8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):     January 26, 2004    

ALTERA CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	0-16617	77-0016691
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission file number)	(I.R.S. employer identification no.)
101 Innovation Drive, San Jose, California		95134
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (408) 544-7000

Item 5.    Other Events.

On January 26, 2004, Altera Corporation issued a press release announcing an increase in the number of shares authorized for repurchase under the company’s share repurchase program. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

ALTERA CORPORATION
By:	/s/ Nathan Sarkisian
	Nathan Sarkisian Senior Vice President and     Chief Financial Officer

Date: January 26, 2004

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release dated January 26, 2004

EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

INVESTOR CONTACT

Scott Wylie

Vice President – Investor Relations

Altera Corporation

(408) 544-6996

swylie@altera.com

MEDIA CONTACT

Anna del Rosario

Director – Public Relations

Altera Corporation

(408) 544-7496

anna.delrosario@altera.com

ALTERA INCREASES SHARE REPURCHASE AUTHORIZATION

San Jose, California, January 26, 2004—Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR) today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a 10 million share increase to the number of shares authorized for repurchase under the company’s share repurchase program. There are now 19.5 million shares authorized by the Board of Directors for repurchase. Under the program, which was previously authorized by the Board of Directors, shares may be purchased in the open market from time to time at the discretion of the company’s management. Since the initiation of the share repurchase program in 1996, Altera has repurchased 58.5 million shares at a cost of $1.3 billion.

About Altera

Altera Corporation (Nasdaq: ALTR) is the world’s pioneer in system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) solutions. Combining programmable logic technology with software tools, intellectual property, and technical services, Altera provides high-value programmable solutions to approximately 14,000 customers worldwide. More information is available at www.altera.com.

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Altera, The Programmable Solutions Company, the stylized Altera logo, specific device designations and all other words that are identified as trademarks and/or service marks are, unless noted otherwise, the trademarks and service marks of Altera Corporation in the U.S. and other countries