August 14, 2014 - Applied Materials, Inc. today reported results for its third quarter of fiscal 2014 ended July 27, 2014.
Applied generated orders of $2.48 billion, down 6 percent sequentially and up 24 percent year over year. Net sales were $2.27 billion, down 4 percent sequentially and up 15 percent year over year.
Non-GAAP adjusted gross margin of 45.5 percent increased 130 basis points sequentially and grew 260 basis points year over year. Non-GAAP adjusted operating income of $477 million declined slightly from the prior quarter and grew 53 percent year over year to 21.1 percent of net sales. Non-GAAP adjusted net income was $349 million, approximately flat sequentially and up 57 percent year over year. Non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS was $0.28. The company recorded GAAP gross margin of 43.8 percent, operating income of $391 million or 17.3 percent of net sales, and net income of $301 million or $0.24 per diluted share.
"We have focused our strategy and investments in areas that have the largest impact for customers while driving improvements in execution and speed across the company," said Gary Dickerson, President and CEO. "With these actions, we have improved our operating margins for seven quarters in a row and are making substantial progress towards our long-term financial model."
Quarterly Results Summary
Applied's non-GAAP adjusted results exclude the impact of the following, where applicable: certain acquisition-related costs; restructuring charges and any associated adjustments; impairments of assets, goodwill, or investments; gain or loss on sale of strategic investments; and certain tax items. A reconciliation of the GAAP and non-GAAP adjusted results is provided in the financial tables included in this release. See also "Use of Non-GAAP Adjusted Financial Measures" section.
Third Quarter Reportable Segment Results and Comparisons to the Prior Quarter
Silicon Systems Group (SSG) orders were $1.57 billion, down 6 percent, with decreases in DRAM and foundry. Net sales decreased 7 percent to $1.48 billion. Non-GAAP adjusted operating income decreased to $423 million while non-GAAP adjusted operating margin increased to 28.7 percent driven by a favorable product mix. GAAP operating income decreased to $381 million while GAAP operating margin increased to 25.8 percent. New order composition was: foundry 50 percent; flash 22 percent; DRAM 14 percent; and logic/other 14 percent.
Applied Global Services (AGS) orders were $552 million, up 3 percent, while net sales of $567 million were up 6 percent. Operating income increased slightly to $154 million on both a GAAP and non-GAAP adjusted basis while operating margin decreased to 27.2 percent.
Display orders of $296 million were down 13 percent but remained at high levels reflecting continued strong demand for TV production capacity. Net sales declined 19 percent to $119 million. Non-GAAP adjusted operating income was flat at $26 million while non-GAAP adjusted operating margin increased to 21.8 percent. GAAP operating income declined slightly to $25 million while GAAP operating margin grew to 21 percent. The GAAP and non-GAAP results included a benefit from the sale of previously reserved inventory.
Energy and Environmental Solutions (EES) orders decreased to $66 million while net sales rose to $103 million. Non-GAAP adjusted operating income increased to $25 million and non-GAAP adjusted operating margin rose to 24.3 percent. GAAP operating income increased to $24 million and GAAP operating margin grew to 23.3 percent. The GAAP and non-GAAP results included the benefit of a favorable litigation outcome.
Applied's backlog grew 9 percent sequentially to $2.97 billion including positive adjustments of $19 million, primarily related to EES re-bookings. Backlog composition by segment was: SSG 51 percent; AGS 22 percent; Display 22 percent; and EES 5 percent.
The company's GAAP and non-GAAP adjusted gross margin included benefits from the sale of display tools for which inventory had been fully reserved previously along with the recovery of all of the remaining customs assessment charges taken in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. These benefits were equivalent to approximately 80 basis points of third-quarter gross margin.
Business Outlook
For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, Applied expects net sales to be approximately flat, plus or minus three percent as compared to the previous quarter, and up by approximately 10 percent to 17 percent from the year-ago period. Non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS is expected to be in the range of $0.25 to $0.29, which would be up by approximately 32 percent to 53 percent year over year.
This outlook excludes known charges related to completed acquisitions and integration costs of $0.03 per share. The outlook does not exclude other non-GAAP adjustments that may arise subsequent to this release.
Use of Non-GAAP Adjusted Financial Measures
Management uses non-GAAP adjusted results to evaluate the company's operating and financial performance in light of business objectives and for planning purposes. These measures are not in accordance with GAAP and may differ from non-GAAP methods of accounting and reporting used by other companies. Applied believes these measures enhance investors' ability to review the company's business from the same perspective as the company's management and facilitate comparisons of this period's results with prior periods. The presentation of this additional information should not be considered a substitute for results prepared in accordance with GAAP.