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ASML vs. KLAC: ASML vs. KLA Stock Comparison

How do ASML (ASML) and KLA (KLAC) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

ASML (ASML) and KLA (KLAC) are both classified in the Semiconductor Materials & Equipment sub-industry within the broader Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

KLA (KLAC) trades as ordinary local shares, while ASML (ASML) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for ASML (ASML) and KLA (KLAC)
Profile ItemASMLKLAC
NameASML Holding N.V. NY Registered SharesKLA Corporation
Country/RegionNetherlandsUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS IndustrySemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustrySemiconductor Materials & EquipmentSemiconductor Materials & Equipment
Market Capitalization549.12 billion USD180.45 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateMarch 15, 1995October 8, 1980
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ASML
KLAC
GSPC
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ASML (ASML) vs. KLA (KLAC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for ASML (ASML) and KLA (KLAC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for ASML (ASML) and KLA (KLAC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for ASML (ASML) and KLA (KLAC)
MetricASMLKLAC
Total Return (1Y)50.12%26.92%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)34.80%44.97%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)13.32%30.55%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ASML
KLAC
GSPC
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ASML (ASML) vs. KLA (KLAC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for ASML (ASML) and KLA (KLAC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for ASML (ASML) and KLA (KLAC)
MetricASMLKLAC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)48.80%63.92%
Beta (5Y)1.801.51
Max Drawdown (5Y)-56.47%-56.93%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.42M10.66M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ASML and KLAC are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for ASML (ASML) and KLA (KLAC)
MetricASMLKLAC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.940.35
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.390.50

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both ASML (ASML) at 65.64% and KLA (KLAC) at 91.38% turn shareholders’ equity into profit at rates above their industry benchmark ranges for ROE. That is a strong capital-efficiency signal, though leverage and the equity base still matter.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

65.64%

ASML
65.64%
Max
52.82%
Q3
22.26%
Median
10.58%
Q1
1.29%
Min
-16.89%

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

91.38%

KLAC
91.38%
Max
52.82%
Q3
22.26%
Median
10.58%
Q1
1.29%
Min
-16.89%
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ASML (ASML) vs. KLA (KLAC): A comparison of their ROE against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both ASML (ASML) at 34.14% and KLA (KLAC) at 36.25% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

34.14%

Max
63.80%
ASML
34.14%
Q3
28.36%
Median
11.44%
Q1
0.90%
Min
-37.77%

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

36.25%

Max
63.80%
KLAC
36.25%
Q3
28.36%
Median
11.44%
Q1
0.90%
Min
-37.77%
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ASML (ASML) vs. KLA (KLAC): A comparison of their net margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both ASML (ASML) at 44.36% and KLA (KLAC) at 45.01% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

44.36%

Max
58.66%
ASML
44.36%
Q3
30.23%
Median
15.91%
Q1
7.54%
Min
-25.74%

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

45.01%

Max
58.66%
KLAC
45.01%
Q3
30.23%
Median
15.91%
Q1
7.54%
Min
-25.74%
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ASML (ASML) vs. KLA (KLAC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for ASML (ASML) and KLA (KLAC)
MetricASMLKLAC
ROE (TTM)65.64%91.38%
ROA (TTM)18.28%22.27%
Net Margin (TTM)34.14%36.25%
Operating Margin (TTM)44.36%45.01%
Gross Margin (TTM)54.34%61.47%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both ASML (ASML) at 15.58% and KLA (KLAC) at 11.71% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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ASML (ASML) vs. KLA (KLAC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both ASML (ASML) at 28.43% and KLA (KLAC) at 20.51% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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ASML (ASML) vs. KLA (KLAC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for ASML (ASML) and KLA (KLAC)
MetricASMLKLAC
Revenue Growth (YoY)15.58%11.71%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)15.55%8.96%
EPS Growth (YoY)28.43%20.51%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)15.42%14.87%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

KLA (KLAC) at 2.76 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while ASML (ASML) at 1.49 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for ASML.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

1.49

Max
10.33
Q3
5.62
Median
3.33
Q1
2.35
ASML
1.49
Min
1.03

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.76

Max
10.33
Q3
5.62
Median
3.33
KLAC
2.76
Q1
2.35
Min
1.03
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ASML (ASML) vs. KLA (KLAC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

ASML (ASML) at 0.09 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while KLA (KLAC) at 0.92 uses more debt funding than most peers.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.09

Max
1.46
Q3
0.65
Median
0.27
ASML
0.09
Q1
0.04
Min
0.00

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.92

Max
1.46
KLAC
0.92
Q3
0.65
Median
0.27
Q1
0.04
Min
0.00
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ASML (ASML) vs. KLA (KLAC): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for ASML (ASML) and KLA (KLAC)
MetricASMLKLAC
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.492.76
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.090.92
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.670.19

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both ASML (ASML) at 0.55% and KLA (KLAC) at 0.65% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.55%

Max
1.37%
Q3
0.65%
ASML
0.55%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.65%

Max
1.37%
Q3
0.65%
KLAC
0.65%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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ASML (ASML) vs. KLA (KLAC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

KLA (KLAC) at 21.03% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while ASML (ASML) at 22.26% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

22.26%

Max
49.64%
ASML
22.26%
Q3
21.71%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

21.03%

Max
49.64%
Q3
21.71%
KLAC
21.03%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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ASML (ASML) vs. KLA (KLAC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for ASML (ASML) and KLA (KLAC)
MetricASMLKLAC
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.55%0.65%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)22.26%21.03%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both ASML (ASML) at 35.06 and KLA (KLAC) at 34.71 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

35.06

Max
110.34
Q3
66.81
Median
37.02
ASML
35.06
Q1
23.96
Min
8.12

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

34.71

Max
110.34
Q3
66.81
Median
37.02
KLAC
34.71
Q1
23.96
Min
8.12
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ASML (ASML) vs. KLA (KLAC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both ASML (ASML) at 13.91 and KLA (KLAC) at 12.44 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

13.91

Max
21.42
ASML
13.91
Q3
12.27
Median
5.76
Q1
2.73
Min
0.00

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

12.44

Max
21.42
KLAC
12.44
Q3
12.27
Median
5.76
Q1
2.73
Min
0.00
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ASML (ASML) vs. KLA (KLAC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both ASML (ASML) at 1,223.36 and KLA (KLAC) at 27.67 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

1,223.36

ASML
1,223.36
Max
14.06
Q3
7.44
Median
4.29
Q1
2.30
Min
0.20

KLAC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

27.67

KLAC
27.67
Max
14.06
Q3
7.44
Median
4.29
Q1
2.30
Min
0.20
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ASML (ASML) vs. KLA (KLAC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for ASML (ASML) and KLA (KLAC)
MetricASMLKLAC
P/E Ratio (TTM)35.0634.71
P/S Ratio (TTM)13.9112.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1,223.3627.67
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.89%1.56%