Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. vs KLA Corp. — how do they compare? Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. trades at $308.56 (market cap $68.63B), while KLA Corp. trades at $202.5 (market cap $251.82B). The key difference: KLA Corp. is far larger — about 3.7× Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.'s market cap, and Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.35%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| APD | KLAC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $68.63B | $251.82B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Technology |
52-Week High | $314.19 | $301.71 |
52-Week Low | $230.42 | $84.39 |
Enterprise Value | $85.80B | $253.07B |
Dividend Yield | 2.35% | 0.48% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Air Products and Chemicals (APD) trades at $303.44, up 1.17% today, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and recent earnings beats. The stock shows strong analyst support with a consensus price target of $346, though high valuation ratios like a P/E of 30.86 and EV/EBITDA of 50.36 raise concerns. Recent news highlights a major semiconductor supply deal in Taiwan and raised guidance after Q3 2026 results.
The outlook is mixed: positive momentum from contract wins and earnings performance offers upside, but negative net income margins and elevated debt levels pose risks. Investors should weigh growth catalysts against financial leverage and profitability challenges.
KLA Corporation (KLAC) trades at $198.11, up 2.53% today, with a neutral technical signal despite bullish moving averages. The stock shows strong fundamentals, including a 35.57% net income margin and consistent earnings beats, with Q3 2026 EPS expected at $1.17. Recent corporate actions include a 1:10 stock split and a $2.30 dividend, while cash flow remains positive at $101.78M in 2025. Analyst sentiment is optimistic, with a $246.93 consensus price target implying significant upside.
The outlook for KLAC is positive, driven by AI-driven semiconductor demand and robust profitability, but risks include high valuation multiples and market volatility. Investment opportunities center on growth in advanced packaging, with Wall Street largely bullish; however, investors should monitor competitive pressures and economic cycles that could impact the chip equipment sector.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Since its founding in 1940, Air Products has become one of the leading industrial gas suppliers globally, with operations in 50 countries and 19,000 employees. The company is the largest supplier of hydrogen and helium in the world. It has a unique portfolio serving customers in a number of industries, including chemicals, energy, healthcare, metals, and electronics. Air Products generated $10.3 billion in revenue in fiscal 2021.
Read more on APD →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 →