KLA’s 3.48% Rally and $710M Volume Rank 131st Amid Executive Stock Sales

On September 4, 2025, KLA Corporation (KLAC) surged 3.48% with a trading volume of $710 million, ranking 131st in market activity. The stock’s performance coincided with a presentation at Citi’s Global Tech Conference, where CEO Richard P. Wallace and CFO Bren D. Higgins outlined strategic priorities amid evolving market dynamics.

Insider trading activity has drawn attention, with key executives including Wallace and Higgins selling shares totaling over $17 million in recent months. Notably, Wallace sold $9.87 million worth of stock on August 12, while Higgins executed $7.81 million in transactions. These sales contrast with U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna’s purchases of KLAC stock in April, signaling mixed sentiment among stakeholders.

KLA’s conference presentation highlighted a 62.5% gross margin target for 2025, driven by high-performance computing demand and advanced packaging revenue growth of 85% year-over-year. The company emphasized reinvestment in leading-edge technology and shareholder returns through dividends and buybacks. China’s contribution to revenue is projected to decline to 30% in 2025 from 41% in 2024, reflecting normalization after years of aggressive expansion in the region.

Operational updates underscored sustained double-digit service revenue growth, bolstered by high uptime requirements and long-term customer contracts. Advanced packaging and reticle inspection emerged as key growth drivers, with KLA’s process control intensity rising due to complex semiconductor designs and larger die sizes. The company also noted a constructive outlook for 2026, citing ongoing investments in gate-all-around (GAA) architecture and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) technologies.

Backtesting results indicate a 3.48% price increase on September 4, aligning with the reported volume of $710 million. The stock’s performance reflects strategic clarity and operational resilience amid sector-specific challenges, positioning KLA to capitalize on long-term industry tailwinds in process control and advanced manufacturing.