With more than 50% market share, KLA-Tencor' (NASDAQ:KLAC) is the global leader of process diagnostics and control (PDC). KLA provides quality assurance tools in the form of testing equipment and software that can be used during various points in the semiconductor manufacturing process to increase yield and minimize defects. Semiconductor fabrication facilities (fabs) are more expensive than ever and chip design is becoming smaller and more complex. For these reasons, there is increased demand for PDC in order to increase production yield and minimize costly and time consuming defects.

Semiconductor demand has been elevated by the Commoditization of PCs, advanced chip design, and also increased demand from China. China is the world's largest emerging market and like most developing countries, China's rapid economic growth has created high demand for semiconductors and electronics. KLA's products are used by almost every major wafer and semiconductor manufacturer. Although KLA has maintained over 50% market share, the industry it competes in remains highly competitive. KLA faces competition from both established and new market entrants both of which could take valuable market share. This is an industry that relies heavily on improvement of product rather than lowering costs and competitors with greater resources could have an advantage.

(Read more at Wikinvest )