ROC % measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. It is also called ROIC %. KLA's annualized return on capital (ROC %) for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 43.28%.
As of today (2026-06-24), KLA's WACC % is 13.47%. KLA's ROC % is 43.58% (calculated using TTM income statement data).
KLA generates higher returns on investment than it costs the company to raise the capital needed for that investment. It is earning excess returns. A firm that expects to continue generating positive excess returns on new investments in the future will see its value increase as growth increases.
KLA (NAS:KLAC) ROC % Explanation
ROC % measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. It is also called ROIC %. The reason book values of debt and equity are used is because the book values are the capital the company received when issuing the debt or receiving the equity investments.
There are four key components to this definition. The first is the use of operating income or EBIT rather than net income in the numerator. The second is the tax adjustment to this operating income or EBIT, computed as a hypothetical tax based on an effective or marginal tax rate. The third is the use of book values for invested capital, rather than market values. The final is the timing difference; the capital invested is from the end of the prior year whereas the operating income or EBIT is the current year's number.
Why is ROC % important?
Because it costs money to raise capital. A firm that generates higher returns on investment than it costs the company to raise the capital needed for that investment is earning excess returns. A firm that expects to continue generating positive excess returns on new investments in the future will see its value increase as growth increases, whereas a firm that earns returns that do not match up to its cost of capital will destroy value as it grows.
As of today, KLA's WACC % is 13.47%. KLA's ROC % is 43.58% (calculated using TTM income statement data).
KLA generates higher returns on investment than it costs the company to raise the capital needed for that investment. It is earning excess returns. A firm that expects to continue generating positive excess returns on new investments in the future will see its value increase as growth increases.
Be Aware
Like ROE % and ROA %, ROC % is calculated with only 12 months of data. Fluctuations in the company's earnings or business cycles can affect the ratio drastically. It is important to look at the ratio from a long term perspective.
KLA ROC % Related Terms
KLA ROC % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for KLA's ROC % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Note:
The Operating Income data used here is four times the quarterly (Mar. 2026) data.
The tax rate is limited to between 0% and 100%.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
KLA (KLAC) has a ROC % of 43.28% as of Mar. 2026. Return on capital is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period capital. View historical data on KLA and its competitors.
Is KLA's ROC % too high?
KLA's current ROC % is 43.28%. The Semiconductors industry median ROC % is 3.71. KLA's value of 43.28% is 1066.6% above this industry median. Overall, KLA has a GF Score™ of 86/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does KLA's ROC % compare to AMAT and LRCX?
KLA's ROC % of 43.28% can be compared against companies in the Semiconductors industry. The industry median ROC % is 3.71. KLA's value of 43.28% is 1066.6% above this benchmark. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good ROC % for a Semiconductors company?
The median ROC % among Semiconductors companies is 3.71, based on 1,012 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a ROC % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, ROC % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. KLA's current ROC % of 43.28% is 1066.6% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high ROC % mean?
A high ROC % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Return on capital is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period capital. View historical data on KLA and its competitors. For the Semiconductors industry, the median ROC % is 3.71 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. KLA's current ROC % is 43.28%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is KLA stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, KLA (KLAC) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $99.87, compared to a current price of $240.48 — trading 140.8% above its estimated fair value. The current ROC % is 43.28% and 1066.6% above the Semiconductors industry median of 3.71. KLA's overall GF Score™ is 86/100 with 6 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is ROC % calculated?
ROC % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For KLA (KLAC), the current ROC % is 43.28% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is KLA (KLAC) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, KLA stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $240.48 is trading 140.8% above its estimated GF Value™ of $99.87.
GuruFocus considers KLA to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for KLAC:
ROC %: 43.28%
GF Value™: $99.87 vs. price of $240.48 (140.8% above fair value)
Industry Position: 1066.6% above the Semiconductors median
No single metric tells the full story. See the KLAC stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
KLA is one of the largest semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment, or WFE, manufacturers in the world. It specializes in the market segment of semiconductor process control, wherein machines inspect semiconductor wafers during research and development and manufacturing for defects and verify precise measurements. In this section of the market, KLA holds a majority share. It also has a small exposure to the etch and deposition segments of the WFE market. It counts as top customers the largest chipmakers in the world, including TSMC and Samsung.
86GF Score
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