Was KLA Corporation's (NASDAQ:KLAC) Earnings Growth Better Than The Industry's?

Improvement in profitability and outperformance against the industry can be important characteristics in a stock for some investors. Below, I will assess KLA Corporation's (NasdaqGS:KLAC) track record on a high level, to give you some insight into how the company has been performing against its historical trend and its industry peers.

Check out our latest analysis for KLA

Did KLAC's recent earnings growth beat the long-term trend and the industry?

KLAC's trailing twelve-month earnings (from 30 June 2019) of US$1.2b has jumped 47% compared to the previous year.

Furthermore, this one-year growth rate has exceeded its 5-year annual growth average of 21%, indicating the rate at which KLAC is growing has accelerated. How has it been able to do this? Well, let’s take a look at if it is merely a result of industry tailwinds, or if KLA has experienced some company-specific growth.

In terms of returns from investment, KLA has invested its equity funds well leading to a 44% return on equity (ROE), above the sensible minimum of 20%. Furthermore, its return on assets (ROA) of 14% exceeds the US Semiconductor industry of 7.9%, indicating KLA has used its assets more efficiently. However, its return on capital (ROC), which also accounts for KLA’s debt level, has declined over the past 3 years from 24% to 19%. This correlates with an increase in debt holding, with debt-to-equity ratio rising from 20% to 128% over the past 5 years.

What does this mean?

Though KLA's past data is helpful, it is only one aspect of my investment thesis. Companies that have performed well in the past, such as KLA gives investors conviction. However, the next step would be to assess whether the future looks as optimistic. I recommend you continue to research KLA to get a better picture of the stock by looking at:

1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for KLAC’s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for KLAC’s outlook.
2. Financial Health: Are KLAC’s operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why we’ve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here.
3. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the trailing twelve months from 30 June 2019. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.