Technology
KLA Corporation Reports Fiscal 2025 Third Quarter Results; Announces an Increase in the Dividend Level to $1.90 Per Share and a $5 billion Increase in Share Repurchase Authorization
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1 year agoon
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Total revenues were $3.06 billion, above the midpoint of the guidance range of $3.0 billion +/- $150 million;GAAP diluted EPS was $8.16 and non-GAAP diluted EPS was $8.41, both above the midpoints of the respective guidance ranges;Cash flow from operating activities for the quarter and last nine months were $1.07 billion and $2.92 billion, respectively, and free cash flow was $990.0 million and $2.68 billion, respectively;Capital returns for the quarter and last nine months were $732.5 million and $2.37 billion, respectively; andThe Board of Directors approved an increase to the quarterly dividend level to $1.90 per share beginning with the dividend expected to be declared in May 2025 and an additional $5 billion for repurchases of our common stock.
MILPITAS, Calif., April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — KLA Corporation (NASDAQ: KLAC) today announced financial and operating results for its third quarter of fiscal year 2025, which ended on March 31, 2025, and reported GAAP net income of $1.09 billion and GAAP net income per diluted share of $8.16 on revenues of $3.06 billion.
“KLA’s March quarter results were above the midpoint of our guidance ranges and established a strong start to the calendar year. Though global trade dynamics are driving uncertainty across the global economy, to date, we have received no indications of demand changes from our customers for calendar year 2025,” said Rick Wallace, president and CEO, KLA Corporation. “We remain encouraged by KLA’s growing relevancy in semiconductor manufacturing. Our leadership in process control is a key enabler of today’s leading-edge AI investments by our customers and continues to be affirmed through recently published market share results. Our capital return announcements today reflect this confidence in the long-term value of KLA. As always, the KLA Operating Model continues to be fundamental as we make critical investments to drive differentiation across our product portfolio, and it guides our execution against long-term strategic objectives.”
GAAP Results
Q3 FY 2025
Q2 FY 2025
Q3 FY 2024
Total Revenues
$3,063 million
$3,077 million
$2,360 million
Net Income
$1,088 million
$825 million
$602 million
Net Income per Diluted Share
$8.16
$6.16
$4.43
Non-GAAP Results
Q3 FY 2025
Q2 FY 2025
Q3 FY 2024
Net Income
$1,121 million
$1,098 million
$715 million
Net Income per Diluted Share
$8.41
$8.20
$5.26
A reconciliation between GAAP operating results and non-GAAP operating results is provided following the financial statements included in this release. KLA will discuss the results for its fiscal year 2025 third quarter, along with its outlook, on a conference call today beginning at 2 p.m. PT. A webcast of the call will be available at: www.kla.com.
Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2025 Guidance
The following details our guidance for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 ending in June:
Total revenues is expected to be in a range of $3.075 billion +/- $150 millionGAAP gross margin is expected to be in a range of 61.7% +/- 1.0%Non-GAAP gross margin is expected to be in a range of 63.0% +/- 1.0%GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be in a range of $8.28 +/- $0.78Non-GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be in a range of $8.53 +/- $0.78
For additional details and assumptions underlying our guidance metrics, please see the company’s published Letter to Shareholders, Earnings Slide Presentation and Earnings Infographic on the KLA investor relations website (ir.kla.com). Such Letter to Shareholders, Earnings Slide Presentation and Earnings Infographic are not incorporated by reference into this earnings release.
Dividend Level Increase and Additional Share Repurchase Authorization
KLA Corporation is also announcing an increase in the quarterly dividend level to $1.90 per share from $1.70 per share, the sixteenth consecutive annual increase in the quarterly dividend level for KLA beginning with the dividend anticipated to be declared in May 2025. The declaration and payment of future dividends is subject to the Board’s discretion and will depend on financial and legal requirements and other considerations. The Company is also announcing authorization from the Board of Directors to repurchase up to $5 billion of the Company’s common stock. This is in addition to the existing share repurchase authorization, which had approximately $457 million remaining as of March 31, 2025.
Repurchases can be made using a variety of methods, which may include open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, accelerated share repurchase programs, or otherwise, all in accordance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission and other applicable legal requirements. The specific timing, price and size of purchases will depend on prevailing stock prices, general economic and market conditions, and other considerations. The repurchase programs do not obligate the Company to acquire any particular amount of its common stock, and the repurchase programs may be suspended or discontinued at any time at the Company’s discretion.
“Today’s announcement is consistent with KLA’s long-standing confidence in our business model focused on KLA market relevance, product differentiation, free cash flow generation and assertive capital allocation,” commented Wallace.
About KLA:
KLA Corporation (“KLA”) develops industry-leading equipment and services that enable innovation throughout the electronics industry. We provide advanced process control and process-enabling solutions for manufacturing wafers and reticles, integrated circuits, packaging and printed circuit boards. In close collaboration with leading customers across the globe, our expert teams of physicists, engineers, data scientists and problem-solvers design solutions that move the world forward. Investors and others should note that KLA announces material financial information including SEC filings, press releases, public earnings calls and conference webcasts using an investor relations website (ir.kla.com). Additional information may be found at: www.kla.com.
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
Statements in this press release other than historical facts, such as statements pertaining to the amount and timing of dividends, the amount and timing of share repurchases, total revenues, GAAP and non-GAAP gross margin and GAAP and non-GAAP diluted EPS for the quarter ending June 30, 2025, are forward-looking statements and are subject to the Safe Harbor provisions created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current information and expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in such statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to: the effect of tariffs on our business; our vulnerability to a weakening in the condition of the financial markets and the global economy; risks related to our international operations; evolving Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce rules and regulations and their impact on our ability to sell products to and provide services to certain customers in China; costly intellectual property disputes that could result in our inability to sell or use the challenged technology; risks related to the legal, regulatory and tax environments in which we conduct our business; increasing attention to environment, social and governance (“ESG”) matters and the resulting costs, risks and impact on our business; unexpected delays, difficulties and expenses in executing against our environmental, climate, diversity and inclusion or other ESG targets, goals and commitments; our ability to attract, retain and motivate key personnel; our vulnerability to disruptions and delays at our third party service providers; cybersecurity threats and cyber incidents affecting our and our business partners’ systems and networks; our inability to access critical information in a timely manner due to system failures; risks related to acquisitions, integrations, strategic alliances or collaborative arrangements; climate change, earthquake, flood or other natural catastrophic events, public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic or terrorism and the adverse impact on our business operations; the war between Ukraine and Russia, escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, and the significant military activity in that region; lack of insurance for losses and interruptions caused by terrorists and acts of war, and our self-insurance of certain risks including earthquake risk; risks related to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; risks related to fluctuations in interest rates and the market values of our portfolio investments; risks related to tax and regulatory compliance audits; any change in taxation rules or practices and our effective tax rate; compliance costs with federal securities laws, rules, regulations, NASDAQ requirements, and evolving accounting standards and practices; ongoing changes in the technology industry, and the semiconductor industry in particular, including future growth rates, pricing trends in end-markets, or changes in customer capital spending patterns; our vulnerability to a highly concentrated customer base; the cyclicality of the industries in which we operate; our ability to timely develop new technologies and products that successfully address changes in the industry; risks related to artificial intelligence; our ability to maintain our technology advantage and protect proprietary rights; our ability to compete in the industry; availability and cost of the materials and parts used in the production of our products; our ability to operate our business in accordance with our business plan; risks related to our debt and leveraged capital structure; we may not be able to declare cash dividends at all or in any particular amount; liability to our customers under indemnification provisions if our products fail to operate properly or contain defects or our customers are sued by third parties due to our products; our government funding for research and development is subject to audit, and potential termination or penalties; we may incur significant restructuring charges or other asset impairment charges or inventory write offs; risks related to receivables factoring arrangements and compliance risk of certain settlement agreements with the government; and risks related to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware being the sole and exclusive forum for certain actions and proceedings. For other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected and anticipated in forward-looking statements in this press release, please refer to KLA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2024, and other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including, but not limited to, the risk factors described therein). KLA assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update these forward-looking statements.
KLA Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Unaudited Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
March 31, 2025
June 30, 2024
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 1,858,022
$ 1,977,129
Marketable securities
2,170,600
2,526,866
Accounts receivable, net
2,159,897
1,833,041
Inventories
3,155,777
3,034,781
Other current assets
600,723
659,327
Total current assets
9,945,019
10,031,144
Land, property and equipment, net
1,198,302
1,109,968
Goodwill, net
1,787,532
2,015,726
Deferred income taxes
1,023,292
915,241
Purchased intangible assets, net
495,572
668,764
Other non-current assets
738,590
692,723
Total assets
$ 15,188,307
$ 15,433,566
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$ 429,318
$ 359,487
Deferred system revenue
868,345
985,856
Deferred service revenue
509,075
501,926
Current portion of long-term debt
—
749,936
Other current liabilities
2,103,191
2,063,569
Total current liabilities
3,909,929
4,660,774
Long-term debt
5,883,322
5,880,199
Deferred tax liabilities
405,912
486,690
Deferred service revenue
351,931
294,460
Other non-current liabilities
632,474
743,115
Total liabilities
11,183,568
12,065,238
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock and capital in excess of par value
2,401,317
2,280,133
Retained earnings
1,646,055
1,137,270
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(42,633)
(49,075)
Total stockholders’ equity
4,004,739
3,368,328
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$ 15,188,307
$ 15,433,566
KLA Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Unaudited Statements of Operations
Three Months Ended March 31,
Nine Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
2025
2024
2025
2024
Revenues:
Product
$ 2,393,821
$ 1,769,369
$ 7,000,672
$ 5,527,842
Service
669,208
590,461
1,980,749
1,715,670
Total revenues
3,063,029
2,359,830
8,981,421
7,243,512
Costs and expenses:
Costs of revenues
1,175,689
993,885
3,544,581
2,917,522
Research and development
338,043
321,590
1,007,345
953,222
Selling, general and administrative
248,905
237,514
767,028
714,403
Impairment of goodwill and purchased intangible assets
—
70,474
239,100
289,474
Interest expense
71,889
79,981
229,041
228,417
Other expense (income), net
(35,930)
(45,622)
(121,323)
(104,515)
Income before income taxes
1,264,433
702,008
3,315,649
2,244,989
Provision for income taxes
176,017
100,467
456,855
319,539
Net income
$ 1,088,416
$ 601,541
$ 2,858,794
$ 1,925,450
Net income per share
Basic
$ 8.21
$ 4.46
$ 21.44
$ 14.20
Diluted
$ 8.16
$ 4.43
$ 21.32
$ 14.11
Weighted-average number of shares:
Basic
132,607
134,954
133,361
135,638
Diluted
133,303
135,856
134,066
136,428
KLA Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Unaudited Statements of Cash Flows
Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)
2025
2024
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income
$ 1,088,416
$ 601,541
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Impairment of goodwill
—
70,474
Depreciation and amortization
98,091
99,263
Unrealized foreign exchange gain and other
4,558
7,629
Stock-based compensation expense
70,201
56,682
Deferred income taxes
(35,437)
11,886
Settlement of treasury lock agreement
—
415
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business acquisitions:
Accounts receivable
185,975
194,311
Inventories
(112,283)
28,359
Other assets
14,309
(111,233)
Accounts payable
(12,227)
(10,238)
Deferred system revenue
(204,221)
110,442
Deferred service revenue
5,820
54,288
Other liabilities
(31,043)
(203,841)
Net cash provided by operating activities
1,072,159
909,978
Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
—
(3,682)
Acquisition of intellectual property
(2,850)
—
Capital expenditures
(82,135)
(71,793)
Proceeds from capital-related government assistance
315
—
Purchases of available-for-sale and equity securities
(697,596)
(1,172,264)
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities
93,085
55,722
Proceeds from maturity of available-for-sale securities
378,471
342,808
Purchases of trading securities
(53,418)
(46,456)
Proceeds from sale of trading securities
43,341
37,619
Proceeds from other investments
984
—
Net cash used in investing activities
(319,803)
(858,046)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt, net of issuance costs
—
735,043
Common stock repurchases
(506,745)
(372,251)
Payment of dividends to stockholders
(225,774)
(197,154)
Tax withholding payments related to vested and released restricted stock units
(2,680)
(24,274)
Contingent consideration payable and other, net
—
(2,440)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(735,199)
138,924
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
2,587
(7,743)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
19,744
183,113
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
1,838,278
1,665,054
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$ 1,858,022
$ 1,848,167
Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
Income taxes paid, net
$ 197,594
$ 159,848
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest
$ 128,814
$ 113,372
Non-cash activities:
Dividends payable – financing activities
$ 2,247
$ 2,105
Unsettled common stock repurchase – financing activities
$ 5,499
$ 10,999
Accrued purchase of land, property and equipment – investing activities
$ 24,322
$ 15,378
KLA Corporation
Segment Information (Unaudited)
The following is a summary of results for each of our three reportable segments and reconciliations to total revenues for the indicated periods:
Three Months Ended March 31,
Nine Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)
2025
2024
2025
2024
Revenues:
Semiconductor Process Control
$ 2,738,817
$ 2,096,005
$ 8,069,711
$ 6,425,562
Specialty Semiconductor Process
156,500
130,649
445,241
407,433
PCB and Component Inspection
168,552
133,399
467,615
412,474
Total revenues for reportable segments
3,063,869
2,360,053
8,982,567
7,245,469
Corporate allocations and effects of changes in foreign
currency exchange rates
(840)
(223)
(1,146)
(1,957)
Total revenues
$ 3,063,029
$ 2,359,830
$ 8,981,421
$ 7,243,512
KLA Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Unaudited Supplemental Information
Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Non-GAAP Net Income
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
March 31,
2025
Dec. 31,
2024
March 31,
2024
March 31,
2025
March 31,
2024
GAAP net income
$ 1,088,416
$ 824,527
$ 601,541
$ 2,858,794
$ 1,925,450
Adjustments to reconcile GAAP net income to
non-GAAP net income:
Acquisition-related charges
a
53,663
58,656
58,573
169,013
181,124
Restructuring, severance and other charges
b
—
2,133
2,042
4,995
3,312
Impairment of goodwill and purchased
intangible assets
c
—
239,100
70,474
239,100
289,474
Income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments
d
(18,306)
(23,160)
(19,879)
(60,952)
(63,084)
Discrete tax items
e
(3,113)
(2,812)
2,386
(3,692)
4,538
Non-GAAP net income
$ 1,120,660
$ 1,098,444
$ 715,137
$ 3,207,258
$ 2,340,814
GAAP net income per diluted share
$ 8.16
$ 6.16
$ 4.43
$ 21.32
$ 14.11
Non-GAAP net income per diluted share
$ 8.41
$ 8.20
$ 5.26
$ 23.92
$ 17.16
Shares used in diluted net income per share
calculation
133,303
133,926
135,856
134,066
136,428
Pre-tax Impact of GAAP to Non-GAAP Adjustments Included in Condensed Consolidated Unaudited Statements of
Operations
(In thousands)
Acquisition –
Related Charges
Restructuring,
Severance and
Other Charges
Goodwill and
Purchased
Intangible
Asset
Impairment
Total Pre-tax GAAP
to Non-GAAP
Adjustments
Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
Costs of revenues
$ 41,838
$ —
$ —
$ 41,838
Research and development
—
—
—
—
Selling, general and administrative
11,825
—
—
11,825
Total in three months ended March 31, 2025
$ 53,663
$ —
$ —
$ 53,663
Three Months Ended Dec. 31, 2024
Costs of revenues
$ 43,348
$ 429
$ —
$ 43,777
Research and development
2,994
1,166
—
4,160
Selling, general and administrative
12,314
538
—
12,852
Impairment of goodwill and purchased intangible assets
—
—
239,100
239,100
Total in three months ended Dec. 31, 2024
$ 58,656
$ 2,133
$ 239,100
$ 299,889
Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
Costs of revenues
$ 44,839
$ 805
$ —
$ 45,644
Research and development
867
922
—
1,789
Selling, general and administrative
12,867
315
—
13,182
Impairment of goodwill
—
—
70,474
70,474
Total in three months ended March 31, 2024
$ 58,573
$ 2,042
$ 70,474
$ 131,089
Free Cash Flow Reconciliation
Three Months Ended March 31,
Nine Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)
2025
2024
2025
2024
Net cash provided by operating activities
$ 1,072,159
$ 909,978
$ 2,916,912
$ 2,415,960
Capital expenditures
(82,135)
(71,793)
(234,851)
(216,639)
Free cash flow
$ 990,024
$ 838,185
$ 2,682,061
$ 2,199,321
Capital Returns Calculation
Three Months Ended March 31,
Nine Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)
2025
2024
2025
2024
Payments of dividends to stockholders
$ 225,774
$ 197,154
$ 650,629
$ 575,520
Common stock repurchases
506,745
372,251
1,724,249
1,265,480
Capital returns
$ 732,519
$ 569,405
$ 2,374,878
$ 1,841,000
Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2025 Guidance
Reconciliation of GAAP Diluted EPS to Non-GAAP Diluted EPS
Three Months Ending June 30, 2025
(In millions, except per share amounts)
Low
High
GAAP net income per diluted share
$7.50
$9.06
Acquisition-related charges
a
0.38
0.38
Restructuring, severance and other charges
b
0.01
0.01
Income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments
d
(0.14)
(0.14)
Non-GAAP net income per diluted share
$7.75
$9.31
Shares used in net income per diluted share calculation
132.5
132.5
Reconciliation of GAAP Gross Margin to Non-GAAP Gross Margin
Three Months Ending June 30, 2025
Low
High
GAAP gross margin
60.7 %
62.7 %
Acquisition-related charges
a
1.3 %
1.3 %
Non-GAAP gross margin
62.0 %
64.0 %
The non-GAAP and supplemental information provided in this press release is a supplement to, and not a substitute for, KLA’s financial results presented in accordance with United States GAAP.
To supplement our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements presented in accordance with GAAP, we provide certain non-GAAP financial information, which is adjusted from results based on GAAP to exclude certain gains, costs and expenses, as well as other supplemental information. The non-GAAP and supplemental information is provided to enhance the user’s overall understanding of our operating performance and our prospects in the future. Specifically, we believe that the non-GAAP information, including non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income per diluted share, non-GAAP gross margin and free cash flow, provides useful measures to both management and investors regarding financial and business trends relating to our financial performance by excluding certain costs and expenses that we believe are not indicative of our core operating results to help investors compare our operating performances with our results in prior periods as well as with the performance of other companies. The non-GAAP information is among the budgeting and planning tools that management uses for future forecasting. However, because there are no standardized or generally accepted definitions for most non-GAAP financial metrics, definitions of non-GAAP financial metrics are inherently subject to significant discretion (for example, determining which costs and expenses to exclude when calculating such a metric). As a result, non-GAAP financial metrics may be defined very differently from company to company, or even from period to period within the same company, which can potentially limit the usefulness of such information to an investor. The presentation of non-GAAP and supplemental information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for results prepared and presented in accordance with United States GAAP. The following are descriptions of the adjustments made to reconcile GAAP net income to non-GAAP net income:
a.
Acquisition-related charges primarily include amortization of intangible assets and write-offs due to abandonment of in-process research and development projects. Although we exclude the effect of amortization of all acquired intangible assets from these non-GAAP financial measures, management believes that it is important for investors to understand that such intangible assets were recorded as part of purchase price accounting arising from acquisitions, and such amortization of intangible assets related to past acquisitions will recur in future periods until such intangible assets have been fully amortized. Investors should note that the use of these intangible assets contributed to our revenues earned during the periods presented and are expected to contribute to our future period revenues as well.
b.
Restructuring, severance and other charges primarily include costs associated with employee severance.
c.
Impairment of goodwill and purchased intangible assets in the nine months ended March 31, 2025, the three and nine months ended March 31, 2024, and the three months ended Dec. 31, 2024 include non-cash expense recognized as a result of the company’s testing for goodwill impairment and long-lived assets impairment. The impairment charge in fiscal 2024 resulted from the downward revision of financial outlook for our PCB and Display reporting units, and the subsequent decision to exit the Company’s Display business that was based on many factors, including the cancellation of a significant new technology project by a major customer in the third quarter of fiscal 2024. The impairment charge in fiscal 2025 resulted from the continued deterioration of the long-term forecast for our PCB business. Management believes that it is appropriate to exclude these impairment charges as they are not indicative of ongoing operating results and therefore limit comparability. Management also believes excluding this item helps investors compare our operating performance with our results in prior periods as well as with the performance of other companies.
d.
Income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments includes the income tax effects of the excluded items noted above.
e.
Discrete tax items in the three months ended March 31, 2025 include a deferred tax impact relating to the amortization of certain intellectual property as a result of an internal restructuring of ownership rights to better align with how our business operates. Discrete tax items in the nine months ended March 31, 2025 also include the recognition of a deferred tax asset on foreign currency gains/losses resulting from new tax legislation. Discrete tax items in the nine months ended March 31, 2024 include a one-time tax benefit resulting from changes made to our international structure to better align ownership of certain intellectual property rights with how our business operates. Discrete tax items in all periods presented include a tax impact relating to the amortization of the aforementioned tax benefits or similar tax benefits recorded in other periods.
SOURCE KLA Corporation
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Black Lake has focused on industrial digitalization and industrial AI for years, developing and deploying AI applications in a range of factory environments.
At WAIC 2026, the company is presenting industrial AI agents covering order splitting and process planning, quotation and pricing, procurement, production scheduling, quality inspection, and order tracking. These applications are designed to move AI beyond an auxiliary role and into critical manufacturing decision-making workflows.
Traditional industrial software is primarily responsible for data recording, digital workflows, and worker coordination. However, critical decisions such as how to split an order, determine pricing, schedule production, and assess quality risks still depend heavily on the experience of engineers and frontline workers.
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Order decomposition and process planning are representative examples. After receiving an engineering drawing, a factory typically relies on experienced engineers to identify components, materials and dimensions, define the required manufacturing processes and technical specifications, and establish a basis for subsequent quotation and quality inspection.
The process is highly dependent on individual expertise and represents one of the first critical decision points after an order is received.
Black Lake Technologies’ CAD-to-Process Agent can understand product drawings and, taking into account the factory’s equipment capabilities, process requirements, and production practices, rapidly generate process steps along with the corresponding technical requirements. Drawing analysis that once took hours can now be completed in approximately one minute, achieving an accuracy rate of over 95% in real deployment and providing engineers with stable, efficient decision support. Currently, the industrial agents developed by the company cover core processes including design, scheduling, production, and quality inspection, and have entered the stage of large-scale deployment.
Founded in 2016, Black Lake serves nearly 40,000 factories worldwide. Its customers span more than 30 industries, including food and beverage, automotive components and equipment manufacturing.
By working across factory order management, production and fulfillment workflows, Black Lake has accumulated the technical capabilities and industry knowledge required to support decision-making in complex industrial environments.
In April 2026, Black Lake completed a Series D funding round of nearly RMB 1 billion. The company said the proceeds would primarily be used to accelerate the deployment of its industrial AI products and support its international expansion.
AI-related products are becoming a new source of growth for the company. In a recent interview, Black Lake founder and CEO Zhou Yuxiang said that the company had recorded significant growth in AI-related revenue since the beginning of 2026. He also said that manufacturing customers were taking less time to make purchasing decisions for industrial AI agents.
Zhou expects AI adoption among Chinese factories to increase substantially over the next three to four years.
Unlike consumer-facing AI, which is primarily associated with content generation and personal productivity, industrial AI agents can directly affect production costs, capacity utilization, delivery performance, and product quality. Their commercial value therefore depends largely on whether they can perform specific tasks reliably in complex production environments.
During WAIC 2026, Black Lake was named to the Top 30 shortlist for the 2026 Super AI Leader (SAIL) Award. The SAIL Award is one of WAIC’s major awards and recognizes achievements in technological breakthroughs, application innovation, and industrial value.
Black Lake was also selected as a Trusted Partner under UNIDO’s Global Call for Trusted Partners for Industrial AI in the Global South.
The Global Call was launched under the guidance of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in partnership with the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, and in connection with the work of UNIDO AIM Global and its Shanghai-based Centre of Excellence.
The initiative aims to build a curated pool of leading partners to co-develop scalable industrial AI solutions and public goods for the Global South.
For Black Lake, the two accreditations underscore the growing importance of reliability, explainability, and scalability in the evaluation of industrial AI, in addition to the capabilities of AI models.
Global expansion will be a major priority in the company’s next phase of development. Black Lake is currently focusing on Southeast Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe, adapting its industrial AI agents to the industrial structures, production processes and management requirements of different markets.
Although manufacturing operations vary across countries and regions, manufacturers share similar concerns about efficiency, quality, delivery reliability and production flexibility.
Black Lake is transforming industrial AI capabilities that have been validated in complex factory environments into configurable and deployable products. Through these products, the company aims to work with manufacturers worldwide to explore more efficient, flexible and intelligent approaches to production.
SOURCE Black Lake
Technology
76% of Coupon Codes Work at Checkout, but Most Failures Trace Back to Terms Shoppers Never Read, CouponDopa Study Finds
Published
1 hour agoon
July 18, 2026By
Study Finds 76% of Coupon Codes Work at Checkout
NEW YORK, July 18, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Multi-country research across 11 regions finds that most coupon code failures were not due to expired codes, but to terms and conditions shoppers did not check before checkout.
A new study testing 1,000 coupon codes across 11 countries found that three in four online discount codes applied successfully at checkout, while the remaining failures were tied more often to unmet terms than to expired or invalid codes.
The research was conducted by CouponDopa, a multi-regional coupon platform operating in 11 countries. Codes were tested across multiple retail categories in July 2026 to measure real checkout success rates.
KEY FINDINGS
Overall success rate: 76%. Overall failure rate: 24%. Highest-performing country: Netherlands, 81%. Lowest-performing countries: Poland and Italy, tied at 70%. Highest-performing category: Electronics. Lowest-performing category: Travel. Desktop success rate: 78%. Mobile success rate: 74%.
The study’s most significant finding was not the failure rate itself, but the reasons behind it.
“The assumption most shoppers make is that a coupon code doesn’t work because it’s expired,” said Anderson Joe, CMO at CouponDopa. “Our testing found that expiry was rarely the primary issue. In most failed attempts, the code was still active, but the shopper’s cart did not meet a listed condition, such as a minimum spend or a region restriction.”
WHY COUPON CODES ACTUALLY FAIL
Minimum spend not met: the most common reason for failure across all 11 regions, since many codes require a basket value above a set threshold.Region-specific restrictions: codes valid in one country frequently failed in another.Unread terms and conditions: codes were applied to excluded categories, sale items, or specific product ranges without checking eligibility first.Delivery and shipping thresholds: free shipping codes requiring a minimum order value were sometimes mistaken for blanket offers.
No exact percentage breakdown of failure causes is available. Minimum spend is confirmed as the single most common cause; the other three were not ranked against each other.
“In our view, a code that fails because of an unmet minimum spend is not necessarily a broken code,” said Anderson. “It may simply be a condition the shopper did not see before checkout.”
REGIONAL FINDINGS — NETHERLANDS LEADS
Country Success Rate
Netherlands 81%
Germany 79%
United States 77%
Canada 77%
United Kingdom 76%
Australia 75%
New Zealand 74%
France 73%
Spain 72%
Poland 70%
Italy 70%
Netherlands recorded the highest success rate of the 11 regions tested. Germany followed closely. The United Kingdom matched the overall study average, and Canada and the United States recorded the same rate. Poland and Italy recorded the lowest rates in the study, tied at 70%.
ELECTRONICS OUTPERFORMS TRAVEL
Electronics recorded the highest coupon code success rate of any category tested, at 80%, while travel recorded the lowest, at 69%.
“Electronics codes in our sample tended to carry fewer conditions,” noted Anderson Joe. “Travel codes more often included conditions tied to dates, destinations, or booking windows, which may explain the difference.”
MOBILE SHOPPERS RECORD LOWER SUCCESS RATES
Desktop checkouts recorded a 78% success rate compared with 74% for mobile, a 4-point gap. Researchers said the difference may relate to how terms are displayed on smaller screens, though this was not directly tested.
“We saw a consistent gap between desktop and mobile across our markets,” said Anderson Joe. “We can’t say precisely why from this data alone, but it’s a pattern worth further study.”
ABOUT THE STUDY
CouponDopa tested 1,000 coupon codes across 11 countries during July 2026, across electronics, fashion, food delivery, travel, beauty, and home categories. Codes were manually tested at real checkouts on desktop and mobile. A code counted as successful only when the discount appeared in the checkout total. Failed codes were categorized by reason. Read the complete methodology available at CouponDopa tested 1000 coupon codes in 11 regions.
ABOUT COUPONDOPA
CouponDopa is a multi-regional coupon and discount platform operating across 11 countries. CouponDopa verifies coupon codes across hundreds of brands before publishing, providing shoppers with discount information across major retail categories, including verified codes available on CouponDopa’s store pages.
MEDIA CONTACT
Organization: Coupondopa
Contact Person Name: Anderson Joe
Website: https://www.coupondopa.com/
Email: info@coupondopa.com
Contact Number: +1 (530) 269-6377
Address: 165 ithaca Bayshore NY, 11706 USA
City: Bay Shore
State: NY
Country: United States
Media Contact
Anderson Joe, Coupondopa, 1 631 404-9968, coupondopa@gmail.com, https://www.coupondopa.com/
View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/76-of-coupon-codes-work-at-checkout-but-most-failures-trace-back-to-terms-shoppers-never-read-coupondopa-study-finds-302828186.html
SOURCE CouponDopa
Technology
Global Times: Head-of-state diplomacy shines at WAIC, fostering ties and advancing global governance consensus
Published
5 hours agoon
July 18, 2026By
BEIJING, July 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday held a series of high-level meetings on the sidelines of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai, sitting down successively with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The bustling diplomatic activity transformed the WAIC from a premier showcase of AI technologies and industrial breakthroughs into a vibrant platform for head-of-state diplomacy and global governance coordination.
Analysts said hosting intensive head-of-state diplomatic events in Shanghai, a core hub of reform, opening-up and technological innovation, carries profound meaning. In addition, Friday’s high-level meetings embody the innovative model of “technology builds the stage while diplomacy takes the leading role.” It not only deepens China’s bilateral relations with ASEAN members, but also helps advance inclusive global AI governance centered on the UN mechanism.
Strategic guidance
According to the two separate official releases by Xinhua, during his meetings with the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia, President Xi spoke of the long-standing friendship China shares with both nations. He called on China and Thailand, as well as China and Cambodia, to join hands to advance the development of their respective communities with a shared future.
Furthermore, the Chinese leader stressed the need for China to expand pragmatic cooperation with Thailand and Cambodia respectively across traditional and emerging sectors, and work with each country to jointly crack down on cross-border crimes such as online gambling and telecom fraud, according to Xinhua.
He called for the proper handling of border frictions between Thailand and Cambodia and called on the two sides to resolve disputes through dialogue and consultation, with China standing ready to continue playing a constructive role in this regard, per Xinhua.
During their respective meetings with the Chinese leader, the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia both expressed willingness to deepen multi-field cooperation with China and spoke highly of China’s positive efforts to facilitate the peaceful settlement of the Thailand-Cambodia border conflicts.
Xu Liping, Director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that head-of-state diplomacy has charted the fundamental course for the advancement of China’s ties with both Cambodia and Thailand.
WAIC exemplifies the innovative model of “technology builds the platform, while diplomacy takes the leading role,” said Xu, “In addition, AI cooperation is also expected to serve as a vital entry point to further deepen and substantiate China’s ties with Thailand and Cambodia going forward.”
Furthermore, addressing the sensitive and thorny Thailand-Cambodia border dispute amid the relatively relaxed atmosphere of a tech summit enables all relevant parties to handle differences in a rational and pragmatic manner, which embodies Eastern wisdom and an Asian approach to resolving issues, said Xu.
The year 2026 marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, witnessing the official rollout of the new Plan of Action on the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2026-2030). It also kicks off the implementation of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan.
The critical juncture offers a perfect window to align China’s development plans closely with the national development strategies of Global South countries and ASEAN members, said Xu. “Thailand and Cambodia’s willingness to ramp up cooperation with China mirrors the aspiration of the majority of ASEAN members to leverage China’s development dividends and pursue win-win outcomes and common prosperity in the region.”
Firm support for UN
In his meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday, Xi reiterated China’s firm support for the UN.
Noting that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People’s Republic of China at the UN, the Chinese leader said China has since been committed to building world peace, contributing to global development, defending international order, and firmly supporting the UN, Xinhua reported.
Xi added that he proposed the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and the four global initiatives with one important consideration in mind – to uphold the status and authority of the UN.
Currently, the international landscape is marked by more pronounced changes and turbulence, making it all the more necessary to practice true multilateralism and reinvigorate the status and role of the UN, he said.
Guterres commended China for its steadfast support for multilateralism, the cause of the UN, and international cooperation, saying that China has set an example for the world.
Guterres said the UN will continue to strengthen cooperation with China, oppose unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonic bullying, safeguard the UN Charter and international law, as well as advance the process toward a multipolar world.
At this pivotal juncture where talks on AI development and UN multilateral governance converge, China, leveraging head-of-state diplomacy as a top-tier platform, has elaborated in a systematic manner its vision for global governance in the AI era, Wang Yiwei, a professor at the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China, told the Global Times.
He added that China’s emphasis on the UN-centered global governance architecture will further strengthen the UN’s authority and operational capacity.
Before the official opening of the WAIC, on Thursday, representatives from 29 countries, including Kazakhstan, Laos, Pakistan, Russia and Indonesia, signed an agreement on establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) in Shanghai. UN chief Guterres was among representatives from countries and international organizations present at the signing ceremony.
According to the agreement, WAICO will be an independent intergovernmental international organization, which aims to promote international cooperation and global governance on AI, ensuring that AI is beneficial, safe and fair, thereby promoting its healthy and orderly development to benefit all humanity.
President Xi on Friday also announced that in the next five years, China will provide developing countries with 5,000 opportunities in AI training and seminar programs. China will also develop international AI application cooperation centers with the ASEAN, the League of Arab States, the African Union, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS.
However, some international media, including Reuters and Nikkei, used the term “AI diplomacy” describing the grand gathering in Shanghai, claiming that Beijing seeks a new global AI order, challenging US dominance.
In rebuttal, Wang pointed out that China advocates open, inclusive technology that lets AI benefit all humanity under the vision of “AI for All”. In contrast, the US adheres to a mindset of “All for AI”, weaponizing AI for geopolitical rivalry and aiming to outpace China in technological competition. Driven by the “America First” doctrine and capital-centric priorities, Washington’s approach forms a sharp contrast with China’s.
Meanwhile, China’s resolute commitment to upholding the UN system underscores that for China and a wide array of Global South countries, the sensible path lies in reforming and improving the existing global governance architecture rather than discarding it to build parallel institutions from scratch, the expert added.
This article first appeared on Global Times
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-times-head-of-state-diplomacy-shines-at-waic-fostering-ties-and-advancing-global-governance-consensus-302828946.html
SOURCE Global Times
Black Lake Technologies Shortlisted as SAIL Award TOP30 Finalist and Selected as Global Industrial AI Flagship Case, Showcasing Latest Industrial Agent at WAIC 2026
76% of Coupon Codes Work at Checkout, but Most Failures Trace Back to Terms Shoppers Never Read, CouponDopa Study Finds
Global Times: Head-of-state diplomacy shines at WAIC, fostering ties and advancing global governance consensus
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