KLA Corporation (KLAC)
KLA makes the process-control and inspection systems chipmakers rely on to detect defects during semiconductor manufacturing.
Information Technology stock comparison
KLAC vs SMCI: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare KLA Corporation with Super Micro Computer, Inc. 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
- 2026-08-31
KLAC vs SMCI: quick comparison
| Company fact | KLAC | SMCI |
|---|---|---|
| Company | KLA Corporation | Super Micro Computer, Inc. |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| SEC industry | Optical Instruments & Lenses | Electronic Computers |
| Fiscal year-end | June 30 | June 30 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-08-06 | 10-K · 2026-08-31 |
KLAC vs SMCI: audited financials
SMCI reported about 1.8× 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 4.8%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.
| Metric | KLAC | SMCI |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $12.2B | $22.0B |
| Net income | $4.1B | $1.0B |
| Operating cash flow | $4.1B | $1.7B |
| Diluted EPS | $3.04 | $1.68 |
| Net margin | 33.4% | 4.8% |
KLAC: FY ending 2025-06-30 · SMCI: 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
KLAC and SMCI have different SEC industry classifications, but both map to the maintained Tariffs & trade and Artificial intelligence 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.
Super Micro Computer, Inc. (SMCI)
Super Micro Computer builds high-performance servers and storage systems tailored for AI and data-center workloads.
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. KLAC is classified by the SEC as Optical Instruments & Lenses, while SMCI is classified as Electronic Computers. The different industry codes are a warning against treating sector membership as proof of identical economics.
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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.
Read the full researchWhich 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 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
Study SMCI 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
Tariffs & tradeArtificial intelligence
SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.KLAC's fiscal year ends June 30, while SMCI's ends June 30. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 10matched transaction rows for KLACand 11 for SMCI. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
KLAC primary filings
SMCI primary filings
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.
KLAC vs SMCI FAQs
Are KLAC and SMCI direct competitors?
KLA Corporation and Super Micro Computer, Inc. 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, KLAC or SMCI?
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 KLAC vs SMCI 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 KLA Corporation and Super Micro Computer, Inc. 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.
KLAC vs SMCI shows how the businesses differ. Membership is the monthly sourced view of who could benefit, what could break, and what evidence matters next. $15/month or $150/year.
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