News Release

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - March 8, 2011 - Applied Materials, Inc. today announced that its Board of Directors has approved an increase in the quarterly cash dividend from $0.07 per share to $0.08 per share payable on the company's common stock.  The dividend is payable on June 22, 2011 to stockholders of record as of June 1, 2011. 

"The strength of our products in the marketplace and the improvements we have made to our operations have enabled us to generate strong cash flow," said Mike Splinter, chairman and chief executive officer of Applied Materials.  "The company remains focused on expanding in our core businesses, entering new markets and returning value to shareholders through vehicles like the dividend and stock repurchases."

Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) is the global leader in providing innovative equipment, services and software to enable the manufacture of advanced semiconductor, flat panel display and solar photovoltaic products. Our technologies help make innovations like smartphones, flat screen TVs and solar panels more affordable and accessible to consumers and businesses around the world. At Applied Materials, we turn today's innovations into the industries of tomorrow. Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com.