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KLAC vs. STM: KLA vs. STMicroelectronics Stock Comparison

How do KLA (KLAC) and STMicroelectronics (STM) 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

KLA (KLAC) and STMicroelectronics (STM) both belong to the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, though KLAC is classified under Semiconductor Materials & Equipment while STM falls under Semiconductors.

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

Company profile comparison for KLA (KLAC) and STMicroelectronics (STM)
Profile ItemKLACSTM
NameKLA CorporationSTMicroelectronics N.V.
Country/RegionUnited StatesSwitzerland
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS IndustrySemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustrySemiconductor Materials & EquipmentSemiconductors
Market Capitalization180.45 billion USD37.30 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateOctober 8, 1980December 8, 1994
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

KLAC
STM
GSPC
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KLA (KLAC) vs. STMicroelectronics (STM), 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 KLA (KLAC) and STMicroelectronics (STM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for KLA (KLAC) and STMicroelectronics (STM)
MetricKLACSTM
Total Return (1Y)26.92%90.64%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)44.97%4.24%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)30.55%-1.95%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

KLAC
STM
GSPC
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KLA (KLAC) vs. STMicroelectronics (STM), 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 KLA (KLAC) and STMicroelectronics (STM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for KLA (KLAC) and STMicroelectronics (STM)
MetricKLACSTM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)63.92%62.24%
Beta (5Y)1.512.00
Max Drawdown (5Y)-56.93%-66.66%
Avg. Volume (3M)10.66M9.18M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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KLAC and STM 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 KLA (KLAC) and STMicroelectronics (STM)
MetricKLACSTM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.351.39
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.502.07

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

KLA (KLAC) at 91.38% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than STMicroelectronics (STM) at 2.95%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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%

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.95%

Max
52.82%
Q3
22.26%
Median
10.58%
STM
2.95%
Q1
1.29%
Min
-16.89%
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KLA (KLAC) vs. STMicroelectronics (STM): A comparison of their ROE against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

KLA (KLAC) at 36.25% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of STMicroelectronics (STM) at 3.80%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

3.80%

Max
63.80%
Q3
28.36%
Median
11.44%
STM
3.80%
Q1
0.90%
Min
-37.77%
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KLA (KLAC) vs. STMicroelectronics (STM): A comparison of their net margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

KLA (KLAC) at 45.01% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of STMicroelectronics (STM) at 11.10%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

11.10%

Max
58.66%
Q3
30.23%
Median
15.91%
STM
11.10%
Q1
7.54%
Min
-25.74%
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KLA (KLAC) vs. STMicroelectronics (STM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for KLA (KLAC) and STMicroelectronics (STM)
MetricKLACSTM
ROE (TTM)91.38%2.95%
ROA (TTM)22.27%2.63%
Net Margin (TTM)36.25%3.80%
Operating Margin (TTM)45.01%11.10%
Gross Margin (TTM)61.47%35.53%

Growth

Revenue Growth

KLA (KLAC) at 11.71% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while STMicroelectronics (STM) at -11.07% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

KLA (KLAC) at 20.51% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while STMicroelectronics (STM) at -89.16% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for KLA (KLAC) and STMicroelectronics (STM)
MetricKLACSTM
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.71%-11.07%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)8.96%-9.89%
EPS Growth (YoY)20.51%-89.16%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)14.87%-66.39%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both KLA (KLAC) at 2.76 and STMicroelectronics (STM) at 3.13 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

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

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

3.13

Max
10.33
Q3
5.62
Median
3.33
STM
3.13
Q1
2.35
Min
1.03
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KLA (KLAC) vs. STMicroelectronics (STM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

STMicroelectronics (STM) at 0.19 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while KLA (KLAC) at 0.92 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.19

Max
1.46
Q3
0.65
Median
0.27
STM
0.19
Q1
0.04
Min
0.00
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KLA (KLAC) vs. STMicroelectronics (STM): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for KLA (KLAC) and STMicroelectronics (STM)
MetricKLACSTM
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.763.13
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.920.19
Net Debt / EBITDA0.19-0.63

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

STMicroelectronics (STM) at 0.90% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while KLA (KLAC) at 0.65% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, STM the richer one.

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%

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.90%

Max
1.37%
STM
0.90%
Q3
0.65%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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KLA (KLAC) vs. STMicroelectronics (STM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

KLA (KLAC) at 21.03% keeps its payout in the industry’s typical band, while STMicroelectronics (STM) at 63.16% pays out more than any of its peers — the most stretched cover in its group.

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%

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

63.16%

STM
63.16%
Max
49.64%
Q3
21.71%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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KLA (KLAC) vs. STMicroelectronics (STM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for KLA (KLAC) and STMicroelectronics (STM)
MetricKLACSTM
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.65%0.90%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)21.03%63.16%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

KLA (KLAC) at 34.71 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while STMicroelectronics (STM) at 73.19 sits in the richer quartile — STM needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

73.19

Max
110.34
STM
73.19
Q3
66.81
Median
37.02
Q1
23.96
Min
8.12
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KLA (KLAC) vs. STMicroelectronics (STM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

STMicroelectronics (STM) at 2.73 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while KLA (KLAC) at 12.44 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

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

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.73

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

STMicroelectronics (STM) at 2.09 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while KLA (KLAC) at 27.67 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.

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

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.09

Max
14.06
Q3
7.44
Median
4.29
Q1
2.30
STM
2.09
Min
0.20
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KLA (KLAC) vs. STMicroelectronics (STM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for KLA (KLAC) and STMicroelectronics (STM)
MetricKLACSTM
P/E Ratio (TTM)34.7173.19
P/S Ratio (TTM)12.442.73
P/B Ratio (MRQ)27.672.09
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.56%0.29%