A remarkable sequence of analyst upgrades within a 48-hour window has propelled Micron Technology’s stock, driving a powerful rally of over 5%. The memory chip specialist from Idaho is currently at the center of a wave of Wall Street optimism, a notable shift for an industry often characterized by cyclicality and uncertainty. The surge in confidence stems from a fundamental reassessment of the company’s prospects.
A Confluence of Bullish Sentiment
The catalyst for this reassessment began on September 17th, when Wolfe Research issued a surprisingly positive outlook. The firm’s analysts pointed to resilient DRAM pricing and emphasized that demand for NAND flash memory is strengthening due to a shortage of hard disk drives. Wolfe Research set a new price target of $180.
The momentum accelerated just one day later. Susquehanna adopted an even more bullish stance, significantly raising its price objective to $200. This aggressive target is underpinned by the expectation that prices for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) will remain robust through 2026, driven by the insatiable demands of rapidly expanding artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The trend culminated on September 18th with Wedbush aligning with the $200 valuation. In a particularly noteworthy move, the analysts based their valuation on a multiple of ten times Micron’s anticipated peak earnings for 2026, a figure they characterized as conservative.
The AI Engine of Growth
This wave of analyst action reflects a profound shift in Micron’s business fundamentals. The company’s data center division is experiencing robust year-over-year growth, fueled by its advanced memory solutions tailored for AI applications. Its strategic partnership with Nvidia is a key advantage, with its HBM chips integrated into the new Blackwell platform.
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Looking ahead, the potential is even greater. Micron is already conducting customer tests for its next-generation HBM4 chips, which promise a 60% increase in computational performance while consuming 20% less power.
The demand for AI is not confined to data centers. The proliferation of generative AI features in smartphones and PCs is also creating a substantial need for more advanced memory. Industry projections suggest generative AI smartphones could capture 70% of the market by 2029, typically requiring 50% more memory than standard devices.
Impending Financial Results
All eyes are now on Micron’s upcoming fourth-quarter earnings for fiscal 2025, scheduled for release on September 23rd. Expectations are exceptionally high. In August, the company already raised its revenue forecast by a substantial $500 million, guiding for $11.2 billion in sales. Its earnings-per-share estimate was also lifted, jumping from $2.50 to $2.85.
Should Micron meet these projections, it would represent a 45% surge in revenue. Even more impressive, its EPS could more than double compared to the previous year. For the full fiscal year 2025, some analysts are projecting earnings that could be ten times higher than those achieved in 2024.
Despite the stock’s impressive run—it has gained 79% since the start of the year—the valuation does not yet appear overextended. The shares trade at a price-to-earnings ratio of approximately 11, which remains significantly below the Nasdaq-100 average of 31.
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