KLA Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of process control, process-enabling, and yield management solutions for the semiconductor and related electronics industries worldwide. It operates through three segments: Semiconductor Process Control; Specialty Semiconductor Process; and PCB and Component Inspection. The company offers inspection and review tools to identify, locate, characterize, review, and analyze defects on various surfaces of patterned and unpatterned wafers; metrology systems that are used to measure pattern dimensions, film thickness, film stress, layer-to-layer alignment, pattern placement, surface topography, and electro-optical properties for wafers; chemical process control equipment; wired and wireless sensor wafers and reticles; wafer defect inspection, review, and metrology systems; reticle inspection and metrology systems; and semiconductor software solutions that provide run-time process control, defect excursion identification, process corrections, and defect classification to accelerate yield learning rates and reduce production risk. It also provides etch, plasma dicing, deposition, and other wafer processing technologies and solutions for the semiconductor and microelectronics industry. In addition, the company offers direct imaging, inspection, optical shaping, inkjet and additive printing, UV laser drilling, and computer-aided manufacturing and engineering solutions for the PCB market; inspection and electrical testing systems to identify and classify defects, as well as systems to repair defects for the display market; and inspection and metrology systems for quality control and yield improvement in advanced and traditional semiconductor packaging markets. The company was formerly known as KLA-Tencor Corporation and changed its name to KLA Corporation in July 2019. KLA Corporation was incorporated in 1975 and is headquartered in Milpitas, California.

KLA looks like a high-quality but already very expensive business: operating profitability and overall profitability remain outstanding, but the market is clearly pricing in an almost perfect scenario. Revenue for the year increased to $3.42 billion, and net income rose to $1.20 billion, confirming resilient demand and strong monetization of the business. Gross margin of about 61.4%, operating margin of 41.7%, and net margin of 35.7% are very strong even for the technology sector. ROE of 89.1%, ROA of 28.3%, and ROI of 42.0% show that capital is being used efficiently, although ROE and return on tangible equity have declined noticeably from earlier levels, suggesting normalization of exceptionally high returns. Liquidity is comfortable: the current ratio is 3.03 and the quick ratio is 2.11, while a cash position of $4.96 billion supports financial stability and dividend flexibility. At the same time, leverage does not look critical, but a debt/equity ratio of 1.01 and long-term debt of $5.89 billion warrant attention, especially against the backdrop of a high stock valuation. The main limiting factor is valuation multiples: P/E of 57.6, P/S of 20.6, P/B of 45.6, and P/FCF of 67.1 are significantly above industry medians, which means very high expectations are already embedded in the current price. The recent trend in multiples also does not help the bulls: P/E, P/S, P/B, and P/FCF remain elevated, indicating that the stock is still expensive even with strong financial results. Dividend yield of 1.31% has improved, but at this valuation level it is only moderate support, not a strong case for significant upside. Overall, the fundamentals point to a strong company with excellent margins and growth, but with limited room for valuation expansion because the multiples are already very rich. For an investor, this is more of a quality-and-stability story than an undervaluation story, so the target forecast should be lowered slightly, while maintaining a conservative view on further upside.

KLA Corporation

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Быки в растерянности.

Strong index, significantly down. The bulls are confused.

Слабый индекс, без изменений. Уверенность в своих позициях остается на низком уровне.

Weak index, flat. Confidence in their positions remains low.

Сильный индекс, незначительно упал. Рынок не поддерживает быков.

Strong index, slightly down. The market does not support the bulls.

Сильный индекс, незначительно вырос. Рынок на стороне медведей.

Strong index, slightly up. The market is on the bears' side.

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Отток средств из лонгов увеличился и находится на высоком уровне.

Strong index, significantly down. The outflow of funds from longs has increased and is at a high level.

Сильный индекс, значительно вырос. Приток средств в шорты на высоком уровне.

Strong index, significantly up. Inflow of funds into shorts at a high level.

KLA demonstrates strong profitability and liquidity, but trades at very high multiples, so the fundamentals support only a moderately cautious view.

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Wednesday closed down -1.52%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed down -2.19%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed down -2.06%. September E-mini S&P futures (ESU26) fell -1.59%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQU26) fell -2.23%.
Stock indexes retreated on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 sliding to a 1-month low and the Nasdaq 100 sinking to a 3-month low. Chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks sold off on Wednesday, leading the overall market lower. Also, heightened geopolitical risks are weighing on stocks as crude prices surged, and bond yields jumped when President Trump said the US will “hit Iran hard” after a recent attack from Iran that targeted a US base in Jordan.
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Stocks whipsawed Wednesday afternoon and briefly erased their losses before selling off again into the close after the FOMC kept interest rates unchanged in a hawkish Fed hold. Three Fed members dissented in favor of a quarter-point rate hike, and Fed Chair Warsh said the Fed is committed to “deliver price stability.” The 10-year T-note yield rose +4 bp to 4.64%.
Earnings results from Microsoft and Meta Platforms after Wednesday’s close will be looked at to see whether the vast spending behind the buildout of artificial intelligence can deliver adequate returns.
The FOMC, as expected, kept the fed funds target range unchanged at 3.50% to 3.75% in a 9-3 vote, with Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari, and Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan voting for a quarter-point rate hike.
The post-FOMC statement said, "Economic activity is expanding at a solid pace despite elevated uncertainty that owes, in part, to the conflict in the Middle East," adding that "productivity growth and capital investment are strong." Inflation remains elevated "in part reflecting supply shocks that have driven price increases in certain sectors, including energy."
Fed Chair Warsh said, "The economy is showing impressive resilience" even with recent shocks and policymakers "will not hesitate to act" if inflation remains elevated.
Sep WTI crude oil prices (CLU26) jumped by more than +6% on Wednesday as the recent lull in hostilities came to an abrupt end after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted a US airbase and command center in Jordan with ballistic missiles. The IRGC also claimed to have hit and halted three tankers attempting to transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the US and Saudi Arabia launched a joint attack on "Iran-aligned terrorists" in Iraq after the IRGC directed them to target US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.
Tensions remain high in the Middle East as the US maintains its blockade of Iranian oil shipments in the Persian Gulf. Also, diplomatic attempts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz appear to be at an impasse. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi said Oman's proposal for a route through the Strait of Hormuz, with 50% under Iran's control and 50% under Oman's, would not address Iran's concerns and that the inbound passage and part of the outbound channel must be entirely under Iran's control.
US MBA mortgage applications fell -6.4% in the week ended July 24, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down -3.6% and the refinancing mortgage sub-index down -9.9%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose +7 bp to an 11.5-month high of 6.76% from 6.69% the prior week.
The outlook for strong Q2 earnings, which continue this week, is a bullish factor for stocks. The markets are awaiting results from a raft of megacap technology companies this week, including Microsoft and Meta Platforms today, and Amazon.com and Apple on Thursday. Forecasts compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence suggest Q2 earnings may increase by +23%, close to Q1’s blowout earnings of +30%, which was more than double the +12% analysts had expected. AI spending is expected to account for most of earnings, with AI infrastructure stocks set to contribute nearly 60% of the S&P 500's earnings-per-share growth in Q2. So far, earnings results have been positive, with 87% of the 216 S&P 500 companies that have reported Q2 earnings beating estimates, according to Bloomberg data.
The markets are discounting a 56% chance of a +25 bp rate hike at the next FOMC meeting on September 15-16.
Overseas stock markets settled mixed on Wednesday. The Euro Stoxx 50 closed down -0.65%. China's Shanghai Composite rebounded from a 1-week low and closed up +0.40%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average fell to a 2.25-month low and closed down -1.49%.
Interest Rates
September 10-year T-notes (ZNU6) on Wednesday closed down -1 tick. The 10-year T-note yield rose +3.3 bp to 4.639%. T-notes were under pressure from Wednesday’s +6% surge in crude oil prices, which raises inflation expectations and is hawkish for Fed policy. Also, the FOMC's hawkish hold on interest rates weighed on T-note prices after three Fed members dissented in favor of a 25 bp rate hike, and Fed Chair Warsh said policymakers "will not hesitate to act" if inflation remains elevated.
European government bond yields moved higher on Wednesday. The 10-year German bund yield rose +5.6 bp to 3.160%. The 10-year UK gilt yield rose +9.2 bp to 5.036%.
The German Jun import price index eased to 6.1% y/y from 6.8% y/y in May.
The markets are discounting a 90% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at their next policy meeting on September 10.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks fell sharply on Wednesday, weighing on the broader market. The Philadelphia Stock Exchange Semiconductor Index ($SOX) dropped to a 2.5-month low and closed down more than -5%. Nebius Group NV (NBIS) closed down more than -12% to lead losers in the Nasdaq 100, and KLA Corp (KLAC) closed down more than -10%. Also, Micron Technology (MU) closed down more than -9%, and Applied Materials (AMAT) and ARM Holdings (ARM) closed down by more than -8%. In addition, Sandisk (SNDK) and NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI) closed down more than -7%, and Marvell Technology (MRVL) and Lam Research (LRCX) closed down more than -6%. Finally, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Microchip Technology (MCHP), and Intel (INTC) closed down more than -5%.
Airline stocks fell on Wednesday as crude oil prices surged. Alaska Air Group (ALK) closed down more than -5%, and Southwest Airlines (LUV) closed down more than -4%. Also, Delta Air Lines (DAL), American Airlines Group (AAL), and United Airlines Holdings (UAL) closed down more than -3%.
Trucking and freight companies were under pressure on Wednesday amid soaring crude oil prices. ArcBest (ARCB) closed down more than -5%, and FedEx Freight Holding (FDXF) closed down more than -4%. Also, Saia Inc (SAIA) closed down more than -3%, and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) and XPO Inc (XPO) closed down more than -2%. In addition, Marten Transport Ltd (MRTN) closed down more than -1%.
Most software stocks rose on Wednesday as investors rotated out of chipmakers into software. Intuit (INTU) closed up more than +6%, and Adobe Systems (ADBE), Datadog (DDOG), and Workday (WDAY) closed up more than +5%. Also, Atlassian Corp (TEAM) and ServiceNow (NOW) closed up more than +4%, and Salesforce (CRM) closed up more than +3% to lead gainers in the Dow Jones Industrials. In addition, Autodesk (ADSK) closed up more than +3%, and Thomson Reuters (TRI) closed up more than +2%.
Energy producers and service providers rallied on Wednesday, as crude oil prices jumped by more than +6%. APA Corp (APA) closed up more than +5%, and Diamondback Energy (FANG) and Devon Energy (DVN) closed up more than +4%. Also, ConocoPhillips (COP) and Occidental Petroleum (OXY) closed up more than +3%, and ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) and Chevron (CVX) closed up more than +2%.
Lennox International (LII) closed down more than -20% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q2 net sales of $1.55 billion, weaker than the consensus of $1.56 billion.
Vertiv Holdings (VRT) closed down more than -17% after reporting Q2 net sales of $3.27 billion, below the consensus of $3.39 billion.
Masco Corp (MAS) closed down more than -11% after reporting Q2 net sales of $1.99 billion, weaker than the consensus of $2.08 billion.
Caterpillar (CAT) closed down more than -6% to lead losers in the Dow Jones industrials after Baird downgraded the stock to neutral from outperform, citing a growing trend of state and local government actions targeting data centers, a key growth driver for the company.
Avis Budget Group (CAR) closed down more than -6% after reporting Q2 EPS of 98 cents, well below the consensus of $1.91.
Humana (HUM) closed down more than -5% after it maintained its full-year profit outlook despite posting better-than-expected Q2 profit.
Garmin Ltd (GRMN) closed up more than +16% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q2 revenue of $2.02 billion, above the consensus of $1.92 billion, and raising its full-year revenue estimate to $8.05 billion from a previous estimate of $7.90 billion, stronger than the consensus of $7.99 billion.
GE Healthcare (GEHC) closed up more than +12% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100 after reporting Q2 adjusted EPS of $1.13, better than the consensus of $1.04.
Amphenol (APH) closed up more than +4% after reporting Q2 net sales of $8.76 billion, better than the consensus of $8.31 billion.
Ford Motor (F) closed up more than +2% after raising its full-year adjusted EBIT to $10 billion to $11 billion from a previous forecast of $8.5 billion to $10.5 billion.
Earnings Reports (7/30/2026)
A O Smith Corp (AOS), Air Products and Chemicals Inc (APD), Alliant Energy Corp (LNT), Altria Group Inc (MO), Amazon.com Inc (AMZN), American Electric Power Co Inc (AEP), Apple Inc (AAPL), Arthur J Gallagher & Co (AJG), Avery Dennison Corp (AVY), Baxter International Inc (BAX), Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (BMY), Builders FirstSource Inc (BLDR), Camden Property Trust (CPT), Cigna Group/The (CI), Coinbase Global Inc (COIN), Corteva Inc (CTVA), CRH PLC (CRH), Dexcom Inc (DXCM), Edison International (EIX), EMCOR Group Inc (EME), Erie Indemnity Co (ERIE), Eversource Energy (ES), Exelon Corp (EXC), First Solar Inc (FSLR), GoDaddy Inc (GDDY), Hershey Co/The (HSY), Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), Ingersoll Rand Inc (IR), Intercontinental Exchange Inc (ICE), International Paper Co (IP), KKR & Co Inc (KKR), Labcorp Holdings Inc (LH), Live Nation Entertainment Inc (LYV), Martin Marietta Materials Inc (MLM), Mastercard Inc (MA), Mettler-Toledo International Inc (MTD), Monolithic Power Systems Inc (MPWR), Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH), Quanta Services Inc (PWR), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (REGN), Southern Co/The (SO), Stryker Corp (SYK), Trane Technologies PLC (TT), Valero Energy Corp (VLO), Weyerhaeuser Co (WY), Willis Towers Watson PLC (WTW), Xcel Energy Inc (XEL), Yum! Brands Inc (YUM).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
More news from Barchart
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stocks Plunge on a Rout in Chipmakers and a Hawkish Fed Hold

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is down -0.71%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is down -1.53%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down -0.98%. September E-mini S&P futures (ESU26) are down -0.75%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQU26) are down -1.03%.
Stock indexes are falling today, with the S&P 500 sliding to a 1-month low and the Nasdaq 100 sinking to a 3-month low. Chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks are selling off today, leading the overall market lower. Also, heightened geopolitical risks are weighing on stocks as crude prices surged, and bond yields jumped when President Trump said the US will “hit Iran hard” after a recent attack from Iran that targeted a US base in Jordan.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
The markets were little changed following the results of the 2-day FOMC meeting early this afternoon, with policymakers keeping interest rates unchanged in a 9-3 decision. Also, earnings results from Microsoft and Meta Platforms after today’s close will be looked at to see whether the vast spending behind the buildout of artificial intelligence can deliver adequate returns. The 10-year T-note yield is up +4 bp to 4.64%.
Sep WTI crude oil prices (CLU26) jumped by more than +7% today as the recent lull in hostilities came to an abrupt end after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted a US airbase and command center in Jordan with ballistic missiles. The IRGC also claimed to have hit and halted three tankers attempting to transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the US and Saudi Arabia launched a joint attack on "Iran-aligned terrorists" in Iraq after the IRGC directed them to target US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.
Tensions remain high in the Middle East as the US maintains its blockade of Iranian oil shipments in the Persian Gulf. Also, diplomatic attempts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz appear to be at an impasse. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi said Oman's proposal for a route through the Strait of Hormuz, with 50% under Iran's control and 50% under Oman's, would not address Iran's concerns and that the inbound passage and part of the outbound channel must be entirely under Iran's control.
US MBA mortgage applications fell -6.4% in the week ended July 24, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down -3.6% and the refinancing mortgage sub-index down -9.9%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose +7 bp to an 11.5-month high of 6.76% from 6.69% the prior week.
The outlook for strong Q2 earnings, which continue this week, is a bullish factor for stocks. The markets are awaiting results from a raft of megacap technology companies this week, including Microsoft and Meta Platforms today, and Amazon.com and Apple on Thursday. Forecasts compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence suggest Q2 earnings may increase by +23%, close to Q1’s blowout earnings of +30%, which was more than double the +12% analysts had expected. AI spending is expected to account for most of earnings, with AI infrastructure stocks set to contribute nearly 60% of the S&P 500's earnings-per-share growth in Q2. So far, earnings results have been positive, with 87% of the 216 S&P 500 companies that have reported Q2 earnings beating estimates, according to Bloomberg data.
The markets are discounting a 34% chance of a +25 bp rate hike at the conclusion of today’s FOMC meeting.
Overseas stock markets are mixed today. The Euro Stoxx 50 is down -0.73%. China's Shanghai Composite rebounded from a 1-week low and closed up +0.40%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average fell to a 2.25-month low and closed down -1.49%.
Interest Rates
September 10-year T-notes (ZNU6) today are down -9 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield is up +3.0 bp to 4.637%. T-notes are under pressure today from a +7% surge in crude oil prices, which raises inflation expectations and is hawkish for Fed policy. Also, long liquidation and position evening are weighing on T-notes ahead of the FOMC’s interest rate decision later today.
European government bond yields are moving higher today. The 10-year German bund yield is up +5.0 bp to 3.154%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is up +7.7 bp to 5.021%.
The German Jun import price index eased to 6.1% y/y from 6.8% y/y in May.
The markets are discounting an 88% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on September 10.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks are sharply lower today, weighing on the broader market. The Philadelphia Stock Exchange Semiconductor Index ($SOX) dropped to a 2.5-month low and is down more than -3%. Nebius Group NV (NBIS) is down more than -9% to lead losers in the Nasdaq 100, and KLA Corp (KLAC) and Sandisk (SNDK) are down more than -7%. Also, Applied Materials (AMAT), NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI), and ARM Holdings (ARM) are down by more than -5%, and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is down more than -4%. In addition, Marvell Technology (MRVL), Lam Research (LRCX), and Microchip Technology (MCHP) are down more than -3%, and Nvidia (NVDA), Intel (INTC), and Texas Instruments (TXN) are down more than -2%.
Trucking and freight companies are under pressure today from soaring crude oil prices. ArcBest (ARCB) is down more than -7%, and Saia Inc (SAIA), FedEx Freight Holding (FDXF), JB Hunt Transport Services (JBHT), and CH Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) are down more than -2%. Also, Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL), Marten Transport Ltd (MRTN), Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings (KNX), and XPO Inc (XPO) are down more than -1%.
Airline stocks are sliding today with the surge in crude oil prices. Alaska Air Group (ALK) is down more than -3%, and Delta Air Lines (DAL) and Southwest Airlines (LUV) are down more than -2%. Also, American Airlines Group (AAL) and United Airlines Holdings (UAL) are down more than -1%.
Energy producers and service providers are climbing today, with crude oil prices up by more than +7%. Diamondback Energy (FANG) is up more than +4%, and ConocoPhillips (COP), APA Corp (APA), Devon Energy (DVN), ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM), and Occidental Petroleum (OXY) are up more than +3%. Also, Baker Hughes (BKR) and Chevron (CVX) are up more than +2%, and Phillips 66 (PSX) and Valero Energy (VLO) are up more than +1%.
Lennox International (LII) is down more than -19% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q2 net sales of $1.55 billion, weaker than the consensus of $1.56 billion.
Vertiv Holdings (VRT) is down more than -13% after reporting Q2 net sales of $3.27 billion, below the consensus of $3.39 billion.
Avis Budget Group (CAR) is down more than -11% after reporting Q2 EPS of 98 cents, well below the consensus of $1.91.
Masco Corp (MAS) is down more than -10% after reporting Q2 net sales of $1.99 billion, weaker than the consensus of $2.08 billion.
Caterpillar (CAT) is down more than -6% to lead losers in the Dow Jones industrials after Baird downgraded the stock to neutral from outperform, citing a growing trend of state and local government actions targeting data centers, a key growth driver for the company.
Humana (HUM) is down more than -6% after it maintained its full-year profit outlook despite posting better-than-expected Q2 profit.
Garmin Ltd (GRMN) is up more than +17% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q2 revenue of $2.02 billion, above the consensus of $1.92 billion, and raising its full-year revenue estimate to $8.05 billion from a previous estimate of $7.90 billion, stronger than the consensus of $7.99 billion.
GE Healthcare (GEHC) is up more than +11% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100 after reporting Q2 adjusted EPS of $1.13, better than the consensus of $1.04.
Amphenol (APH) is up more than +6% after reporting Q2 net sales of $8.76 billion, better than the consensus of $8.31 billion.
Teradyne (TER) is up more than +5% after reporting Q2 net revenue of $1.33 billion, stronger than the consensus of $1.22 billion.
Ford Motor (F) is up more than +5% after raising its full-year adjusted EBIT to $10 billion to $11 billion from a previous forecast of $8.5 billion to $10.5 billion.
Earnings Reports (7/29/2026)
Align Technology Inc (ALGN), American Water Works Co Inc (AWK), Amphenol Corp (APH), Aon PLC (AON), Automatic Data Processing Inc (ADP), Biogen Inc (BIIB), Boston Scientific Corp (BSX), Bunge Global SA (BG), Carvana Co (CVNA), CBRE Group Inc (CBRE), CH Robinson Worldwide Inc (CHRW), Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG), Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH), Electronic Arts Inc (EA), Entergy Corp (ETR), Equinix Inc (EQIX), Essex Property Trust Inc (ESS), Everest Group Ltd (EG), Fair Isaac Corp (FICO), Flex Ltd (FLEX), Fortinet Inc (FTNT), Fortive Corp (FTV), Garmin Ltd (GRMN), GE HealthCare Technologies Inc (GEHC), Generac Holdings Inc (GNRC), General Dynamics Corp (GD), Humana Inc (HUM), IDEX Corp (IEX), Invitation Homes Inc (INVH), Johnson Controls International (JCI), L3Harris Technologies Inc (LHX), Lam Research Corp (LRCX), Lennox International Inc (LII), Masco Corp (MAS), Meta Platforms Inc (META), MGM Resorts International (MGM), Microsoft Corp (MSFT), Mid-America Apartment Communities (MAA), Old Dominion Freight Line Inc (ODFL), O'Reilly Automotive Inc (ORLY), Procter & Gamble Co/The (PG), PTC Inc (PTC), Public Storage (PSA), QUALCOMM Inc (QCOM), Regency Centers Corp (REG), Robinhood Markets Inc (HOOD), Smurfit Westrock PLC (SW), Stanley Black & Decker Inc (SWK), Starbucks Corp (SBUX), Tyler Technologies Inc (TYL), Ventas Inc (VTR), Verisk Analytics Inc (VRSK), Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT), VICI Properties Inc (VICI), Vulcan Materials Co (VMC), Waste Management Inc (WM), WEC Energy Group Inc (WEC).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
More news from Barchart
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stocks Tumble as Chipmakers Plunge, Oil Spikes

In trading on Wednesday, the First Trust Natural Gas ETF is outperforming other ETFs, up about 3.5% on the day. Components of that ETF showing particular strength include shares of W&T Offshore, up about 8.5% and shares of Ring Energy, up about 8% on the day.
And underperforming other ETFs today is the Invesco Semiconductors ETF, off about 5.6% in Wednesday afternoon trading. Among components of that ETF with the weakest showing on Wednesday were shares of Onto Innovation, lower by about 10.3%, and shares of KLAC, lower by about 9.2% on the day.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Wednesday's ETF Movers: FCG, PSI

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is down -0.71%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is down -1.53%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down -0.98%. September E-mini S&P futures (ESU26) are down -0.75%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQU26) are down -1.03%.
Stock indexes are falling today, with the S&P 500 sliding to a 1-month low and the Nasdaq 100 sinking to a 3-month low. Chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks are selling off today, leading the overall market lower. Also, heightened geopolitical risks are weighing on stocks as crude prices surged, and bond yields jumped when President Trump said the US will “hit Iran hard” after a recent attack from Iran that targeted a US base in Jordan.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
The markets are awaiting the results of the 2-day FOMC meeting that ends early this afternoon, with policymakers expected to keep interest rates unchanged. Also, earnings results from Microsoft and Meta Platforms after today’s close will be looked at to see whether the vast spending behind the buildout of artificial intelligence can deliver adequate returns. The 10-year T-note yield is up +4 bp to 4.64%.
Sep WTI crude oil prices (CLU26) jumped by more than +7% today as the recent lull in hostilities came to an abrupt end after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted a US airbase and command center in Jordan with ballistic missiles. The IRGC also claimed to have hit and halted three tankers attempting to transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the US and Saudi Arabia launched a joint attack on "Iran-aligned terrorists" in Iraq after the IRGC directed them to target US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.
Tensions remain high in the Middle East as the US maintains its blockade of Iranian oil shipments in the Persian Gulf. Also, diplomatic attempts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz appear to be at an impasse. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi said Oman's proposal for a route through the Strait of Hormuz, with 50% under Iran's control and 50% under Oman's, would not address Iran's concerns and that the inbound passage and part of the outbound channel must be entirely under Iran's control.
US MBA mortgage applications fell -6.4% in the week ended July 24, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down -3.6% and the refinancing mortgage sub-index down -9.9%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose +7 bp to an 11.5-month high of 6.76% from 6.69% the prior week.
The outlook for strong Q2 earnings, which continue this week, is a bullish factor for stocks. The markets are awaiting results from a raft of megacap technology companies this week, including Microsoft and Meta Platforms today, and Amazon.com and Apple on Thursday. Forecasts compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence suggest Q2 earnings may increase by +23%, close to Q1’s blowout earnings of +30%, which was more than double the +12% analysts had expected. AI spending is expected to account for most of earnings, with AI infrastructure stocks set to contribute nearly 60% of the S&P 500's earnings-per-share growth in Q2. So far, earnings results have been positive, with 87% of the 216 S&P 500 companies that have reported Q2 earnings beating estimates, according to Bloomberg data.
The markets are discounting a 34% chance of a +25 bp rate hike at the conclusion of today’s FOMC meeting.
Overseas stock markets are mixed today. The Euro Stoxx 50 is down -0.73%. China's Shanghai Composite rebounded from a 1-week low and closed up +0.40%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average fell to a 2.25-month low and closed down -1.49%.
Interest Rates
September 10-year T-notes (ZNU6) today are down -9 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield is up +3.0 bp to 4.637%. T-notes are under pressure today from a +7% surge in crude oil prices, which raises inflation expectations and is hawkish for Fed policy. Also, long liquidation and position evening are weighing on T-notes ahead of the FOMC’s interest rate decision later today.
European government bond yields are moving higher today. The 10-year German bund yield is up +5.0 bp to 3.154%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is up +7.7 bp to 5.021%.
The German Jun import price index eased to 6.1% y/y from 6.8% y/y in May.
The markets are discounting an 88% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on September 10.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks are sharply lower today, weighing on the broader market. The Philadelphia Stock Exchange Semiconductor Index ($SOX) dropped to a 2.5-month low and is down more than -3%. Nebius Group NV (NBIS) is down more than -9% to lead losers in the Nasdaq 100, and KLA Corp (KLAC) and Sandisk (SNDK) are down more than -7%. Also, Applied Materials (AMAT), NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI), and ARM Holdings (ARM) are down by more than -5%, and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is down more than -4%. In addition, Marvell Technology (MRVL), Lam Research (LRCX), and Microchip Technology (MCHP) are down more than -3%, and Nvidia (NVDA), Intel (INTC), and Texas Instruments (TXN) are down more than -2%.
Trucking and freight companies are under pressure today from soaring crude oil prices. ArcBest (ARCB) is down more than -7%, and Saia Inc (SAIA), FedEx Freight Holding (FDXF), JB Hunt Transport Services (JBHT), and CH Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) are down more than -2%. Also, Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL), Marten Transport Ltd (MRTN), Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings (KNX), and XPO Inc (XPO) are down more than -1%.
Airline stocks are sliding today with the surge in crude oil prices. Alaska Air Group (ALK) is down more than -3%, and Delta Air Lines (DAL) and Southwest Airlines (LUV) are down more than -2%. Also, American Airlines Group (AAL) and United Airlines Holdings (UAL) are down more than -1%.
Energy producers and service providers are climbing today, with crude oil prices up by more than +7%. Diamondback Energy (FANG) is up more than +4%, and ConocoPhillips (COP), APA Corp (APA), Devon Energy (DVN), ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM), and Occidental Petroleum (OXY) are up more than +3%. Also, Baker Hughes (BKR) and Chevron (CVX) are up more than +2%, and Phillips 66 (PSX) and Valero Energy (VLO) are up more than +1%.
Lennox International (LII) is down more than -19% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q2 net sales of $1.55 billion, weaker than the consensus of $1.56 billion.
Vertiv Holdings (VRT) is down more than -13% after reporting Q2 net sales of $3.27 billion, below the consensus of $3.39 billion.
Avis Budget Group (CAR) is down more than -11% after reporting Q2 EPS of 98 cents, well below the consensus of $1.91.
Masco Corp (MAS) is down more than -10% after reporting Q2 net sales of $1.99 billion, weaker than the consensus of $2.08 billion.
Caterpillar (CAT) is down more than -6% to lead losers in the Dow Jones industrials after Baird downgraded the stock to neutral from outperform, citing a growing trend of state and local government actions targeting data centers, a key growth driver for the company.
Humana (HUM) is down more than -6% after it maintained its full-year profit outlook despite posting better-than-expected Q2 profit.
Garmin Ltd (GRMN) is up more than +17% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q2 revenue of $2.02 billion, above the consensus of $1.92 billion, and raising its full-year revenue estimate to $8.05 billion from a previous estimate of $7.90 billion, stronger than the consensus of $7.99 billion.
GE Healthcare (GEHC) is up more than +11% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100 after reporting Q2 adjusted EPS of $1.13, better than the consensus of $1.04.
Amphenol (APH) is up more than +6% after reporting Q2 net sales of $8.76 billion, better than the consensus of $8.31 billion.
Teradyne (TER) is up more than +5% after reporting Q2 net revenue of $1.33 billion, stronger than the consensus of $1.22 billion.
Ford Motor (F) is up more than +5% after raising its full-year adjusted EBIT to $10 billion to $11 billion from a previous forecast of $8.5 billion to $10.5 billion.
Earnings Reports (7/29/2026)
Align Technology Inc (ALGN), American Water Works Co Inc (AWK), Amphenol Corp (APH), Aon PLC (AON), Automatic Data Processing Inc (ADP), Biogen Inc (BIIB), Boston Scientific Corp (BSX), Bunge Global SA (BG), Carvana Co (CVNA), CBRE Group Inc (CBRE), CH Robinson Worldwide Inc (CHRW), Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG), Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH), Electronic Arts Inc (EA), Entergy Corp (ETR), Equinix Inc (EQIX), Essex Property Trust Inc (ESS), Everest Group Ltd (EG), Fair Isaac Corp (FICO), Flex Ltd (FLEX), Fortinet Inc (FTNT), Fortive Corp (FTV), Garmin Ltd (GRMN), GE HealthCare Technologies Inc (GEHC), Generac Holdings Inc (GNRC), General Dynamics Corp (GD), Humana Inc (HUM), IDEX Corp (IEX), Invitation Homes Inc (INVH), Johnson Controls International (JCI), L3Harris Technologies Inc (LHX), Lam Research Corp (LRCX), Lennox International Inc (LII), Masco Corp (MAS), Meta Platforms Inc (META), MGM Resorts International (MGM), Microsoft Corp (MSFT), Mid-America Apartment Communities (MAA), Old Dominion Freight Line Inc (ODFL), O'Reilly Automotive Inc (ORLY), Procter & Gamble Co/The (PG), PTC Inc (PTC), Public Storage (PSA), QUALCOMM Inc (QCOM), Regency Centers Corp (REG), Robinhood Markets Inc (HOOD), Smurfit Westrock PLC (SW), Stanley Black & Decker Inc (SWK), Starbucks Corp (SBUX), Tyler Technologies Inc (TYL), Ventas Inc (VTR), Verisk Analytics Inc (VRSK), Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT), VICI Properties Inc (VICI), Vulcan Materials Co (VMC), Waste Management Inc (WM), WEC Energy Group Inc (WEC).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stocks Tumble Ahead of FOMC as Chipmakers Plunge

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is down -0.18%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is down -0.85%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down -0.23%. September E-mini S&P futures (ESU26) are down -0.25%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQU26) are down -0.30%.
Stock indexes turned lower today as crude prices surged, and bond yields jumped after President Trump said the US will “hit Iran hard” after a recent attack from Iran that targeted a US base in Jordan. The markets are awaiting the results of the 2-day FOMC meeting that ends early this afternoon, with policymakers expected to keep interest rates unchanged. Also, earnings results from Microsoft and Meta Platforms after today’s close will be looked at to see whether the vast spending behind the buildout of artificial intelligence can deliver adequate returns. The 10-year T-note yield is up +3 bp to 4.63%.
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Sep WTI crude oil prices (CLU26) jumped by more than +6% today as the recent lull in hostilities came to an abrupt end after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted a US airbase and command center in Jordan with ballistic missiles. The IRGC also claimed to have hit and halted three tankers attempting to transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the US and Saudi Arabia launched a joint attack on "Iran-aligned terrorists" in Iraq after the IRGC directed them to target US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.
Tensions remain high in the Middle East as the US maintains its blockade of Iranian oil shipments in the Persian Gulf. Also, diplomatic attempts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz appear to be at an impasse. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi said Oman's proposal for a route through the Strait of Hormuz, with 50% under Iran's control and 50% under Oman's, would not address Iran's concerns and that the inbound passage and part of the outbound channel must be entirely under Iran's control.
US MBA mortgage applications fell -6.4% in the week ended July 24, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down -3.6% and the refinancing mortgage sub-index down -9.9%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose +7 bp to an 11.5-month high of 6.76% from 6.69% the prior week.
The outlook for strong Q2 earnings, which continue this week, is a bullish factor for stocks. The markets are awaiting results from a raft of megacap technology companies this week, including Microsoft and Meta Platforms today, and Amazon.com and Apple on Thursday. Forecasts compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence suggest Q2 earnings may increase by +23%, close to Q1’s blowout earnings of +30%, which was more than double the +12% analysts had expected. AI spending is expected to account for most of earnings, with AI infrastructure stocks set to contribute nearly 60% of the S&P 500's earnings-per-share growth in Q2. So far, earnings results have been positive, with 86% of the 170 S&P 500 companies that have reported Q2 earnings beating estimates, according to Bloomberg data.
The markets are discounting a 36% chance of a +25 bp rate hike at the conclusion of today’s FOMC meeting.
Overseas stock markets are mixed today. The Euro Stoxx 50 is down -0.48%. China's Shanghai Composite rebounded from a 1-week low and closed up +0.40%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average fell to a 2.25-month low and closed down -1.49%.
Interest Rates
September 10-year T-notes (ZNU6) today are down -8 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield is up +2.6 bp to 4.633%. T-notes are under pressure today from a +6% surge in crude oil prices, which raises inflation expectations and is hawkish for Fed policy. Also, long liquidation and position evening are weighing on T-notes ahead of the FOMC’s interest rate decision later today.
European government bond yields are moving higher today. The 10-year German bund yield is up +3.2 bp to 3.136%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is up +5.3 bp to 4.997%.
The German Jun import price index eased to 6.1% y/y from 6.8% y/y in May.
The markets are discounting an 88% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on September 10.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks are moving lower today, weighing on the broader market. Nebius Group NV (NBIS) is down more than -8% to lead losers in the Nasdaq 100, and Sandisk (SNDK) is down more than -6%. Also, Applied Materials (AMAT) and KLA Corp (KLAC) are down by more than -4%, and NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI) and ARM Holdings (ARM) are down by more than -3%. In addition, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), ASML Holding NV (ASML), Micron Technology (MU), Lam Research (LRCX), and Microchip Technology (MCHP) are down more than -2%.
Trucking and freight companies are under pressure today from soaring crude oil prices. ArcBest (ARCB) is down more than -4%, and Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) and Saia Inc (SAIA) are down more than -2%. Also, FedEx Freight Holding (FDXF), Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings (KNX), JB Hunt Transport Services (JBHT), Marten Transport Ltd (MRTN), CH Robinson Worldwide (CHRW), and XPO Inc (XPO) are down more than -1%.
Airline stocks are sliding today with the surge in crude oil prices. Alaska Air Group (ALK) and Southwest Airlines (LUV) are down more than -2%, and American Airlines Group (AAL), United Airlines Holdings (UAL), and Delta Air Lines (DAL) are down more than -1%.
Energy producers and service providers are climbing today, with crude oil prices up by more than +6%. ConocoPhillips (COP), Diamondback Energy (FANG), and Valero Energy (VLO) are up more than +3%, and APA Corp (APA), Chevron (CVX), Devon Energy (DVN), ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM), Marathon Petroleum (MPC), Occidental Petroleum (OXY), and Phillips 66 (PSX) are up more than +2%. Also, SLB Ltd (SLB), Baker Hughes (BKR), and Haliburton (HAL) are up more than +1%.
Lennox International (LII) is down more than -13% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after reporting Q2 net sales of $1.55 billion, weaker than the consensus of $1.56 billion.
Vertiv Holdings (VRT) is down more than -8% after reporting Q2 net sales of $3.27 billion, below the consensus of $3.39 billion.
CoStar Group (CSGP) is down more than -8% after reporting Q2 revenue of $925 million, weaker than the consensus of $929.4 million.
Skyworks Solutions (SWKS) is down more than -7% after forecasting Q4 adjusted EPS of $1.27, below the consensus of $1.29.
Avis Budget Group (CAR) is down more than -6% after reporting Q2 EPS of 98 cents, well below the consensus of $1.91.
Caterpillar (CAT) is down more than -2% after Baird downgraded the stock to neutral from outperform, citing a growing trend of state and local government actions targeting data centers, a key growth driver for the company.
Teradyne (TER) is up more than +13% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 after reporting Q2 net revenue of $1.33 billion, stronger than the consensus of $1.22 billion.
GE Healthcare (GEHC) is up more than +10% after reporting Q2 adjusted EPS of $1.13, better than the consensus of $1.04.
Garmin Ltd (GRMN) is up more than +7% after reporting Q2 revenue of $2.02 billion, above the consensus of $1.92 billion, and raising its full-year revenue estimate to $8.05 billion from a previous estimate of $7.90 billion, stronger than the consensus of $7.99 billion.
Bloom Energy (BE) is up more than +7% after reporting Q2 revenue of $1.07 billion, stronger than the consensus of $838.7 million, and raising its full-year revenue forecast to $3.9 billion to $4.2 billion from a previous forecast of $3.4 billion to $3.8 billion, above the consensus of $3.74 billion.
Generac Holdings (GNRC) is up more than +5% after raising its full-year adjusted Ebitda margin to 20% to 21% from a previous estimate of 18.5% to 19.5%, better than the consensus of 19.2%.
Ford Motor (F) is up more than +4% after raising its full-year adjusted EBIT to $10 billion to $11 billion from a previous forecast of $8.5 billion to $10.5 billion.
Earnings Reports (7/29/2026)
Align Technology Inc (ALGN), American Water Works Co Inc (AWK), Amphenol Corp (APH), Aon PLC (AON), Automatic Data Processing Inc (ADP), Biogen Inc (BIIB), Boston Scientific Corp (BSX), Bunge Global SA (BG), Carvana Co (CVNA), CBRE Group Inc (CBRE), CH Robinson Worldwide Inc (CHRW), Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG), Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH), Electronic Arts Inc (EA), Entergy Corp (ETR), Equinix Inc (EQIX), Essex Property Trust Inc (ESS), Everest Group Ltd (EG), Fair Isaac Corp (FICO), Flex Ltd (FLEX), Fortinet Inc (FTNT), Fortive Corp (FTV), Garmin Ltd (GRMN), GE HealthCare Technologies Inc (GEHC), Generac Holdings Inc (GNRC), General Dynamics Corp (GD), Humana Inc (HUM), IDEX Corp (IEX), Invitation Homes Inc (INVH), Johnson Controls International (JCI), L3Harris Technologies Inc (LHX), Lam Research Corp (LRCX), Lennox International Inc (LII), Masco Corp (MAS), Meta Platforms Inc (META), MGM Resorts International (MGM), Microsoft Corp (MSFT), Mid-America Apartment Communities (MAA), Old Dominion Freight Line Inc (ODFL), O'Reilly Automotive Inc (ORLY), Procter & Gamble Co/The (PG), PTC Inc (PTC), Public Storage (PSA), QUALCOMM Inc (QCOM), Regency Centers Corp (REG), Robinhood Markets Inc (HOOD), Smurfit Westrock PLC (SW), Stanley Black & Decker Inc (SWK), Starbucks Corp (SBUX), Tyler Technologies Inc (TYL), Ventas Inc (VTR), Verisk Analytics Inc (VRSK), Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT), VICI Properties Inc (VICI), Vulcan Materials Co (VMC), Waste Management Inc (WM), WEC Energy Group Inc (WEC).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stocks Pressured by Renewed US-Iran Hostilities

KLA Corporation KLAC reported fiscal fourth-quarter 2026 non-GAAP earnings of $1.05 per share, up 11.7% year over year, and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5%.
Revenues increased 15.2% year over year to $3.66 billion and beat the consensus mark by 1.32%. Results benefited from AI infrastructure investment, leading-edge foundry/logic demand and rising process control intensity. Advanced packaging process control revenues are now expected to reach about $1.1 billion in calendar 2026.
KLA Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
KLAC Segment Growth Remains Broad-Based
Semiconductor Process Control revenues were $3.26 billion, accounting for 89% of revenues. The segment grew 13% year over year and 6% sequentially, supported by demand for inspection, metrology and related services across advanced logic, memory and packaging applications.
Specialty Semiconductor Process revenues rose 13% year over year to $160 million but declined 3% sequentially.
PCB and Component Inspection revenues surged 56.5% year over year and 44% sequentially to $241.1 million, reflecting stronger demand tied to high-performance computing packages and integration.
KLA Product Mix Highlights Patterning Momentum
Wafer Inspection remained the largest product category, generating $1.78 billion, or 49% of revenues. Sales increased 1% year over year and 2% sequentially.
Patterning revenues jumped 61% year over year and 18% sequentially to $728 million, representing 20% of the top line.
Services revenues advanced 17% year over year and 6% sequentially to $820 million, and accounted for 22% of revenues. Management noted that customers are running tools at high utilization, while the growing installed base and contract-heavy service model support visibility. About 80% of service revenues are contract-based.
KLAC End Markets Reflect Logic Leadership
Foundry and logic represented 79% of Semiconductor Process Control systems revenues to semiconductor customers. Memory accounted for the remaining 21%, reflecting demand for high-bandwidth memory and increasingly complex DRAM manufacturing processes.
Geographically, Taiwan generated 31% of total revenues, followed by China at 26% and North America at 18%. Korea contributed 10%, Japan 6%, Europe 5% and the Rest of Asia 4%.
KLA Margins Expand With Operating Leverage
The non-GAAP gross margin was 62.4%, at the upper end of guidance. A favorable service mix and manufacturing scale offset higher memory component costs and tariff pressures. Non-GAAP operating margin reached 43.7%, while incremental operating margin was 59%.
Non-GAAP operating expenses totaled $682 million, including $399 million in research and development (up 13% year over year) and $291.5 million in selling, general and administrative expenses (up 11% year over year).
KLAC Cash Flow Supports Shareholder Returns
KLAC ended the quarter with $4.90 billion in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and $5.89 billion in debt.
Cash flow from operations was $906 million, while free cash flow totaled $817 million. The company returned $876 million to shareholders during the quarter, comprising $571 million in share repurchases and $305 million in dividends.
Over the past 12 months, capital returns totaled $3.3 billion, while the free cash flow margin was 28%.
KLA Issues Strong First-Quarter Outlook
For the first quarter of fiscal 2027, KLA expects revenues of $4 billion (plus or minus $200 million). Non-GAAP diluted earnings are projected at $1.16 per share (plus or minus 10 cents), while non-GAAP gross margin is forecast at 62.5% (plus or minus 1 percentage point).
Foundry/logic is expected to account for about 73% of Semiconductor Process Control systems revenues to semiconductor customers, with memory at roughly 27%. Within memory, DRAM is projected at about 90% and NAND at 10%. Non-GAAP operating expenses are anticipated to be approximately $690 million.
KLA expects second-half calendar 2026 revenues to rise about 20% from the first half as supply capacity improves. Management also raised its calendar 2026 wafer fabrication equipment market outlook, including advanced packaging, to the low-$150 billion range and expects significant growth to continue in calendar 2027.
Zacks Rank & Upcoming Earnings to Watch
KLA currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Lumentum LITE, Arrow Electronics ARW and HubSpot HUBS are some better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector. Each of the three stocks sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Lumentum, Arrow Electronics and HubSpot are expected to report their quarterly results on Aug. 11, Aug. 6 and Aug. 5, respectively. Shares of HubSpot have dropped 40.7%, while Arrow Electronics and Lumentum have jumped 91.8% and 76.8%, year to date, respectively.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

KLAC Q4 Earnings Beat on AI Demand, Revenues Increase Y/Y

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Tuesday closed up +0.21%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up +1.03%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed down -0.98%. September E-mini S&P futures (ESU26) rose +0.24%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQU26) fell -0.88%.
Stock indexes settled mixed on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones Industrials climbing to a 1.5-week high and the Nasdaq 100 falling to a 2.75-month low. Better-than-expected earnings from Boeing, Coca-Cola and Sherwin-Williams were supportive of stocks on Tuesday. Also, software stocks rose as investors rotated into sectors that had recently underperformed.
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However, the Nasdaq 100 was under pressure amid a deepening rout in chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks, driven by fresh concerns over artificial intelligence spending and rising competition from China. Also, the unexpected decline in US July consumer confidence weighed on market sentiment on Tuesday.
Lower crude oil prices have also eased inflation concerns and pushed bond yields lower, supporting stocks. Sep WTI crude oil prices (CLU26) fell by more than -4% on Tuesday to a 1-week low, as the US and Iran extended their pause in hostilities. The focus is now on talks between Iran and Oman over reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The 10-year T-note yield fell -5 bp to 4.60%.
However, tensions remain high in the Middle East as the US maintains its blockade of Iranian oil shipments in the Persian Gulf. Also, President Trump on Tuesday said that the US would “take out” Pickaxe Mountain, an Iranian facility that the US and Israel said they suspect is a nuclear site, if there wasn’t a deal. In addition, Houthi militants said they would continue striking Saudi Arabia after claiming to have struck facilities linked to Saudi Aramco in the Red Sea port towns of Jizan and Yanbu on Saturday. Yanbu, the western end of the East-West pipeline, has become Saudi Arabia’s key crude export outlet since the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively shut off by the war.
The US May S&P composite-20 home price index rose +1.6% y/y, stronger than expectations of +1.3% y/y and the largest increase in 10 months.
The Conference Board US Jul consumer confidence index unexpectedly fell by -1.4 to 90.8, weaker than expectations of an increase to 92.4.
The US Jul Richmond Fed manufacturing survey rose +1 to 5, weaker than expectations of 6.
The outlook for strong Q2 earnings, which continue this week, is a bullish factor for stocks. The markets are awaiting results from a raft of megacap technology companies this week, including Microsoft and Meta Platforms on Wednesday, and Amazon.com and Apple on Thursday. Forecasts compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence suggest Q2 earnings may increase by +23%, close to Q1’s blowout earnings of +30%, which was more than double the +12% analysts had expected. AI spending is expected to account for most of earnings, with AI infrastructure stocks set to contribute nearly 60% of the S&P 500's earnings-per-share growth in Q2. So far, earnings results have been positive, with 86% of the 170 S&P 500 companies that have reported Q2 earnings beating estimates, according to Bloomberg data.
The markets are discounting a 30% chance of a +25 bp rate hike at the Tue/Wed FOMC meeting.
Overseas stock markets settled mixed on Tuesday. The Euro Stoxx 50 closed up +0.12%. China's Shanghai Composite closed down -1.16%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average fell to a 2-month low and closed down sharply by -3.95%.
Interest Rates
September 10-year T-notes (ZNU6) on Tuesday closed up +7.5 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield fell -4.9 bp to 4.600%. T-notes pushed higher on Tuesday as a -4% plunge in crude oil prices eased inflation expectations. The 10-year breakeven inflation rate fell to a 1-month low of 2.192% on Tuesday. T-notes also rose after US July consumer confidence unexpectedly declined. Solid demand for the Treasury’s $44 billion auction of 7-year T-notes was bullish for T-note prices, as the auction had a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.49, better than the 10-auction average of 2.47.
European government bond yields moved lower on Tuesday. The 10-year German bund yield fell to a 2-week low of 3.103% and finished down -2.9 bp to 3.104%. The 10-year UK gilt yield slid to a 1-week low of 4.944% and finished down -5.2 bp to 4.944%.
The France Jul consumer confidence survey rose +2 to a 4-month high of 86, stronger than expectations of 85.
The markets are discounting an 86% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on September 10.
US Stock Movers
Software stocks rallied on Tuesday, a supportive factor for the overall market. Workday (WDAY) closed up more than +8% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100, and Thomson Reuters (TRI) and Autodesk (ADSK) closed up more than +5%. Also, Adobe (ADBE), ServiceNow (NOW), Salesforce (CRM), and Atlassian (TEAM) closed up more than +4%, and Intuit (INTU) closed up more than +3%. In addition, Microsoft (MSFT) and Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) closed up more than +1%.
Chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks retreated on Tuesday, weighing on the Nasdaq 100. The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) dropped to a 2.5-month low and closed down more than -4%. Sandisk (SNDK) closed down more than -14% to lead losers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), ARM Holdings Plc (ARM), Micron Technology (MU) and Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX) closed down more than -8%. Also, Applied Materials (AMAT), Marvell Technology (MRVL), and Lam Research (LRCX) closed down more than -7%, and KLA Corp (KLAC) and Western Digital (WDC) closed down more than -6%. In addition, Intel (INTC) closed down more than -5%, and Qualcomm (QCOM) closed down more than -4%.
Cryptocurrency-exposed stocks moved lower on Tuesday after Bitcoin (^BTCUSD) fell more than -1% to a 1-week low. Galaxy Digital Holdings (GLXY) closed down more than -9%, and MARA Holdings (MARA) closed down more than -4%. Also, Strategy (MSTR), Riot Platforms (RIOT), and Circle Internet Group (CRCL) closed down more than -2%, and Coinbase Global (COIN) closed down -0.39%.
IQVIA Holdings (IQV) closed up more than +13% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 after boosting its full-year revenue forecast to $17.28 billion to $17.48 billion from a previous forecast of $17.15 billion to $17.35 billion, stronger than the consensus of $17.28 billion.
Sherwin-Williams (SHW) closed up more than +8% to lead gainers in the Dow Jones Industrials after reporting adjusted EPS of $3.70, better than the consensus of $3.51, and raising its full-year adjusted EPS forecast to $11.80 to $12.20 from a previous forecast of $11.50 to $11.90, above the consensus of $11.76.
Nucor (NUE) closed up more than +7% after reporting Q2 net sales of $10.40 billion, above the consensus of $10.03 billion.
Coca-Cola (KO) closed up +5% after raising its full-year comparable EPS forecast to +9% to +10% from a previous view of +8% to +9%.
Boeing (BA) closed up more than +4% after reporting Q2 revenue of $24.56 billion, stronger than the consensus of $24.26 billion.
Amkor Technology (AMKR) closed down more than -24% after forecasting Q3 net sales of $1.95 billion to $2.05 billion, weaker than the consensus of $2.11 billion.
Corning (GLW) closed down more than -12% after forecasting Q3 core sales of $4.9 billion to $5.0 billion, the midpoint below the consensus of $5.0 billion.
Noble Corp. (NE) closed down more than -9% after cutting its full-year adjusted Ebitda estimate to $850 million to $925 million from a previous forecast of $940 million to $1.02 billion, below the consensus of $970.3 million.
Carrier Global (CARR) closed down more than -8% after reporting Q2 gross margin of 27.2%, below the consensus of 28.1%.
RXO Inc (RXO) closed down more than -6% after TD Cowen downgraded the stock to sell from hold with a price target of $19.
Earnings Reports (7/29/2026)
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On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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Stocks Settle Mostly Higher on Positive Earnings Results

For the quarter ended June 2026, KLA (KLAC) reported revenue of $3.66 billion, up 15.2% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $1.05, compared to $0.94 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +1.32% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.61 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.00, the EPS surprise was +5%.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how KLA performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Revenues- Semiconductor Process Control: $3.26 billion versus $3.27 billion estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +13.2% change.
Revenues- Specialty Semiconductor Process: $159.7 million versus $159.85 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +12.6% change.
Revenues- Service: $820.41 million versus $806.64 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +16.8% change.
Revenues- Product: $2.84 billion versus $2.69 billion estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +14.8% change.
Revenues- PCB and Component Inspection: $159.7 million versus $175.04 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +3.6% change.
Shares of KLA have returned -27% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.7% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Compared to Estimates, KLA (KLAC) Q4 Earnings: A Look at Key Metrics

KLA (KLAC) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.05 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.94 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +5.00%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this maker of equipment for manufacturing semiconductors would post earnings of $0.92 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.94, delivering a surprise of +2.17%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.
KLA, which belongs to the Zacks Electronics - Miscellaneous Products industry, posted revenues of $3.66 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.32%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $3.17 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
KLA shares have added about 67.4% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 8.3%.
What's Next for KLA?
While KLA has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for KLA was favorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.13 on $3.94 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $5.07 on $17.24 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Electronics - Miscellaneous Products is currently in the top 22% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
One other stock from the same industry, Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp. (DFLI), is yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026.
This company is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.34 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +94.1%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp.'s revenues are expected to be $13.18 million, down 18.9% from the year-ago quarter.
Should You Invest in KLA Corporation (KLAC)?
Before you invest in KLA Corporation (KLAC), want to know the best stocks to buy for the next 30 days? Check out Zacks Investment Research for our free report on the 7 best stocks to buy.
Zacks Investment Research has been committed to providing investors with tools and independent research since 1978. For more than a quarter century, the Zacks Rank stock-rating system has more than doubled the S&P 500 with an average gain of +24.08% per year. (These returns cover a period from January 1, 1988 through May 6, 2024.)
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KLA Corporation (KLAC) : Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

KLA (KLAC) Q4 Earnings and Revenues Top Estimates

(RTTNews) - KLA Corporation (KLAC) reported earnings for its fourth quarter that Increases, from last year
The company's earnings totaled $1.363 million, or $1.04 per share. This compares with $1.202 million, or $0.91 per share, last year.
Excluding items, KLA Corporation reported adjusted earnings of $1.385 million or $1.05 per share for the period.
The company's revenue for the period rose 15.2% to $3.657 million from $3.174 million last year.
KLA Corporation earnings at a glance (GAAP) :
-Earnings: $1.363 Mln. vs. $1.202 Mln. last year. -EPS: $1.04 vs. $0.91 last year. -Revenue: $3.657 Mln vs. $3.174 Mln last year.
First Quarter Fiscal 2027 Guidance
Total revenues are expected to be in a range of $4.0 billion +/- $200 million GAAP gross margin is expected to be in a range of 61.6% +/- 1.0% Non-GAAP gross margin is expected to be in a range of 62.5% +/- 1.0% GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be in a range of $1.14 +/- $0.10 Non-GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be in a range of $1.16 +/- $0.10
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.