New York, Jan 24, 2026, 17:09 ET — Market closed.
- KLA closed Friday roughly 0.9% higher following a volatile session, hovering close to its 52-week peak
- Investors are eyeing KLAC’s January 29 earnings report for clues on chipmaking investment and tool demand.
- Intel’s steep slide on Friday left the semiconductor sector on edge heading into next week
KLA Corp (KLAC.O) shares closed Friday up around 0.9% at $1,512.78, swinging within a roughly 4% intraday range and falling more than 3% at one stage. The stock sits about 4% under its 52-week high, setting a tight range ahead of earnings. (Investing)
With Wall Street closed for the weekend, focus turns to Monday’s open and the week’s key corporate update. KLA plans to release its fiscal second-quarter results Thursday, Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. PT, after markets have closed. (KLA Corporation)
KLA’s timing is crucial because it operates in process control—the inspection and measurement tools chipmakers rely on to spot defects early and maintain yields as chips shrink. The company’s last forecast called for December-quarter revenue of $3.225 billion, with a $150 million margin on either side, and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $8.70, plus or minus $0.78. (Non-GAAP figures exclude certain items companies say can obscure true performance.) (KLA Corporation)
Friday’s trading highlighted the sector’s jitteriness. The iShares Semiconductor ETF dropped roughly 1.1%, despite Applied Materials climbing 1.1%. Lam Research slid 1.3%, and ASML dipped 0.4%.
Intel sparked much of that jitters, with its shares plunging roughly 17% on Friday following a disappointing outlook. CEO Lip-Bu Tan warned investors the recovery would demand “time and resolve.” (Investors)
Broker targets for KLA have shifted, but not uniformly. New Street Research bumped its price target to $1,315 from $1,230, yet maintained a neutral rating, per a MarketBeat report. That target still sits below Friday’s closing price. (MarketBeat)
JPMorgan analysts, with Harlan Sur at the helm, have been advising clients to brace for a generally strong earnings season, anticipating “in-line/better” results alongside upbeat outlooks, TheStreet reported. They also highlighted KLA as a key player linked to the AI expansion. (TheStreet)
KLA provides inspection and metrology systems, along with software, used inside wafer-fab and packaging lines. Investors frequently view its guidance as a barometer for customer activity in cutting-edge production and whether that demand extends into memory and advanced packaging sectors.
Next week, attention will center less on raw numbers and more on guidance and tone. Traders will watch closely for any changes in demand from major foundry and memory clients, as well as updates on export controls and China exposure — a key swing factor for U.S. chip equipment firms.
The setup works both ways. KLAC’s stock sits near its highs, but any weaker guidance, margin squeeze, or hints of customer delays could weigh on the shares fast—especially if chip sector sentiment remains shaky.
Markets will reopen Monday, Jan. 26. KLA’s earnings report drops after Thursday’s close, with the conference call set for 2 p.m. PT.
