Applied Materials Investor Relations Material

Applied Materials is an American company with global operations that manufactures and supplies equipment, associated services, and software for semiconductors. It also supplies equipment that makes it possible to manufacture coatings for electronics and packaging. The company is one of the largest suppliers of semiconductor equipment in the world and is therefore, unsurprisingly, an important player in the global semiconductor industry. Applied Materials operates in three different business sectors: Semiconductor Products, Display and Adjacent Markets, and Global Services. It is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and its shares are traded on the Nasdaq.

Applied Materials was founded in 1967 and began in a small office in Santa Clara, California, with its initial focus on manufacturing equipment for the burgeoning semiconductor industry.

The 1970s marked a period of significant growth for Applied Materials as the demand for semiconductors surged due to the rise of the personal computer. In the 1980s and 1990s, Applied Materials continued to grow, both organically and through strategic acquisitions, expanding its reach globally. Entering the 21st century, Applied Materials broadened its focus beyond the semiconductor sector. Today, the company is one of the leaders in semiconductor equipment together with companies such as ASML, Lam Research, and KLA.

Applied Materials' Semiconductor Products segment is a cornerstone of its business and the leading source of revenue. This arm of the business focuses on providing advanced equipment and services for semiconductor chip manufacturing. This includes tools for deposition, etching, ion implantation, rapid thermal processing, and wafer inspection. These technologies are crucial for creating the intricate structures found in modern microchips, which are essential components in a wide range of electronic devices. The segment's offerings are aimed to meet the needs in various stages of the semiconductor production process and enable the creation of smaller, more powerful, and energy-efficient chips.

Further reading: Understanding the Semiconductor Value Chain: Key Players & Dynamics

The company’s Display and Adjacent Markets division focuses on providing equipment used in the manufacture of flat panel displays, such as those for TVs, smartphones, and tablets. This involves technologies for depositing and etching materials on glass and flexible substrates, essential for producing high-resolution screens.

The Global Services segment complements this by offering comprehensive services and support, including upgrades, maintenance, and consulting, to optimize the performance and productivity of manufacturing equipment.