Applied Materials announces Q3 results

SANTA CLARA, USA: Applied Materials Inc. has reported results for its third quarter of fiscal 2010 ended August 1, 2010. Applied generated net sales of $2.52 billion, operating profit of $183 million, and net income of $123 million or $0.09 per share. Non-GAAP net income was $234 million or $0.17 per share.

“Applied had strong results across our semiconductor, display and crystalline silicon solar businesses, and we now expect Silicon Systems Group net sales to be up by more than 160 percent over fiscal 2009,” said Mike Splinter, chairman and CEO. “During the quarter, we took actions that focus our Energy and Environmental Solutions segment on our most promising opportunities in solar and advanced energy, and strengthen our company’s financial outlook.”

The EES restructuring plan announced on July 21, 2010 resulted in charges totaling $405 million. These charges consisted of inventory-related charges of approximately $250 million and severance and asset impairment charges of $155 million. The inventory-related charges lowered gross margin by approximately 10 percentage points and reduced GAAP and non-GAAP EPS by $0.12. Excluding the EES restructuring plan charges, non-GAAP EPS would have been $0.29.

Applied’s May business outlook was for non-GAAP EPS of between $0.22 and $0.26. At the announcement of the EES restructuring plan on July 21, 2010, the non-GAAP EPS outlook was revised to between $0.10 and $0.14.