UPDATE 2-Lam Research Q4 view disappoints on delayed orders

* Q3 EPS $1.45 vs est $1.36

* Q3 revenue $809.1 mln vs est $803.7 mln

* Sees Q4 EPS $1.07, plus or minus $0.07 vs est $1.39

* Shares down 6 pct (Adds Q4 outlook from conference call; updates share movement)

April 20 (Reuters) - Chip-gear maker Lam Research Corp forecast fourth-quarter results well below Wall Street view and warned of customers delaying orders, sending its shares down 6 percent in extended trade.

Lam, which forecast fourth-quarter shipments of $780 million, plus or minus $25 million, down from the $813 million it posted for the third quarter, said it expects quarter-to-quarter shipment variability to increase.

The company said its customers are asking for a higher number of shipments in the second half of calendar year 2011, compared with the first half.

"Despite short-term push-outs from recent events, we think current prospects for the industry remain healthy," Chief Executive Steve said on a conference call with analysts.

Analysts view Lam's top customer, Samsung Electronics' , recent decision to cut capital spending as hurting the company's fourth-quarter results. [ID:nL3E7F7304]

Lam, which supplies tools for etching circuits on to microchips, forecast fourth-quarter earnings of $1.07 per share, plus or minus 7 cents, on sales of $745 million, plus or minus $20 million.

Analysts on average were looking for earnings of $1.39 per share, on sales of $830.5 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

The company posted a third-quarter net income of $182.2 million, or $1.45 a share, compared with $120.3 million, or 94 cents a share last year.

"Strong demand for smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices is expected to drive a healthy level of investment on the part of our customers over the course of calendar year 2011," Newberry said in a statement.

Lam, which counts Samsung Electronics, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co and Toshiba Corp among its top customers, posted a 28 percent rise in sales at $809.1 million. Quarterly shipments grew 11 percent.

Analysts on average expected earnings of $1.36 a share, on revenue of $803.7 million.

The Fremont, California-based company's shares, which have gained about a fifth in value over the last six months, were down $2.91 at $49.13 in extended trade. They closed at $52.04 on Wednesday on Nasdaq. (Reporting by Saqib Iqbal Ahmed in Bangalore; Editing by Maju Samuel)