KLA Corp. vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? KLA Corp. trades at $217.54 (market cap $271.18B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $520 (market cap $74.42B). The key difference: KLA Corp. is far larger — about 3.6× Northrop Grumman Corporation's market cap, and Northrop Grumman Corporation pays the higher dividend (1.79%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| KLAC | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $271.18B | $74.42B |
Sector | Technology | Industrials |
52-Week High | $301.71 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $84.39 | $496.02 |
Enterprise Value | $272.37B | $88.65B |
Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.79% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
KLA Corporation (KLAC) trades at $207.82, down 2.32% amid a semiconductor sector correction. The stock shows strong fundamentals with consistent earnings beats, including Q1 2026 EPS of $0.94 versus $0.917 expected, and robust profitability with a 35.66% net margin. Technical indicators signal bearish momentum with key support at $200, while analyst consensus remains bullish with a $243.43 price target. Recent corporate actions include a 1:10 stock split effective June 12, 2026, and a $2.30 dividend paid June 2, 2026.
KLAC's outlook is supported by dominant market positioning in semiconductor process control and AI-driven demand, but high valuation multiples (P/E 60.25) and sector volatility present risks. The stock offers growth potential through semiconductor equipment expansion, though investors should monitor industry cyclicality and competitive pressures from peers like Applied Materials.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $524.14, up 0.49% with a bearish technical signal despite strong fundamentals. The company shows consistent earnings beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $6.14 exceeding expectations of $6.06. Recent news highlights defense budget optimism and a $312.3M Navy contract for electronic warfare systems. Technical indicators show RSI at oversold levels near support at $518, while moving averages signal bearish momentum.
The investment outlook remains positive with analyst consensus at Buy (57% of 35 analysts) and a $655 price target representing 25% upside. Risks include execution challenges in defense programs and potential margin pressure. Strong cash flow generation and a $96B backlog support long-term growth, though near-term technical weakness may present entry opportunities for patient investors.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Northrop Grumman is a defense contractor that is diversified across short-cycle and long-cycle businesses. The firm's segments include aeronautics, mission systems, defense services, and space systems. The company's aerospace segment creates the fuselage for the massive F-35 program and produces various piloted and autonomous flight systems. Mission systems creates a variety of sensors and processors for defense hardware. The defense systems segment is a long-range missile manufacturer. Finally, the company's space systems segment produces various space structures, sensors, and satellites.
Read more on NOC →