Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Memory chipmakers have been some of the biggest winners of the artificial intelligence (AI) boom in 2026. As large language models expand, memory has proven to be one of the biggest bottlenecks in many systems, driving insatiable demand for chips to package with AI accelerators and graphics processing units (GPUs).

That spike in demand has led to a commensurate spike in pricing since it takes a long time for chipmakers to expand their manufacturing capacity. The result is record profits for the handful of companies that make memory chips, such as Micron Technology (MU +0.04%) and SK Hynix (SKHY +0.48%).

Many investors have piled into these stocks on the belief that the current AI build-out is far from peaking. What's more, there's growing sentiment that the sharp earnings cycles that have plagued the industry for decades could be a thing of the past due to the structural demands of AI. As a result, investors should be willing to pay a higher price for the memory chipmakers' earnings today.

But investing legend John Templeton once shared a timeless piece of wisdom that Micron and SK Hynix investors should heed. Investors are at risk of making the same mistake many others have in the past.

Image source: Micron Technology.

The chorus is growing louder The four most dangerous words in investing are "this time it's different," according to Templeton. Templeton used the phrase as a warning against market bubbles and crashes in which valuations deviate from historical norms. The underlying reasoning that the market can support higher pricing or will never turn around always comes back to the same phrase: This time it's different. In fact, the more often you hear or read those words, the more skeptical you should become of their accuracy.

There's a growing chorus of investors claiming that this time it's different for memory chipmakers. Micron and SK Hynix are no longer selling the vast majority of their chips to consumer device manufacturers; they're going to AI hyperscalers. That's a huge structural shift in demand that removes much of the variability caused by consumer sentiment and macroeconomic factors, so the argument goes.

But such reasoning also suggests that this time it's different for the technology investment cycle. There are countless examples of massive capital spending projects ultimately collapsing: Railroad, telecom, and internet infrastructure are three of the most prominent. To think AI will be different is folly. That doesn't mean AI won't be a transformational technology, just as railroads, telecommunications, and the internet were, but it does mean the level of capital spending is unlikely to grow forever.

Even Micron's and SK Hynix's own actions suggest they see the risk of demand dropping. First, they were slow to start building new capacity. Now, with major capital spending and expansion plans underway, they've secured long-term customer agreements to help protect their pricing on the downside.

That may smooth out the earnings cycle somewhat, but it won't prevent the ultimate drop in earnings as chipmakers start depreciating their capital expenditures and incur higher operating costs as they bring new manufacturing capacity online. A decline in demand from the hyperscalers would lead to a severe decline in earnings for Micron and SK Hynix.

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The big challenge for Micron and SK Hynix Memory chips are particularly vulnerable to cyclicality because they are, for all intents and purposes, commodities. You can package a memory chip from Micron with a GPU, and it'll perform roughly the same as using a chip from SK Hynix. While there are only three main competitors in the DRAM memory chip space, the capacity they build will affect pricing for all of them.

After SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics announced plans to spend over $500 billion on a new facility in Korea and about $1.3 trillion on new capital investments over the next decade, Micron announced an increase in its investments to $250 billion through 2035.

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If the manufacturers don't invest now, they leave money on the table. But ultimately, that spending will result in lower profits for everyone as supply catches up to and exceeds demand. So far, the earnings cycle in memory chips has been far bigger than anything we've seen before. But that doesn't mean "this time it's different."

There's an important caveat to Templeton's warning that even he himself admitted: About 20% of the time, it really is different. Perhaps this is one of those instances, but it's impossible to know now. With the tremendous growth in Micron and SK Hynix over the past few months, investors may want to pare down their holdings or exercise significant caution before buying either stock at current levels.

Jim Cramer has a message for anyone who bought Micron, Corning, or Seagate with borrowed money: get out now, before the margin clerks make the decision for you.

On Mad Money, the CNBC host laid out why the current unraveling in tech and semiconductor stocks has almost nothing to do with how these companies are actually performing, and everything to do with leverage. “Panic is not a strategy,” he said, before explaining exactly why panic is winning anyway.

Cramer’s Core Argument: Leverage Beats Fundamentals Cramer’s central point is that strong fundamentals cannot save a stock once a leverage-fueled rally goes into reverse. “When you get these parabolic rallies that they’ve had based on overconfidence and leverage on the part of overexuberant traders, well, if you buy a stock thinking that it can fly all the way to the sun, you’re going to get burned no matter how good the fundamentals are, especially if you use margin, something I abhor and will be the bane of your existence if you’re not careful.”

Corning Was Exhibit A Corning (NYSE:GLW | GLW Price Prediction) drew Cramer’s sharpest example. “When you watch Corning go from $77 to $271 in a short period of time, you know that you have to sell some,” Cramer said. “Maybe you have to cut the position in half because the fundamentals are no longer in the driver’s seat. The crazies are.” Our data shows Corning surging more than 200% over the past year, then tumbling nearly 18% in just the past week, exactly the kind of round trip he describes. Corning trades around $158 after that flush.

The Mechanics of a Forced Unwind Once big institutions start selling, there is nobody left with the firepower to hold prices up. “When you get the professionals selling huge chunks of stock, as we have right now, the margin amateurs and the call buyers and inexperienced hedge fund managers cannot possibly prop up the share prices. So what happens? The calls quickly cease to be worth anything. The margin buyers don’t have enough money to fend off the margin calls, so they’re forced to sell at bad prices.” Company quality becomes beside the point. “At this very moment, it doesn’t matter one bit how these companies are actually doing. Do you know that what matters is how the margin clerks are doing? That’s why, by the way, I like to wait until 2 p.m. to see if there’s a real bottom. That’s when the margin clerks are done selling for the day.” In a forced-selling cascade, the bottom arrives when liquidations exhaust themselves, not when earnings stabilize.

Micron: A Blowout Quarter Meets a Margin Flush The companies themselves are fine. Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) delivered a fiscal Q3 that raised the bar for the entire memory complex: revenue of $41.46 billion versus $35.25 billion expected, non-GAAP EPS of $25.11, and GAAP gross margin of 84.6%, per the company’s 8-K filing. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra told investors that “Micron’s record fiscal Q3 financial results and even stronger outlook for Q4 reflect the strategic value of memory in the AI era.” Q4 guidance calls for $50.0 billion in revenue and $31.00 in non-GAAP EPS.

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Then the stock rolled over anyway. Micron down 14% on the week even as it sits up nearly 199% on the year. Options positioning tells the same story: tomorrow’s expiration alone carries 337,818 calls of open interest against 577,051 puts, evidence of the leveraged, speculative crowd Cramer is describing.

Seagate Rides the Same Wave Seagate Technology (NASDAQ:STX) sits in the same demand story and the same drawdown. Fiscal Q3 revenue hit $3.11 billion, up 44.1% year over year, with CEO Dave Mosley telling investors that “Seagate is entering a new era of structural growth as AI applications amplify data creation and support sustained storage demand.” The stock still slid 16.25% over the past week.

That gap between fundamentals and price action is exactly what Cramer flagged as healthy. “The faster you get rid of those who borrow the money to buy an SK Hynix or Micron, the healthier this market will be. The unwind is good news.”

The Warning That Gives This Story Its Edge “If you’re borrowing money to buy stocks, I think you’ll still have a chance to get out with your shirt on. But if you persist, you might be naked by Monday.”

Parabolic moves unwind faster than they build, and margin turns a good company into a perilous stock the moment sentiment cracks. Cramer sees Micron and Corning as fundamentally sound businesses. His warning is that borrowed money in a forced-selling market is a trap, and the exit is closing. Sell the leverage, he argues, and once the margin clerks finish their work, the opportunity comes back elsewhere.

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Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

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At $905, Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU | MU Price Prediction) shows growing valuation risk. The memory maker has been the single most spectacular AI-adjacent trade of the past year, and that is exactly the problem at today’s quote.

Micron is the only U.S.-based maker of DRAM and NAND memory, and it now sells high-bandwidth memory (HBM) next to every leading-edge AI accelerator. Cloud Memory did $13.769 billion in Q3, Core Data Center added $11.524 billion, and Mobile and Client matched at $11.521 billion. Reported gross margin hit 84.6%, up from 37.7% a year earlier.

The stock has risen from roughly $119.92 a year ago to $904.28, and has pulled back 16.87% in the past month from above $1,087. The question now is whether that pullback is a pause or the start of something bigger.

Why the Bulls Still Own This Trade Q3 revenue landed at $41.456 billion, beating consensus by 17.60%, and non-GAAP EPS of $25.11 beat by 23.79%. Q4 guidance calls for $50 billion in revenue and $31 in EPS at the midpoint, with gross margin near 86%.

Management has signed 16 Strategic Customer Agreements carrying roughly $100 billion in floor-priced revenue over five years, backed by $22 billion in customer cash deposits and letters of credit. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra says HBM4 12-high is ramping twice as fast as HBM3E, and Wall Street’s consensus target of $1,486 implies substantial upside.

Why $905 Is the Wrong Price Three risks weigh on that story at $905.

HBM execution: HBM4 is generating over $1 billion in quarterly revenue with a single lead customer, and HBM4E volume production is not slated until calendar 2027. Any yield stumble, qualification delay, or lost socket resets the entire margin narrative.

Memory cyclicality: DRAM prices rose in the low-60% range and NAND in the mid-80% range sequentially in Q3. Double-ordering likely inflates those numbers, and SCA ceilings pinned at current-quarter market prices limit further spot upside while doing nothing to prevent normalization in the other 60% of revenue. Capex in a hawkish backdrop: Full-year FY2026 capex is guided to roughly $27 billion, with fiscal 2027 quarterly spending running above the Q4 pace. The 10-year Treasury sits at 4.58%, in the 98th percentile of the past year, as Micron writes checks for Idaho, New York, Taiwan, and Singapore fabs.

The Case for Waiting Micron will almost certainly print the guided Q4, order books stretch into 2027, and the SCAs make a 2016-style price crash unlikely. But management just admitted “we are at margin levels where incremental price yields less gross margin expansion” and flagged a $1 billion opex increase for FY2027. Existing holders face a different calculus than new buyers at $905, who would be underwriting a second leg the company itself is guiding to moderate.

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What the Stock Says Micron trades at $904.28, against a consensus analyst target of $1,486, implying meaningful upside if targets are met. Forward P/E is 6, trailing P/E 21, and a PEG of 0.14.

Coverage is lopsided: 9 Strong Buy, 31 Buy, 4 Hold, 0 Sell, and 1 Strong Sell. Shares are up 217.03% year to date and 654.1% over one year, versus roughly 10.6% for the S&P 500 YTD.

MU is off 4.69% on the week, 16.87% on the month, and fell 8.02% in the most recent session. The 50-day moving average of $907.42 is now essentially the price.

Why $905 Looks Stretched The path to further downside is short. Q4 will almost certainly beat, but the guided 86% gross margin is the ceiling by management’s own admission. As pricing moderates through calendar 2026, the market will re-rate a business that grew revenue 345.72% year over year off a depressed base. Forward P/E of 6 assumes those earnings hold.

Concentration risk is acute. HBM4 revenue depends on one lead customer. Any AI capex hiccup at a single hyperscaler reprices 33% of Micron’s mix overnight. Layer on $27 billion in fiscal 2026 capex, a $325 million debt prepayment loss last quarter, and a 10-year yield in the 98th percentile, and the financing backdrop for that spend is the worst it has been in a year.

What would invalidate the Sell? A clean HBM4E ramp with a second named lead customer, or SCA revenue crossing 50% of the mix with floor prices materially above prior peak margins. Neither is visible yet. A 654% one-year move already reflects the good news, and the setup asks new buyers to underwrite perfection at the exact moment management is guiding moderation.

History suggests chasing a memory stock the quarter after it prints an 84.9% gross margin has rarely worked out well.

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$8.5 billion. That is what Chinese memory maker ChangXin Memory Technologies, or CXMT, is set to raise in its Shanghai STAR Market listing, nearly double its initial target, at an implied market cap near $85.5 billion. The proceeds represent an incoming war chest, not yet in the bank, earmarked to expand production of the same commodity DRAM chips that make up a huge portion of Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU | MU Price Prediction)’s business.

What It Means Micron is a DRAM company first.  CXMT’s DRAM market share roughly tripled year over year to about 8% in the first quarter, per Counterpoint Research, still well behind Micron’s roughly 22%, but a triple in a year is still an amazing trajectory. That’s unnerving investors, especially as the fresh capital should enable CXMT to invest in further closing the gap. Commodity DDR4 and DDR5 used in PCs, servers, and smartphones is exactly where a well funded Chinese entrant can press hardest, and it is exactly the pool Micron swims in outside the United States.

Of course, it’s worth noting that CXMT is subject to US sanctions that curb its access to the most advanced chipmaking equipment, which limits its ability to supply US customers and to make the most advanced high-bandwidth memory (HBM) that powers AI servers. That caps the near-term damage. It does not eliminate the pressure on standard DRAM pricing that Micron needs to hold to defend the fat margins it just printed.

How fat? Q3 FY26 came in at $41.5 billion in revenue, non-GAAP EPS of $25.11, and GAAP gross margin of 84.6% versus 37.7% a year ago. Operating income ran $33.3 billion. Those margins are the prize CXMT is aiming at, even if it never touches HBM.

Market Reaction Not surprisingly, Micron traded down sharply on the news, with shares off 7% as of the time of this writing. The move is not solely about CXMT. Memory names sold off across the board (SK Hynix’s (NASDAQ:SKHY) US-listed ADR is down 9% on the day as well) as traders locked in a strong run, but the DRAM competition headline sat squarely at the center of the narrative.

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Part of the problem here is that Micron is up over 240% year to date and 730% over one year as of yesterday. A rerating of that scale needs the fundamentals to keep sprinting. Q4 guidance says they will: $50 billion ± $1 billion in revenue and non-GAAP EPS of $31.00 ± $1.00. That guidance assumes DRAM pricing holds. A better-funded CXMT is a direct threat to that assumption in the commodity segment where Micron cannot hide behind HBM.

Then look at the capital intensity of Micron’s own defense. Capital expenditures hit $7.8 billion in Q3 alone, up 166.37% year over year. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra framed it directly: “Micron is investing at record levels in technology, products and supply to address our customers’ rapidly growing demand.” Record capex is the price of staying ahead. It is also the number that CXMT’s IPO proceeds are designed to match on the low end of the technology ladder. The AI leg of the story hinges on a small number of buyers whose orders can flex.

SK Hynix looks insulated today as the DRAM revenue leader that dominates HBM. The longer term question, several years out, is whether a funded CXMT can close the technology gap under sanctions. If it does, the pressure eventually reaches the largest incumbents too.

Bottom Line For long term holders, the CXMT raise highlights that these competitive threats are intensifying. Micron’s Q3 numbers are the peak of an AI memory cycle, and the stock has been priced accordingly. The $8.5 billion raise is the first hard evidence that the competitive equation on commodity DRAM is changing in the background. The next catalyst is fiscal Q4 2026 earnings, when management’s confidence in that $50 billion revenue guide meets the first questions about what a bigger CXMT means for pricing into calendar 2027. That is the number to watch – and we’ll all be waiting.

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Micron Technology stock rose more than 4% in early trading on Tuesday, recovering from the previous session's decline.

The stock surged after KeyBanc raised its price target on the memory-chip maker, citing persistent supply shortages and expectations of continued price increases across memory markets.

MU stock gained about 4.6% to $980.34 after falling 4.3% on Monday during a broader semiconductor sector selloff.

KeyBanc analyst John Vinh increased his price target on Micron to $1,750 from $1,600 following a supply chain visit to Asia.

The new target implies approximately 87% upside from Monday's closing price of $937.

KeyBanc expects memory pricing to remain strongVinh said supply chain checks continue to indicate that memory markets will remain tight well into 2027.

He wrote, "Memory shortages remain persistent…Supply chain commentary continues to point to a tight memory environment through 2027."

The analyst expects dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) prices to rise between 15% and 20% in the third quarter compared with the previous quarter, followed by another 15% increase in the fourth quarter.

For NAND flash memory, KeyBanc forecasts prices to increase 30% to 40% in the third quarter and another 15% in the fourth quarter.

Vinh also expects high-bandwidth memory (HBM), the specialized memory used in advanced artificial intelligence processors, to more than double in price next year.

His valuation is based on a price-to-earnings multiple of nine times his projected fiscal 2027 earnings for Micron.

Micron continues to benefit from rising demand for memory used in artificial intelligence infrastructure, particularly HBM, which is widely deployed alongside advanced AI graphics processing units.

During the company's latest earnings call, Chief Executive Officer Sanjay Mehrotra said demand continues to outpace supply.

He stated that demand for DRAM and NAND chips continues to exceed supply and the company "expects tight conditions to persist beyond calendar 2027."

The company has also secured 16 long-term supply agreements with major customers, providing greater revenue visibility while helping improve production planning.

In addition to HBM, Micron continues to see healthy demand for data-center DRAM products and enterprise solid-state drives.

Wall Street remains bullish despite recent volatilityMemory-chip stocks have experienced heightened volatility after posting substantial gains during the artificial intelligence investment boom.

Despite recent weakness, analysts remain largely positive on Micron's outlook.

89% of the 45 analysts who issued ratings in July recommend buying or strongly buying the stock, while none recommend selling.

FactSet data shows the average Wall Street price target stands at approximately $1,579.

Despite the rally over the past year, the stock remains about 21% below its 52-week high of $1,255.

It currently trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings multiple of 6.58, below its one-year high valuation of 17.01.

Samsung is one of the most important memory manufacturers in the world, as evidenced by its market share in the dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and NAND flash storage markets.

Counterpoint Research notes that Samsung dominates both these memory niches. It is the top vendor of NAND flash memory, with a market share of 29%, and enjoys a similar position in the global DRAM market, with a 38% share. This massive dominance translated into a phenomenal 19x year-over-year increase in Samsung's second-quarter operating profit when it released its preliminary report last week.

However, Samsung stock has dropped 20% since releasing its preliminary report on July 7. What's more, Samsung's pullback has also created concerns about the prospects of high-flying chipmaker Micron Technology (MU 5.33%). Let's see why that has been the case.

Image source: Micron Technology.

Samsung's results indicate that investors are expecting bigger beats from memory manufacturers Though Samsung's sales more than doubled year over year and its operating profit was higher than analysts' expectations, it looks like the market was expecting a bigger jump. Additionally, analysts are expecting a gradual slowdown in memory price growth. According to Citi Research, the price of DRAM and NAND flash jumped by 44% and 53%, respectively, on a sequential basis in Q2.

For comparison, the sequential price growth was much stronger in Q1, with DRAM average selling price (ASP) rising in the mid-60% range and NAND flash ASP increasing in the mid-70% range, according to SK Hynix. This slower increase in memory prices last quarter is the reason why Samsung's earnings beat wasn't bigger, and that's bad news for Micron investors.

Micron stock has slipped 19% from the 52-week high it reached last month. Even record results for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 (which ended May 28), which Micron released on June 24, haven't been enough to arrest the stock's slide. What's worth noting is that Micron's earnings jumped by a whopping 13x year over year in the previous quarter to $25.11 per share.

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Its guidance of $31.00 in earnings per share for the current quarter points to a potential year-over-year jump of more than 10x. That would represent a smaller increase from the earnings growth Micron reported last quarter, but it is still phenomenal. Clearly, Micron's performance is solid enough to warrant further upside in its stock price. However, that hasn't been the case recently, which is why investors may be wondering whether they should start booking profits.

Micron's phenomenal growth warrants a higher valuation There is no harm in expecting a bigger earnings beat from memory makers like Micron, especially considering the favorable demand-supply dynamics in this market. After all, memory has proved to be a key bottleneck in AI infrastructure, which is why the demand for these chips is predicted to significantly exceed supply until 2030.

However, the market isn't rewarding Micron with a valuation that reflects its exponential earnings growth and terrific potential. It trades at just 22 times earnings, lower than the S&P 500 index's earnings multiple of 25.4. However, Micron's earnings are growing significantly faster than the S&P 500's.

Specifically, S&P 500 companies are expected to deliver average earnings growth of 24% this year and 18% next year. Micron's earnings, meanwhile, are forecasted to grow at a significantly stronger pace.

Data by YCharts

So, Micron needs to be rewarded with a higher earnings multiple, ideally paving the way for further upside in this AI stock. That's why it would be a good idea to continue holding Micron shares, or even buy more, given that it has become a more attractive investment following the recent pullback.

Key Takeaways Micron has signed 16 long-term supply agreements covering key DRAM and NAND volumes.Take-or-pay terms and pricing bands aim to soften market swings and stabilize margins and cash flows.Fourteen agreements represent about $100 billion in minimum revenues, backed by $22 billion in commitments. Micron Technology, Inc. (MU - Free Report) is reshaping its business model through long-term supply contracts that aim to reduce the earnings volatility typical of the memory industry. With artificial intelligence (AI) driving unprecedented demand for DRAM and NAND, these agreements could provide greater revenue visibility while supporting stable margins and stronger cash flows.

By the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2026, the company signed 16 Strategic Customer Agreements (SCAs) spanning data center, consumer and automotive markets. These contracts currently cover roughly 20% of Micron's DRAM volume and about one-third of its NAND volume over the contract period. Management expects these agreements to eventually account for half or more of total company revenues, significantly increasing the predictability of future sales.

The SCAs are structured as take-or-pay contracts, requiring customers to purchase committed volumes over multiple years. Most agreements include pricing bands with defined floor and ceiling prices, reducing the impact of sharp market swings while allowing pricing to adjust within agreed limits. Fourteen of the signed agreements represent approximately $100 billion in minimum contracted revenues over the remaining contract term. Customers have also committed about $22 billion through cash deposits and related financial commitments, highlighting confidence in Micron's long-term supply strategy.

These agreements come as AI-driven demand continues to outpace industry supply. Micron expects tight DRAM and NAND market conditions to extend beyond calendar year 2027, supported by limited wafer capacity and slower technology transitions. Combined with strong demand for HBM, data center SSDs and advanced memory products, the company's contract-based model should improve revenue visibility.

While memory remains a cyclical industry, these long-term supply agreements could make Micron's financial performance more stable than in previous cycles. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 revenues is currently pegged at $126.66 billion, indicating a robust $238.9% year-over-year surge.

How Do MU's Rivals Compare on Long-Term Revenue Visibility?Micron's closest U.S.-listed competitors are Western Digital Corporation (WDC - Free Report) and Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX - Free Report) , though both focus primarily on storage rather than DRAM memory. Like Micron, they are benefiting from the AI-driven surge in enterprise storage demand, but their revenue visibility relies more on long-term cloud customer relationships than formal multi-year supply contracts.

Western Digital has seen strong demand for its enterprise SSDs and high-capacity HDDs, supported by AI data center investments and growing cloud deployments. The company expects continued growth as hyperscalers expand storage infrastructure for AI workloads. Western Digital’s third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues rose 45% year over year to $3.34 billion.

Seagate is also capitalizing on the rising demand for mass-capacity storage. Its Mozaic platform, based on heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) technology, enables higher-capacity hard drives that help customers lower storage costs. In the last reported financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2026, Seagate’s revenues jumped 44% year over year to $3.11 billion.

Nonetheless, unlike Micron's take-or-pay SCAs that lock in committed purchase volumes, Western Digital and Seagate remain more exposed to fluctuations in enterprise storage spending and hard drive pricing. This gives Micron an advantage in revenue visibility, especially as its multi-year agreements provide committed demand, pricing discipline and stronger cash flow predictability during periods of tight memory supply.

Micron’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Micron have surged around 243.1% year to date compared with the Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s return of 16.9%.

Micron Technology YTD Price Return Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, MU trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 6.90, significantly lower than the sector’s average of 24.80.

Micron Technology 12-Month Forward P/E Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Micron’s fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings implies a year-over-year increase of 791% and 107%, respectively. Bottom-line estimates for fiscal 2026 and 2027 have been revised upward in the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Micron currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Key Takeaways Micron's AI memory business is benefiting from strong demand, supply shortages and rising HBM pricing.MU forecast fiscal Q4 2026 revenue of about $50B and adjusted EPS of $31, above consensus estimates. Micron plans major U.S. investments through 2035 to expand AI memory capacity and secure silicon supply. Micron Technology Inc. (MU - Free Report) witnessed a meteoric rise in its stock price in the first half of 2026, rallying nearly 340%. On June 24, the company posted blockbuster third-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings results, crushing all estimates. 

As a result, on June 25, shares of MU touched an all-time high of $1,255. Thereafter, the stock has seen a gradual decline and is currently in the bear-market territory plunging 22% from its all-time high. However, the recent softness in the stock price has opened a tremendous opportunity for both short and long-term investors. 

The chart below shows the price performance of MU in the past month.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Excellent Business Opportunity Micron has been benefiting tremendously from the enormous application of AI in day-to-day life, which has pushed up the demand for memory chips. The four major hyperscalers raised their AI capital expenditure budget to $750 billion for 2026. This figure is set to cross $1 trillion next year and is likely to rise further beyond 2027. 

This has resulted in more AI semiconductor sales, implying the need for multiple AI memory chips to operate. Flash memory technologies like DRAM and NAND are used in AI chips, enabling them to perform optimally. 

This has pushed up the demand for AI-enabled memory chips. In their last earnings reports, all four major hyperscalers highlighted a shortage of memory and storage chips, resulting in soaring prices of these products. As a result, MU benefits significantly. 

Micron’s CEO, Sanjay Mehrotra, said, “Our customers are recognizing that supply shortages in memory and storage will take considerable time to improve, even as we expect industry supply to improve gradually in 2028.”

Solid Estimate RevisionsMicron has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of more than 100% each, for the current year (ending August 2026). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 22.6% over the last 30 days. 

MU has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 87.8% and more than 100%, for the next year (ending August 2027). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for next year’s earnings has improved 44.3% over the last 30 days. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Micron’s gross margin climbed to 84.9% in the third quarter from 74.9% in the prior quarter and 39% in the year-ago period. This proved how high-bandwidth memory (HBM) shortage is helping these high-end memory developers to increase prices in a world of AI-powered data center boom. Likewise, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2027 EBITDA margin has shown steady improvement since mid-May.

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New Tech Trends to Drive ProspectsThe performance of any AI model depends on memory performance and capacity. MU’s HBM is a highly sought-after product for NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA - Free Report) , Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD - Free Report) and Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL - Free Report) to name a few, for their AI-enabled chipsets.

Micron has meaningful exposure to AI, cloud data centers, industrial IoT and autonomous vehicles, all of which require increasingly advanced memory solutions. As AI adoption accelerates, demand for DRAM and NAND products continues to rise. 

NVIDIA identified Micron as a key HBM supplier for its GeForce RTX 50 Blackwell GPUs, reinforcing its importance within the AI supply chain. Demand for HBM4 is also benefiting from next-generation AI infrastructure deployments, including NVIDIA’s Vera Rubin platform. 

On July 8, Reuters reported that Micron has decided to invest more than $250 billion in the United States through 2035. The company’s original investment plan was $170 billion, which it raised to $200 billion in June. 

Moreover, MU also unveiled its plan to invest $3 billion in GlobalWafers' silicon wafer manufacturing operations in Texas. The two companies plan to enter a 10-year deal to ensure a long-term supply of raw silicon wafer capacity to the AI memory chip behemoth.

Strong Guidance Micron anticipates revenues of $50 billion (+/1 billion) in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2026. Operating expenses on a non-GAAP basis are estimated to be approximately $1.65 billion. Adjusted EPS is anticipated to be $31.00 (+/- $1.00). 

Attractive Valuation Despite a robust rally, the MU stock still looks very attractive. It trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 13.43, which is significantly lower than the industry average of 27.73. This discount adds to the appeal for long-term investors.

MU trades at a price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 12.41, compared with the industry average of 10. Further, it trades at a price-to-book (P/B) multiple of 11.12, compared with the industry average of 8.40. These two multiples warrant premiums due to the company’s dominant position in the AI HBM and DRAM markets.

Huge Price Upside PotentialThe current Zacks Consensus average price for Micron is based on short-term price targets offered by 33 analysts. The short-term average price target of brokerage firms represents an increase of 52.2% from the last closing price of $979.30. 

The brokerage target price is currently in the range of $2,000-$470. This indicates a maximum upside of 104.2% and a maximum downside of 52%. The risk/reward ratio is highly favorable 1:2. 

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What Next for MU?Micron currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

MU has invested heavily in next-generation memory technologies, positioning itself to meet the growing performance and efficiency requirements of AI ecosystems. MU’s position in the AI ecosystem continues to strengthen. 

Micron Technologies represents an opportunity to invest in a company with substantial unrealized potential in the AI revolution. At this stage, it will be prudent to buy MU on every dip. Hold this stock for the long term as the astonishing growth potential of the global AI-powered data centers and MU’s strong guidance and business visibility are likely to generate more value.

After hitting a 52-week high of $1,255 on June 25, the Micron Technology (MU 1.05%) stock price has since retreated below $1,000. There's a likely mix of factors that have led to that decline and that are keeping the stock price from rebounding, ranging from potential profit-taking to a chip stock sell-off to increased competition from SK Hynix's listing on the Nasdaq.

In the background, however, there was a July 6 announcement from Micron that seemed to get buried.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Micron locks in Ford On July 6, Micron Technology announced that it had entered into a long-term agreement, which it called a strategic customer agreement (SCA), with Ford to help strengthen the automaker's vehicle production. "Producing the high-volume vehicles of the future in the U.S. will require a resilient supply chain," Ford CEO Jim Farley said in the announcement.

Micron didn't offer specifics about the deal's value. But it did say the SCA was part of a collective 16 it discussed in its 2026 third-quarter earnings call.

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In that call, Micron shared that it had strategic agreements, ranging from deals with automakers to hyperscalers, spanning three to five years. From those 16 agreements, it has $22 billion in deposits and financial commitments. In total, those agreements are expected to generate over $100 billion in revenue, a figure that may be conservative.

The news alone didn't push Micron back to its 52-week high of $1,255. But working to lock in future revenue over the years ahead can help it shed its cyclical reputation, building a stronger case for Micron as a long-term investment.

Jack Delaney has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Micron Technology. The Motley Fool recommends Nasdaq. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Micron Technology (MU 1.05%) has emerged as one of the top AI stocks. It's up by more than 700% over the past year, thanks to strong demand for its memory and storage products from AI data centers. Those facilities need huge volumes of Micron's chips to efficiently handle AI workloads, but a new wave of products may need such chips even more. 

During the company's fiscal 2026 third-quarter call on June 24, CEO Sanjay Mehrotra told investors that humanoid robots are a much more promising opportunity for Micron than AI data centers. That may sound hard to believe right now, especially since Micron more than quadrupled its revenue year over year thanks to data center sales. However, the premise is worth exploring.

Image source: Getty Images.

A multi-decade memory demand cycle Some investors have shied away from the semiconductor trade due to the industry's cyclical history. The general concept is that at various points, rising demand for a particular type of chip leads to a shortage, which drives prices up.

The chipmakers supplying those products book higher profits, but they also rush to boost their production capacity so that they can sell as many of those chips as possible. "Rush," however, is relative. It can take a couple of years to get new chip fabrication facilities online.

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Eventually, more supply arrives, cutting into chipmakers' pricing power. Then, frequently, total demand slides, and the chipmakers are stuck with inventory gluts. But they have to get rid of their older models to make room for new chips with better technological features. The solution is price cutting, which results in further reduced revenues and even tighter margins.

Memory chips in particular have been subject to these cycles, as the technology has largely been commoditized. There's not an enormous amount of variation between the products made by Micron and its peers. 

Bullish investors view Micron as being in the middle of a multiyear up cycle driven by artificial intelligence. However, Mehrotra took it a step further during the fiscal 2026 third-quarter earnings call. He predicted a "sustained, substantial multidecade memory demand cycle" that will begin in "the latter part of this decade."

This cycle hasn't even started yet, and it's supposed to be bigger than the one that's being powered by AI data center demand. And that forecast came from Mehrotra right after his company broke records and crushed its already ambitious guidance.

Why robots? Mehrotra also notified investors that AI infrastructure is accelerating the path to physical AI. That's a large category that includes humanoid robots. Tesla (TSLA +0.22%) has also been teasing its Optimus robots for a while, and is getting closer to commercializing them.

When mass production of those devices actually happens, it will be a substantial tailwind for Micron. The company said humanoid robots will carry 10 times the memory of the average L2+ vehicle. (L2+ is just an auto industry insiders' term for vehicles with enhanced advanced driver assistance systems.)

The supply shortages in the memory market will get worse if demand continues to accelerate. Micron will have a vast runway to sell chips at nosebleed margins. Barclays expects the market for humanoid robots to reach $200 billion in less than 10 years, while well-known tech bull Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities anticipates the industry will be worth trillions of dollars over the course of the next decade.

Investors don't have to guess which robotics company will win that race when they can buy a chipmaker whose products will be integral to the majority of humanoid robots. That's the pitch from Micron, and it's a pretty good one.

Most of the attention on Micron Technology (MU +4.55%) sits on high-bandwidth memory and the artificial intelligence data center boom. That story is real, but it hides a different shift in how the company sells its products -- a shift that could shape the next earnings report more than any single chip.

Micron is signing long-term supply agreements In the first week of July, Micron announced two strategic customer agreements within six days of each other. A strategic customer agreement is, in plain terms, a promise from a buyer to keep buying.

On July 1, it signed a deal with General Motors to secure a long-term supply of memory for the automaker's next vehicle platforms. On July 6, Micron announced a similar pact with Ford Motor Company.  

Image source: Getty Images.

Buried in both press releases is the detail that matters most. Each agreement is described as "one of the 16" discussed on Micron's fiscal third-quarter conference call. So the company has told investors it has a stack of these deals and has started revealing them one at a time. That drumbeat of announcements gives Micron a reason to stay in the news between now and its next report.

Why the automotive deals matter These are not glamorous AI chips. General Motors is locking in a supply of LPDRAM, NOR, and UFS NAND -- the memory that runs in-cabin screens and driver-assistance systems. Cars carry the kind of memory once reserved for phones and servers, and each model can stay in production for years, so a single win can feed orders long after the deal is signed.

What makes the deals valuable is their shape: multiyear commitments tied to Micron's $2 billion modernization of its Manassas, Virginia, fab.

Memory has long been a boom-and-bust business, priced like a commodity. Contracts that pin down volume across a car's production life turn some of that swing into something closer to a backlog. For a company investors treat as a cyclical bet, contracted demand is a quiet form of insurance on an investment.

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The risks investors should weigh None of these agreements discloses price or volume, so the financial impact remains unknown until it shows up in the results. Auto production can soften, and a broad memory downturn would pressure margins. The stock has climbed a long way, which raises the bar for any surprise.

The catalyst is not a number. If Micron keeps converting that list of 16 agreements into signed deals before its fiscal fourth-quarter report, I think the market gets a running preview of demand that most cyclical suppliers cannot offer. Investors who own the stock or watch it should track the number of these agreements as a real-time signal ahead of earnings.

Micron Technology (MU +6.90%) is one of the hottest stocks in the market right now. Massive demand for its memory chips has driven prices higher over the last year, leading to record-breaking earnings for the company. Still, the stock trades for just 13.6 times analysts' earnings expectations for the next 12 months. For comparison, the S&P 500 trades for close to 22 times forecast earnings.

Many investors have pointed out how cheap Micron appears to be at its current price. In fact, Micron's the largest position in the Vanguard Value ETF, suggesting the stock is undervalued right now. But the truth is Micron's not as cheap as it looks. Here's why.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Looking beyond the current price-to-earnings ratio It's true that Micron trades for low price relative to its earnings expectations over the next 12 months. And analysts expect Micron's earnings to grow even more over the next two years, projecting Micron will generate over $160 in earnings per share by fiscal 2028, making its price around $1,000 per share look like an incredible bargain.

But the semiconductor industry is cyclical, and few segments are more so than memory chipmakers. That's because memory chips are commodity-like; device makers and chip packagers can, for the most part, swap out a Micron chip with any of its competitors'. That means if one of Micron's competitors increases the capacity of its chip production facilities, it will negatively impact Micron's ability to charge a premium price.

That's exactly what's playing out. Not only is Micron building out new chip manufacturing capacity, but its competitors are as well. As the pendulum of supply and demand swings the other way, Micron will see unit volume increase while pricing declines. At some point, unit volume growth won't be enough to offset price declines, and, combined with the added costs of running new facilities, profits will decline. That's the nature of cyclical stocks.

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So, as Micron approaches the peak of an earnings cycle, its P/E ratio will decline. Investors shouldn't be willing to pay as much for Micron's earnings at the peak of the cycle if the expectation is for earnings to decline for the next few years. And because of the commodity-like nature of Micron's products, the decline can be severe, especially if Micron doesn't build as much capacity as its competitors. That puts it in a prisoner's dilemma where it must spend the money to build new facilities.

Micron has historically traded at a P/E ratio in the mid single digits at its earnings peaks. At nearly 14 times earnings, the market suggests there are still a few more years of earnings growth for Micron in the current cycle; analysts are currently underestimating the peak of its earnings, or that the next down cycle won't be as bad as previous ones. All indications from Micron and its competitors suggest that the supply shortage will start to abate by 2028, which should have a noticeable negative impact on earnings in 2029 and 2030. Expectations for Micron are already sky-high, and the market is increasingly valuing it as if its earnings will never come down again. Don't confuse a highly cyclical stock with a value.

The Micron Technology logo is displayed on a smartphone screen with the company's website in the background, in Creteil, France, on May 27, 2026. The American semiconductor company officially crosses the symbolic threshold of $1 trillion in market capitalization on Wall Street the previous day. (Photo by Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

NurPhoto via Getty Images

This article was written by Doug Nathman, with research by his team at Trefis.

Micron (MU) shares have soared by almost 8x in the last year, elevating its market valuation to over $1 trillion. This surge has been driven by high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which complements the AI accelerators from Nvidia (NVDA) and AMD (AMD), forming the backbone of AI infrastructure development.

In the past, memory has consistently been one of the most cyclical sectors within the semiconductor business, with DRAM navigating through boom-and-bust trends every three to four years. Explore a detailed account of previous memory cycles for Micron.

This time around, however, numerous factors within the market appear distinct. AI clientele are entering into multi-year supply contracts, a limited number of hyperscalers account for a significant portion of demand, and HBM is closely coupled with AI accelerators rather than offered as an independent commodity.

The pressing question is whether these structural transformations are sufficient to alter the industry’s well-established patterns. That’s what investors need to ascertain.

Tighter Coupling, Fewer CustomersHBM has transitioned away from being a commodity memory solution. Unlike standard DRAM, which fits into separate memory slots, HBM is packaged directly with the AI accelerator through sophisticated chip packaging techniques. It is collaboratively designed and certified for a particular GPU generation, involving significantly lengthier qualification processes compared to commodity DRAM. As HBM is integral to the GPU package, each new GPU generation generally introduces a corresponding new generation of HBM.

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This alters Micron's customer composition. Rather than distributing memory to numerous PC manufacturers, server OEMs, and cloud service providers, HBM demand is now heavily concentrated among Nvidia, AMD, and a select few hyperscalers creating their own AI chips. The lengthy qualification processes benefit Micron. Once a memory supplier is approved for a GPU platform, clients hesitate to change suppliers since validating a new one can take years rather than just quarters. This leads to increased switching costs and enhanced revenue predictability.

The downside is the concentration of customers. A decrease in AI infrastructure expenditures from just one significant GPU client or hyperscaler could disproportionately affect Micron's HBM revenue. During prior memory cycles, declines in one market segment were often balanced by demand from others. In the case of HBM, this buffer is considerably smaller.

What’s Truly New: Take-Or-Pay ContractsThe most compelling evidence that this cycle might differ is the long-term take-or-pay agreements, a rarity in the DRAM sector. Micron has secured 16 multi-year take-or-pay contracts. Once all intended agreements are finalized, the company anticipates that more than half of its revenue will be secured by these contracts, with approximately 40% subject to fixed or ceiling pricing. Check Micron's growth and margins compared to peers.

These contracts don’t erase risk, but they alter the distribution of it. They offer Micron enhanced revenue visibility and lessen vulnerability to abrupt price declines. In exchange, clients agree to procure capacity even if market conditions deteriorate.

Nevertheless, this protection is only partial. Approximately half of Micron's revenue still resides outside these contracts. Should AI infrastructure investment fall short, or if future AI models become more memory-efficient than anticipated, pricing pressures might still arise in the non-contracted segment of the business.

Signs of Customer Hesitation Are Already SurfaceMajor technology firms are expected to allocate over $600 billion for capital expenditures this year. A significant portion of this expenditure is directed towards AI data centers along with the GPUs and HBM that support them. However, the entities ultimately funding AI services may start to adopt a more cautious approach.

Tesla has placed a cap of $200 per week on employee spending for AI tools as of July 6. Uber, Meta and Walmart have implemented similar restrictions as usage-based pricing has made AI expenses more apparent. While these measures are relatively minor, they demonstrate that companies are starting to closely evaluate AI expenditures rather than viewing them as boundless.

Concurrently, the uptake of enterprise AI has proven slower than many anticipated. Incorporating AI into established workflows, redesigning business processes, and promoting employee acceptance continue to present significant obstacles. If businesses struggle to achieve favorable returns on their AI investments, the rate of future infrastructure spending may eventually slow, challenging the assumption that the current high demand for HBM will endure for years.

Opportunities such as those presented by Micron illustrate how individual semiconductor stocks can experience significant increases during technological transitions, but they also entail focused exposure to industry cycles, capacity expansions, and execution risks. A disciplined portfolio strategy can help mitigate these risks while still engaging in long-term growth trajectories. Trefis’s High Quality (HQ) Portfolio has consistently outperformed its market benchmark since inception, with cumulative returns exceeding 105%.

Micron raises its planned U.S. investment to more than $250 billion through 2035 and celebrates a construction milestone at what will be the largest semiconductor manufacturing site in U.S. history July 09, 2026 08:45 ET  | Source: Micron Technology, Inc.

CLAY, N.Y., July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU) today announced it is accelerating its planned U.S. fab and technology investments and increasing its expected spend to more than $250 billion through 2035, driven by surging demand for memory in the AI era.

Micron anticipates that the increase in investments will support its long-term goal of producing 40% of its DRAM in the U.S. while creating additional good-paying direct and indirect jobs. The expanded investment reflects Micron’s confidence in its technology leadership and continued demand for its leading-edge memory products.

The announcement comes as Micron celebrates the first concrete pour milestone at its Clay, New York site, which occurs more than one quarter ahead of the original plan and marks the transition from site preparation to vertical construction. As announced earlier today, Micron also plans to invest up to $3 billion to develop the domestic semiconductor supply chain ecosystem in support of its U.S. manufacturing footprint.

Today, Micron Chairman, President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra will host the concrete pour, joined by supplier partners and federal, state and local leaders, including U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler, U.S. Chief Technology Officer Dr. Ethan Klein, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, U.S. Congressman John Mannion, U.S. Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, and Town of Clay Deputy Supervisor Joe Bick.

"As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, data and memory are foundational to the modern economy — and Micron is increasing our U.S. investments to more than $250 billion through 2035 to meet that moment," said Sanjay Mehrotra, Micron Chairman, President, and CEO. "I want to thank President Trump, Secretary Lutnick, Governor Hochul, Senator Schumer, County Executive McMahon, and our partners across government and the community for their leadership. Reaching this milestone ahead of schedule reflects the speed and determination behind this project. Micron is proud to bring the world's most advanced memory manufacturing to Central New York, strengthen the domestic semiconductor supply chain and help secure America's technology leadership for generations to come."

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

“President Trump has made it clear that America is where you should build your business and the world is responding rapidly. Today, Micron pours the foundation on its massive semiconductor campus in upstate New York and increases its American investment commitment to $250 billion, creating nearly 100,000 jobs and providing leading-edge memory supply here in the United States,” said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. “The Trump economic model clearly shows there has never been a better time to invest in the United States.”

"Today's milestone marks another major step for Micron in Central New York, and what makes it even more remarkable is that we're here in July — months ahead of schedule — pouring the concrete foundation,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “This is the largest private investment in New York State history, and it's already delivering for New Yorkers, our state economy, and our local businesses. With up to 50,000 jobs on the horizon, we are building the future of American memory manufacturing right here in Central New York, and we are building it fast."

Rapid progress in Central New York

Less than six months after breaking ground in January 2026, Micron has completed key early site work and is transitioning to vertical construction. Micron recently selected Bechtel to partner on the engineering, procurement and construction for the first New York fab. Jacobs, the architectural and engineering design partner, and Gilbane Building Company, the preconstruction and site infrastructure contractor, will also join the celebration.

To date, Micron, in partnership with Gilbane on the early site works phase, has directed approximately $675 million — more than half of the total awarded value to date — to New York-based contractors, suppliers, and subcontractors, including companies from Syracuse, Liverpool, Rome, Rochester, Watertown, Buffalo, and Binghamton. More than 80% of the workers on site to date have been New York residents, reflecting the project's impact on upstate New York businesses and communities.

Building the facility will require thousands of skilled craft professionals at peak construction, creating opportunities for union trades, apprentices, local training program graduates, specialty contractors and suppliers. With up to four fabs, Micron’s New York project is the largest private investment in state history and is expected to generate 50,000 jobs in New York, including 9,000 direct Micron jobs.

Building America's memory across the United States

The New York project is the cornerstone of Micron's U.S. investment plan. Micron is also making rapid progress in Idaho, with first wafer output expected in mid-calendar 2027 for the first fab and late calendar 2028 for the second. Earlier this year in Virginia, Micron launched initial production of its 1α (1-alpha) DDR4 technology, supporting customers’ long lifecycle product needs in auto, industrial, medical, aerospace and defense markets.

Together, these projects are expected to create more than 90,000 jobs and advance U.S. economic and national security goals. As Micron makes these investments, the company will remain disciplined in its approach and responsive to the market environment to appropriately align its supply plans.

“This milestone in Central New York shows Micron’s U.S. manufacturing strategy moving from planning to meaningful local impact,” said Manish Bhatia, Micron Executive Vice President of Global Operations. “As we build the capacity, workforce and supplier base needed for the AI era, we are creating opportunities for New York businesses, skilled trades and communities to grow with us. What we are building here will contribute to a thriving semiconductor hub in Central New York, complementing Micron’s existing sites in Idaho and Virginia.”

Investing in the Central New York Community

In honor of America's 250th anniversary, Micron recently announced a $250 million investment in Trump Accounts to reach one million children and families. The company will offer a one-time $250 seed deposit for eligible children in the communities where it operates, including Central New York, as well as an employee match benefit. To date, Micron has also committed more than $50 million to community priorities across Central New York, supporting workforce development, STEM education and other training needs, veterans’ initiatives, housing, transportation, and childcare.

Photos from the event will be available after 3 p.m. ET here.

Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration:

"Micron's massive investment in Central New York – part of a $250 billion investment nationwide – is exactly the kind of bold, American-made commitment that President Trump's agenda was designed to unleash. When a company of Micron's scale puts down roots, it has a powerful effect across our economy – not only by creating 50,000 new jobs and thousands of new work orders for local job creators, but also by strengthening small businesses across America who depend on leading-edge semiconductor technology to fuel every vital industry, from defense to energy. SBA is proud to support the small manufacturers, contractors, and local businesses that will grow alongside Micron's fab as the company advances this Administration’s mission to rebuild American industrial dominance.”

U.S. Chief Technology Officer Dr. Ethan Klein:

"The Trump Administration is committed to achieving unrivaled American leadership in AI, microelectronics, and the full semiconductor supply chain — and milestones like this one show we are turning that commitment into reality. Micron's $250 billion U.S. investments in leading-edge memory manufacturing and R&D will directly power the next generation of American innovation, and we are proud to see that future taking shape right here on American soil."

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer:

“Micron’s first concrete pour marks concrete progress towards bringing America’s largest semiconductor manufacturing facility to life right here in Central New York! Micron’s chips are in demand more than ever, and their Central New York project and the 50,000 jobs it’ll create put New York on the global map for advanced chip production. Micron’s total $250 billion U.S. investment is transformative for manufacturing in America and New York. I delivered a $6.1 billion CHIPS grant and billions more in Investment Tax Credit assistance from my CHIPS & Science Law to make this historic project possible. Today, we celebrate a new chapter for American chip manufacturing with Upstate New York leading the way.”

U.S. Congresswoman Claudia Tenney:

“I know how important Micron's investment is to this community — and today's milestone makes that investment tangible. Pouring the first concrete ahead of schedule is a testament to what American workers and American ingenuity can accomplish when Washington opens the path for industry to succeed. By expanding the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit through the One Big Beautiful Bill and championing the Working Families Tax Cut Act, Congress has sent a clear signal that the United States is committed to long-term technological leadership and supporting the next generation. Micron's $250 billion investment in making leading-edge memory in the U.S. will create good-paying jobs and strengthen our national security.”

U.S. Congressman John Mannion:

"Pouring the first concrete at Micron's Clay fab — ahead of schedule — is proof that this project is delivering for Central New York. From championing Green CHIPS in the state legislature to fighting for federal investment in Congress, I have been proud to help lay the groundwork for what will become the largest semiconductor manufacturing site in U.S. history, and part of a $250 billion Micron investment across the country. This is an investment in the thousands of workers, families, and businesses of Central New York who will build this facility and help secure America's dominance in the global semiconductor industry for generations to come."

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon:

"Today's milestone is a proud and defining moment for Onondaga County, Central New York, and the country. Pouring the first concrete at Micron's historic New York campus is proof of what this community can achieve when we set ambitious goals, work together, and refuse to slow down. Reaching this milestone months ahead of schedule reflects the grit of the people of Central New York — and the strength of the partnership we have built with Micron. This project to build leading-edge memory locally will reshape the trajectory of our region for generations, and today reminds us that when Onondaga County comes together with purpose, we don't just meet expectations — we exceed them."

Matt Nesbitt, President, Central & Northern New York Building Trades:

“The Central and Northern New York Building and Construction Trades Council could not be more excited for the monumental event today. We are poised and ready for the challenge of building the largest construction project in the history of New York State. The invaluable partnership that our council has forged with Micron to prepare for this historic project is about to be on full display as we build one of the largest chip manufacturing facilities in the United States.”

Justin Driscoll, President & CEO, New York Power Authority:

“Today’s milestone at Micron’s Clay site reflects the growing momentum behind this transformative project. NYPA low-cost power allocations played a vital role in attracting this once-in-a-generation investment that will strengthen New York’s economy, create tens of thousands of good jobs, and cement New York’s role as a global leader in advanced manufacturing.”

David Anderson, President, NY Creates:

"Micron’s announcement that construction is already moving ahead of schedule is exciting for Central New York and for the future of domestic semiconductor manufacturing. This milestone represents tangible progress on a transformational project that will strengthen America’s memory chips leadership and the related supply chain, create thousands of high-tech careers, and generate lasting economic impact across the region. At the same time, NY Creates is proud to partner with Micron on our High NA EUV Lithography Center and the Industrial Manufacturing Technician (IMT) Apprenticeship Program, which advance the capabilities and talent needed to further strengthen the nation’s innovation ecosystem.”

Rob Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, CenterState CEO:

“This is one more important milestone in the foundation we are building for our region's economic resurgence and our country's national security. We are grateful to Micron for their continued partnership and investment in our region and excited to carry this message forward to the global semi-conductor supply chain — Central New York is quickly becoming one of the most important centers for memory and chip manufacturing in the world."

About Micron Technology, Inc.

Micron Technology, Inc. is an industry leader in innovative memory and storage solutions, transforming how the world uses information to enrich life for all. With a relentless focus on our customers, technology leadership and manufacturing and operational excellence, Micron delivers a rich portfolio of high-performance DRAM, NAND and NOR memory and storage products. Every day, the innovations that our people create fuel the data economy, enabling advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and compute-intensive applications that unleash opportunities — from the data center to the intelligent edge and across the client and mobile user experience. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU), visit micron.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding expected acceleration and expansion of construction projects, target U.S.-based DRAM production, anticipated research and development expansion, expected timing of first wafer output, planned manufacturing, supply chain and community investments, job creation and workforce expansion, and expected economic and community impacts. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Please refer to the documents Micron files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically its most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. These documents contain and identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements. These certain factors can be found at https://investors.micron.com/risk-factor. Although Micron believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, Micron cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, or achievements. Micron is under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform these statements to actual results.

© 2026 Micron Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Information, products, and/or specifications are subject to change without notice. Micron, the Micron logo, and all other Micron trademarks are the property of Micron Technology, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Micron Media Relations Contact
Anna Newby 
+1 (262) 385-7065 
[email protected]

Micron Investor Relations Contact 
Satya Kumar 
+1 (408) 450-6199 
[email protected]

Ford Motor (F - Free Report) ) has quietly become one of the more intriguing turnaround stories in the automotive sector.

Fresh off announcing a long-term strategic partnership with Micron Technology (MU - Free Report) ), Ford has joined its semiconductor partner on the coveted Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) list, thanks to favorable earnings estimate revisions.

The combination of strengthening fundamentals, improving supply-chain security, and growing exposure to next-generation vehicle technology may warrant a closer look from investors.

Ford and Micron Strengthen Their PartnershipEarlier this week, Ford and Micron announced a Strategic Customer Agreement (SCA) designed to secure a long-term supply of automotive memory and storage solutions for Ford's next generation of connected and software-defined vehicles.

Under the agreement, Micron will expand production of key automotive memory products while continuing to invest in U.S.-based manufacturing capacity, including its Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) facility in Virginia.

The agreement represents more than just another supplier relationship.

To that point, modern vehicles require much more memory than previous generations as advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), infotainment platforms, over-the-air software updates, and AI-powered computing continue to become standard features.

As vehicles increasingly resemble computers on wheels, dependable access to advanced memory chips becomes a competitive advantage.

Ford isn't the only Detroit automaker strengthening ties with Micron. General Motors (GM - Free Report) ), whose stock currently sports a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has also collaborated with the memory-chip maker to help secure advanced automotive memory and storage solutions for its next-generation vehicle platforms.

The parallel partnerships highlight how leading automakers are prioritizing resilient semiconductor supply chains as connected vehicles, ADAS, and software-defined architectures require increasingly sophisticated memory technology.

Ford CEO Jim Farley noted that producing the high-volume vehicles of the future requires a resilient domestic supply chain, while Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra emphasized that intelligent, data-intensive vehicles will continue driving demand for advanced memory and storage solutions.

Why the Partnership Really MattersThe automotive industry learned a costly lesson during the semiconductor shortages that followed the pandemic.

Production delays and factory shutdowns highlighted the risks of relying on fragmented global supply chains for critical components.

Ford's agreement with Micron seeks to reduce those risks by providing greater supply assurance for future vehicle programs while supporting domestic semiconductor manufacturing.

The partnership should also support Ford's broader transition toward software-defined vehicles, electric vehicles (EVs), and autonomous driving technologies, all of which require significantly greater computing power and memory content than traditional automobiles.

Although the agreement alone won't transform Ford's financial performance overnight, it reduces a key operational risk while positioning the company to better compete as automotive technology continues to evolve.

Ford's Earnings Outlook Is ImprovingPerhaps even more encouraging for investors is Ford's improving earnings outlook.

The stock has recently climbed to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) as analysts have become increasingly optimistic about the auto giant’s earnings prospects.

Positive earnings estimate revisions often reflect growing confidence in improving profitability, stronger execution, or favorable business trends, making them one of the more powerful indicators followed by the Zacks Rank system.

Ford now joins Micron in obtaining a strong buy rating, indicating Wall Street has become increasingly constructive on both companies for very different reasons.

For Micron, optimism has centered on booming AI-driven memory demand. For Ford, improving earnings expectations appear to reflect stronger operating fundamentals and increased confidence in management's execution.

As shown below, Ford’s FY26 and FY27 EPS estimates have ticked higher over the last 60 days and have now spiked 31% and 28% from a year ago, respectively. 

The Micron partnership is reason to believe this reassuring trend could continue, especially as Ford’s supply chain and operational execution are likely to strengthen.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Ford’s annual earnings are now expected to spike 50% this year and are projected to increase another 12% in FY27 to $1.83 per share.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Ford Stock Still Offers Intriguing ValueDespite improving sentiment, Ford continues to trade at a relatively inexpensive valuation compared to the broader market.

Ford’s stock remains well below the earnings multiples typically assigned to many technology and growth companies, providing investors with a margin of safety should operating results continue improving, and the company’s outlook is indeed lifted by its Micron partnership.  

Ford also generates meaningful automotive cash flow while investing heavily in EVs, software, and manufacturing modernization.

If management can successfully balance those investments with continued profitability in its traditional truck and commercial vehicle businesses, the current valuation could prove attractive for long-term investors.

At $13 a share, Ford stock trades at 8X forward earnings and just 0.2X forward sales. This is notably beneath its Zacks Automotive-Domestic Industry averages of 18X (P/E) and 0.6X (P/S), respectively, while offering even sharper discounts to the benchmark S&P 500.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

While GM trades at a cheaper forward earnings multiple of 5X, Ford's 4% annual dividend yield could make its investment story, including its new partnership with Micron, more compelling for long-term investors. Ford's dividend yield also stands well above the S&P 500's average of roughly 1.03%, with GM’s at 0.95%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Bottom LineFord's new strategic partnership with Micron is another indication that the automaker is positioning itself for the next generation of intelligent, software-driven vehicles. More importantly, the agreement strengthens supply-chain resilience at a time when advanced semiconductors are becoming increasingly critical to automotive production.

While the Micron partnership alone isn't a reason to buy Ford stock, it complements an improving fundamental outlook. With Ford now joining Micron on the coveted Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) list, supported by favorable earnings estimate revisions, investors looking for an attractively valued industrial turnaround may find that Ford deserves renewed attention.

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SummaryMicron Technology, Inc. delivered an extraordinary Q3, prompting a rating upgrade to buy as AI-driven demand fuels record revenue and margin growth.MU Q3 revenues soared 346% y/y to $41.46B, with gross margins at 84.6% and operating margins at 80.4%, surpassing even leading fabless peers.Management guided Q4 revenues to $50B and gross margins to 86%, with $100B in minimum contracted revenue de-risking future capex.Despite recent market jitters and a 30% pullback from highs, MU’s structural AI demand and take-or-pay contracts support a bullish long-term thesis. JHVEPhoto/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

I wanted to go over Micron Technology, Inc.'s (MU) Q3 earnings, which reignited my confidence in the company and, given the recent drop in its share price, allowed me to change my rating back

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of MU either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

SK Hynix's Nasdaq listing can not only reset the AI memory trade but also accelerate it. The company is weaponizing Wall Street to ensure it retains its leadership position in the hottest market since the AI boom started booming.

With control of approximately 60% of the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market, which is critical for advanced computing, the opportunity is for investors to gain share in a leading memory pure-play at a discount to its peers. Estimates have SK Hynix Korean listing trading at approximately 8x forward earnings compared to Micron’s NASDAQ: MU 13.5x, suggesting an easy double-digit upside immediately upon listing.

While the upside potential for SK Hynix's U.S. listingis robust, there are a few things for investors to consider, the primary one being volatility. The listing will include the issuance of new shares, representing approximately 2.5% of the existing share count, which will provide a slight headwind for price action.

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The offset will likely be massive institutional backing, with several high-profile firms committing to large stakes. Institutional backers include Situational Awareness Partners, an investment firm founded by a former OpenAI researcher, and Coatue Management, a U.S.-based firm focused on technology.

SK Hynix Throws Down the Gauntlet, Micron Will RespondSK Hynix's U.S. listing is expected to raise as much as $28 billion in new capital. The money will be used to accelerate expansion plans and buy new equipment, both critical to meeting demand and maintaining product timelines.

The company is strengthening ties with NVIDIA NASDAQ: NVDA, ensuring it can deliver next-gen products when needed, including HBM4. HBM4 is critical to AI, as it breaks down the memory wall by enabling skyrocketing bandwidth with low power consumption, doubling the speed of HBM3 versions, and offering approximately 75% more memory capacity. The impact on AI will be tremendous.

Catalysts for SK Hynix's share price include the robust demand for HBM products, which are sold out through 2027, and pricing power. HBM memory pricing is up by high double digits, underpinning growth for SK Hynix and Micron, and is expected to remain hot for the foreseeable future. SK Hynix removed pricing caps that had been in place, allowing it to capture maximum upside while the HBM shortage persists.

Micron Technology Today

MU

Micron Technology

$922.66 -62.09 (-6.31%)

As of 02:45 PM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.

52-Week Range$103.38▼

$1,255.00Dividend Yield0.07%

P/E Ratio20.90

Price Target$1,263.76

Micron, however, is not sitting idly by, allowing SK Hynix to gain share. It is actively expanding its own manufacturing capacity and HBM4 technology, including a major HBM4 hub in Japan, and realigning its die process to more closely align with NVIDIA standards so it can capture a larger share.

The likely outcome is that Micron breaks SK Hynix's near-monopoly with NVIDIA while cementing its position in the industry. Micron is also capitalizing on its unique position as the U.S.'s only domestic-based memory manufacturer, expanding facilities in Idaho and New York.

Micron May Experience Headwinds—Sell-Side Data Says Buy the DipWhile Micron’s outlook is equally bullish, there is potential for its share price action to lag SK Hynix, at least in the near- to mid-term. The risk is that investors will take profits and reduce their holdings of MU in order to shift capital into SK Hynix. In this scenario, the best-case is that MU’s stock price moves sideways within a range near existing highs, while the worst-case is that it experiences a more robust correction than it already has. Down more than 20% from its post-earnings highs as of early July, Micron’s share price could shed another 30% before hitting solid support.

The caveat is that sell-side interest, as reflected in the analysts and institutional data, remains very bullish on Micron, with a triple-strength tailwind in place. MarketBeat data reveal 38 analysts covering the name, a 92% Buy-side bias in the Buy consensus, and more than 35% upside potential relative to early-July support targets, with coverage rising, sentiment firming, and price targets trending higher over the near-, mid-, and long-term. It is not the consensus figures that matter but the trends, which are leading to the high range and suggest more than 100% is still ahead.

Micron’s stock price action reflects market strength, with a bullish MACD convergence. The MACD, or moving average convergence/divergence, measures market strength and momentum and, in this case, shows a strong, strengthening market more likely to retest its recent highs and move higher than to continue moving lower. The only question is the timing, and that may be by year’s end. Upcoming catalysts include Micron’s fiscal Q4 earnings release in September, along with reports from NVIDIA and Advanced Micro Devices NASDAQ: AMD, which are expected to confirm that AI demand continues to grow.

Should You Invest $1,000 in Micron Technology Right Now?Before you consider Micron Technology, you'll want to hear this.

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Micron stock NASDAQ:MU has fallen roughly 22% from its record high, sliding to around $985 on Monday after touching an all-time high near $1,255.

The drop looks jarring because the memory-chip maker only recently posted record quarterly results and upbeat guidance.

The selloff has shifted the debate from Micron’s earnings strength to valuation risk, with investors weighing an overheated AI chip trade against a memory market that remains unusually tight.

The latest pullback does not appear to be a Micron-specific blow-up, but part of a broader reset across the AI hardware trade after a blistering rally in memory and storage stocks.

Meta’s reported move to build a third-party AI compute business rattled investors because it was read as a possible sign that some hyperscalers may eventually have excess capacity to sell.

That hit sentiment across chipmakers and AI infrastructure names, not just Micron.

The analyst linked MU’s drop to Meta’s cautious data-centre signals and broader worries about whether the memory boom can sustain its momentum.

The selling also came after a huge run.

Even after the pullback, Micron remains up more than 250% year-to-date. That makes the 22% fall look less like a collapse and more like profit-taking after a powerful AI-driven run.

Hedge-fund positioning may have amplified the move.

As per Goldman Sachs, US hedge funds had sold technology hardware stocks for a fourth straight week ahead of earnings season, reflecting caution after sharp semiconductor gains.

Analysts remain broadly constructive because the fundamentals still look strong.

Micron reported record fiscal third-quarter revenue of $41.5 billion, up from $23.9 billion in the prior quarter and $9.3 billion a year earlier.

Non-GAAP net income came in at $28.9 billion, or $25.11 per diluted share, while operating cash flow reached $25.4 billion.

Bank of America’s Vivek Arya raised his Micron price target to $1,500 from $950 while keeping a Buy rating.

His bullish view reflects the idea that AI infrastructure is shifting from a pure demand story to a physical bottleneck story, where memory, chips and power remain scarce.

Citi’s Atif Malik has also stayed upbeat as the analyst raised his target to $1,200 in June, citing better-than-expected memory pricing, strong data-centre demand and constrained supply.

UBS is even more bullish as analyst Nicolas Gaudois viewed the latest dip as a buying opportunity and kept a $1,625 target, citing persistent memory-industry strength and tight supply.

Still, the buying-window argument is not risk-free.

Michael Burry has reportedly taken a short position against Micron, while questioning whether the stock’s surge reflects AI hype rather than sustainable value.

There is also the classic memory-cycle risk, as today’s shortage can become tomorrow’s glut if rivals add too much capacity.

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix plan a combined $2.1 trillion in long-term investment, a scale that could eventually pressure pricing if AI demand cools or supply arrives faster than expected.

Micron Technology (MU +1.18%) stock has been on a tear over the past year. Shares of the memory specialist have jumped nearly 8x in a short time, driven by a rapid increase in demand for memory chips that has overwhelmed supply.

The memory supply shortage has been a massive tailwind for Micron Technology's bottom line. The company's earnings have been growing exponentially due to the incredible rise in memory prices. However, Micron's peers, Samsung and SK Hynix, have ambitious investment plans that could significantly reduce the supply demand gap in the memory industry.

That may not be a good thing for Micron stock. Here's why.

Image source: Micron Technology.

SK Hynix and Samsung are the kingpins of the memory industry As reported by Reuters, South Korea aims to double its memory chip production capacity over the next five years. Samsung and SK Hynix are going to play a key role in this expansion, as they have pledged an investment of just over $2 trillion.

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Given that Samsung and SK Hynix are among the world's largest memory chip suppliers, their massive investments could significantly reduce the demand-supply gap. Specifically, the two Korean giants control 67% of the global dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) capacity, according to Counterpoint Research. Their combined share of the NAND flash storage market stands at 47%.

Micron, for comparison, controls 22% of the DRAM market and 13% of the NAND flash market. So, Samsung and SK Hynix can influence the global memory in a big way. This doesn't bode well for Micron, as its pricing power could take a hit if Korean competitors add substantial new capacity. Even analysts are worried that this capacity expansion could create an oversupply, and that could negatively impact memory prices.

Does this mean it is time to book your profits in Micron stock? Not necessarily.

Micron's impressive growth is here to stay Adding new memory production capacity takes time. Building a memory fab can take anywhere between three to five years. So, even if SK Hynix and Samsung accelerate their infrastructure build-out, it will take a few years for them to start producing memory chips from their new facilities. Moreover, Samsung and SK Hynix are likely to monitor memory demand to ensure that they don't end up in an oversupply situation, which has hurt both companies in the past.

Additionally, SK Hynix's chairman believes that the additional capacity won't be enough to address the supply shortage. It is easy to see why that's the case. The high-bandwidth memory (HBM) used in AI chips consumes 3x as much wafer capacity as conventional memory chips. With HBM demand anticipated to increase at an annual rate of 42% through 2033, the ongoing shortage in the console, smartphone, and personal computing (PC) markets is likely to persist.

And as the new capacity comes online, it is likely to be absorbed by the markets where there is currently a major shortage. For instance, smartphone sales are anticipated to decline by 13.9% in 2026, according to IDC. The firm anticipates a 1.1% drop next year before growth resumes in 2028. Higher memory prices have been affecting smartphone sales, so any additional capacity could go toward satisfying pent-up demand in this market over the next couple of years.

So, the structural growth of the memory market due to the advent of AI should ideally prevent a downturn. That's why Micron investors shouldn't worry as the favorable conditions driving its growth are likely to persist.

This is probably why analysts are predicting that the company will clock outstanding earnings growth.

Data by YCharts

Moreover, Micron's price-to-earnings ratio of 23 makes it too cheap to ignore, considering its astronomical growth and sunny outlook. The tech-focused Nasdaq-100 index trades at 35 times earnings, which means Micron is a value stock. Assuming Micron trades at even 25 times earnings at the end of fiscal 2028 and its earnings per share reach $167.92, the company's stock price could jump to $4,198.

That's just over 4x its current stock price. So, investors can continue holding this AI stock in their portfolios, or even buy more, as it could keep skyrocketing.

Micron Technologies (MU +3.26%) blew away expectations with its most recent earnings report. The company posted record profitability while quintupling revenue year over year.

But perhaps the biggest takeaway from Micron's earnings report was management's disclosure of new strategic customer agreements (SCAs). Micron signed long-term agreements with some of its largest customers, creating more predictable demand and pricing for its chips over the next three to five years.

That's important because Micron's biggest competitors, SK Hynix (KOSE: A000660) and Samsung (SSNLF +0.00%), are about to invest huge sums of money in building out additional capacity. It'll be a major test for Micron's new strategy.

Image source: Micron Technologies.

Micron's biggest risk Memory chips are, in practicality, commodities. The market has seen a surge in demand over the past year as memory has become a bottleneck in artificial intelligence (AI) training and inference. The more memory you can package with a GPU or other AI accelerator chip, the faster it can process data and generate a response.

However, it takes time for Micron and its competitors to build new capacity. As a result, memory chip prices have skyrocketed, leading to massive near-term profits for the chipmakers.

But as new fabs begin producing more chips, the supply-and-demand equilibrium shifts, and prices and profits decline. This creates earnings cycles throughout the industry. The big risk for Micron is that SK Hynix and Samsung build out more supply than Micron does, putting pressure on pricing and leaving Micron with less volume to make up the difference.

Micron's latest solution to the challenge is its SCAs. So far, it's signed 16 customers, representing about 20% of its DRAM volume and one-third of its NAND volume. The contracts are take-or-pay, which gives Micron more revenue predictability and the confidence to build more capacity. Micron says the contracts represent a minimum value of $100 billion over the course of the agreements.

Last year, Micron announced plans to spend $200 billion on new production capacity and R&D. Despite the SCAs, Micron's management didn't announce any plans to spend more. It merely stated they "provide us greater confidence in our capex (capital expenditures) and R&D (research and development) investments."

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The competition just announced massive spending plans The South Korean government recently announced a joint initiative between SK Hynix and Samsung to build a massive facility in southwestern South Korea. The facility will include four new chip fabrication plants with a total cost of about $520 billion. Separately, another $53 billion is being allocated to a new chip packaging facility.

And reports indicate that SK Hynix and Samsung plan to spend a combined 2,000 trillion won (about $1.3 trillion) on new facilities over the next decade. So, the new fabs and packaging plant may be just the start.

As mentioned, it takes years for a new facility to start producing chips, so the impact of the massive spending plans on chip pricing will be delayed. However, with a new pipeline for memory chips set to enter the market by the end of the decade, it could severely limit Micron's ability to negotiate its SCAs. And that could have a meaningful impact on its business going forward.

As things stand, Micron's current agreements account for just a minority of its revenue. The agreements cap the upside at pricing levels from its second quarter, limiting its near-term earnings potential. However, Micron's management expects supply constraints to continue benefiting pricing through 2027.

With the massive capacity build-out set to influence pricing by the end of the decade, Micron's earnings downcycle could be quite severe despite its best efforts to protect itself with long-term agreements. As such, Micron investors should be wary of paying too much for near-term earnings potential.

Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) is set to pay its next quarterly dividend later this month, with eligible shareholders scheduled to receive $0.15 per share on July 21, 2026.

The dividend remains unchanged from the company’s previous quarterly distribution, reflecting a consistent payout policy despite Micron’s strong share price performance over the past year. 

Based on its annualized dividend of $0.60 per share, the stock offers a dividend yield of approximately 0.06% based on its last closing price of $975.56.

Investors holding 100 Micron shares will receive $15 before applicable taxes from the upcoming payment. 

MU stock dividend payment schedule. Source: Dividend.com Assuming the company maintains its current quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share, shareholders with 100 shares would earn $60 in annual dividend income before taxes.

To qualify for the July payment, investors had to own Micron shares before the July 6, 2026, ex-dividend date. Shares purchased on or after the ex-dividend date are not eligible for this dividend.

While Micron’s dividend yield remains relatively modest, the company’s investment case continues to be driven primarily by capital appreciation rather than income.

Micron’s impressive 2026 run The semiconductor giant has been one of the best-performing large-cap stocks over the past year as demand for artificial intelligence memory chips continues to accelerate.

Shares have surged more than 700% over the past 12 months and approximately 242% year-to-date, pushing Micron’s market capitalization above $1.1 trillion despite a recent pullback.

MU one-year stock price chart. Source: Finbold The company recently reported record fiscal third-quarter results, with revenue climbing to $41.46 billion, driven by booming demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) used in AI accelerators. 

Micron also issued strong guidance for the current quarter, forecasting revenue of around $50 billion at the midpoint.

Demand for AI memory remains the company’s key growth driver, with Micron reporting that its HBM production capacity is fully booked through 2026 under long-term supply agreements.

At the same time, Wall Street remains overwhelmingly bullish on Micron’s long-term prospects as AI infrastructure spending continues to expand.

Although the dividend provides a modest stream of recurring income, Micron remains a growth-oriented technology stock, with most investor returns expected to come from earnings growth and potential share price appreciation rather than dividend income.

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Every so often, a company's numbers stop making sense next to its soaring profits. Micron Technology (MU 5.68%) is having one of those moments. In its fiscal third quarter (the period ended May 28, 2026), the memory maker earned $24.67 per share on a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis. Its quarterly dividend, declared the same week, was $0.15 -- the same $0.15 it declared last quarter. A company earning that much cannot keep paying that little forever.

Something has to give.

Image source: Getty Images.

A cash machine, for now The quarter was a blowout in the truest sense. Revenue rose 346% year over year to a record $41.46 billion, and net income reached $28.24 billion, powered by demand for the high-bandwidth memory that goes into AI accelerators. Management guided for even more in the current quarter: about $50 billion in revenue.

To grasp the scale, Micron earned more in this single quarter than it did in some entire years of the last cycle. Revenue of $41.46 billion was up from $9.3 billion a year earlier, and that guide of $50 billion would be another 20% jump on top of it. High-bandwidth memory -- the specialized chips stacked next to AI processors -- is booked out well into next year, which is why the company can guide with such unusual confidence.

"Micron's record fiscal Q3 financial results and even stronger outlook for Q4 reflect the strategic value of memory in the AI era," said CEO Sanjay Mehrotra in the company's earnings release.

And, unsurprisingly, the cash is piling up.

Micron generated $25.4 billion of operating cash flow and $18.3 billion of adjusted free cash flow in the quarter, ending with about $30.2 billion in cash and investments. Set the $0.15 quarterly dividend against $24.67 of quarterly earnings and the payout ratio is well under 1% -- almost a rounding error.

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Where the cash goes next So where does all that money go?

Three doors are open: a much bigger dividend, share buybacks, or reinvestment in the business. History offers a warning on that last one. Memory is cyclical, and makers have a habit of plowing cash into new capacity at the peak, only to watch prices crash once it comes online. Micron is doing some of that already -- capital expenditures were $7.1 billion in the quarter and rising as it builds cleanroom capacity for AI memory.

Management has been fairly explicit about the sequence. It says it expects to return 100% of its excess cash to shareholders over time, and plans to step up capital returns later this year.

So, what is its plan? Capacity first, bigger shareholder returns after. A boosted dividend and buybacks are the pressure valve that hasn't been opened yet.

This order of priorities when it comes to how Micron plans to deploy its excess cash makes sense. Buy back a lot of stock at the top of a memory cycle, and you risk overpaying right before earnings roll over. Hike the dividend too aggressively, and you may have to defend it through the next downturn. Micron has been burned by both mistakes before, and its cautious approach here arguably reflects a management team that remembers exactly what the bottom of a memory cycle feels like.

For a dividend stock trading at about 22 times earnings, that gap between what Micron makes and what it pays is the clearest sign of how extreme this memory up cycle has become. I'd expect the payout and buybacks to climb meaningfully once those commitments free up.

It's no secret that Wall Street loves Micron Technology (MU 5.68%) stock. On the heels of the company's recent quarterly report, it's also not hard to see why. Micron recorded non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings per share of $25.11 on sales of $41.46 billion in the third quarter of its current fiscal year, which ended May 28. Meanwhile, the average analyst estimate had called for an adjusted profit of $20.78 per share on sales of $35.84 billion in the period.

As impressive as the memory chip leader's performance was in the period, that's far from the only reason that many Wall Street investment firms are super bullish on Micron stock right now. Read on for a look at one key factor that helps explain why Micron stock has risen more than 800% over the last year -- and why top Wall Street analysts think that the stock can keep climbing.

Image source: Getty Images.

Micron's operating profits are expected to keep soaring In terms of operating income, analysts polled by FactSet expect Micron to be the world's third-most profitable company in the 2027 calendar year. The average estimate calls for the business to record operating income of $200.8 billion in the period, trailing only Alphabet's estimated $207.6 billion and Nvidia's estimated $359.4 billion. For reference, the average analyst estimate calls for Microsoft and Apple to post operating profits of $194 billion and $170.5 billion, respectively.

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Micron posted operating income of approximately $10.85 billion in its last fiscal year, up from operating income of roughly $1.94 billion in the previous year. The company is seemingly on track to continue growing its operating profit at an incredible pace, and that helps explain why top Wall Street analysts are so bullish on the stock.

Keith Noonan has positions in Micron Technology. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Apple, Micron Technology, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Takeaways Micron is riding one of its strongest profit cycles as higher memory prices lift revenues and margins.AI servers, HBM, enterprise SSDs and advanced DRAM demand continue to outpace industry supply.Strategic customer agreements now cover about 20% of MU's DRAM volume and one-third of NAND volume. Micron Technology, Inc. (MU - Free Report) is enjoying one of the strongest profit cycles in its history, and higher memory prices remain a major reason behind this momentum. Robust demand for artificial intelligence (AI) servers, high-bandwidth memory (HBM), enterprise SSDs and advanced DRAM continues to outpace industry supply, creating a favorable pricing environment.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, Micron Technology reported record revenues of $41.46 billion, up 74% sequentially and 346% year over year. Non-GAAP gross margin expanded to 84.9% from 74.9% in the previous quarter and 39% in the year-ago quarter, while non-GAAP earnings jumped to $25.11 per share from $12.20 in the previous quarter and $1.91 in the year-ago quarter. DRAM revenues increased 67% sequentially, supported by average selling prices rising in the low-60% range. NAND revenues climbed 99%, with average selling prices surging in the mid-80% range.

The pricing outlook remains encouraging. Micron Technology expects DRAM and NAND demand to exceed industry supply beyond calendar year 2027 as AI adoption accelerates across data centers, PCs, smartphones and automotive applications. Limited wafer capacity, slower technology transitions and expanding HBM production are likely to keep memory supplies tight, supporting healthy pricing.

Micron Technology is also strengthening pricing visibility through long-term strategic customer agreements covering a growing portion of its business. The company announced 16 strategic customer agreements (SCAs) across data center, consumer and auto markets in the third quarter. These agreements represent roughly 20% of DRAM volume and one-third of NAND volume over the covered period.

These contracts, combined with continued AI-driven demand and disciplined industry supply growth, should help the company sustain elevated margins. While memory remains a cyclical business, current industry dynamics suggest Micron Technology's profit boom still has room to run. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, the company projects a non-GAAP gross margin of approximately 86%, indicating a robust expansion from the year-ago quarter’s level of 45.7%.

How Are Micron’s Semiconductor Peers Performing on Margins?Major semiconductor players, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA - Free Report) and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD - Free Report) , are also benefiting from the AI boom.

NVIDIA continues to lead the AI accelerator market, with data center revenues growing 92% year over year in the first quarter of fiscal 2027. The company’s non-GAAP gross margin reached 75% from 60.8% in the year-ago quarter, supported by strong pricing power for its AI GPUs and networking products. NVIDIA’s growth indirectly benefits Micron Technology because AI servers using NVIDIA chips require large amounts of DRAM and HBM memory.

Advanced Micro Devices is also gaining momentum in AI and data center markets. Its EPYC server processors and Instinct AI accelerators are helping expand enterprise adoption. AMD’s data center revenues surged 57% year over year to a record $5.78 billion in the first quarter of 2026, while non-GAAP gross margins expanded 180 basis points to 55.4%. As AI server deployments rise, Advanced Micro Devices’ growth is increasing demand for advanced memory and storage products supplied by Micron Technology.

MU’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Micron Technology have surged around 242.6% year to date compared with the Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s return of 16.8%.

Micron Technology YTD Price Return Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, MU trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 8.52, significantly lower than the sector’s average of 23.18.

Micron Technology 12-Month Forward P/E Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Micron Technology’s fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings implies a year-over-year increase of approximately 791% and 107%, respectively. Bottom-line estimates for fiscal 2026 and 2027 have been revised upward in the past seven days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Micron Technology currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Micron Technology MU shares extended their recent decline on Thursday, falling 4% after tumbling 10% in the previous session, as broader weakness across technology stocks continued to weigh on semiconductor names.

The latest decline came despite public praise from President Donald Trump and a bullish outlook from Mizuho Securities, highlighting how investors remained focused on the broader selloff in high-growth technology stocks.

Micron shares have still posted exceptional gains this year, rising 219% in 2026 despite the recent pullback.

Earlier this week, Micron announced a $250 million investment in Trump Accounts, tax-advantaged savings accounts for children under the age of 18.

Under the program, children born between 2025 and 2028 will receive a $1,000 deposit from the US Treasury Department.

Following the announcement, President Donald Trump praised the company in a post on Truth Social.

"Micron, a truly GREAT American Company, and one of the 'HOTTEST' anywhere in the World, has announced a HISTORIC $250 MILLION Investment in TRUMP ACCOUNTS," Trump wrote.

Despite the endorsement, Micron shares continued to decline as investors rotated out of semiconductor stocks.

The weakness was part of a broader technology selloff that has affected many of the year's strongest performers.

The pressure on Micron coincided with a sharp decline in South Korea's stock market, where technology shares led losses.

South Korea's KOSPI index dropped 7.9% on Thursday as the technology selloff spread beyond US markets.

Major memory chip manufacturers SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics, two of Micron's largest competitors, declined 14.6% and 9.1%, respectively.

Although the selloff has been significant, both Micron and the broader South Korean market have delivered strong gains this year.

The KOSPI remains up 81% in 2026, compared with a 9.3% gain for the S&P 500 over the same period.

Mizuho maintains bullish long-term outlookDespite the recent volatility, Mizuho Securities continues to view Micron as its preferred investment among leading semiconductor companies.

Mizuho Securities put out its top picks for July on Thursday which featured Robinhood and Oracle.

Analyst Vijay Rakesh maintained an Outperform rating on the stock with a price target of $1,375.

According to Mizuho, Micron delivered its strongest quarterly stock performance on record during the second quarter, with shares gaining 242%, even though the stock declined following its third-quarter earnings report.

Rakesh said demand for memory products is expected to remain strong through 2027, supported by continued investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure.

"We see MU and other key memory suppliers all seeing strong near-term tailwinds, driven mostly by AI demand," Rakesh wrote.

He also said Micron is expected to remain a "key winner" in the memory semiconductor industry.

The recent pullback underscores the volatility surrounding semiconductor stocks after a powerful rally earlier this year.

While investors have taken profits across the technology sector, analysts continue to point to long-term demand for AI-related memory products as a supportive factor for Micron's business outlook.