News Release

Applied Materials Announces Results for Third Fiscal Quarter 2005

Aug 16, 2005 at 4:02 PM EDT

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 16, 2005--Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT):

-- Net Sales: $1.63 billion (12% decrease quarter over quarter; 27% decrease year over year)

-- Net Income: $370 million (21% increase quarter over quarter; 16% decrease year over year)

-- EPS: $0.23 ($0.05 increase quarter over quarter; $0.03 decrease year over year)

-- New Orders: $1.47 billion (5% decrease quarter over quarter; 40% decrease year over year)

Applied Materials, Inc., the world's largest supplier of wafer fabrication solutions to the global semiconductor industry, reported results for its third fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2005. Net sales were $1.63 billion, down 12 percent from $1.86 billion for the second fiscal quarter of 2005, and down 27 percent from $2.24 billion for the third fiscal quarter of 2004. Gross margin for the third fiscal quarter of 2005 was 43.9 percent, compared to 44.0 percent for the second fiscal quarter of 2005, and down from 47.4 percent for the third fiscal quarter of 2004. Net income for the third fiscal quarter of 2005 was $370 million, or $0.23 per share, up from net income of $305 million, or $0.18 per share, for the second fiscal quarter of 2005, and down from net income of $441 million, or $0.26 per share, for the third fiscal quarter of 2004. The results of the third fiscal quarter of 2005 included a favorable tax adjustment of $132 million, or $0.08 per share, principally due to the resolution of a multi-year tax examination.

New orders of $1.47 billion for the third fiscal quarter of 2005 decreased 5 percent from $1.55 billion for the second fiscal quarter of 2005, and decreased 40 percent from $2.46 billion for the third fiscal quarter of 2004. Regional distribution of new orders for the third fiscal quarter of 2005 was: Japan 23 percent, Korea 19 percent, North America 19 percent, Taiwan 15 percent, Europe 12 percent, and Southeast Asia and China 12 percent. Backlog at the end of the third fiscal quarter of 2005 was $2.61 billion, compared to $2.85 billion at the end of the second fiscal quarter of 2005.

During the third fiscal quarter of 2005, the company repurchased approximately 27 million shares of common stock at an average price of $16.62 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $450 million. Also during the third fiscal quarter of 2005, the company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.03 per share, payable on September 7, 2005 to stockholders of record on August 17, 2005.

"Applied Materials again demonstrated its leadership in technology innovation with the introduction of the Applied UVision(TM) inspection system and the advanced etch and film deposition technologies that we showcased this quarter," said Mike Splinter, president and chief executive officer. "Our unique solutions are helping customers advance technology in order to deliver new levels of performance for transistors, interconnects and other chip features required by new generations of electronics products.

"While industry conditions remained challenging, we met our financial targets, continued to generate strong cash flow and returned value to our stockholders through share repurchase and a dividend. With our financial strength and technology leadership, Applied is well positioned to benefit from customers' increased capital spending," concluded Splinter.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the company's technology leadership, strategic position, cash generation and product capabilities; and customers' requirements and capital investments. Forward-looking statements may contain words such as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "may," "should," "will," "estimate," "forecast," "continue" or similar expressions, and include the assumptions that underlie such statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the sustainability of demand in the semiconductor and semiconductor equipment industries, which is subject to many factors, including global economic conditions, business spending, consumer confidence, demand for electronic products and integrated circuits, and geopolitical uncertainties; customers' capacity requirements, including capacity utilizing the latest technology; the timing, rate, amount and sustainability of capital spending for new technology, such as 300mm and sub-100 nanometer applications; the company's ability to successfully develop, deliver and support a broad range of products and to expand its markets and develop new markets; the ability to maintain effective cost controls and to timely align the company's cost structure with business conditions; the successful integration and performance of acquired businesses; changes in management; and other risks described in Applied Materials' Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including its reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. All forward-looking statements are based on management's estimates, projections and assumptions as of the date hereof. The company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Applied Materials will discuss its third fiscal quarter results, along with its outlook for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2005, on a conference call today beginning at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. A webcast of the conference call will be available on Applied Materials' web site under the "Investors" section.

Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT), headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is the largest supplier of equipment and services to the global semiconductor industry. Applied Materials' web site is www.appliedmaterials.com.


                        APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
            CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

                         Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(In thousands, except   August 1,   July 31,    August 1,   July 31,
 per share amounts)       2004        2005        2004        2005
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales              $2,236,152  $1,631,938  $5,809,705  $5,273,703
Cost of products sold   1,176,920     914,849   3,135,663   2,947,959
                       ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Gross margin            1,059,232     717,089   2,674,042   2,325,744

Operating expenses:
   Research,
    development and
    engineering           256,781     236,448     743,601     703,799
   Marketing and
    selling               101,513      98,366     285,886     268,644
   General and
    administrative         87,394      79,578     251,145     256,876
   Restructuring,
    asset impairments
    and other charges           -           -     167,459           -
                       ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Income from operations    613,544     302,697   1,225,951   1,096,425

Interest expense           13,489       9,338      36,971      28,425
Interest income            24,869      45,948      82,362     123,055
                       ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Income before income
 taxes                    624,924     339,307   1,271,342   1,191,055

Provision for/(benefit
 from) income taxes       184,353     (30,284)    375,047     227,869
                       ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Net income             $  440,571  $  369,591  $  896,295  $  963,186
                       ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

Earnings per share:
   Basic               $     0.26  $     0.23  $     0.53  $     0.58
   Diluted             $     0.26  $     0.23  $     0.52  $     0.58

Weighted average
 number of shares:
   Basic                1,696,544   1,630,895   1,689,573   1,654,740
   Diluted              1,721,690   1,641,818   1,727,626   1,666,720
---------------------------------------------------------------------


                        APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
                 CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             October 31,   July 31,
(In thousands)                                 2004(1)       2005
---------------------------------------------------------------------

ASSETS

Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                 $ 1,493,292  $ 1,255,746
   Short-term investments                      5,084,704    4,972,697
   Accounts receivable, net                    1,670,153    1,525,133
   Inventories                                 1,139,368    1,073,722
   Deferred income taxes                         610,095      627,366
   Other current assets                          283,907      289,805
                                             -----------  -----------
Total current assets                          10,281,519    9,744,469

Property, plant and equipment                  2,953,130    2,993,156
Less: accumulated depreciation and
 amortization                                 (1,607,602)  (1,709,558)
                                             -----------  -----------
    Net property, plant and equipment          1,345,528    1,283,598

Goodwill, net                                    257,321      337,825
Purchased technology and other intangible
 assets, net                                      50,291       88,601
Deferred income taxes and other assets           158,786      164,156
                                             -----------  -----------
Total assets                                 $12,093,445  $11,618,649
                                             -----------  -----------

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
   Current portion of long-term debt         $    45,864  $    46,165
   Accounts payable and accrued expenses       1,895,061    1,703,540
   Income taxes payable                          347,056      227,614
                                             -----------  -----------
Total current liabilities                      2,287,981    1,977,319

Long-term debt                                   410,436      414,290
Other liabilities                                133,001      155,395
                                             -----------  -----------
Total liabilities                              2,831,418    2,547,004
                                             -----------  -----------

Stockholders' equity:
   Common stock                                   16,803       16,225
   Additional paid-in capital                  2,070,733      987,064
    Deferred stock compensation, net                 (96)           -
   Retained earnings                           7,164,170    8,078,026
   Accumulated other comprehensive
    income/(loss)                                 10,417       (9,670)
                                             -----------  -----------
Total stockholders' equity                     9,262,027    9,071,645
                                             -----------  -----------

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $12,093,445  $11,618,649
---------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Certain amounts in the October 31, 2004 consolidated condensed
balance sheet have been reclassified to conform to the 2005
presentation.

CONTACT: Applied Materials, Inc.
Paul Bowman, 408-563-1698 (investment community)
David Miller, 408-563-9582 (editorial/media)

SOURCE: Applied Materials, Inc.