AMSTERDAM (AP) -- ASML Holding NV, a key equipment supplier to computer chip makers Intel and Samsung, says its earnings fell 12 percent in the fourth quarter

Net profit was euro317 million ($405 million), down from euro362 million in the same period a year ago. Revenues fell 20 percent to euro1.21 billion. ASML makes "lithography systems," used to trace out the circuitry of semiconductors. The company said Wednesday that although orders slowed in the fourth quarter, they are strengthening in the first quarter on demand for logic and flash memory chips. ASML expects sales for the first half of 2012 to be around euro2.4 billion, unchanged from current levels.

ASML said it will increase its dividend for 2011 by 15 percent to euro0.46 and buy back euro1.1 billion worth of shares in 2012.