New York, January 25, 2026, 15:21 EST — The market has closed.
- KLA shares closed Friday up 0.85% at $1,512.78, bouncing around by over $60 during the session.
- The chip-equipment maker will release its fiscal second-quarter results after markets close on Jan. 29.
- Traders are eyeing if demand for AI-related chips holds up well enough to support the sector’s recent rally.
KLA Corp (KLAC.O) shares ended Friday up 0.85% at $1,512.78, bouncing back from an early slide in a choppy day for chip stocks. After hours, in a quiet session, the stock slipped roughly 0.2% to $1,510.00. 1
KLA plays a crucial role in the chip supply chain, making its next step particularly important. It provides inspection and measurement equipment that helps chipmakers identify defects and improve “yield”—the percentage of functional chips produced from a silicon wafer. 2
Wall Street wrapped up the week on edge, shaken by Intel’s disappointing results and outlook that weighed on mood—despite the Nasdaq closing up on Friday. “It’s a ‘show-me’ period … you have to actually put up the revenue growth,” said Julian McManus, a portfolio manager at Janus Henderson, as investors gear up for a packed earnings schedule. 3
Intel’s remarks sent mixed signals for chip-tool suppliers. CEO Lip-Bu Tan admitted, “In the short term, I’m disappointed that we are not able to fully meet the demand in our markets.” Meanwhile, CFO David Zinsner noted that cloud customers “were all a little bit caught off guard” by how quickly AI-related demand shifted. 4
KLA has set the date. The company will release its fiscal second-quarter earnings on Thursday, Jan. 29, after markets close. A webcast is scheduled for 2 p.m. PT, accompanied by a shareholder letter and slide deck, both available with the report. 5
Investors are focused on two key factors that often set the tone for the opening trade: KLA’s guidance and its take on customer spending. This covers wafer-fab equipment — the costly machinery essential for chip production — and the pace of demand in areas like leading-edge logic, memory, and advanced packaging.
Friday’s action revealed mixed signals within the sector. Applied Materials climbed around 1.1%, but Lam Research slipped close to 1.3%. The iShares Semiconductor ETF also dipped by roughly 1.1%.
But there’s a catch: expectations are sky-high, and semiconductor stocks have grown less tolerant of cautious guidance. KLA has flagged uncertainty around China demand and stricter U.S. export controls, which could swing orders and revenue. 6
U.S. markets kick back into gear Monday, with KLA’s shares moving largely on positioning and sector cues ahead of its earnings report. The key date is Thursday: the company is set to release earnings after the close on Jan. 29, then host a webcast.
