KLA Forecasts 2027 Growth Above 2026, Packaging Revenue to Hit $1B
AMAT•KLA raised quarterly revenue guidance by 6.7% and upped EPS outlook by 9.2%, driving a 170% year-over-year rally to near its $2145.52 52-week high. The company forecasts 2027 growth above 2026 and advanced packaging sales rising from $635 million to $1 billion, despite a 100-bp margin hit.
1. Guidance Lift and Stock Performance
On April 29, KLA announced a revenue guidance increase of 6.7% and EPS uplift of 9.2%, which sparked a 17.2% rally in the share price and left the stock trading near its 52-week high of $2145.52 following a 170% year-over-year gain. Management described unprecedented demand visibility and projected 2027 growth to exceed 2026 levels.
2. Advanced Packaging Surge
Management attributed its confidence to booming AI-related demand for advanced packaging, forecasting this segment’s revenue to climb from $635 million in 2025 to $1 billion in 2026, marking an inflection point in its high-tech assembly business.
3. Margin Headwinds and Capacity Constraints
Despite the bullish forecast, KLA warned of a roughly 100-basis-point negative impact on gross margins from rising memory component costs and cautioned that physical limits on fab expansion could constrain the industry’s ability to meet surging demand.
