Micron Technology: The Chipmaker's Rollercoaster Ride

Micron Technology is a chipmaker known for its wild price swings. This company's stock has been on a rollercoaster ride, with big jumps and drops. In 2025, Micron's shares have soared by about 22%, while the broader market has struggled. The company is set to release its fiscal second-quarter results after the market closes on Thursday. Micron's stock is one of the most volatile in the semiconductor industry. For instance, shares spiked by 14. 7% in late September after better-than-expected revenue forecasts, but then plunged by about 14% in December due to poor guidance. Micron's beta, a measure of its price volatility, is around 2, indicating it's twice as volatile as the overall market. Analysts are generally optimistic about Micron's future. They expect the company's chip business to strengthen as pricing and demand improve in the latter half of the year. Out of 39 analysts covering Micron, 34 rate it as a strong buy or buy. However, it's important to note that past performance is not indicative of future results. The stock's volatility means it could go either way. The company's dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) pricing is expected to improve in the second quarter of this year. This could benefit Micron, as DRAM is a significant part of its business. However, the company's guidance for the next quarter is expected to be below consensus estimates. This could be a concern for investors, as it might indicate slower growth ahead. Citi analyst Christopher Danely expects "decent results" from Micron but warns of below-consensus guidance. He maintains a $150 price target, suggesting nearly 47% potential upside from the stock's current price. Danely is bullish on Micron's artificial intelligence (AI) opportunities and the DRAM recovery. However, it's crucial to remember that price targets are just estimates and can change based on various factors. Wells Fargo analyst Aaron Rakers is also bullish on Micron. He expects a recovery in inventory levels in the second half of the year and improved competitive advantage in the DRAM and NAND markets. NAND is a type of technology used in data storage. However, Rakers' price target of $130 is lower than Citi's, indicating a more cautious outlook. JPMorgan analyst Harlan Sur expects Micron's quarterly results to meet consensus expectations. He is enthusiastic about the company's AI opportunities and strong pricing trends with its DRAM solutions. However, Sur's price target of $145 is also lower than Citi's, reflecting a more moderate growth outlook. UBS analyst Timothy Arcuri expects volume and pricing declines in Micron's NAND business but believes these could be offset by robust high-bandwidth memory (HBM) shipments. Arcuri's price target implies a 22. 5% potential upside, but it's important to note that this is still a prediction and not a guarantee. Stifel analyst Brian Chin is optimistic about improving pricing on Micron's NAND technology starting in the second quarter. However, he lowered his third-quarter estimates to reflect weaker memory contract pricing. Chin expects Micron's revenue, margins, and earnings to re-expand in its fourth quarter. However, it's crucial to remember that these are just estimates and can change based on various factors. Investors should do their own research and consider their risk tolerance before making any investment decisions.