New York, Jan 27, 2026, 12:33 (ET) — Regular session
- KLA shares climbed roughly 4.6% to around $1,613 in midday trading, riding a wider surge among chip-tool manufacturers.
- Micron’s fresh investment in Singapore manufacturing shines a spotlight on AI-driven demand and the ongoing memory supply crunch.
- Investors are turning to the Fed’s Wednesday decision and KLA’s earnings report on Thursday for fresh signals.
KLA Corporation (KLAC) shares jumped 4.6% on Tuesday, hitting $1,615.45 at one point before settling around $1,613.30 by midday in New York.
Chip-equipment shares gained momentum following Micron Technology’s announcement of a $24 billion memory-chip factory in Singapore, aimed at boosting production amid a global supply squeeze. TrendForce analyst Bryan Ao noted, “The market’s demand for high-performance storage equipment has been growing much faster than expected,” while also warning of potential price pressure in enterprise solid-state drives. Reuters
This is crucial for KLA since its inspection and metrology systems — the equipment that measures chips and detects defects during manufacturing — usually get more use as chip designs grow more intricate, especially during AI-driven demand surges.
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index gained roughly 2.7%, outpacing the wider market. Traders are also gearing up for a busy week of earnings reports from major tech firms.
KLA’s peers followed suit. Applied Materials climbed 4.7%, Lam Research jumped 7.1%, and ASML’s U.S.-listed shares increased 3.7%.
KLA plans to release its earnings after the U.S. market closes Thursday, with an investor call scheduled for later that day, according to a company statement. Investors will focus on updates about customer spending and potential changes in demand related to advanced packaging and AI expansion.
Investors are zeroing in on ASML ahead of its Wednesday earnings report, keen to see if the chip equipment giant raises its 2026 forecast amid a surge in chipmaker spending. John West, a semiconductor consultant at Yole Group, called ASML “the only game in town” when it comes to advanced lithography. Reuters
Macro factors could continue to shake up the tape. The Federal Reserve’s policy panel is set to meet Jan. 27-28, with Wednesday’s statement and press conference typically driving moves in rate-sensitive growth names like semiconductors.
The rally could face a reality check soon. If KLA delivers a weaker outlook on orders or margins, or if chipmakers hint at delaying capital spending, the sector might take a hit—especially after such a strong surge.
Up next: the Fed’s Wednesday decision, ASML’s earnings out of Europe, and KLA’s report and call on Thursday. Investors will see KLA’s numbers as a key indicator of process-control demand heading into 2026.
