A O Smith Corp vs KLA Corp. — how do they compare? A O Smith Corp trades at $63.65 (market cap $8.65B), while KLA Corp. trades at $207.68 (market cap $261.92B). The key difference: KLA Corp. is far larger — about 30.3× A O Smith Corp's market cap, and A O Smith Corp pays the higher dividend (2.26%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AOS | KLAC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.65B | $261.92B |
Sector | Industrials | Technology |
52-Week High | $80.47 | $301.71 |
52-Week Low | $55.78 | $84.39 |
Enterprise Value | $9.15B | $263.17B |
Dividend Yield | 2.26% | 0.46% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
A.O. Smith Corporation (AOS) trades at $62.53, showing modest daily gains of 0.19%. The stock maintains strong profitability with 13.15% net margins and 27.13% ROE, though recent Q1 2026 earnings missed expectations. Technical indicators suggest a bullish trend with the current price near key support at $62. Recent leadership transition with Kevin Wheeler's retirement and Stephen Shafer assuming chairman role adds management continuity.
The outlook remains cautiously optimistic with a $67.25 consensus price target offering 7.5% upside potential. Strong North American performance and dividend growth provide support, but higher input costs and weaker China demand present headwinds. The stock's valuation appears reasonable at 17.74 P/E, though recent Zacks Strong Sell ratings warrant monitoring.
KLA Corporation (KLAC) trades at $208.27, up 8.06% on the day, reflecting strong momentum amid the AI-driven semiconductor equipment rally. The stock exhibits bullish technical signals with recent earnings beats and robust profitability, including a 35.57% net income margin. Recent corporate actions include a 1:10 stock split and dividend declarations, while analyst consensus leans heavily bullish with a $246.93 price target.
Outlook remains positive given KLAC's exposure to advanced packaging growth and AI chip demand, though elevated valuation ratios (P/E of 54.77) and technical overbought conditions near resistance at $209 pose near-term risks. Long-term investors may find value in its fundamental strength, but volatility from sector cyclicality warrants caution.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
A.O. Smith Corporation manufactures and markets comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, gas tankless, and electric water heaters. Supplementary products include water heating equipment, condensing and noncondensing boilers, and water system tanks. The company's two operating segments are by geographic region: North America (majority of total revenue) and the Rest of the World. A material portion of sales in North America derive from replacing existing products, and the company utilizes a wholesale distribution channel and multiple selling locations. The Rest of the World segment sells primarily to Asian countries and operates sales offices to expand distribution and market its product portfolio.
Read more on AOS →KLA designs and manufactures yield-management and process-monitoring diagnostic and control systems for the semiconductor manufacturing industry. The systems are used to analyze the manufacturing process at various steps in a semiconductor's development. The firm's laser-scanning products are used for wafer qualification, process monitoring, and equipment monitoring. KLA also provides inspection tools and systems for optical metrology and e-beam metrology.
Read more on KLAC →