Applied Materials Invests in BE Semiconductor to Advance Hybrid Bonding Innovation

Applied Materials has acquired 9% of BE Semiconductor Industries N.V. (Besi), strengthening their ongoing collaboration to develop next-generation hybrid bonding solutions for advanced chip packaging. The partnership aims to address the growing demand for high-performance and energy-efficient semiconductors.

Hybrid bonding technology enables copper-to-copper connections between chiplets, improving data transfer efficiency, reducing power consumption, and supporting more compact system designs. The joint development between Applied and Besi has resulted in a fully integrated system that combines precise wafer processing with high-speed die placement and assembly, positioning it for large-scale manufacturing.

This strategic investment highlights Applied’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge packaging solutions that support the semiconductor industry’s evolution, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. Applied does not plan to seek board representation at Besi or increase its shareholding.

Applied Materials has announced a 15% increase in its quarterly cash dividend, raising it to $0.46 per share. The dividend is payable on June 12, 2025, to shareholders of record as of May 22, 2025. This marks the eighth consecutive year the company has increased its dividend.

Additionally, the Board of Directors approved a new $10 billion share repurchase authorization, which adds to the approximately $7.6 billion remaining from a prior authorization. Over the past decade, Applied Materials has returned nearly 90% of its free cash flow to shareholders.

CFO Brice Hill stated that these actions reflect confidence in the company’s business outlook and commitment to delivering long-term shareholder value.

Applied Materials, Inc. Announces Results of 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
Santa Clara, CA – March 10, 2025 – Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) today announced the voting results from its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which took place on March 6, 2025. Shareholders voted on three proposals, including the election of directors, executive compensation approval, and auditor ratification.

Summary of Voting Results
Proposal 1: Election of Directors
All ten director nominees were elected to serve one-year terms until the next annual meeting. The results for each nominee were as follows:

Name For Against Abstain Broker Non-Votes
Rani Borkar 584,684,759 10,552,537 850,131 93,148,031
Judy Bruner 555,787,128 39,475,637 824,662 93,148,031
Xun (Eric) Chen 582,947,061 12,280,741 859,625 93,148,031
Aart J. de Geus 582,978,193 12,146,490 962,744 93,148,031
Gary E. Dickerson 590,461,432 4,790,595 835,400 93,148,031
Thomas J. Iannotti 552,804,047 42,428,749 854,631 93,148,031
Alexander A. Karsner 548,941,247 45,612,794 1,533,386 93,148,031
Kevin P. March 576,686,855 17,833,152 1,567,420 93,148,031
Yvonne McGill 587,260,563 7,965,294 861,570 93,148,031
Scott A. McGregor 593,069,093 2,133,870 884,464 93,148,031
Proposal 2: Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
Shareholders approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the company's named executive officers for fiscal year 2024.

✅ Votes in Favor: 544,787,137
❌ Votes Against: 47,074,703
➖ Abstentions: 4,225,587
???? Broker Non-Votes: 93,148,031

Proposal 3: Ratification of KPMG LLP as Independent Auditor
Shareholders ratified the appointment of KPMG LLP as Applied Materials' independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2025.

✅ Votes in Favor: 647,333,239
❌ Votes Against: 40,798,735
➖ Abstentions: 1,103,484

CEO Gary E. Dickerson commented:
"We appreciate the continued support of our shareholders as we execute our strategy to drive innovation and long-term growth. The strong vote of confidence in our board and leadership team reinforces our commitment to delivering value and advancing semiconductor technology."

Applied Materials has announced a 15% increase in its quarterly cash dividend, raising it to $0.46 per share, payable on June 12, 2025, to shareholders of record as of May 22, 2025. This marks the eighth consecutive year of dividend increases. The company’s Board of Directors has also authorized a new $10 billion share repurchase program, supplementing the existing program, which had $7.6 billion remaining at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2025.

CFO Brice Hill highlighted that over the past decade, Applied Materials has returned nearly 90% of its free cash flow to shareholders. The dividend increase and expanded buyback program reflect confidence in the company’s business prospects and its commitment to returning excess cash to shareholders.

The announcement includes forward-looking statements regarding dividend payments and share repurchases, subject to risks and market conditions. Applied Materials remains a leader in materials engineering solutions for semiconductor and display manufacturing, with a focus on innovation at the atomic scale.

Recently, Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT) has received positive attention from analysts. KeyBanc Capital Markets upgraded the stock to "Overweight" with a price target of $225, citing the company’s strong position in the semiconductor industry and growth potential driven by advancements in artificial intelligence. This upgrade reflects confidence in Applied Materials' ability to continue performing well in the rapidly evolving tech market.

Applied Materials Inc. will host its fiscal first quarter 2025 earnings conference call on **February 13, 2025**, at **4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT**. The call will be webcast live, with a replay accessible later that day. This initiative highlights the company's dedication to maintaining transparency and effective communication with its stakeholders.

Four of the top five ETFs holding AMAT have increased their weightings over the past 100 days.

Keybanc upgrades AMAT from hold to outperform