10-KPeriod: FY2023

APPLIED MATERIALS INC /DE Annual Report, Year Ended Oct 29, 2023

Filed December 15, 2023For Securities:AMAT

Summary

Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT) reported strong performance in its fiscal year ended October 28, 2023, driven by robust demand in the Semiconductor Systems segment. Despite a slight year-over-year increase in net sales, the company saw a minor decrease in operating margin, attributed to higher R&D expenses, inventory adjustments, and the impact of export regulations. The Applied Global Services segment demonstrated resilience with increased net sales, while the Display and Adjacent Markets segment experienced a significant decline due to weaker consumer demand for electronics. The company's strategic focus on materials engineering and its extensive product portfolio, which addresses critical technology inflections in chip manufacturing, positions it well for future growth. Applied Materials continues to invest heavily in Research, Development, and Engineering (RD&E) to maintain its technological edge and expand into new market opportunities, particularly in areas like AI and advanced computing. Management expresses confidence in its ability to navigate supply chain challenges and meet future demand, supported by a substantial remaining authorization for share repurchases and a consistent dividend policy.

Financial Highlights

63 data points
Beta

Revenue

$26.52B

46.7% Gross Margin

Net Income

$6.86B

25.9% Net Margin

EPS (Diluted)

$8.11

Total Assets

$30.73B

Cash & Equivalents

$6.13B

Free Cash Flow

$7.59B

Financial Statements
Beta
Revenue$26.52B
Cost of Revenue$14.13B
Gross Profit$12.38B
R&D Expenses$3.10B
SG&A Expenses$1.63B
Operating Expenses$4.73B
Operating Income$7.65B
Interest Expense$238.00M
Net Income$6.86B
EPS (Basic)$8.16
EPS (Diluted)$8.11
Shares Outstanding (Basic)840.00M
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)845.00M

Key Highlights

  • 1Net sales increased by 3% to $26.52 billion in fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022, driven by the Semiconductor Systems segment.
  • 2Operating income slightly decreased by 2% to $7.65 billion, with operating margin declining 1.3 percentage points to 28.9%, primarily due to increased R&D expenses and export regulation impacts.
  • 3The Semiconductor Systems segment remains the largest revenue contributor, with net sales up 5% to $19.70 billion, driven by foundry and logic spending.
  • 4The Applied Global Services segment saw a 3% increase in net sales to $5.73 billion, supported by service agreements and legacy system sales.
  • 5The Display and Adjacent Markets segment experienced a significant 35% decline in net sales to $868 million, reflecting weakened consumer demand for display technologies.
  • 6The company repurchased $2.2 billion of common stock in fiscal 2023, with $12.7 billion remaining authorization, and maintained its quarterly dividend payments.
  • 7Applied Materials continues to make substantial RD&E investments, with expenses increasing by 12% to $3.10 billion, reflecting its commitment to innovation and new technology development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Applied Materials' financial performance in fiscal year 2023 was primarily driven by strong demand in its Semiconductor Systems segment, particularly from foundry and logic customers investing in new capacity and technology transitions. The Applied Global Services segment also contributed positively with increased sales from service agreements and legacy systems.

The Display and Adjacent Markets segment saw a significant year-over-year decrease in net sales due to lower customer investments in display manufacturing equipment, attributed to weak consumer demand for electronic products. The company is focused on expanding its presence with technologically differentiated equipment for emerging display technologies and aims to leverage its capabilities to navigate these market conditions.

Applied Materials' growth strategy centers on developing products that solve customer challenges at technology inflections, expanding its served market opportunities within the semiconductor and display industries, and growing its services business. This involves significant and continued investment in Research, Development, and Engineering (RD&E) to deliver new products and technologies, particularly in high-growth areas like AI, IoT, 5G, and automotive electronics.

Applied Materials continues to return value to shareholders through a combination of share repurchases and dividends. In fiscal year 2023, the company repurchased $2.2 billion of its common stock, with a substantial $12.7 billion authorization remaining. It also consistently paid quarterly cash dividends, demonstrating a commitment to capital management and shareholder returns.