Applied Materials CEO sells over $98 million in company stock By Investing.com

Applied Materials Inc (NASDAQ:) CEO Gary Dickerson recently sold a significant number of shares in the company, as per the latest Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). On June 18, 2024, Dickerson sold a total of 399,000 shares of Applied Materials’ common stock, with the transactions amounting to over $98 million.

The shares were sold at weighted average prices ranging from $246.00 to $246.99 for one batch of 376,015 shares and from $247.00 to $247.20 for another set of 23,985 shares. These sales were executed in multiple transactions, and the prices reported are averages. The exact number of shares sold at each price within the reported ranges can be provided upon request.

Following the sale, Dickerson still holds a substantial number of shares in the company, totaling 1,542,269 shares. It’s worth noting that the total number of shares includes 527,339 performance share units and restricted stock units that are expected to convert into common stock upon vesting at future dates, subject to certain conditions including continued employment and achievement of performance goals.

Applied Materials, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is a leading company in the semiconductor and related devices industry. This sale by the CEO is a transaction that investors in the semiconductor sector may want to take note of, as executive stock sales can often provide insights into the leadership’s view of the company’s future prospects.

Investors and shareholders interested in the detailed breakdown of the transactions can request full information from Applied Materials.

In other recent news, Applied Materials has reported a series of significant developments. The company announced a dividend increase from $0.32 to $0.40 per share, marking a 25% rise from the previous dividend and continuing a trend of annual dividend growth. Additionally, the firm returned $1.09 billion to shareholders in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 through dividends and share repurchases.

Analysts have also updated their stances on the company, with Citi raising its price target for Applied Materials shares to $250 due to a strong demand outlook. KeyBanc maintained its Sector Weight rating, citing recovery, and B.Riley increased the stock price target to $255, highlighting future growth potential.

The company’s advanced packaging segment is projected to surge 70% year-over-year to $1.7 billion, and Gate-All-Around (GAA) technology is expected to generate over $2.5 billion in revenues in 2024, doubling to $5 billion by 2025. These are recent developments in the company’s performance and outlook, reflecting the analyses of various top-tier financial firms.

InvestingPro Insights

As investors digest the news of Applied Materials Inc (NASDAQ:AMAT) CEO Gary Dickerson’s recent stock sale, it’s essential to consider the company’s financial health and market performance. Applied Materials, a key player in the semiconductor industry, has shown a robust return over the past year, with a 74.61% increase in the one-year price total return as of the latest data. This performance is indicative of the company’s strong position in the market.

From an investment standpoint, it’s worth noting that Applied Materials has raised its dividend for six consecutive years, signaling a commitment to returning value to shareholders. Moreover, the company’s cash flows have been sufficient to cover interest payments, providing reassurance about its financial stability. These factors, coupled with the company’s ability to maintain dividend payments for 20 consecutive years, are reflected in the company’s dividend growth, which stands at an impressive 25.0% over the last twelve months.

However, potential investors should be aware of the company’s current valuation metrics. With a P/E ratio of 27.43 and a P/E ratio adjusted for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024 standing at 29.23, Applied Materials is trading at a high valuation relative to near-term earnings growth. This high valuation is further underscored by the company’s price to book ratio of 11.28. Such metrics suggest that the stock is priced at a premium, which could be a point of consideration for value-focused investors.

For those seeking additional insights, there are more InvestingPro Tips available for Applied Materials, which can be found at https://www.investing.com/pro/AMAT. These tips could further inform investment decisions, and by using the coupon code PRONEWS24, readers can receive an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription.

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