Applied Materials Reports Results to January 30, 2011 ...02.28.2011

Santa Clara, United States California.

Applied Materials has reported results for its first quarter of fiscal 2011 ended Jan. 30, 2011. Applied generated orders of $2.97 billion, net sales of $2.69 billion, operating income of $674 million, and net income of $506 million or $0.38 per share. Non-GAAP operating income was $659 million, and non-GAAP net income was $484 million or $0.36 per share.

"Applied's solid first quarter was driven by continued strength in semiconductor systems and record profitability in solar," said Mike Splinter, chairman and chief executive officer. "We see momentum building in our end markets and expect our company's fiscal year revenue to be more than $11 billion, exceeding our previous record by over a billion dollars. We now expect wafer fab equipment spending to be up 10 to 15 percent from approximately $31 billion in calendar 2010, with crystalline silicon solar equipment spending rising by more than 30 percent year over year."

"On a year-over-year basis, our non-GAAP earnings per share grew more than 170 percent on a 45 percent increase in net sales, demonstrating our focus on operating efficiencies and profitability improvement," said George Davis, executive vice president and chief financial officer. "With the improving market outlook, we expect to deliver record non-GAAP earnings of more than $1.50 per share in fiscal 2011."

Energy and Environmental Solutions (EES) had record orders of $668 million in the first quarter, up 22 percent from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. Net sales were $476 million, down 22 percent from the fourth quarter which included $230 million in thin film equipment sales. Net sales of crystalline silicon equipment set a record in the first quarter. Operating income increased to $144 million or 30 percent of net sales and included a favorable adjustment of $28 million related to a previously announced restructuring program. Excluding this adjustment, operating income would have been 24 percent of net sales.

Additional Quarterly Financial Information

Gross margin was 42.3 percent, slightly higher than 42.2 percent in the fourth quarter.

Operating cash flow was $425 million or 16 percent of net sales.

Cash dividend payments totaled $93 million.

The company used $150 million to repurchase 10.9 million shares of its common stock.

Cash, cash equivalents and investments increased to $4.10 billion at quarter end.

The effective tax rate was 25.5 percent and included a benefit related to the reinstatement of the federal R&D tax credit, which lowered the rate by 1.9 points.

Backlog increased by $292 million to $3.54 billion.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2011, Applied expects net sales to be in the range of flat to up 5 percent quarter over quarter. The company expects non-GAAP EPS to be in the range of $0.34 to $0.38, which excludes known charges related to completed acquisitions of approximately $0.01 per share.


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