New York, Feb 7, 2026, 18:06 EST — The session wrapped up with markets now closed.
KLA Corp (KLAC) surged 8.4% to close at $1,442.95 on Friday, leading gains among chip-equipment makers. Shares ranged from around $1,340 to $1,449 during the session, with volume hitting about 1.6 million.
U.S. markets are closed for the weekend, but Friday’s surge leaves a mark heading into Monday, capping a volatile stretch for AI-focused tech stocks.
KLA, which makes inspection and measurement equipment for chipmakers aiming to catch defects and boost yields, typically sees its fortunes tied to chip factory spending. The company’s shares often end up trading as a stand-in for sentiment around the next round of semiconductor investment.
Chip stocks surged, with Amazon unveiling plans to boost capital spending by over 50% this year—mirroring Alphabet’s move on long-term investment in infrastructure like data centers. The PHLX semiconductor index finished the day up 5.7%. Nvidia soared 7.8%. “There’s real demand for AI products,” said Ross Mayfield, investment strategy analyst at Baird. 1
KLA Corporation’s board has signed off on a quarterly cash dividend of $1.90 per share, a regulatory filing Thursday revealed. Payment is set for March 3 to shareholders on record by Feb. 17, according to the document. 2
Chip tool demand hardly budges when dividends are paid out. Even so, income-oriented funds now have a fixed date to mark—a detail that stands out with tech valuations moving fast.
Other chip-equipment stocks rallied hard by the bell. Applied Materials tacked on roughly 6.1% Friday, while Lam Research popped about 8.2%.
The next hurdle lands fast: U.S. jobs numbers hit on Wednesday, with CPI following Friday—both shifted a bit because of the recent government shutdown, according to Reuters. “Rotation is the dominant theme this year,” said Angelo Kourkafas at Edward Jones. Matthew Miskin from Manulife John Hancock put it this way: the market’s outgrown the days when “AI lifted all ships.” 3
The rally’s on shaky ground. If inflation runs hotter, or yields jump again, cash could quickly exit pricey semiconductor stocks, shifting toward less risky parts of the market.
KLA’s rebound on Friday has traders eyeing whether that momentum can stick come Monday, especially with new data potentially shaking up rate outlooks. Looking ahead, the Feb. 17 dividend record date stands as the next key event for the company.
