Seek Returns

KLAC vs. UMC: KLA vs. United Microelectronics Stock Comparison

How do KLA (KLAC) and United Microelectronics (UMC) 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 United Microelectronics (UMC) both belong to the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, though KLAC is classified under Semiconductor Materials & Equipment while UMC falls under Semiconductors.

KLA (KLAC) trades as ordinary local shares, while United Microelectronics (UMC) 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 United Microelectronics (UMC)
Profile ItemKLACUMC
NameKLA CorporationUnited Microelectronics Corp. ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesTaiwan
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 USD34.73 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateOctober 8, 1980September 19, 2000
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

KLAC
UMC
GSPC
Loading price history…
KLA (KLAC) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC), 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for KLA (KLAC) and United Microelectronics (UMC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for KLA (KLAC) and United Microelectronics (UMC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for KLA (KLAC) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricKLACUMC
Total Return (1Y)26.92%102.63%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)44.97%31.57%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)30.55%11.51%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

KLAC
UMC
GSPC
Loading price history…
KLA (KLAC) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC), 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for KLA (KLAC) and United Microelectronics (UMC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for KLA (KLAC) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricKLACUMC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)63.92%67.94%
Beta (5Y)1.511.77
Max Drawdown (5Y)-56.93%-54.30%
Avg. Volume (3M)10.66M11.82M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
KLAC and UMC 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 United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricKLACUMC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.351.45
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.502.35

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

KLA (KLAC) at 91.38% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than United Microelectronics (UMC) at 20.37%, 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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

20.37%

Max
52.82%
Q3
22.26%
UMC
20.37%
Median
10.58%
Q1
1.29%
Min
-16.89%
Loading chart…
KLA (KLAC) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their ROE against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both KLA (KLAC) at 36.25% and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 31.95% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

31.95%

Max
63.80%
UMC
31.95%
Q3
28.36%
Median
11.44%
Q1
0.90%
Min
-37.77%
Loading chart…
KLA (KLAC) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): 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 United Microelectronics (UMC) at 25.09%, 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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

25.09%

Max
58.66%
Q3
30.23%
UMC
25.09%
Median
15.91%
Q1
7.54%
Min
-25.74%
Loading chart…
KLA (KLAC) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for KLA (KLAC) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricKLACUMC
ROE (TTM)91.38%20.37%
ROA (TTM)22.27%5.79%
Net Margin (TTM)36.25%31.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)45.01%25.09%
Gross Margin (TTM)61.47%31.72%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both KLA (KLAC) at 11.71% and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 2.26% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
KLA (KLAC) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both KLA (KLAC) at 20.51% and United Microelectronics (UMC) at -12.57% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
KLA (KLAC) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for KLA (KLAC) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricKLACUMC
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.71%2.26%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)8.96%-5.19%
EPS Growth (YoY)20.51%-12.57%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)14.87%-21.92%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both KLA (KLAC) at 2.76 and United Microelectronics (UMC) at 3.27 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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

3.27

Max
10.33
Q3
5.62
Median
3.33
UMC
3.27
Q1
2.35
Min
1.03
Loading chart…
KLA (KLAC) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

United Microelectronics (UMC) at 0.17 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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.17

Max
1.46
Q3
0.65
Median
0.27
UMC
0.17
Q1
0.04
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
KLA (KLAC) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): 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 United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricKLACUMC
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.763.27
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.920.17
Net Debt / EBITDA0.19-0.60

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

KLA (KLAC) at 0.65% pays an industry-typical yield; United Microelectronics (UMC) at 19.43% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

19.43%

UMC
19.43%
Max
1.37%
Q3
0.65%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
KLA (KLAC) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): 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 United Microelectronics (UMC) at 37.46% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

37.46%

Max
49.64%
UMC
37.46%
Q3
21.71%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
KLA (KLAC) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for KLA (KLAC) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricKLACUMC
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.65%19.43%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)21.03%37.46%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

United Microelectronics (UMC) at 13.07 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while KLA (KLAC) at 34.71 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for UMC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

13.07

Max
110.34
Q3
66.81
Median
37.02
Q1
23.96
UMC
13.07
Min
8.12
Loading chart…
KLA (KLAC) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

United Microelectronics (UMC) at 0.13 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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.13

Max
21.42
Q3
12.27
Median
5.76
Q1
2.73
UMC
0.13
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
KLA (KLAC) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

United Microelectronics (UMC) at 2.39 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while KLA (KLAC) at 27.67 prices above its benchmark range — KLAC looks rich relative to book.

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

UMC

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.39

Max
14.06
Q3
7.44
Median
4.29
UMC
2.39
Q1
2.30
Min
0.20
Loading chart…
KLA (KLAC) vs. United Microelectronics (UMC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for KLA (KLAC) and United Microelectronics (UMC)
MetricKLACUMC
P/E Ratio (TTM)34.7113.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)12.440.13
P/B Ratio (MRQ)27.672.39
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.56%129.43%