Yield Theory

Information Technology stock comparison

AMD vs KLAC: which business are you actually underwriting?

Compare Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. with KLA Corporation using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
Sector
Information
Industry
Different SIC
Shared themes
2
Updated
2026-08-06

AMD vs KLAC: quick comparison

Company factAMDKLAC
CompanyAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc.KLA Corporation
ExchangeNASDAQNASDAQ
HeadquartersSanta Clara, California—
Founded1969—
SEC industrySemiconductors & Related DevicesOptical Instruments & Lenses
Fiscal year-endDecember 26June 30
Latest annual filing10-K/A · 2026-02-0410-K · 2026-08-06

AMD vs KLAC: audited financials

AMD reported about 2.8× the revenue of KLAC in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, KLAC converted a larger share of revenue into net income (33.4% versus 12.5%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.

MetricAMDKLAC
Revenue$34.6B$12.2B
Net income$4.3B$4.1B
Operating cash flow$7.7B$4.1B
Diluted EPS$2.65$3.04
Net margin12.5%33.4%

AMD: FY ending 2025-12-27 · KLAC: FY ending 2025-06-30. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

How the businesses differ

Why this pair belongs in the comparison set

AMD and KLAC have different SEC industry classifications, but both map to the maintained Artificial intelligence and Tariffs & trade research themes inside the Information Technology sector. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD)

AMD designs CPUs and GPUs for PCs, servers, and gaming consoles, positioning itself as the primary challenger to both Intel and NVIDIA. Its data-center accelerators are central to its ambitions in the AI compute market.

KLA Corporation (KLAC)

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

The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. AMD is classified by the SEC as Semiconductors & Related Devices, while KLAC is classified as Optical Instruments & Lenses. The different industry codes are a warning against treating sector membership as proof of identical economics.

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Which thesis does each company fit?

Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.

Study AMD when…

  • Data Center revenue from EPYC server CPUs and Instinct GPU accelerators
  • Execution on the OpenAI 6-gigawatt deployment agreement and MI450 ramp
  • Client and Gaming demand for Ryzen processors and semi-custom console chips
  • U.S. export controls on MI308 shipments to China

Study KLAC when…

  • The AI capital-expenditure cycle
  • Interest rates and the cost of long-duration growth
  • Enterprise IT budgets and cloud migration
  • Export controls and the US–China chip race

Shared research themes

Artificial intelligenceTariffs & trade

SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.AMD's fiscal year ends December 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 50matched transaction rows for AMDand 10 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.

AMD vs KLAC FAQs

Are AMD and KLAC direct competitors?

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. and KLA Corporation sit in the same Information Technology sector but have different SEC industry classifications. The comparison is most useful for portfolio role and sector exposure, not as a claim that every product competes directly.

Which is better, AMD 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 AMD 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 Advanced Micro Devices, 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 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.

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