KLA (NASDAQ:KLAC) Azioni

KLA is one of the largest semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment, or WFE, manufacturers in the world. It specializes in the market segment of semiconductor process control, wherein machines inspect semiconductor wafers during research and development and manufacturing for defects and verify precise measurements. In this section of the market, KLA holds a majority share. It also has a small exposure to the etch and deposition segments of the WFE market. It counts as top customers the largest chipmakers in the world, including TSMC and Samsung.

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iShares PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index Fund

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Shares of chip stocks are trading higher as tech stocks rebound following softer-than-expected Feb. CPI figures. It was also reported that TSMC pitched a joint venture to Nvidia, AMD, Broadcom and Qualcomm to operate Intel's factories.

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Shares of semiconductor stocks are trading lower. The sector has been under pressure amid tariff uncertainty.

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Shares of semiconductor stocks are trading lower amid recession worries due to uncertainty regarding tariffs and trade policy. President Trump said there is a "period of transition."

KLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 17.15% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 27.89%. Currently, KLA has a market capitalization of $93.94 billion. 
Buying $100 In KLAC: If an investor had bought $100 of KLAC stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $1,172.96 today based on a price of $706.95 for KLAC at the time of writing.
<h3>KLA's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1741381231_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning KLA Stock In The Last 10 Years

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Shares of semiconductor stocks are trading higher following strong guidance from Broadcom.

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Shares of companies with the broader tech sector are trading lower amid overall market weakness following a rise in Treasury yields. Investors may be evaluating ongoing global tension related to tariffs and conflict.

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Information Technology sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>NVDA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/07/25</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$27.4K</td>
<td>40.5K</td>
<td>127.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSTR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/07/25</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$62.2K</td>
<td>12.1K</td>
<td>44.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/07/25</td>
<td>$232.50</td>
<td>$56.3K</td>
<td>8.4K</td>
<td>22.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PLTR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>03/07/25</td>
<td>$87.00</td>
<td>$32.2K</td>
<td>5.3K</td>
<td>12.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AVGO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/07/25</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
<td>$30.5K</td>
<td>4.8K</td>
<td>3.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CRM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$270.00</td>
<td>$35.8K</td>
<td>2.3K</td>
<td>355</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ADSK</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/07/25</td>
<td>$280.00</td>
<td>$34.1K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td>222</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$760.00</td>
<td>$39.2K</td>
<td>40</td>
<td>176</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>INTU</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$139.2K</td>
<td>62</td>
<td>165</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MARA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
<td>$26.0K</td>
<td>5.3K</td>
<td>140</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding NVDA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on March 7, 2025. Parties traded 174 contract(s) at a $120.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.4K, with a price of $158.0 per contract. There were 40584 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 127427 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MSTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 2 day(s) on March 7, 2025. This event was a transfer of 50 contract(s) at a $300.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $62.2K, with a price of $1245.0 per contract. There were 12148 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 44958 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AAPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on March 7, 2025. Parties traded 262 contract(s) at a $232.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 18 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $56.3K, with a price of $215.0 per contract. There were 8460 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 22360 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PLTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), we observe a call option sweep with neutral sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on March 7, 2025. Parties traded 106 contract(s) at a $87.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.2K, with a price of $305.0 per contract. There were 5331 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 12334 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AVGO (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 2 day(s) on March 7, 2025. This event was a transfer of 33 contract(s) at a $190.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.5K, with a price of $925.0 per contract. There were 4832 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3599 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For CRM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 72 day(s) on May 16, 2025. This event was a transfer of 44 contract(s) at a $270.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.8K, with a price of $815.0 per contract. There were 2370 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 355 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ADSK (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADSK#NASDAQ">ADSK</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on March 7, 2025. Parties traded 22 contract(s) at a $280.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.1K, with a price of $1550.0 per contract. There were 1325 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 222 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For KLAC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 107 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 10 contract(s) at a $760.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $39.2K, with a price of $3920.0 per contract. There were 40 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 176 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For INTU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTU#NASDAQ">INTU</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 317 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 60 contract(s) at a $500.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $139.2K, with a price of $2320.0 per contract. There were 62 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 165 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MARA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARA#NASDAQ">MARA</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 16 day(s) on March 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $17.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.0K, with a price of $260.0 per contract. There were 5376 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 140 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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10 Information Technology Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on KLA.
Looking at options history for KLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) we detected 17 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 35% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 41% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 10 are puts, for a total amount of $751,412 and 7, calls, for a total amount of $603,700.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $610.0 and $880.0 for KLA, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for KLA's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across KLA's significant trades, within a strike price range of $610.0 to $880.0, over the past month.
<h3>KLA Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1741119344_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$39.5</td>
<td>$37.6</td>
<td>$37.6</td>
<td>$680.00</td>
<td>$322.9K</td>
<td align="right">23</td>
<td align="right">88</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$53.7</td>
<td>$50.6</td>
<td>$50.6</td>
<td>$790.00</td>
<td>$151.8K</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$49.5</td>
<td>$44.2</td>
<td>$46.9</td>
<td>$800.00</td>
<td>$140.7K</td>
<td align="right">54</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$33.0</td>
<td>$32.1</td>
<td>$33.0</td>
<td>$670.00</td>
<td>$112.4K</td>
<td align="right">51</td>
<td align="right">35</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$37.0</td>
<td>$33.0</td>
<td>$34.5</td>
<td>$780.00</td>
<td>$103.5K</td>
<td align="right">36</td>
<td align="right">37</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About KLA</h3>
KLA is one of the largest semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment, or WFE, manufacturers in the world. It specializes in the market segment of semiconductor process control, wherein machines inspect semiconductor wafers during research and development and manufacturing for defects and verify precise measurements. In this section of the market, KLA holds a majority share. It also has a small exposure to the etch and deposition segments of the WFE market. It counts as top customers the largest chipmakers in the world, including TSMC and Samsung.
Having examined the options trading patterns of KLA, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Where Is KLA Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 569,254, the price of KLAC is up by 2.49%, reaching $708.35.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 51 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On KLA</h3>
In the last month, 1 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $748.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley has decided to maintain their Equal-Weight rating on KLA, which currently sits at a price target of $748. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for KLA with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Markets

What the Options Market Tells Us About KLA

Shares of semiconductor stocks are trading higher, reversing after earlier weakness as investors assess US tariffs.

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Shares of semiconductor stocks are trading lower after a Wall Street Journal report revealed that Chinese buyers have been ordering Nvidia chips despite U.S. restrictions. Additionally, President Trump confirmed Mar. 4 tariffs, which could drive further trade uncertainty.

ACMR, ALAB, AMAT, AMBA, AMD, AMKR, AOSL, ARM, ARQQ, ASML, ASX, ATO, CAMT, CRDO, ENTG, FORM, HIMX, ICHR, INTC, KLAC, KLIC, LAES, LRCX, MKSI, MTSI, MU, MXL, NN, NVDA, NVMI, NVTS, ONDS, ONTO, QUIK, RGTI, RMBS, SITM, SKYT, SMH, SMTC, SOXX, STM, TSEM, TSM, UCTT, VUZI, WOLF

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Shares of semiconductor companies are trading lower in sympathy with Nvidia, which reversed amid a possible selloff after reporting Q4 financial results.

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Shares of semiconductor companies are trading higher in anticipation of Nvidia's Q4 earnings which are scheduled to be reported after hours today. Additionally, large AI investment announcements from Apple and Meta this week may be buoying the industry.

In a move to further tighten the noose on China&#8217;s burgeoning tech sector, President Donald Trump is reportedly considering stricter measures on the country&#8217;s semiconductor industry. This move is seen as an extension of efforts initiated under the Joe Biden administration to curb China&#8217;s technological advancement.
What Happened: Trump officials have been in talks with their Japanese and Dutch counterparts to limit the activities of engineers from Tokyo Electron Ltd. and ASML Holding NV (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>) in China, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-25/trump-administration-seeks-more-restrictions-on-china-tech-weighs-nvidia-curbs">reported</a> on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The aim is to get allies on board with the U.S. in imposing similar restrictions on China that have been placed on American semiconductor companies, including Lam Research Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LRCX#NASDAQ">LRCX</a>), KLA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>), and Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>).
The Trump administration is also exploring stricter controls on the global export of AI chips without a license. Washington&#8217;s broader objective is to hinder China&#8217;s advancement in building a domestic semiconductor industry that could enhance its AI and military capabilities.
According to the publication, implementation of these new regulations may take several months as the Trump administration selects staff for key federal agencies.
The White House did not immediately respond to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga&#8217;s</a> request for comment.
SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43937601/bitcoin-down-7-ethereum-xrp-dogecoin-shiba-inu-plunge-over-10-as-148-billion-liquidation-tsunami-hits">Bitcoin Down 7%, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin, Shiba Inu Plunge Over 10% As $1.48 Billion Liquidation Tsunami Hits</a>
Why It Matters: In response to these reports, Lin Jian, from the Chinese foreign ministry, stated that such actions will obstruct the growth of the global semiconductor industry and also backfire, Reuters reported. Meanwhile, it also remains to be seen if Japan and the Netherlands echo the same thoughts as Trump.
This development comes on the heels of President Trump&#8217;s recent announcement of his intention to impose a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43805852/trump-shakes-global-trade-with-25-auto-chip-and-pharma-tariffs-announcement-asian-stocks-pare-their-five-day-rally">25% tariff on auto imports,</a> chips, and pharmaceuticals. These tariffs, expected to take effect as early as April 2, have already caused a stir in international trade. The latest move to tighten restrictions on China&#8217;s tech sector is seen as a continuation of Trump&#8217;s aggressive trade policies, and could potentially escalate trade tensions between the U.S. and China.
Another report by the South China Morning Post suggests that Tencent Holdings (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TCEHY#OTC">TCEHY</a>), Alibaba (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) and ByteDance have significantly increased demand for Nvidia's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) H20 AI chip, driven by the surging popularity of DeepSeek's affordable AI models. This development also comes ahead of the tariffs and chip curbs likely to be imposed by the Trump administration.
<ul>
<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43934320/should-passengers-accept-deltas-30000-no-strings-attached-compensation-offer-lawyers-weigh-in">Should Passengers Accept Delta Air Lines&#8217; $30,000 &#8216;No Strings Attached&#8217; Compensation Offer? Lawyers Weigh In</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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Trump Reportedly Targets China's Tech Sector With Stricter Biden-Era Chip Curbs. It Will Backfire, Says Beijing

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Shares of companies in the broader technology sector are trading lower amid overall market weakness on US consumer and economic concerns.

Shares of semiconductor companies are trading lower amid overall market weakness on US consumer and economic concerns.

KLA's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NYSE">KLAC</a>) short percent of float has fallen 14.53% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 2.66 million shares sold short, which is 2.0% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.92 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?utm_source=insights&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?utm_source=insights&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>KLA Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739995217_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for KLA has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing KLA's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, KLA's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 9.20%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?utm_source=insights&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

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Peering Into KLA's Recent Short Interest

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) rumored acquisition of Intel Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) could hinder&nbsp;Samsung Electronics Co&#8217;s (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSNLF#OTC">SSNLF</a>) push to narrow the gap with the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taiwanese contract chipmaker</a>.
The Trump administration has proposed an acquisition of Intel&#8217;s struggling foundry business, which reported a net loss of $19.2 billion in 2024.
On the other side, Samsung noted slow <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/02/43440540/samsungs-jay-y-lee-acquitted-shifting-focus-to-business-challenges" rel="noreferrer noopener">demand for conventional chips</a> in personal computers and mobile phones, which affected its memory business.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/02/43788975/amd-closing-competitive-gpu-gap-with-nvidia-gains-market-share-from-intel-in-client-and-server-markets-analyst" rel="noreferrer noopener">AMD Closing Competitive GPU Gap With Nvidia, Gains Market Share From Intel In Client And Server Markets: Analyst</a>
Rising R&amp;D costs and early investments in expanding advanced-chip processing capability also affected its earnings.
Samsung lagged behind&nbsp;SK Hynix in making the best memory chips for artificial intelligence, affecting its chip-making profit. Also, the Trump administration&#8217;s aggressive tariffs perpetrated uncertainty over Samsung&#8217;s mobile and consumer businesses.
Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) has been examining Intel&#8217;s chip design and marketing business, fueling rumors of a potential takeover.
Samsung&#8217;s foundry unit failed to become profitable over the years.
Last November, Samsung named Han Jin-man, executive vice president of its U.S. semiconductor business, to lead its foundry unit. His inaugural message stressed the importance of&nbsp;a &#8220;rapid ramp-up&#8221; of foundry production&nbsp;using the 2-nm process.
Kim Hyung-jun Kim of South Korea&#8217;s Next-Generation Intelligent Semiconductor Foundation Group and Seoul National University <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kedglobal.com/korean-chipmakers/newsView/ked202502180005" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a> the Korea Economic Daily that if Taiwan Semiconductor could employ Intel&#8217;s .U.S factories, it could help boost the former&#8217;s market share to ~75% (up from 64.9% in the third quarter of 2024) at the cost of Samsung, which has a 9.3% market share.
Needham&#8217;s Charles Shi expects the takeover to lead to capital efficiency, a long-term negative for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/02/43792756/taiwan-semiconductors-intel-foundry-acquisition-could-be-negative-for-asml-kla-synopsys-and-cadence-analyst" rel="noreferrer noopener">Semiconductor Capital Equipment (Semicap)&nbsp;companies</a>. Shi noted that the takeover would negatively impact ASML Holding (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>) and KLA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) due to the cancellation or scaling back of Intel&#8217;s aggressively pushing high-NA EUV program.
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SSNLF

Taiwan Semiconductor's Potential Intel Takeover Could Widen Gap, Threatening Samsung's Chip Business: Report

Needham analyst Charles Shi reiterated Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) with a Buy and a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TSM/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">$225&nbsp;price target</a>.
In conjunction with Shi&#8217;s Taiwan Semiconductor note on a pro forma analysis of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43761300/intel-could-be-split-in-two-as-broadcom-and-tsmc-explore-deals-trump-white-house-resists-foreign-ownership-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">contract chipmaker&#8217;s potential acquisition</a> of Intel Corp&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) Intel Foundry, the analyst noted through the implications for Semiconductor Capital Equipment (Semicap) and Electronic Design Automation&nbsp;(EDA) and concluded that the takeover will inevitably lead to capital efficiency, which is a long-term negative for semicap.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43708265/ciscos-ai-expansion-and-cloud-growth-drive-analyst-upgrades-and-price-hikes-citing-growth-like-extreme-juniper" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cisco&#8217;s AI Expansion and Cloud Growth Drive Analyst Upgrades And Price Hikes, Citing Growth Like Extreme &amp; Juniper</a>
Also, post-closing, the Taiwanese chipmaker will likely pursue capital expenditure synergies to improve Intel Foundry&#8217;s cash flow and maximize equipment reuse, especially in lithography, process control, hybrid bonding, and potential cancellation of specific programs such as high-NA EUV.
Post-closing, Taiwan Semiconductor will likely cancel specific Intel Foundry programs, such as building its own EDA/IP ecosystem, which could reduce IP purchases from EDA companies.
The analyst notes that Taiwan Semiconductor will migrate Intel Products onto the Taiwanese contract chipmaker&#8217;s processes starting from 14A node. A majority of the Intel Foundry fabs will become &#8220;orphan&#8221; fabs, which will eventually be sold by Taiwan Semiconductor, resulting in reduced demand for mature-node semicap equipment.
Overall, Shi noted that Taiwan Semiconductor&#8217;s taking over Intel Foundry may be a net negative for the small-cap and EDA industries, at least in the near—to medium-term.
The analyst writes that if the takeover materialized, ASML Holding (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>), KLA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>), Synopsys, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNPS#NASDAQ">SNPS</a>), and Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CDNS#NASDAQ">CDNS</a>) would feel more near-term pain than peers.
Shi noted that Intel&#8217;s aggressively pushing high-NA EUV program may be canceled or scaled back, given Taiwan Semiconductor&#8217;s lack of interest in high-NA and the technical limitations of high-NA EUV in printing large dies essential for AI chips.
This is a direct negative to ASML, which depends more on the pricing uplift of high NA EUV to generate top-line growth as overall litho intensity plateaus.
The analyst noted Taiwan Semiconductor will be unable to backfill Intel Foundry&#8217;s old fabs with its volume due to significant process and toolset differences. Instead, Taiwan Semiconductor may reuse Intel Foundry tools when the tool configurations are standardized and not customized.
Shi noted an excellent opportunity for Taiwan Semiconductor to reuse Intel&#8217;s existing lithography and process control equipment fleet, as those tools are rarely customized to a specific customer.
This is a direct negative read for ASML and KLA Corp, which shipped a decent volume to Intel during the Intel IDM 2.0 era.
The EDA industry benefited from Intel Foundry over the past two years as Intel ramped up spending on its foundry ecosystem, especially on building an IP ecosystem that allows customers to easily port designs from Taiwan Semiconductor to Intel Foundry.
Intel&#8217;s significant investment in creating a baseline IP ecosystem has juiced up Synopsys and Cadence Design Systems&#8217; IP revenue growth.
However, if Taiwan Semiconductor takes over Intel Foundry, Shi noted that ecosystem spending will likely be cut. As such, Shi noted potential downside risks to Synopsys and Cadence Design Systems&#8217; IP revenue growth in 2025 and beyond.
Price Action: TSM stock is down 0.83% at $202.21 at last check Tuesday.
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Analyst Ratings

CDNS

SNPS

Taiwan Semiconductor's Intel Foundry Acquisition Could Be Negative For ASML, KLA, Synopsys, And Cadence: Analyst

KLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 20 years by 6.18% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 14.64%. Currently, KLA has a market capitalization of $99.76 billion. 
Buying $100 In KLAC: If an investor had bought $100 of KLAC stock 20 years ago, it would be worth $1,574.21 today based on a price of $750.74 for KLAC at the time of writing.
<h3>KLA's Performance Over Last 20 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739801709_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

$100 Invested In This Stock 20 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

On Wednesday, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/chip-stocks" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. chip equipment maker</a> Lam Research Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LRCX#NASDAQ">LRCX</a>) committed over 100 billion rupees ($1.2 billion) in India&#8217;s southern Karnataka state to bolster its semiconductor ecosystem, Reuters reports.
The Indian administration launched initiatives, including a $10 billion stimulus, to make India a global semiconductor manufacturing and design hub.
The country expects its semiconductor market to reach $63 billion in valuation by 2026.
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Karnataka includes Bengaluru, the IT hub, and is a major exporter of software, IT services, and manufactured goods.
The Indian government has already approved Micron Technology, Inc&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>) Sadanand facility, Tata Electronics Private Limited&#8217;s chip fabrication unit in partnership with Taiwanese Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp, and CG Power&#8217;s project in collaboration with Renesas Electronics Corp, Japan, and Stars Microelectronics, Thailand, the Economic Times <a target="_blank" href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/lam-research-announces-rs-1000-crore-investment-in-india/articleshow/118152773.cms?from=mdr" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
The Chip equipment industry has benefited from the artificial intelligence boom by helping manufacture AI chips. Lam Research&#8217;s products help chipmakers create smaller, faster, and more powerful electronic devices.&nbsp;
Lam Research&#8217;s peers include Netherlands&#8217; ASML Holding (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>), which designs and manufactures machines that make microchips, and U.S.&#8217;s Applied Materials, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) and KLA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>), which helps create the chips that power many of everyday devices.&nbsp;
Countries, including the U.S., Japan, China, and Europe, have also provided subsidies and incentives to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43541019/chip-equipment-stocks-gain-traction-as-ai-demand-tsmcs-capex-and-semiconductor-expansion-drive-valuations" rel="noreferrer noopener">boost local semiconductor</a> production, especially after the 2020 pandemic in China, which disrupted global semiconductor supply chains and triggered a semiconductor chip crisis.&nbsp;
According to <a target="_blank" href="http://SEMI" rel="noreferrer noopener">SEMI</a>, semiconductor manufacturing equipment growth will likely reach $121 billion in 2025 and $139 billion in 2026 from ~$113 billion in 2024, backed by demand for advanced chips in devices like smartphones, PCs, and IoT gadgets.
Lam Research stock surged 15% year-to-date. At least four Wall Street firms reduced their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LRCX/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">price forecasts on</a> the stock, and two increased their price targets in 2025. At least two Wall Street firms, including KeyBanc and Cantor Fitzgerald, upgraded their stock rating and a downgrade by Wolfev Research in 2025.
CNBC&#8217;s Jim Cramer recommended buying&nbsp;Lam Research, citing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/01/43191894/jim-cramer-wont-get-in-the-way-of-this-meme-stock-calls-lam-research-so-cheap" rel="noreferrer noopener">its cheap valuation</a>.
Goldman Sachs&#8217; Toshiya Hari&nbsp;expects Lam Research to outperform its peers backed by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42924519/nvidia-amd-broadcom-lead-semiconductor-stock-decline-amid-us-china-ai-chip-export-ban-concerns-amd-downgraded-by-goldman-sachs-and-more" rel="noreferrer noopener">recovery in the</a> wafer fab equipment market, adoption of Gate-All-Around transistors in leading-edge foundry/logic, and technology transitions in 3D NAND.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Price Action: LRCX stock closed lower by 2.89% at $80.90 at the last check on Wednesday.
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</ul>
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Lam Research Commits $1.2 Billion Investment In India, Eyes $63 Billion Semiconductor Growth Market

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