Purchased 9 percent of outstanding shares to build upon four years of successful collaboration on hybrid bonding technology for advanced packagingSANTA CLARA, Calif., April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Materials, Inc. today announced it has purchased 9 percent of the outstanding shares of the common stock of BE Semiconductor Industries N.V. (Besi), a leading manufacturer of assembly equipment for the semiconductor industry. Applied and Besi have been successfully collaborating since 2020, and recent ...

Key Takeaways Investors can see insider buys as an overall net positive concerning the longer-term outlook. Recently, CEOs of GME, AMAT, and MSTR have bought shares. Investors closely monitor insider buys, as they can give hints surrounding the long-term picture.But it’s critical to note that insiders have a longer holding period than most, and many strict rules apply to their transactions.Recently, CEOs of several companies – GameStop (GME) , MicroStrategy (MSTR) , and Applied Materials (AMAT) – have made ...

Applied Materials (AMAT) shares soared 4.7% in the last trading session to close at $132.85. The move was backed by solid volume with far more shares changing hands than in a normal session. This compares to the stock's 18.5% loss over the past four weeks.The upswing was likely due to the perception that semiconductor companies with strong fundamentals and pricing power will perform well in the current market climate, potentially benefiting from exemptions from tariffs on semiconductors.This maker of chipma ...

Core Viewpoint - Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) is experiencing short-term challenges but has strong long-term growth potential driven by its technological leadership and attractive valuation [2][16]. Group 1: Short-Term Challenges - AMAT's stock has declined 7.3% year to date due to weaker-than-expected guidance and broader market headwinds [1][4]. - The company projected second-quarter revenues of $7.1 billion (± $400 million), slightly below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.13 billion, leading to an 8.2% drop in stock price in a single session [4]. - U.S. export restrictions on semiconductor equipment sales to China are expected to reduce fiscal 2025 revenues by $400 million, with half of this decline impacting the second quarter [5]. - The slowdown in the IoT, Communications, Automotive, Power, and Sensors (ICAPS) segment, which had been a key growth driver, raises concerns about AMAT's overall performance [6]. Group 2: Long-Term Growth Catalysts - AMAT's leadership in AI-driven semiconductor technology positions it well for future growth, with AI chip demand fueling new investments [7]. - Revenues from advanced semiconductor nodes surpassed $2.5 billion in fiscal 2024, with expectations to double in fiscal 2025 due to growing customer adoption of GAA and backside power delivery solutions [8]. - The advanced packaging segment is becoming a significant revenue driver, with Integrated Hybrid Bonding technology attracting volume orders from leading-edge customers [9]. Group 3: Financial Resilience and Valuation - AMAT has consistently delivered better-than-expected earnings, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate for four consecutive quarters with an average surprise of 5.6% [10]. - Analysts expect revenues and EPS to grow in the mid-single digits for fiscal 2025 and 2026, indicating the company's resilience [11]. - The stock trades at a 12-month forward P/E ratio of 15.77, significantly below the industry average of 24.44, suggesting strong upside potential [12][15].

Group 1 - The account is managed by Noah's Arc Capital Management, focusing on 20th-century stocks undergoing transformation in the 21st century [1] - The research aims to identify innovations in business models that could lead to significant stock changes [1] Group 2 - The managing partner of Noah's Arc Capital Management is Noah Cox, whose views may not reflect the firm's overall stance [3] - The article is intended solely for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice [3]

Core Viewpoint - Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT) has reached a 52-week low of $145.37, presenting a buying opportunity for shareholders [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Applied Materials is viewed as heavily undervalued with significant upside potential, attracting value dividend investors [1] - The company is recognized for its long-term growth and dividend potential, appealing to investors looking to live off dividends in the future [1] Group 2: Investment Perspective - The current share price allows for the accumulation of more shares at a lower cost, which is favorable for long-term investment strategies [1] - The article expresses a strong bullish sentiment towards AMAT, indicating a strong buy recommendation based on its current valuation [1]

Group 1: Share Buyback Programs - Several major firms have announced significant new share buyback programs as Q1 2025 concludes, with three stocks having buyback capacity of 8% or more of their market capitalizations [1] - Applied Materials has authorized a $10 billion share buyback program, bringing its total buyback capacity to $17.6 billion, which is nearly 14% of its $126 billion market capitalization [1] - Churchill Downs has approved a $500 million share repurchase program, resulting in a total buyback capacity of $626 million, approximately 8% of its $8 billion market capitalization [6] - DICK'S Sporting Goods announced a $3 billion share buyback program, giving it a total buyback capacity of approximately $3.51 billion, equal to 22% of its nearly $16 billion market capitalization [11][12] Group 2: Dividend Increases - Applied Materials announced a significant dividend increase of 15%, raising the payment to $0.46 per share, with a yield of 1.2% [4] - DICK'S Sporting Goods also raised its dividend by 10%, planning to pay a total of $4.85 over the next four quarters, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.5% [14] Group 3: Financial Performance and Metrics - Applied Materials has repurchased $4.4 billion worth of shares over the last four quarters, but the timing of these purchases was not optimal as the current share price is 19% lower than the average repurchase price of $192 [2][3] - Churchill Downs has repurchased $216 million worth of shares in the last 12 months, which is moderately above its average repurchase pace of $187 million over the past decade [7] - DICK'S Sporting Goods spent $268 million on share buybacks in fiscal 2024, below its average annual buyback pace of $430 million over the past 10 years, with the current share price being 8% lower than the average price paid for shares [13]

Group 1 - iREIT+HOYA Capital focuses on income-producing asset classes that provide sustainable portfolio income, diversification, and inflation hedging [1] - The service offers a Free Two-Week Trial for potential investors to explore top ideas across exclusive income-focused portfolios [1] Group 2 - The article does not provide specific investment advice and encourages readers to conduct their own due diligence before making investment decisions [3] - There is no indication of any stock, option, or similar derivative positions held by the author in the companies mentioned, although a potential long position in AMAT may be initiated within 72 hours [2] - Seeking Alpha emphasizes that past performance is not indicative of future results and does not provide recommendations for specific investments [4]

Core Viewpoint - Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT) is positioned favorably in the AI and energy-efficient computing market, with a new $10 billion share repurchase authorization seen as a positive catalyst for the company's stock performance [1]. Group 1: Company Positioning - The company has been assigned a 'Buy' rating, indicating strong confidence in its growth potential within niche markets [1]. - Applied Materials is focusing on long-term quality growth, emphasizing a solid management team and sound capital allocation policies [1]. Group 2: Investment Strategy - The investment strategy targets achieving a 15% annual return, with a portfolio typically constructed of 15-20 diversified stocks [1]. - Key factors in portfolio construction include risk management, macro-driven sector weights, and disciplined trading and valuations [1].

Company Overview - Applied Materials is a leading supplier in the semiconductor equipment sector, known for its diversified portfolio and strong cash flow generation [6][13] - The company has recently announced a significant dividend increase and a $10 billion share repurchase program, indicating strong shareholder returns [7][8] Financial Performance - Applied Materials increased its quarterly dividend from $0.40 to $0.46 per share, representing a 15% increase, effective June 12 for shareholders of record as of May 22 [7] - The company reported a 7% revenue growth and a 12% increase in adjusted earnings per share last quarter, with analysts projecting nearly 10% earnings growth over the next two years [8][10] Market Position and Growth Potential - The semiconductor equipment sector is expected to grow above GDP in the long term, with Applied Materials positioned to benefit from the ongoing AI revolution, which requires advanced chip manufacturing [5][11] - The company's forward dividend yield has risen to approximately 1.25%, providing an attractive entry point for investors [9] Shareholder Returns - The new dividend yield is well-covered by earnings, with a coverage ratio of 4.7 times based on fiscal 2024 earnings of $8.65 per share against the new $1.84 dividend [10] - The combination of share repurchases and dividend growth is expected to lead to substantial payouts in the long term, potentially outpacing inflation [13]