Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare KLA Corporation (KLAC) vs Apple Inc. (AAPL) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | KLAC | 23.9% revenue growth vs AAPL's 6.4% |
| Value | AAPL | Lower P/E (31.1x vs 41.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | KLAC | 35.8% net margin vs AAPL's 27.0% |
| Stability / Safety | AAPL | Beta 1.28 vs KLAC's 1.76 |
| Dividends | KLAC | 0.4% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | KLAC | +116.1% vs AAPL's +9.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs KLAC's 27.3%, ROIC 64.5% vs 46.5% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
KLA Corporation is a leading provider of process control and yield management systems for semiconductor manufacturers. It generates revenue primarily from selling inspection, metrology, and process control equipment to chipmakers — with its Semiconductor Process Control segment contributing roughly 85% of total sales. The company's moat comes from its deep expertise in defect detection and measurement, creating mission-critical tools that semiconductor fabs cannot easily replace once integrated into their production lines.
Apple is a technology giant that designs and sells premium consumer electronics — most famously the iPhone — along with related software and services. It generates revenue primarily from hardware sales (roughly 80% of total) and a fast-growing services segment (around 20%) that includes the App Store, subscriptions, and licensing. Its key competitive advantage is a powerful ecosystem that locks users into its hardware, software, and services through seamless integration and high switching costs.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
KLAC leads in 2 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Total Returns). AAPL leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 34.2x KLAC's $12.7B. KLAC is the more profitable business, keeping 35.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AAPL's 27.0%. On growth, AAPL holds the edge at +15.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | KLACKLA Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $12.7B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.8B | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $4.6B | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $4.4B | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +61.9% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +42.4% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +35.8% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +34.4% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.2% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +41.6% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 35.4x trailing earnings, AAPL trades at a 29% valuation discount to KLAC's 50.2x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), KLAC offers better value at 1.59x vs AAPL's 1.98x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | KLACKLA Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $201.3B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $205.3B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 50.20x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 41.79x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.59x | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 36.43x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 16.56x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 43.45x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 53.79x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $83 for KLAC. KLAC carries lower financial leverage with a 1.30x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AAPL's 1.67x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), KLAC scores 9/9 vs AAPL's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | KLACKLA Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +83.4% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +27.3% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +46.5% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +46.1% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 9 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.30x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $4.0B | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.1B | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $6.1B | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 19.31x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in KLAC five years ago would be worth $47,638 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $21,049 for AAPL. Over the past 12 months, KLAC leads with a +116.1% total return vs AAPL's +9.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors KLAC at 59.7% vs AAPL's 21.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | KLACKLA Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +19.8% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +116.1% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +307.0% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +376.4% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +2213.5% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +59.7% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
AAPL is the less volatile stock with a 1.28 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KLAC's 1.76 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | KLACKLA Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.76x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $1693.35 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $551.33 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +90.0% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 57.1 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 952K | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates KLAC as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 14.7% upside for AAPL (target: $303) vs 9.7% for KLAC (target: $1672). For income investors, KLAC offers the higher dividend yield at 0.44% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | KLACKLA Corporation | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $1672.25 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 43 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.4% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 8 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $6.76 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.1% | +2.3% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLA Corporation (KLAC) | 100 | 888.53 | +788.5% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
KLA Corporation (KLAC) returned +376% over 5 years vs Apple Inc. (AAPL)'s +110%. A $10,000 investment in KLAC 5 years ago would be worth $47,638 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLA Corporation (KLAC) | $3.0B | $12.2B | +307.3% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
KLA Corporation's revenue grew from $3.0B (2016) to $12.2B (2025) — a 16.9% CAGR. Apple Inc.'s revenue grew from $215.6B (2016) to $416.2B (2025) — a 7.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLA Corporation (KLAC) | 23.6% | 33.4% | +41.6% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
KLA Corporation's net margin went from 24% (2016) to 33% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLA Corporation (KLAC) | 17.9 | 40 | +123.5% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
KLA Corporation has traded in a 17x–40x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~50x. Apple Inc. has traded in a 13x–41x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~35x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLA Corporation (KLAC) | 4.49 | 30.37 | +576.4% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
KLA Corporation's EPS grew from $4.49 (2016) to $30.37 (2025) — a 24% CAGR. Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
KLA Corporation generated $4B FCF in 2025 (+92% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
KLAC vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is KLAC or AAPL a better buy right now?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) offers the better valuation at 35.4x trailing P/E (31.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate KLA Corporation (KLAC) a "Buy" — based on 43 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — KLAC or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the cheapest at 35.4x versus KLA Corporation at 50.2x. On forward P/E, Apple Inc. is actually cheaper at 31.1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: KLA Corporation wins at 1.32x versus Apple Inc.'s 1.74x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — KLAC or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, KLA Corporation (KLAC) delivered a total return of +376.4%, compared to +110.5% for Apple Inc. (AAPL). A $10,000 investment in KLAC five years ago would be worth approximately $48K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KLAC returned +22.1% versus AAPL's +1027%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — KLAC or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the lower-risk stock at 1.28β versus KLA Corporation's 1.76β — meaning KLAC is approximately 37% more volatile than AAPL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, KLA Corporation (KLAC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 130% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — KLAC or AAPL?
KLA Corporation (KLAC) is the more profitable company, earning 33.4% net margin versus 26.9% for Apple Inc. — meaning it keeps 33.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KLAC leads at 43.1% versus 32.0% for AAPL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KLAC leads at 62.3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is KLAC or AAPL more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential. By this metric, KLA Corporation (KLAC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1.32x versus Apple Inc.'s 1.74x. A PEG below 1.5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Apple Inc. (AAPL) trades at 31.1x forward P/E versus 41.8x for KLA Corporation — 10.6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AAPL: 14.7% to $303.11.
07Which pays a better dividend — KLAC or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. KLA Corporation (KLAC) offers the highest yield at 0.4%, versus 0.4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).
08Is KLAC or AAPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.28), +1027% 10Y return). KLA Corporation (KLAC) carries a higher beta of 1.76 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AAPL: +1027%, KLAC: +22.1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between KLAC and AAPL?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.