KLA Shares Plummets 0.83% as $870M Volume Ranks 98th in Market Activity

KLA (KLAC) fell 0.83% on August 19, 2025, with a trading volume of $870 million, ranking 98th in market activity. The stock’s performance followed a mix of institutional investment activity and strategic updates from the company.

The firm announced participation in two upcoming investor webcasts: Citi’s 2025 Global TMT Conference on September 4 and Goldman Sachs’ Communacopia + Technology Conference on September 10. These events are expected to highlight KLA’s progress in semiconductor process control and advanced packaging solutions, key drivers of its recent revenue growth.

Institutional investors, including the George Kaiser Family Foundation, added to their positions in the first quarter, acquiring 383 shares valued at $260,000. Meanwhile, insider sales totaled 19,908 shares worth $18 million, reflecting mixed signals from corporate stakeholders. Analyst ratings remained divided, with UBS raising its price target to $960 and Goldman Sachs maintaining a neutral stance.

KLA’s Q4 fiscal 2025 results showed revenue of $3.17 billion, exceeding estimates, with GAAP net income of $1.2 billion. The company authorized a $5 billion share repurchase program and announced a $1.90 quarterly dividend, signaling confidence in its financial position. However, insider selling and mixed analyst ratings suggest caution amid broader market volatility.

The strategy of buying the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding them for one day from 2022 to now delivered moderate returns. The 1-day return was 1.98%, with a total return of 7.61% over 365 days. The strategy's Sharpe ratio was 0.94, indicating good risk-adjusted returns. However, the maximum drawdown of -29.16% highlights its vulnerability during market downturns.