Bank of America just raised its EUR/USD forecast
On Tuesday, JPMorgan analysts reaffirmed their Overweight rating on KLA Corporation stock, maintaining a price target of $900. Currently trading at $771.77 with a market capitalization of $101.85 billion, KLA has earned a perfect Piotroski Score of 9 according to InvestingPro data. This decision reflects the continued strength in wafer front end (WFE) equipment sales, which rose by 6-8% year-over-year in 2024, reaching between $97 billion and $99 billion.
The analysts highlighted that when excluding lithography system shipments, WFE sales increased by approximately 10-11% year-over-year. Process control systems, which include inspection and measurement systems, outperformed other segments of WFE spending, excluding lithography shipments, with a notable 12% increase in 2024. With revenue growth of 20.33% and 21 analysts revising earnings upwards, InvestingPro analysis reveals 12 additional key insights about KLA’s growth potential.
In their assessment, the analysts pointed to the role of next-generation manufacturing technologies in advanced logic, foundry, and memory sectors. These technologies are pushing the industry towards smaller geometries, more layers, and new materials, alongside an increase in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography layers. This shift is driving the demand for advanced process control systems to address yield and manufacturability challenges.
The analysts’ comments underline the importance of process control systems in the semiconductor manufacturing process, as the industry navigates the complexities of evolving technologies and increasing production demands.
In other recent news, KLA Corporation reported its first-quarter 2025 earnings, surpassing analyst expectations with an earnings per share (EPS) of $8.41 compared to the forecasted $8.07, and revenue of $3.06 billion against the anticipated $3.01 billion. The company also announced a new $5 billion share repurchase authorization, reflecting confidence in its business prospects. Additionally, KLA’s revenue from advanced packaging is expected to exceed $850 million in 2025, driven by AI-related semiconductor investments. Meanwhile, Stifel analysts raised their price target for KLA to $770 but maintained a Sell rating, noting the company’s modest revenue increase and better-than-expected EPS in the third quarter ending in March. They highlighted KLA’s strategic market position and consistent performance as reasons for the price target hike. Cantor Fitzgerald maintained a Neutral rating on KLA with an $800 price target, following a review of the company’s recent 10Q filing. The analysis noted improvements in KLA’s gross margins across various business segments, despite an anticipated impact from tariffs. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) was identified as KLA’s sole customer accounting for more than 10% of its revenue, contributing 23% of KLA’s March quarter revenue.
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