KLA Corporation (KLAC)vsWestern Digital Corporation (WDC)
KLAC
KLA Corporation
$1,498.67
-0.85%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $196.91B
WDC
Western Digital Corporation
$293.10
-7.52%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $100.21B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
KLA Corporation generates 19% more annual revenue ($12.74B vs $10.73B). KLAC leads profitability with a 35.8% profit margin vs 35.6%. WDC appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.69. KLAC earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 69/100 (B-).
KLAC
Strong Buy69
out of 100
Grade: B-
WDC
Buy55
out of 100
Grade: C
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
+5.9%
Fair Value
$1592.14
Current Price
$1498.67
$93.47 discount
Margin of Safety
-311.2%
Fair Value
$66.57
Current Price
$293.10
$226.53 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Every $100 of equity generates 101 in profit
Keeps 36 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 41.3%
Large-cap with strong market position
Earnings expanding 40.9% YoY
Generating 1.3B in free cash flow
Every $100 of equity generates 41 in profit
Keeps 36 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Large-cap with strong market position
Growing faster than its price suggests
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Elevated debt levels
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Trading at 36.0x book value
Moderate valuation
Trading at 14.0x book value
Revenue declined 41.0%
Earnings declined 95.9%
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : KLAC
The strongest argument for KLAC centers on Return on Equity, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 35.8% and operating margin at 41.3%.
Bull Case : WDC
The strongest argument for WDC centers on Return on Equity, Profit Margin, Market Cap. Profitability is solid with margins at 35.6% and operating margin at 15.4%. PEG of 0.69 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bear Case : KLAC
The primary concerns for KLAC are PEG Ratio, Debt/Equity, P/E Ratio. A P/E of 44.0x leaves little room for execution misses.
Bear Case : WDC
The primary concerns for WDC are P/E Ratio, Price/Book, Revenue Growth.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
KLAC profiles as a mature stock while WDC is a declining play — different risk/reward profiles.
WDC carries more volatility with a beta of 1.85 — expect wider price swings.
KLAC is growing revenue faster at 7.2% — sustainability is the question.
KLAC generates stronger free cash flow (1.3B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
KLAC scores higher overall (69/100 vs 55/100), backed by strong 35.8% margins. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
KLA Corporation
TECHNOLOGY · SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS · USA
KLA Corporation is a capital equipment company based in Milpitas, California. It supplies process control and yield management systems for the semiconductor industry and other related nanoelectronics industries. The company's products and services are intended for all phases of wafer, reticle, integrated circuit (IC) and packaging production, from research and development to final volume manufacturing.
Visit Website →Western Digital Corporation
TECHNOLOGY · COMPUTER HARDWARE · USA
Western Digital Corporation (WDC, commonly known as Western Digital or WD) is an American computer hard disk drive manufacturer and data storage company, headquartered in San Jose, California. It designs, manufactures and sells data technology products, including storage devices, data center systems and cloud storage services.
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