Applied Materials CEO Gary Dickerson acquires $6.87 million in stock

Gary E. Dickerson, the President and CEO of Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT), recently acquired a significant amount of the company's common stock. According to a recent SEC filing, Dickerson purchased a total of 50,000 shares, with the transactions occurring on April 3, 2025. This insider purchase comes as InvestingPro analysis shows the company trading below its Fair Value, with a solid financial health score of GOOD and a reasonable P/E ratio of 17.

The shares were bought at a weighted average price, ranging from $136.69 to $137.70 per share, amounting to a total investment of approximately $6.87 million. This acquisition increases Dickerson's total direct ownership to 1,716,058 shares, reflecting his continued confidence in the company's prospects. Notably, InvestingPro data reveals management has been actively buying back shares, further aligning with this insider confidence.

The purchases include shares acquired under periodic payroll acquisitions through the Employees' Stock Purchase Plan, exempt under specific SEC rules. This move comes as Applied Materials, with its substantial $107.45B market cap, continues to navigate the dynamic semiconductor industry, where it plays a pivotal role in manufacturing equipment for semiconductor fabrication. For deeper insights into AMAT's valuation and 17+ additional ProTips, visit InvestingPro.

In other recent news, Applied Materials has announced several significant developments. The company declared a 15% increase in its quarterly cash dividend, marking continued growth in shareholder returns. Alongside this, a new $10 billion share repurchase program was authorized, adding to the existing plan with $7.6 billion remaining. Applied Materials also secured a $2 billion revolving credit facility, replacing a previous $1.5 billion line, providing increased financial flexibility until 2030. Furthermore, the company introduced the SEMVision™ H20 system, an advanced chip defect analysis tool utilizing eBeam technology and AI to enhance defect detection in semiconductor manufacturing.

At the recent Annual Meeting of Shareholders, all ten director nominees were elected, and executive compensation for fiscal year 2024 was approved. Additionally, KPMG LLP was ratified as the independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2025. Analysts from various firms have noted these strategic financial and operational moves. These recent developments underscore Applied Materials' ongoing efforts to strengthen its financial position and technological capabilities.

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