Compare Stocks › KLAC vs MSFT
KLA Corporation (KLAC) vs Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)
KLAC
KLA Corporation
$1511.52
VS
MSFT
Microsoft Corporation
$389.02
Rewards
KLAC
- ★KLA Corporation has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
- ★Gross margin of 61.6% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★KLA Corporation scores 85/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with reinvestment efficiency as the strongest competitive dimension.
MSFT
- ★Microsoft Corporation has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
- ★Gross margin of 68.6% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★Microsoft Corporation scores 88/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
Risks
KLAC
- ⚠FCF yield of 1.6% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
- ⚠Trailing P/E of 44.1x is 70% above the historical average of 25.9x — the stock trades at a premium to its own history.
- ⚠18 insider sales with no purchases over the past 12 months — a persistent pattern of insider selling.
MSFT
- ⚠FCF yield of 2.5% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →KLAC
MSFT
Valuation
$3.22B
Free Cash Flow
$71.61B
1.62%
FCF Yield
2.48%
44.05
Trailing P/E
24.33
31.69
Forward P/E
20.64
Quality & Moat
35.93%
ROIC
22.10%
74.31%
ROE
26.05%
61.57%
Gross Margin
68.59%
1.08
PEG Ratio
0.41
Balance Sheet Safety
1.12
Debt / Equity
0.32
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
0.16
Net Debt / EBITDA
0.19
0.50%
Dividend Yield
0.94%
KLAC: 3Ties: 1MSFT: 8
KLACMSFT
Historical Fundamentals
Learn more →KLAC
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
MSFT
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
$1 Retained Earnings Test
Learn more →KLAC
$13.71
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$7.80B
Δ Market Cap
+$106.95B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
MSFT
$9.18
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$196.68B
Δ Market Cap
+$1.81T
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis
Learn more →KLAC
32.5% Margin of Safety
Price is 32.5% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $1511.52
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $2240.58
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
MSFT
0.5% Overvalued
Price is 0.5% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $389.02
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $387.10
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →KLAC
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $1512?
+20.0%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +23.1%
The market implies +20.0% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.
Standard FCF implies a demanding +23.1%, reflecting heavy growth investment.
MSFT
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $389?
+12.6%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +17.4%
The market implies +12.6% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.
Standard FCF implies +17.4%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →KLAC
85/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat driven primarily by reinvestment efficiency. Revenue Predictability is the area most vulnerable to competitive pressure.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.
MSFT
88/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat driven primarily by revenue predictability. Reinvestment Efficiency is the area most vulnerable to competitive pressure.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
Forensic Accounting
Learn more →KLAC
-2.24
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
MSFT
-2.51
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Ownership Breakdown
Learn more →KLAC
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 93.9%Retail & Other 6.0%
No. of Institutional Holders2,619
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
MSFT
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 76.0%Retail & Other 23.9%
No. of Institutional Holders8,054
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
Insider Buying Activity
Learn more →KLAC
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
MSFT
1
Buys (3M)
2
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $3.44M
STANTON JOHN W.
Director
$1.99M
@ $397.35 · 2026-02-18
SMITH BRADFORD LEE
President
$1.45M
@ $377.47 · 2025-04-23
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.
Insider Selling Activity
Learn more →KLAC
0
Sells (3M)
18
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $70.12M
HIGGINS BREN D.
Chief Financial Officer
$2.79M
@ $1237.01 · 2025-12-16
WALLACE RICHARD P
Chief Executive Officer
$13.00M
@ $1203.10 · 2025-11-11
KHAN AHMAD A
Officer
$4.11M
@ $900.00 · 2025-09-05
KHAN AHMAD A
Officer
$12.09M
@ $881.50 · 2025-08-29
HIGGINS BREN D.
Chief Financial Officer
$2.02M
@ $878.53 · 2025-08-20
LORIG BRIAN W.
Officer
$7.35M
@ $913.68 · 2025-08-12
WALLACE RICHARD P
Chief Executive Officer
$9.87M
@ $913.68 · 2025-08-12
KIRLOSKAR VIRENDRA A
Officer
$308,594
@ $913.00 · 2025-08-08
WILKINSON MARY BETH
Officer
$933,086
@ $913.00 · 2025-08-08
KIRLOSKAR VIRENDRA A
Officer
$468,587
@ $917.00 · 2025-08-05
WILKINSON MARY BETH
Officer
$1.76M
@ $917.00 · 2025-08-05
KIRLOSKAR VIRENDRA A
Officer
$286,960
@ $896.75 · 2025-08-04
WILKINSON MARY BETH
Officer
$684,220
@ $896.75 · 2025-08-04
KIRLOSKAR VIRENDRA A
Officer
$34,768
@ $891.49 · 2025-07-02
WILKINSON MARY BETH
Officer
$1.18M
@ $891.16 · 2025-06-30
HIGGINS BREN D.
Chief Financial Officer
$781,023
@ $766.46 · 2025-05-22
WALLACE RICHARD P
Chief Executive Officer
$7.38M
@ $683.30 · 2025-05-06
HIGGINS BREN D.
Chief Financial Officer
$5.08M
@ $724.62 · 2025-03-25
WALLACE RICHARD P
Chief Executive Officer
$9.49M
@ $663.01 · 2024-11-12
KHAN AHMAD A
Officer
$7.92M
@ $818.51 · 2024-08-19
HIGGINS BREN D.
Chief Financial Officer
$3.97M
@ $740.63 · 2024-08-07
LORIG BRIAN W.
Officer
$1.51M
@ $740.63 · 2024-08-07
KIRLOSKAR VIRENDRA A
Officer
$573,878
@ $705.01 · 2024-08-06
LORIG BRIAN W.
Officer
$910,168
@ $705.01 · 2024-08-06
WALLACE RICHARD P
Chief Executive Officer
$12.29M
@ $705.01 · 2024-08-06
KIRLOSKAR VIRENDRA A
Officer
$536,118
@ $649.84 · 2024-08-05
LORIG BRIAN W.
Officer
$460,737
@ $649.84 · 2024-08-05
WILKINSON MARY BETH
Officer
$1.70M
@ $652.17 · 2024-08-05
KIRLOSKAR VIRENDRA A
Officer
$36,054
@ $819.41 · 2024-07-02
LORIG BRIAN W.
Officer
$36,054
@ $819.41 · 2024-07-02
HIGGINS BREN D.
Chief Financial Officer
$803,563
@ $788.58 · 2024-05-23
KHAN AHMAD A
Officer
$5.95M
@ $760.00 · 2024-05-21
WALLACE RICHARD P
Chief Executive Officer
$10.04M
@ $716.63 · 2024-05-07
LORIG BRIAN W.
Officer
$2.47M
@ $699.16 · 2024-05-06
HIGGINS BREN D.
Chief Financial Officer
$4.95M
@ $705.04 · 2024-03-26
DONZELLA ORESTE
Officer
$2.27M
@ $697.85 · 2024-03-25
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
MSFT
1
Sells (3M)
13
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $172.43M
HOGAN KATHLEEN T
Officer
$5.05M
@ $409.55 · 2026-03-06
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$1.36M
@ $478.72 · 2025-12-04
ALTHOFF JUDSON
Officer
$6.27M
@ $491.52 · 2025-12-02
SMITH BRADFORD LEE
President
$19.97M
@ $518.64 · 2025-11-03
NADELLA SATYA
Chief Executive Officer
$75.32M
@ $504.78 · 2025-09-03
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$2.56M
@ $527.32 · 2025-08-12
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$1.39M
@ $463.00 · 2025-06-03
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$460,008
@ $460.01 · 2025-05-30
HOGAN KATHLEEN T
Officer
$9.76M
@ $453.77 · 2025-05-21
ALTHOFF JUDSON
Officer
$7.33M
@ $458.18 · 2025-05-19
COLEMAN AMY
Officer
$5.99M
@ $452.04 · 2025-05-15
SMITH BRADFORD LEE
President
$1.68M
@ $438.44 · 2025-05-05
SMITH BRADFORD LEE
President
$35.30M
@ $435.84 · 2025-05-05
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$1.12M
@ $447.41 · 2024-12-09
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$874,634
@ $437.32 · 2024-12-04
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$1.50M
@ $428.76 · 2024-12-02
ALTHOFF JUDSON
Officer
$10.43M
@ $417.00 · 2024-11-22
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$414,720
@ $414.72 · 2024-11-22
YOUNG CHRISTOPHER DAVID
Officer
$3.05M
@ $423.66 · 2024-11-12
HOGAN KATHLEEN T
Officer
$7.16M
@ $411.86 · 2024-09-10
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$1.03M
@ $411.04 · 2024-09-10
SMITH BRADFORD LEE
President
$16.10M
@ $402.59 · 2024-09-09
HOOD AMY E
Chief Financial Officer
$15.60M
@ $410.55 · 2024-09-05
NADELLA SATYA
Chief Executive Officer
$32.02M
@ $408.63 · 2024-09-04
NUMOTO TAKESHI
Officer
$235,535
@ $416.14 · 2024-06-03
ALTHOFF JUDSON
Officer
$10.64M
@ $425.68 · 2024-05-23
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.
🎭 Mr. Market's Mood
Learn more →KLAC
😐Neutral(56/100)
"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
MSFT
😐Neutral(43/100)
"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
⚖️ Buffett Signal
Learn more →KLAC
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (56)
MSFT
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (43)