New York, January 28, 2026, 20:43 EST — The market has closed for the day.
KLA Corporation shares closed Wednesday up 0.7% at $1,627.20 and gained further in after-hours, rising 1.4% to $1,649.68. Investors appeared to be gearing up ahead of the chip-tool maker’s quarterly earnings report set for Thursday.
Timing is key. KLA will release its fiscal second-quarter results after the U.S. market closes on Thursday. Management plans to review the numbers at 2 p.m. Pacific time, according to the company.
Chip-equipment stocks have bounced around on every fresh update about AI spending and its staying power. ASML posted record bookings, a key gauge of new orders, and raised its sales forecast for 2026. At the same time, Lam Research predicted third-quarter revenue and adjusted profits that topped Wall Street’s expectations, Reuters reports.
KLA has set the bar early. Back in October, it forecasted second-quarter revenue around $3.225 billion, with a $150 million margin on either side. Non-GAAP earnings, excluding certain one-offs, were expected near $8.70 per share, plus or minus 78 cents. CEO Rick Wallace described the AI infrastructure ramp-up as “a profound change” poised to boost demand across foundry/logic, memory, and advanced packaging. KLA Corporation
Analysts mostly fall in the upper portion of that range. A StockStory preview on Barchart projects revenue near $3.26 billion and adjusted earnings close to $8.80 per share for the quarter.
On the sell side, price targets have crept higher. Evercore ISI bumped its target to $1,700 while maintaining an “outperform” rating, according to a note MarketBeat cited earlier this week. MarketBeat
KLA operates in a busy segment of the chip supply chain, providing inspection and metrology tools that assist manufacturers in spotting defects and measuring features as chips shrink. Its updates on orders and margins often serve as a key indicator for the wider wafer-fab equipment sector.
If Thursday’s tone softens, downside risks become clearer. A Nasdaq.com earnings preview highlighted challenges that could squeeze gross margins, like an unfavorable product mix and tariffs. KLA also flagged the tangled U.S. export rules as a potential drag on sales connected to China.
The broader chip sector showed strength after signs emerged that AI data-center demand is widening beyond just a few key players. Shares of chipmakers climbed Wednesday following positive updates from Texas Instruments and others, fueling confidence that spending will stay solid through 2026.
KLA is set to release its report and guidance next, with the earnings call slated for Thursday afternoon West Coast time. Investors will be watching closely for updates on the March quarter outlook and how management views demand in leading-edge logic, memory, and advanced packaging.
