New York, February 3, 2026, 19:56 EST — After-hours
- KLA shares ended the day 3.9% lower, at $1,355.54; late after-hours trading showed little movement.
- The slide followed a wider tech selloff and dragged on a volatile post-earnings run for chip equipment stocks.
- Attention now turns to KLA’s upcoming industry events and the impact Friday’s U.S. jobs report may face amid shutdown disruptions.
KLA Corp (KLAC.O) shares slipped 3.9% to $1,355.54 on Tuesday, then held steady in after-hours trading. The stock swung between $1,324.61 and $1,445.65 during the session, with roughly 2.1 million shares changing hands.
The slide unfolded as Wall Street closed sharply lower, with investors pulling back from pricey AI-related bets ahead of major tech earnings later this week. “We’ve got an expensive market and expectations are really high. Many areas, especially around AI, are priced for perfection,” said John Campbell of Allspring Global Investments. Reuters also noted a partial U.S. government shutdown has pushed back some important economic data releases. (Reuters)
The pullback puts the spotlight back on KLA’s recent forecast. Last week, the company posted second-quarter revenue of $3.30 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $8.85. It’s guiding third-quarter revenue around $3.35 billion, with a $150 million margin either way. Adjusted figures here exclude one-offs. “KLA delivered a record quarter,” CEO Rick Wallace said in a statement. (KLA Corporation)
KLA sells process-control tools—inspection systems and metrology gear designed to measure tiny wafer features and detect defects. As chipmakers cram more transistors into tighter spaces, this work grows tougher. Still, it usually remains a reliable expense, even when other budgets tighten.
Still, expectations were steep going into the earnings release. “The stock had already sprinted into the print,” Michael Ashley Schulman of Running Point Capital Advisors noted after the numbers came out, describing the March-quarter outlook as “steady growth rather than renewed acceleration.” Reuters also highlighted challenges in China and tougher U.S. export rules on advanced technology. (Reuters)
Other chip-equipment stocks followed suit on Tuesday. Lam Research slid 3.1%, while Applied Materials dropped 3.0%, exposing the sector to more downside if tech risk appetite weakens further.
The next push could come from outside the company. If investors continue to trim their stakes in high-multiple tech, chip-tool stocks might slide even if guidance remains steady. Fresh tightening of U.S.-China tech rules could quickly sour sentiment as well.
Investors will be keeping an eye on whether KLA can find footing following its recent downturn, or if sellers continue to pressure the stock during rallies heading into the next regular session.
KLA will be at SEMICON Korea from Feb. 11-13, then heads to the SPIE Advanced Lithography + Patterning Conference running Feb. 22-26. These events could shed new light on demand trends, delivery schedules, and how customers are spending. (KLA)
The upcoming key macro event is the U.S. Employment Situation report for January, set for Feb. 6 at 8:30 a.m. ET. However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has warned that release dates could change due to a potential lapse in government services. (Bls)
