusted EPS of $2.38, surpassing the consensus of $2.21, leading to a 10% stock price increase that helped lift the broader market, indicating strong recovery potential in tech stocks.
- Inflation Data Impact: The US January CPI rose 2.4% year-over-year, below the expected 2.5%, which may prompt the Fed to continue cutting rates, with the 10-year T-note yield falling to 4.05%, providing support for the market.
- Earnings Performance: Over two-thirds of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings, with 76% exceeding expectations, and Q4 earnings growth is projected at 8.4%, demonstrating corporate resilience and restoring market confidence.
- Market Sentiment Fluctuations: Despite the overall market rise, concerns over AI persist, putting pressure on certain stocks, particularly in tech and logistics, reflecting investor caution regarding future economic prospects.
See More
US Stock Market Close and Employment Data Analysis
- Strong Employment Data: US nonfarm payrolls for January increased by 130,000, surpassing expectations of 65,000, indicating labor market stability, while the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell by 0.1% to 4.3%, which is likely to have a positive impact on economic recovery.
- Interest Rate Expectations Shift: Following the robust employment report, the market's expectation for a Fed rate cut next month dropped from 23% to 6%, with the 10-year T-note yield rising by 3 basis points to 4.17%, reflecting a cautious outlook on future monetary policy.
- Mixed Market Performance: The S&P 500 closed unchanged, the Nasdaq 100 rose by 0.29%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.13%, highlighting a contrast between strong tech stock performance and weakness in software stocks.
- Optimistic Earnings Outlook: Over 78% of the 335 S&P 500 companies that reported earnings exceeded expectations, with Q4 earnings growth projected at 8.4%, indicating that sustained corporate profitability will support long-term stock market gains.
See More
US Stock Market Under Pressure Amid AI Outlook Concerns
- Market Weakness: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.26%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 0.28%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.34%, reflecting market concerns over the outlook for artificial intelligence, particularly with poor performances from chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks.
- Mixed Economic Data: Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 23,000 to 206,000, marking a 5-week low and indicating a strong labor market; however, the December trade deficit widened to $70.3 billion, exceeding expectations and suggesting challenges in economic recovery.
- Earnings Season Nearing End: Over 75% of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings, with 75% exceeding expectations, and Q4 earnings growth is projected at 8.4%, marking the tenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth, demonstrating resilience in corporate earnings.
- Geopolitical Risks Intensify: WTI crude oil prices rose over 2% to a three-week high due to military buildup in the Middle East, potentially increasing inflationary pressures, which could affect market sentiment and investor confidence.
See More
US Stocks Decline Amid AI Outlook Concerns
- Market Decline: The S&P 500 Index fell by 0.44%, the Dow Jones by 0.57%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.66%, reflecting market concerns over the outlook for artificial intelligence, particularly impacting chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks.
- Mixed Economic Data: Weekly initial jobless claims dropped to 206,000, a five-week low, indicating a strong labor market; however, the December trade deficit widened to $70.3 billion, exceeding expectations, suggesting economic pressures that could affect market confidence.
- Earnings Season Nearing End: Over 75% of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings, with 75% exceeding expectations, and Q4 earnings growth projected at 8.4%, providing some support for the market, although overall sentiment remains cautious.
- Geopolitical Risks Intensify: WTI crude oil prices rose over 1% to a three-week high due to U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, heightening inflation concerns and potentially increasing expectations for Fed rate hikes.
See More
US Stock Markets Rise on Strong Economic Data
- Strong Economic Data: US December capital goods new orders rose 0.6% month-over-month, surpassing expectations of 0.3%, indicating a rebound in capital spending and boosting market confidence in economic recovery.
- Housing Market Recovery: December housing starts increased by 6.2% month-over-month to 1.404 million, significantly exceeding expectations of 1.304 million, suggesting a revival in the real estate market that could drive growth in related sectors.
- Manufacturing Production Growth: January manufacturing production rose 0.6% month-over-month, beating expectations of 0.4%, marking the largest increase in 11 months, which indicates a recovery momentum in manufacturing that may further propel economic growth.
- Optimistic Corporate Earnings: Over 75% of S&P 500 companies reported earnings that exceeded expectations, with Q4 earnings growth projected at 8.4%, which will further boost market sentiment and attract investor interest.
See More
Anthropic Leads AI Revolution, Software Industry Faces Challenges
- AI Disrupts Traditional Software: The rise of Anthropic poses significant challenges to traditional software companies like Workday and Salesforce, particularly in the application of AI technology, threatening their market share and customer loyalty.
- Surge in Capital Expenditures: Tech giants like Amazon and Google have significantly raised their capital expenditure outlooks, with Amazon projecting spending to reach $200 billion, far exceeding the $147 billion consensus, which could impact stock performance and investor confidence.
- Intensified Market Competition: The rapid advancement of AI technology raises questions about the value of enterprise software, leading investors to adopt a pessimistic view on the future of traditional software companies, especially in labor-intensive areas that may face workforce reductions due to AI adoption.
- Investor Confidence Shaken: Despite significant advancements by companies like Anthropic and OpenAI in the AI space, market confidence in traditional software companies is waning, resulting in poor stock performance over the past six months and raising concerns about future profitability.
See More
US Stocks Edge Up, Led by Chipmakers' Gains
- Chipmaker Rebound: Applied Materials (AMAT) reported Q1 adjusted EPS of $2.38, surpassing the consensus of $2.21, leading to a 10% stock price increase that helped lift the broader market, indicating strong recovery potential in tech stocks.
- Inflation Data Impact: The US January CPI rose 2.4% year-over-year, below the expected 2.5%, which may prompt the Fed to continue cutting rates, with the 10-year T-note yield falling to 4.05%, providing support for the market.
- Earnings Performance: Over two-thirds of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings, with 76% exceeding expectations, and Q4 earnings growth is projected at 8.4%, demonstrating corporate resilience and restoring market confidence.
- Market Sentiment Fluctuations: Despite the overall market rise, concerns over AI persist, putting pressure on certain stocks, particularly in tech and logistics, reflecting investor caution regarding future economic prospects.
See More
US Stock Market Close and Employment Data Analysis
- Strong Employment Data: US nonfarm payrolls for January increased by 130,000, surpassing expectations of 65,000, indicating labor market stability, while the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell by 0.1% to 4.3%, which is likely to have a positive impact on economic recovery.
- Interest Rate Expectations Shift: Following the robust employment report, the market's expectation for a Fed rate cut next month dropped from 23% to 6%, with the 10-year T-note yield rising by 3 basis points to 4.17%, reflecting a cautious outlook on future monetary policy.
- Mixed Market Performance: The S&P 500 closed unchanged, the Nasdaq 100 rose by 0.29%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.13%, highlighting a contrast between strong tech stock performance and weakness in software stocks.
- Optimistic Earnings Outlook: Over 78% of the 335 S&P 500 companies that reported earnings exceeded expectations, with Q4 earnings growth projected at 8.4%, indicating that sustained corporate profitability will support long-term stock market gains.
See More
