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. 1
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. 2
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. 3
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. 4
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. 5
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. 6
