- Micron Technology anticipates first-quarter revenue around $8.7 billion, surpassing expectations, fueled by surging demand for AI chips.
- The company’s shares jumped nearly 14% after it reported strong demand for its AI-focused memory chips.
OUR TAKE
Micron Technology has done better than expected on Wall Street by forecasting record first-quarter revenue of around $8.7 billion, driven by soaring demand for its high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, which are crucial for AI applications. Micron’s stock shot up by nearly 14% after the announcement, thanks to a fourth-quarter revenue growth not seen in over a decade. The company’s focus on AI-related memory solutions puts it in a great position for future growth, reflecting a strong market for semiconductors amidst an inventory glut in traditional sectors like PCs and smartphones.
–Heidi Luo, BTW reporter
What happened
Micron Technology announced its impressive first quarter revenue guidance of approximately $8.7 billion, beating analyst expectations of $8.28 billion. This strong outlook follows fourth quarter revenue growth that was the highest in more than a decade, largely due to booming demand for the company’s high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips.
Following the announcement, Micron’s shares jumped nearly 14% in after-hours trading, reflecting investors’ confidence in the company’s future. Micron is one of only three suppliers of HBM chips, along with South Korea’s SK Hynix and Samsung.
The company has capitalised on the growing demand for semiconductors that support generative AI technology, which is driving the growth of data centres. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra highlighted that customer inventory levels remain healthy, indicating a robust market. Furthermore, Micron’s HBM chips, which are essential for Nvidia’s AI processors, are sold out for calendar years 2024 and 2025.
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Why it’s important
Micron’s guidance is important not only for the company, but for the semiconductor industry as a whole. As a leading supplier of HBM chips, Micron’s results often set the tone for market trends. The growing integration of AI technologies into PCs is expected to increase demand for memory chips, with predictions that AI-enabled PCs will require more than 30% more DRAM.
This shift represents a significant opportunity for Micron to increase its market share, particularly with Microsoft’s push towards Windows 11, which could drive additional sales.
In addition, Micron’s Chief Business Officer, Sumit Sadana, highlighted the long-term growth potential in three key product categories – HBM, high-capacity memory and data centre flash storage – each of which is expected to generate multi-billion dollar revenues by 2025.
The company’s ability to adapt to changing market dynamics, particularly in the AI sector, positions it favourably amid challenges in other segments, such as the PC and smartphone markets.
