Applied Materials reports half a billion operating loss
Applied Materials has reported results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2012.In the fourth quarter, Applied generated orders of $1.47 billion and net sales of $1.65 billion. The company recorded a goodwill impairment and restructuring charges totaling $545 million and reported an operating loss of $499 million, with a net loss of $515 million or 42 cents per diluted share. Non-GAAP operating income was $114 million, and non-GAAP net income was $70 million or 6 cents per share, at the high end of the company's expectations.
In FY2012, the company reported orders of $8.04 billion, net sales of $8.72 billion, operating income of $411 million, and net income of $109 million or 9 cents per diluted share. Non-GAAP operating income for the year was $1.38 billion, and non-GAAP net income was $960 million or 75 cents per share.
"In our fourth quarter, Applied delivered profit at the high end of our outlook despite challenging industry conditions in semiconductor, solar and display," said Mike Splinter, Chairman and CEO. "Our strong cash flow performance allowed us to increase our quarterly dividend and share buybacks, returning $1.85 billion to shtockholders in the year."
"We see improving business conditions entering 2013, with orders projected to increase after bottoming in the fourth quarter," Splinter added. "Accelerated changes in device technology and the adoption of new materials in all of the industries we serve provide opportunities for Applied to build on our leadership and grow our market share."
Fourth quarter results included a $421 million goodwill impairment charge associated with the Energy and Environmental Solutions (EES) segment. The goodwill impairment reflects the deterioration in solar equipment market conditions, our customers' financial condition and reduced market valuations, causing Applied to reassess the recoverability of the segment's goodwill. Applied also reported $124 million in charges related to previously announced restructuring plans and the integration of Varian.
Fourth quarter orders for Varian products of $152 million and net sales of $195 million were reported within the Silicon Systems Group (SSG) and Applied Global Services (AGS) segments. The Varian business contributed approximately one cent to the company's non-GAAP EPS in the quarter, which excluded acquisition-related charges equivalent to approximately three cents per share. In FY2012, orders for Varian products totaled $1.03 billion, and net sales were $1.02 billion. The Varian business contributed approximately 11 cents to Applied's non-GAAP EPS, which excluded acquisition-related charges equivalent to approximately 20 cents per share.
Applied's non-GAAP results exclude the impact of the following, where applicable: certain discrete tax items; restructuring charges and any associated adjustments; certain acquisition-related costs; impairments of assets, goodwill, or investments; and/or gain or loss on sale of facilities. A reconciliation of the GAAP and non-GAAP results is provided in the financial tables included in this release. See also "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.
Silicon Systems Group (SSG) orders were $741 million, down 36 percent, primarily due to lower orders in foundry and memory, partially offset by increased orders in logic. Net sales were $870 million, down 44 percent. Non-GAAP operating income decreased to $95 million or 10.9 percent of net sales. GAAP operating income decreased to $41 million or 4.7 percent of net sales. New order composition was: foundry 47 percent, flash 8 percent, logic and other 40 percent, and DRAM 5 percent.
Applied Global Services (AGS) orders were $576 million, up 8 percent driven by service contract renewals. Net sales were $621 million, up 7 percent, which included $85 million in sales of a thin film production line. Non-GAAP operating income increased to $171 million or 27.5 percent of net sales. GAAP operating income increased to $164 million or 26.4 percent of net sales.
Display orders were $83 million, up 24 percent from low levels. Net sales were $93 million, down 35 percent. Non-GAAP operating income decreased to $4 million or 4.3 percent of net sales. GAAP operating income decreased to $3 million or 3.2 percent of net sales.
Energy and Environmental Solutions (EES) orders were $65 million, up 86 percent from low levels driven by demand for roll-to-roll deposition equipment. Net sales were $62 million, down 19 percent. EES had a non-GAAP operating loss of $46 million and a GAAP operating loss of $480 million.
Backlog decreased by $215 million to $1.6 billion and included negative adjustments of $42 million.
Gross margin was 38.4 percent on a non-GAAP basis, down from 41.6 percent, reflecting the decrease in net sales. GAAP gross margin was 35.6 percent.
Operating expenses were $518 million on a non-GAAP basis, down from $543 million, with the decrease primarily reflecting an adjustment in compensation accruals. GAAP operating expenses were $1.09 billion.
The effective tax rate was 26.3 percent on a non-GAAP basis. The GAAP effective tax rate was 3.2 percent.
Cash, cash equivalents and investments ended the quarter at $3.0 billion.
