Micron Technology Inc_billboard-by Poetra_RH via Shutterstock
Micron Technology (MU), a leading American semiconductor company, is gradually emerging as a key player in the high-stakes world of semiconductors. Recently, Micron reported solid fiscal third quarter results.
Consequently, a Citi analyst raised the price target for the stock to $150 from $130, which reflects upside potential of 23.2% from current levels. Micron stock is up 45.6% year-to-date, wildly outperforming the broader market index.
Let’s find out what made the Citi analyst so optimistic about the stock and if it is a buy now.
www.barchart.com
Citi analyst Christopher Danely’s price target upgrade follows Micron’s stronger-than-expected results and guidance, which were largely driven by improved pricing and higher shipments. While the majority of the upside came from NAND rather than DRAM, which could explain the stock’s drop following the earnings call, Danely remains bullish. Citi also raised its earnings estimates, citing a rebound in DRAM pricing and Micron’s increasing exposure to artificial intelligence (AI) as key growth drivers.
Micron’s core business is manufacturing memory and storage products such as DRAM, NAND Flash Memory, and high-bandwidth memory (HBM). It enables the digital world by providing memory and storage technology serving data centers and cloud computing, AI, and machine learning, smartphones and mobile devices, automotive, and consumer electronics. This usefulness is reflected in the company’s third-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings. Total revenue increased by 36.6% year on year, reaching $9.3 billion. Adjusted net income rose by a whopping 208% to $1.91 per share. Adjusted gross margin increased to 39% from 28.1% in the prior year quarter. This surge was driven by strong demand from AI data centers, higher-than-expected DRAM pricing, and improved NAND market dynamics.
Micron is making significant investments in long-term innovation. It has announced multibillion-dollar projects to expand its manufacturing footprint in the U.S., which are backed by government incentives under the CHIPS Act. Despite the significant investments, the company’s balance sheet remains strong, with nearly $12.2 billion in cash and marketable securities and $1.95 billion in adjusted free cash flow at the end of Q3. It gives the company the flexibility to invest in product innovations and weather volatility.
Story Continues
Looking ahead to Q4, management expects revenue of $10.7 billion (plus or minus $300 million). This would represent a 39% increase from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024.
Analysts expect fiscal 2025 sales to increase by 46.5% to $36.8 billion, followed by a 28% year-over-year increase in fiscal 2026. Similarly, earnings could rise by a staggering 501.9% in fiscal 2025, followed by another 54% in fiscal 2026. Micron stock is currently trading at 15x forward earnings, which is quite modest when compared to peers in the semiconductor industry, such as Nvidia (NVDA) or Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), particularly given its growth prospects.
Aside from Citi, many other firms are optimistic about MU stock following a strong Q3 report. For instance, Barclays analyst Tom O’Malley raised MU’s price target to $140 from $95 with a “Buy” rating, citing strong high-bandwidth memory demand.
Similarly, KeyBanc raised its price target for MU to $160 from $135 and reiterated its “Overweight” rating. The firm cited Micron’s strong Q3 results and better-than-expected Q4 guidance, which were driven by favorable pricing, improved product mix, and strong demand, particularly for DRAM and HBM.
DBS analyst Jim Hin Kwong Au reiterated his “Buy” rating and price target of $149, citing the company’s strong position in the AI-driven memory market. The analyst believes Micron’s advanced technologies will put it at the forefront of meeting rising demand from AI data centers and GPU-powered systems. With pricing strength expected to persist, he believes Micron will experience strong long-term revenue and margin growth.
Overall, on Wall Street, Micron stock has earned a “Strong Buy” rating. Out of the 30 analysts covering MU, 22 rate it a “Strong Buy,” four rate it a “Moderate Buy,” three recommend a “Hold,” and one says it is a “Strong Sell.” The average target price for the stock is $150.72, which is 23% above current levels. Plus, its Street-high estimate of $200 implies an upside potential of 64% over the next 12 months.
www.barchart.com
On the date of publication, Sushree Mohanty did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
While US inflation has cooled from its pandemic-era peak, prices at grocery store meat counters are skyrocketing with no relief in sight. Beef costs...
