SAN FRANCISCO (AFX) -- Applied Materials Inc. , the world's largest chip-equipment maker, late Tuesday forecast quarterly financial targets that exceed current Wall Street expectations. It also said electronics makers will invest more on machines in 2007 as new factories that make consumer electronic goods start up production. In a conference call, Applied Materials Chief Financial Officer Nancy Handel pegged sales in the range of $2.36 billion to $2.475 billion and earnings per share between 28 cents and 30 cents. That compares with the consensus estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call, who estimate Applied Materials will chalk up sales of $2.33 billion and earnings of 27 cents a share. This story was supplied by MarketWatch. For further information see www.marketwatch.com.