Micron (MU) Stock Surges 10% on Accelerated HBM4 Chip Timeline
TLDR
- Micron Technology stock climbed 10% to $410.34 Wednesday after CFO Mark Murphy announced the company has started shipping HBM4 memory chips ahead of schedule.
- The memory chip maker is in large-scale HBM4 production and expects shipment volumes to ramp this quarter, one quarter earlier than previously announced.
- Demand for high-bandwidth memory continues to outpace supply, with tight market conditions expected to persist beyond 2026.
- The accelerated timeline addresses investor concerns that Micron was falling behind Samsung and SK Hynix in the AI memory chip race.
- Analysts maintain a Strong Buy rating with 27 Buy recommendations and two Holds over the past three months.
Micron Technology shares rocketed 10% higher Wednesday, closing at $410.34 after company executives delivered unexpected news about their latest AI memory technology. The U.S. memory chip maker revealed it has already begun customer shipments of HBM4 chips.
CFO Mark Murphy made the announcement during a presentation at the Wolfe Research investor conference in New York. He said Micron is now in large-scale production of HBM4 memory and expects volumes to grow throughout the current quarter.
The timeline marks a one-quarter acceleration from guidance the company provided in December. Murphy addressed what he called “inaccurate reporting” about Micron’s HBM4 progress during his remarks.
HBM4 chips serve as critical components in AI servers. They work alongside AI processors to enable rapid data movement. The technology has become essential as companies build out AI infrastructure.
Production and Performance Details
Murphy said Micron’s HBM4 product delivers performance exceeding 11 gigabits per second. He expressed strong confidence in the product’s performance, quality, and reliability metrics.
The CFO described Micron’s business trajectory as “extraordinary.” He emphasized that customer demand significantly exceeds the company’s current production capacity. Market conditions remain tight with supply unable to meet demand.
Micron expects these supply constraints to continue beyond 2026. The company is working to plan investments to address customer needs over time. Tight supply-demand dynamics typically support higher prices and stronger margins for memory manufacturers.
Competitive Landscape Shifts
The stock had faced pressure from concerns about Micron’s competitive position. Investors worried the company was lagging behind rivals Samsung and SK Hynix in bringing next-generation memory to market.
Those concerns raised questions about Micron’s ability to secure large orders from major AI chip makers like Nvidia. The accelerated HBM4 timeline eased those worries considerably.
Lynx Equity Strategies analyst KC Rajkumar said the clarification should eliminate uncertainty surrounding Micron’s HBM4 capabilities. The stock gained 6.3% in early trading before finishing the day up about 10%.
The positive market reaction reflects the growing importance of advanced memory solutions for AI applications. Technology companies continue to increase spending on AI hardware and infrastructure.
Wall Street Outlook
Analysts remain bullish on Micron’s prospects. The stock carries a Strong Buy consensus rating based on recent recommendations. Of 29 analyst ratings issued in the past three months, 27 are Buys and two are Holds with zero Sell ratings.
The average analyst price target stands at $395.30 per share. This target implies 3.67% downside from current trading levels. The stock’s rally Wednesday came as Murphy confirmed large-scale HBM4 production and customer shipments have commenced.
Micron’s ability to deliver advanced memory chips on an accelerated schedule positions the company better in the fast-growing AI memory market. Shipment volumes are expected to ramp successfully during the first quarter of 2026.