Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare KLA Corporation (KLAC) vs Camtek Ltd. (CAMT) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CAMT | 36.1% revenue growth vs KLAC's 23.9% |
| Value | KLAC | Lower P/E (41.8x vs 48.2x), PEG 1.32 vs 1.38 |
| Quality / Margins | KLAC | 35.8% net margin vs CAMT's 28.4% |
| Stability / Safety | KLAC | Beta 1.76 vs CAMT's 1.83 |
| Dividends | CAMT | 0.7% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs KLAC's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CAMT | +124.6% vs KLAC's +116.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | KLAC | 27.3% ROA vs CAMT's 13.7%, ROIC 46.5% vs 13.7% |
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.
Camtek designs and manufactures specialized inspection and metrology equipment for semiconductor manufacturers — particularly for advanced packaging, memory, and image sensor production. It generates revenue primarily from selling its Eagle-series inspection systems and related services to chipmakers across Asia, the US, and Europe. The company's competitive advantage lies in its proprietary 2D and 3D inspection technologies that address complex semiconductor manufacturing challenges where precision is critical.
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 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). CAMT leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
KLAC is the larger business by revenue, generating $12.7B annually — 27.0x CAMT's $472M. KLAC is the more profitable business, keeping 35.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CAMT's 28.4%. On growth, CAMT holds the edge at +20.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | KLACKLA Corporation | CAMTCamtek Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $12.7B | $472M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.8B | $161M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $4.6B | $134M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $4.4B | $0 |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +61.9% | +50.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +42.4% | +26.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +35.8% | +28.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +34.4% | +26.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.2% | +20.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +41.6% | +21.1% |
Valuation Metrics
At 50.2x trailing earnings, KLAC trades at a 27% valuation discount to CAMT's 69.2x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), KLAC offers better value at 1.59x vs CAMT's 1.98x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | KLACKLA Corporation | CAMTCamtek Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $201.3B | $7.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $205.3B | $7.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 50.20x | 69.17x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 41.79x | 48.24x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.59x | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 36.43x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 16.56x | — |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 43.45x | 15.05x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 53.79x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
KLAC delivers a 83.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $83 in annual profit, vs $21 for CAMT. CAMT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.38x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to KLAC's 1.30x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), KLAC scores 9/9 vs CAMT's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | KLACKLA Corporation | CAMTCamtek Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +83.4% | +21.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +27.3% | +13.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +46.5% | +13.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +46.1% | +14.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 9 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.30x | 0.38x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $4.0B | $81M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.1B | $126M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $6.1B | $207M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 19.31x | 4356.62x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CAMT five years ago would be worth $56,827 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $47,638 for KLAC. Over the past 12 months, CAMT leads with a +124.6% total return vs KLAC's +116.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CAMT at 83.9% vs KLAC's 59.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | KLACKLA Corporation | CAMTCamtek Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +19.8% | +44.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +116.1% | +124.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +307.0% | +522.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +376.4% | +468.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +2213.5% | +8757.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +59.7% | +83.9% |
Risk & Volatility
KLAC is the less volatile stock with a 1.76 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CAMT's 1.83 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CAMT currently trades 95.9% from its 52-week high vs KLAC's 90.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | KLACKLA Corporation | CAMTCamtek Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.76x | 1.83x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $1693.35 | $174.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $551.33 | $47.41 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +90.0% | +95.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 57.1 | 65.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 952K | 423K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates KLAC as "Buy" and CAMT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 9.7% upside for KLAC (target: $1672) vs -1.1% for CAMT (target: $166). For income investors, CAMT offers the higher dividend yield at 0.73% vs KLAC's 0.44%.
| Metric | KLACKLA Corporation | CAMTCamtek Ltd. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $1672.25 | $165.60 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 43 | 12 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.4% | +0.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 8 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $6.76 | $1.22 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.1% | — |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLA Corporation (KLAC) | 100 | 917.6 | +817.6% |
| Camtek Ltd. (CAMT) | 100 | 1,356.98 | +1257.0% |
Camtek Ltd. (CAMT) returned +468% over 5 years vs KLA Corporation (KLAC)'s +376%. A $10,000 investment in CAMT 5 years ago would be worth $56,827 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLA Corporation (KLAC) | $3.0B | $12.2B | +307.3% |
| Camtek Ltd. (CAMT) | $110M | $429M | +291.9% |
KLA Corporation's revenue grew from $3.0B (2016) to $12.2B (2025) — a 16.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLA Corporation (KLAC) | 23.6% | 33.4% | +41.6% |
| Camtek Ltd. (CAMT) | 4.3% | 27.6% | +538.8% |
KLA Corporation's net margin went from 24% (2016) to 33% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLA Corporation (KLAC) | 17.9 | 40 | +123.5% |
| Camtek Ltd. (CAMT) | 14.7 | 33.4 | +127.2% |
KLA Corporation has traded in a 17x–40x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~50x. Camtek Ltd. has traded in a 13x–43x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~69x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLA Corporation (KLAC) | 4.49 | 30.37 | +576.4% |
| Camtek Ltd. (CAMT) | 0.13 | 2.42 | +1761.5% |
KLA Corporation's EPS grew from $4.49 (2016) to $30.37 (2025) — a 24% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
KLA Corporation generated $4B FCF in 2025 (+92% vs 2021). Camtek Ltd. generated $112M FCF in 2024 (+97% vs 2021).
KLAC vs CAMT: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is KLAC or CAMT a better buy right now?
KLA Corporation (KLAC) offers the better valuation at 50.2x trailing P/E (41.8x 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 CAMT?
On trailing P/E, KLA Corporation (KLAC) is the cheapest at 50.2x versus Camtek Ltd. at 69.2x. On forward P/E, KLA Corporation is actually cheaper at 41.8x. 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 Camtek Ltd.'s 1.38x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — KLAC or CAMT?
Over the past 5 years, Camtek Ltd. (CAMT) delivered a total return of +468.3%, compared to +376.4% for KLA Corporation (KLAC). A $10,000 investment in CAMT five years ago would be worth approximately $57K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CAMT returned +87.6% versus KLAC's +22.1%. 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 CAMT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), KLA Corporation (KLAC) is the lower-risk stock at 1.76β versus Camtek Ltd.'s 1.83β — meaning CAMT is approximately 4% more volatile than KLAC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Camtek Ltd. (CAMT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 38% versus 130% for KLA Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — KLAC or CAMT?
KLA Corporation (KLAC) is the more profitable company, earning 33.4% net margin versus 27.6% for Camtek Ltd. — 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 25.2% for CAMT. 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 CAMT 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 Camtek Ltd.'s 1.38x. A PEG below 1.5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, KLA Corporation (KLAC) trades at 41.8x forward P/E versus 48.2x for Camtek Ltd. — 6.4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KLAC: 9.7% to $1672.25.
07Which pays a better dividend — KLAC or CAMT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Camtek Ltd. (CAMT) offers the highest yield at 0.7%, versus 0.4% for KLA Corporation (KLAC).
08Is KLAC or CAMT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Camtek Ltd. (CAMT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0.7% yield). 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 (CAMT: +87.6%, 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 CAMT?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. CAMT pays a dividend while KLAC does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.
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