KLA Corporation $KLAC Stock Sold by Uhlmann Price Securities LLC

Uhlmann Price Securities LLC lessened its holdings in KLA Corporation (NASDAQ:KLAC) by 0.1% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 7,856,599 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock after selling 8,953 shares during the period. KLA accounts for approximately 81.7% of Uhlmann Price Securities LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its largest holding. Uhlmann Price Securities LLC owned approximately 0.60% of KLA worth $1,531,487,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in KLAC. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its position in KLA by 928.9% during the second quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 14,821,622 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $4,471,832,000 after buying an additional 13,381,153 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp bought a new position in KLA in the 2nd quarter worth about $2,522,430,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its stake in KLA by 239.3% in the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 5,614,990 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $1,094,530,000 after acquiring an additional 3,959,927 shares during the last quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA increased its stake in KLA by 5.3% in the 3rd quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 5,113,870 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $997,000,000 after acquiring an additional 256,716 shares during the last quarter. Finally, National Pension Service raised its holdings in shares of KLA by 899.4% in the 2nd quarter. National Pension Service now owns 3,634,859 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $1,096,673,000 after acquiring an additional 3,271,158 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.65% of the company’s stock.

KLA Stock Performance

Shares of KLAC stock opened at $138.49 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $180.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.62, a PEG ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.49. KLA Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $107.20 and a fifty-two week high of $307.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 1.86 and a current ratio of 2.76. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $174.83 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $181.68.

KLA (NASDAQ:KLAC) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, October 28th. The semiconductor company reported $1.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.18 by $0.04. KLA had a net margin of 36.25% and a return on equity of 89.30%. The firm had revenue of $4.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.04 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $8.47 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 28.9% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that KLA Corporation will post 5.73 earnings per share for the current year.

KLA Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 16th will be issued a $0.23 dividend. This represents a $0.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 16th. KLA’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 23.00%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

KLAC has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Piper Sandler set a $425.00 price target on KLA in a research report on Thursday, October 29th. Barclays reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $225.00 price objective on shares of KLA in a report on Monday, July 20th. Susquehanna decreased their price objective on shares of KLA from $215.00 to $190.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 29th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of KLA from $245.00 to $210.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 29th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $210.00 target price (up from $200.00) on shares of KLA in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $220.35.

Trending Headlines about KLA

Here are the key news stories impacting KLA this week:

• Positive Sentiment: KLA declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.23 per share, payable December 1 to shareholders of record November 16. The dividend provides a modest return to shareholders. KLA Declares Regular Cash Dividend
• Positive Sentiment: A bullish analysis highlights KLA’s strong quarterly results, AI-related demand, expanding margins, and upbeat guidance, including projected year-over-year revenue growth of 43% and EPS growth above 60% in the next quarter. KLA: Unfairly Caught Up In The Tech Carnage
• Positive Sentiment: Exchange-traded funds bought $52.3 million of KLAC shares on November 3, indicating institutional fund demand. ETFs Bought $52.3 Million of KLAC
• Neutral Sentiment: A report on a $17 billion hedge fund returning cash after a poor month discusses ownership and positioning in AI-chip stocks, including KLA. It may contribute to volatility, but does not by itself establish a change in KLA’s business outlook. Hedge Fund Returns Cash After Worst Month Since 2020
• Negative Sentiment: Unusually high put-option buying suggests some investors are hedging against, or betting on, downside in KLAC, a potentially bearish near-term signal. KLA Stock Sees Unusually High Put Option Buying

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Brian Lorig sold 59,586 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $208.13, for a total transaction of $12,401,634.18. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 77,681 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,167,746.53. This represents a 43.41% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Richard P. Wallace sold 72,019 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.88, for a total value of $12,378,625.72. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 706,925 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $121,506,269. This trade represents a 9.25% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders sold 219,173 shares of company stock worth $42,201,914. Insiders own 79.39% of the company’s stock.

KLA Company Profile

KLA Corporation develops process-control and yield-management technologies used in the manufacture of semiconductors and other electronic products. Its systems help manufacturers detect defects, measure features and monitor production processes as they make increasingly complex devices.

The company’s products include inspection and metrology equipment, as well as software and related services. Its technologies support multiple stages of semiconductor production, from work on wafers and reticles to advanced packaging.