Stock Markets February 2, 2026

Phillip Capital Sees Upside in Micron as DRAM Tightness and HBM Demand Lift Pricing

Analyst starts coverage with Buy, citing constrained supply, AI-driven memory demand and a $500 target based on fiscal 2026 earnings

By Sofia Navarro MU
Phillip Capital Sees Upside in Micron as DRAM Tightness and HBM Demand Lift Pricing
MU

Phillip Capital initiated coverage of Micron Technology with a Buy rating, pointing to severe memory tightness that has driven DRAM prices to their highest levels since 2019. Strong demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) — sold out for 2026 alongside SK Hynix — and favourable positioning in AI infrastructure support the firm's view. Phillip highlighted Micron’s HBM4 ramp in the second quarter of 2026 and the company’s U.S. manufacturing footprint, backed by CHIPS Act incentives, as potential drivers for market share gains and lower long-term costs. The firm set a $500 price target on Micron based on fiscal 2026 earnings, citing DRAM pricing strength, constrained supply and improving HBM position.

Key Points

  • Phillip Capital initiated coverage on Micron with a Buy rating, citing severe memory shortages and strong HBM demand.
  • HBM demand is strong with Micron and SK Hynix sold out for 2026; Micron’s HBM3E is already designed into Nvidia Blackwell and AMD MI355 GPUs.
  • Phillip highlighted HBM4 as a potential inflection, with a planned ramp in Q2 2026 and per-pin speeds above 11 Gbps; Micron could gain share from SK Hynix as volumes scale.

Phillip Capital has opened coverage on Micron Technology Inc with a Buy recommendation, arguing that a pronounced shortage in memory chips is elevating DRAM prices to levels not seen since 2019. The broker pointed to sustained demand for high-bandwidth memory products as a central factor underpinning Micron’s revenue outlook.

According to Phillip Capital, demand for Micron’s HBM lineup is robust, with HBM shipments fully committed for 2026 alongside those from market leader SK Hynix. The firm noted that industry supply constraints, together with continued investment in AI infrastructure, are creating upward pressure on DRAM pricing - a trend the analyst expects to accelerate through fiscal 2026.

Phillip Capital highlighted that Micron’s HBM3E parts are already integrated into Nvidia’s Blackwell GPUs and AMD’s MI355 GPUs, which the firm said supports solid revenue growth. The analyst also flagged Micron’s next-generation HBM4 as a potential turning point for the company. HBM4 is projected to begin ramping in the second quarter of 2026 and offers per-pin speeds above 11 gigabits per second, which Phillip Capital stated are higher than estimates for competing parts. The firm suggested that once HBM4 volumes scale, this performance advantage could enable Micron to take share from SK Hynix.

The broader market context remains tight, the analyst added. DRAM prices have increased for eight consecutive quarters, and both Micron and SK Hynix have indicated that their HBM output is fully committed for the coming year. While combined capital spending by the two suppliers rose late in 2025, Phillip Capital expects overall capex intensity to moderate in 2026. The firm specifically anticipates a reduction in Micron’s capex intensity ahead of new fabrication facilities planned for 2027. That moderation, Phillip Capital said, should help keep supply constrained and support elevated pricing.

Phillip Capital also pointed to visible demand from large cloud providers. The analyst cited guidance from Meta and Microsoft indicating significant increases in capital spending in 2026 to support AI workloads, a dynamic the firm believes reinforces demand for advanced memory products.

Micron’s substantial U.S. manufacturing presence was described as an advantage in the analysis. The company has secured funding and tax incentives under the CHIPS Act, which Phillip Capital said should materially reduce long-term costs as new fabs are brought online.

Based on its fiscal 2026 earnings outlook and the combination of DRAM price strength, tight supply and Micron’s strengthening position in high-bandwidth memory, Phillip Capital set a $500 price target on the stock.

Risks

  • Ability of HBM4 to scale in volume as expected - market share gains versus SK Hynix depend on production ramp and volumes.
  • Timing and intensity of capital expenditure - Phillip Capital expects capex intensity to ease in 2026, particularly for Micron ahead of planned 2027 fab construction.
  • Demand reliance on hyperscaler spending - guidance from major cloud providers underpins demand visibility, creating dependence on their capital spending plans.

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