— Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT)reported adjusted earnings of $0.80 per share for the fourth quarter of 2019, vs. $0.76 per share expected.
— Net income, on an unadjusted basis, dropped to $698 million or $0.75 per share from $757 million or $0.77 per share last year
— Net sales were broadly flat at $3.75 billion, compared to the fourth quarter of 2018, vs. $3.68 billion expected
— Expects first-quarter sales to be about $4.10 billion, plus or minus $150 million
— Adjusted earnings are expected to be in the range of $0.87 per share to $0.95 per share in Q1
— Returned $3.17 billion to shareholders in the whole of 2019, through share buybacks and dividends
— Applied Materials shares closed Thursday’s regular session lower but gained 3% in the after-hours session