AAPL vs KLAC: how the two businesses compare

  • Bigger business: AAPL, with $416.2B of yearly revenue, about 34× KLAC's $12.2B.
  • More profitable: KLAC keeps 33 cents of each sales dollar as profit, against 27 cents at AAPL.
  • More cash from each sale: KLAC turns 34 cents of each sales dollar into operating cash flow, against 27 cents at AAPL.

From each company's latest annual SEC filing. Fiscal years can end on different dates.

Apple (AAPL) is the larger business by reported revenue: $416.2B in its fiscal year ended Sep 2025, about 34× KLAC's $12.2B (fiscal year ended Jun 2025). AAPL's net margin was 26.9% and KLAC's 33.4%. The SEC classifies them differently (Electronic Computers; Optical Instruments & Lenses); what connects them is shared exposure to the Artificial intelligence and Tariffs & trade research themes, not a common industry.

Figures come from each company's own SEC filings. This page compares the businesses; it is not a price target or a verdict.

Sector
Information Technology
SEC industry
Different
Separate classifications
Fiscal year ends
Different
AAPL September 26 · KLAC June 30
Reviewed
Nov 3, 2026

AAPL vs KLAC: quick comparison

Company factAAPLKLAC
CompanyApple Inc.KLA Corporation
ExchangeNASDAQNASDAQ
HeadquartersCupertino, California—
Founded1976—
SEC industryElectronic ComputersOptical Instruments & Lenses
Fiscal year-endSeptember 26June 30
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-11-0310-K · 2026-08-06

AAPL vs KLAC: audited financials

  • Scale: AAPL's $416.2B of revenue is about 34× KLAC's $12.2B.
  • Net margin: KLAC kept 33.4% of revenue as net income versus 26.9% at AAPL.
  • Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled AAPL 26.8% of revenue, or 1.00× net income; KLAC 33.6% of revenue, or 1.00× net income. A ratio well above 1× usually reflects non-cash charges or working-capital release; well below 1× can reflect working-capital build or non-cash gains.
  • Periods: the fiscal years end about 3 months apart (2025-09-27 for AAPL, 2025-06-30 for KLAC), so each figure reflects somewhat different demand and cost conditions.

AAPL: FY ending 2025-09-27 · KLAC: FY ending 2025-06-30. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

Where AAPL and KLAC overlap, and where they don't

Overlap

  • Shared research themes: Artificial intelligence and Tariffs & trade.

Differences

  • Different SEC industries: AAPL files as Electronic Computers; KLAC as Optical Instruments & Lenses.
  • Offset fiscal calendars: AAPL's year ends September 26 and KLAC's June 30, about 3 months apart.
  • Scale: AAPL reported about 34× the annual revenue of KLAC.
  • Profitability: net margin of 26.9% for AAPL versus 33.4% for KLAC.

Overlap is drawn from SEC classifications and Yield Theory research themes. It is not evidence that the companies sell to the same customers or compete product for product.

Apple Inc. (AAPL)

Apple designs consumer electronics, software, and services, led by the iPhone, Mac, and a growing high-margin services segment. It is one of the world's most valuable companies and a core holding in most large-cap and technology index funds.

KLA Corporation (KLAC)

KLA makes the process-control and inspection systems chipmakers rely on to detect defects during semiconductor manufacturing.

What moves each company

Company-specific drivers maintained by Yield Theory. Use them to decide which filing deserves deeper work; they are not predictions.

What moves AAPL

  • iPhone demand, pricing, and the device upgrade cycle
  • Services growth and App Store economics
  • Gross margins, component costs, and supply-chain concentration
  • Product innovation and adoption of on-device AI

What moves KLAC

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for KLAC. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-08-06.

The investment question

You now know AAPL reports about 34× KLAC's revenue, and KLAC keeps more of each dollar as net income. Those are the facts. The investment question is what each share price already assumes about their exposure to artificial intelligence and tariffs & trade, including “iPhone demand, pricing, and the device upgrade cycle” at AAPL, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.

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SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable. AAPL's fiscal year ends September 26, while KLAC's ends June 30. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 154 matched transaction rows for AAPL and 10 matched transaction rows for KLAC. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

AAPL vs KLAC FAQs

Are AAPL and KLAC direct competitors?

Not necessarily. Apple files as Electronic Computers and KLA as Optical Instruments & Lenses. The pair is compared because both map to the Artificial intelligence and Tariffs & trade research themes, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.

Is AAPL or KLAC the bigger company by revenue?

Apple (AAPL) is the larger business by reported revenue: $416.2B in its fiscal year ended Sep 2025, about 34× KLAC's $12.2B (fiscal year ended Jun 2025). AAPL's net margin was 26.9% and KLAC's 33.4%. The SEC classifies them differently (Electronic Computers; Optical Instruments & Lenses); what connects them is shared exposure to the Artificial intelligence and Tariffs & trade research themes, not a common industry. Each figure is the annual amount tagged in the company's own SEC XBRL filing; market value depends on live prices, which this page does not publish.

Which is better, AAPL or KLAC?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this AAPL vs KLAC comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Apple Inc. and KLA Corporation tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-11-09. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-11-09. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?

AAPL vs KLAC compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $39/month or $249/year.

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