Key takeaways
View moreMicron appears moderately undervalued based on its strong financial performance, technology leadership in high-growth segments like HBM, and potential for AI-driven demand growth. The company's valuation multiples (EV/EBITDA of 7.66 and EV/Sales of 3.51) are significantly below industry averages, which may not fully reflect its improving profitability and growth prospects. However, the discount also accounts for industry cyclicality and other risks, tempering the magnitude of undervaluation.
- Micron's revenue and profitability are on a strong upward trajectory, driven by increasing demand for memory and storage solutions, particularly in the AI and data center markets. The most recent quarter (2025-02-28) reported revenue of $8.053 billion and net income of $1.583 billion.
- The company is strategically investing in HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) technology and capacity expansions to capitalize on the transformative growth driven by AI, with HBM revenue exceeding $1 billion in fiscal Q2 2025 and growing more than 50% sequentially.
- Micron's liquidity position is solid, with a current ratio of 3.13, and its leverage is moderate, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 30.89, providing financial flexibility for future investments.
- The company faces risks related to industry cyclicality, geopolitical factors, and reliance on key customers, which could impact its financial performance, as highlighted in SEC filings and risk assessments.
- Compared to its peers, Micron presents a higher-risk, higher-reward profile, with greater volatility and larger drawdowns, as indicated by benchmark and peer performance analyses.
- Management expects continued revenue growth and profitability improvements in fiscal 2025, driven by demand for HBM and other high-value products, with a forecast of $8.8 billion in revenue for fiscal Q3.
- Recent news highlights Micron's strategic investments in U.S. manufacturing facilities, supported by CHIPS Act funding, and its focus on HBM technology to meet growing AI demand, as detailed in SEC filings and earnings calls.
- Micron's Enterprise Value to EBITDA ratio has decreased from 24.98 in 2024-05-31 to 7.66 in 2025-02-28, suggesting improved valuation relative to its earnings.
- The stock price has shown significant volatility, with a sharp decline in early April 2025, indicating sensitivity to market conditions and industry-specific news.
- Further monitoring is required on gross margin trajectory, inventory management, and HBM performance to assess the sustainability of Micron's growth and profitability.
Evaluation summary
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Company Overview:
- Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) is a global leader in innovative memory and storage solutions. The company delivers a broad portfolio of high-performance DRAM, NAND, and NOR memory and storage products under the Micron® and Crucial® brands.
- Micron operates through four business units: Compute and Networking Business Unit (CNBU), Mobile Business Unit (MBU), Embedded Business Unit (EBU), and Storage Business Unit (SBU). These units serve diverse markets, including data centers, PCs, mobile devices, automotive, and industrial applications.
- The company's key products include DRAM (Dynamic Random-Access Memory), NAND flash memory, and NOR flash memory. These products are essential components in various electronic devices and systems.
- Micron's primary competitors include Kioxia Holdings, Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, Sandisk, YMTC, and CXMT.
- For comparative analysis, the company's performance is benchmarked against the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) and industry peers Intel Corp. (INTC) and Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI).
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Financial Performance:
- Micron has demonstrated a strong upward trend in revenue over the past four quarters. Revenue increased from $6.811 billion in 2024-05-31 to $8.053 billion in 2025-02-28.
- Net income has also shown significant improvement, rising from $332 million in 2024-05-31 to $1.583 billion in 2025-02-28.
- Gross profit margin has increased from 26.90% in 2024-05-31 to 37.22% in 2025-02-28, indicating improved profitability.
- Net profit margin has also risen substantially, from 4.87% in 2024-05-31 to 19.66% in 2025-02-28.
- Micron's Return on Average Assets (ROA) is 6.73%, Return on Average Total Equity (ROE) is 10.10%, and Return on Average Invested Capital is 7.73% as of 2025-02-28.
- Compared to the industry average, Micron's profitability margins are significantly higher. For example, the industry average net profit margin is -1877.28%, while Micron's is 19.66%.
- The earnings call highlighted that DRAM revenue was $6.1 billion, up 47% year-over-year, while NAND revenue was $1.9 billion, up 18% year-over-year in fiscal Q2 2025.
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Operational Efficiency:
- Micron's total current assets increased from $23.319 billion in 2024-05-31 to $24.689 billion in 2025-02-28, indicating improved liquidity.
- Total current liabilities also increased from $6.840 billion to $7.877 billion over the same period.
- Working capital increased from $16.479 billion in 2024-05-31 to $16.812 billion in 2025-02-28.
- Net operating cash flow has shown a positive trend, increasing from $2.482 billion in 2024-05-31 to $3.942 billion in 2025-02-28.
- Total capital expenditure has also increased, from $2.086 billion to $4.055 billion, reflecting investments in capacity expansions and technology transitions.
- Free cash flow to equity has fluctuated, with the most recent quarter showing a negative value of -$113 million.
- The company's current ratio is 3.13, and the quick ratio is 1.99 as of 2025-02-28, indicating strong liquidity.
- The total debt to total equity ratio is 30.89%, suggesting a moderate level of financial leverage.
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Growth Opportunities:
- Micron is strategically investing in HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) technology to capitalize on the growing demand for AI applications.
- The company is expanding its manufacturing capacity in the U.S., supported by CHIPS Act funding, to meet projected demand growth.
- Micron is focused on growing HBM capacity in existing facilities and is building a new HBM advanced packaging facility in Singapore.
- The company is managing the ramp of Gen9 NAND technology, mindful of supply-demand balance.
- Micron is investing in multi-year facility investments to support DRAM and HBM manufacturing, including a new fab in Idaho.
- The company is focused on increasing the mix of revenue towards higher profit pools in both DRAM and NAND.
- The earnings call highlighted that Micron is the HBM technology leader, with HBM revenue exceeding $1 billion in fiscal Q2 2025 and growing more than 50% sequentially.
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Recent Developments and Market Sentiment:
- Recent SEC filings highlight Micron's plans to invest in leading-edge memory manufacturing facilities in the U.S., supported by CHIPS Act funding.
- Micron has entered into direct funding agreements with the U.S. Department of Commerce for up to $6.1 billion in CHIPS Act funding for fabs in Idaho and New York.
- The company has also signed a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms for up to $275 million in CHIPS Act funding for a fab in Virginia.
- The earnings call indicated that Micron is in the best competitive position in its history and is achieving share gains in high-margin product categories.
- Management stated that Micron is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the transformative growth driven by AI from data center to edge devices.
- Recent price movements show volatility, with a significant drop in early April 2025, followed by some recovery.
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Risks and Threats:
- The semiconductor industry is highly cyclical and competitive, which can lead to volatility in average selling prices and gross margins.
- Geopolitical and regulatory risks associated with Micron's international operations could impact manufacturing costs and product competitiveness.
- The company relies on a limited number of key customers and end markets, which could expose it to demand fluctuations and pricing pressures.
- Micron faces challenges in developing and producing new competitive memory and storage technologies.
- Risks related to capacity expansions and achieving expected returns are also present.
- The company is dependent on the availability and quality of materials, supplies, and third-party service providers.
- Cybersecurity threats and system failures could disrupt operations.
- Ongoing patent infringement lawsuits with Netlist, YMTC, and others related to Micron's memory and storage products pose a legal risk.
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Valuation Analysis:
- Micron's Enterprise Value to EBITDA ratio has decreased from 24.98 in 2024-05-31 to 7.66 in 2025-02-28, suggesting improved valuation.
- The Enterprise Value to Sales ratio has also decreased from 6.90 to 3.51 over the same period.
- Compared to the industry average, Micron's enterprise value to sales and enterprise value to EBITDA are lower, suggesting that it may be undervalued compared to its peers.
- Potential catalysts include continued growth in HBM demand, successful execution of capacity expansions, and improvements in NAND profitability.
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Price Performance:
- Micron's stock price has shown significant volatility in recent months.
- The stock price ranged from approximately $90 to $103 in March 2025 but experienced a sharp decline in early April 2025, falling to around $65.
- As of April 23, 2025, the stock price was $72.93.
- Compared to the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK), Micron has generally underperformed across most time periods.
- Over the past year, MU's return was -34.46%, while XLK's was 0.7%.
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Future Outlook:
- Management expects continued revenue growth and profitability improvements in fiscal 2025, driven by demand for HBM and other high-value products.
- Micron forecasts fiscal Q3 revenue of $8.8 billion, with a gross margin of 36.5% and EPS of $1.57.
- The company expects DRAM and NAND bit shipments to grow in fiscal Q3.
- Capital spending for fiscal 2025 remains at approximately $14 billion, focused on HBM, facility construction, back-end manufacturing, and R&D.
- Analysts are focused on gross margin trajectory, inventory management, and HBM performance.
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Summary:
- Micron Technology, Inc. is a leading provider of memory and storage solutions, with a strong focus on innovation and growth.
- The company's financial performance has shown significant improvement, driven by increasing demand for its products and efficient cost management.
- Micron is strategically investing in HBM technology and capacity expansions to capitalize on the transformative growth driven by AI.
- However, the company faces risks related to industry cyclicality, geopolitical factors, and competitive pressures.
- Micron's strengths include its technology leadership, strong financial performance, and strategic investments.
- Weaknesses include its exposure to industry cyclicality and reliance on key customers.
- Opportunities include the growing demand for HBM and other high-value products, as well as the potential for geographic expansion.
- Threats include competitive pressures, geopolitical risks, and potential disruptions from cybersecurity threats and supply chain vulnerabilities.
- Overall, Micron presents a higher-risk, higher-reward investment profile. The company's strong growth potential and strategic investments make it an attractive option for investors with a higher risk tolerance. However, investors should be aware of the risks associated with industry cyclicality and competitive pressures. Further monitoring is required on gross margin trajectory, inventory management, and HBM performance.
Price history
Fundamentals
Insights
- Micron's revenue is on a strong upward trajectory, driven by increasing demand for its memory and storage solutions, particularly in the AI and data center markets.
- The company's profitability is improving, with increasing gross and net profit margins, reflecting efficient cost management and strong pricing power.
- Micron maintains a solid liquidity position, with a current ratio above 1.0, and a moderate level of financial leverage, providing financial flexibility for future investments.
- The company's investments in capacity expansions and technology transitions are expected to drive long-term growth and profitability, but also increase capital expenditures.
- Micron faces risks related to industry cyclicality, geopolitical factors, and reliance on key customers, which could impact its financial performance.
Analysis
- Revenue
- Revenue has shown a strong upward trend over the past several quarters, indicating growing demand for Micron's memory and storage solutions.
- The YoY growth rate is higher than the 5-year CAGR, suggesting a potential acceleration in revenue growth, possibly driven by increased demand from AI and data center applications.
- Micron's revenue growth is significantly higher than the industry average, reflecting its competitive positioning and market share gains.
- Profitability
- Gross Profit Margin and Net Profit Margin are showing increasing trends, indicating improved profitability.
- The company's profitability margins are significantly higher than the industry average, reflecting its efficient cost management and strong pricing power.
- EBIT is trending upwards, but the YoY growth rate is lower than the 5-year CAGR, suggesting a potential deceleration in operating income growth.
- Liquidity
- The current ratio is 3.13, indicating a strong liquidity position and the ability to meet short-term obligations.
- The current ratio is showing a slightly decreasing trend, which could be a result of increased investments in long-term assets or strategic initiatives.
- Micron's current ratio is lower than the industry average, suggesting that the company may have less liquidity compared to its peers, but it is still above 1.0 indicating positive liquidity.
- Solvency
- The total debt to total equity ratio is 30.89, suggesting a moderate level of financial leverage.
- The total debt to total equity ratio is showing a decreasing trend, indicating that the company is becoming less leveraged.
- Micron's debt-to-equity ratio is lower than the industry average, indicating that the company is less leveraged than its peers, providing financial flexibility.
- Operational Efficiency
- The company is efficiently managing its cost of goods sold, as reflected in its higher-than-average gross profit margin.
- The company is effectively utilizing its assets to generate revenue, as indicated by its higher-than-average net profit margin.
- The company's enterprise value to sales and enterprise value to EBITDA are lower than the industry average, suggesting that it may be undervalued compared to its peers.
- Cash Flow Analysis - Net operating cash flow is trending upwards, driven by increases in net income and depreciation, depletion & amortization. - The cash flow / total debt ratio is increasing and is higher than the industry average, indicating that the company is generating sufficient cash flow to cover its debt obligations. - Total capital expenditure is trending upwards, reflecting the company's investments in capacity expansions and technology transitions.
- Risk Factors
- The semiconductor industry is highly cyclical and competitive, which can lead to volatility in average selling prices and gross margins.
- Geopolitical and regulatory risks associated with Micron's international operations could impact manufacturing costs and product competitiveness.
- The company relies on a limited number of key customers and end markets, which could expose it to demand fluctuations and pricing pressures.
- Future Outlook
- Micron is well-positioned to capitalize on the transformative growth driven by AI, particularly in the data center and edge device markets.
- The company's investments in HBM capacity and new fabs are aimed at securing its position in the memory market for the long term.
- Management expects continued gross margin improvement, driven by a shift in product mix towards higher-value solutions and disciplined supply management.
- Profitability
Financial statements
Public filings
- Micron is a leading global provider of memory and storage solutions, with a diverse product portfolio serving a wide range of end markets, including data center, mobile, automotive, and consumer electronics.
- The company faces intense competition and pricing pressures in the highly cyclical semiconductor industry, which can significantly impact its gross margins and profitability.
- Micron is making significant investments to expand its manufacturing capacity in the U.S., supported by CHIPS Act funding, to meet projected demand growth in the second half of the decade.
- The company is exposed to various operational, financial, legal, and regulatory risks, including supply chain disruptions, cybersecurity threats, intellectual property disputes, and changing trade policies.
- Micron's financial performance has been volatile, with management closely monitoring industry conditions, customer demand, and cost controls to navigate the cyclical nature of the memory and storage markets.
Core Business and Operations:
- Micron Technology, Inc. is an industry leader in innovative memory and storage solutions, delivering a portfolio of high-performance DRAM, NAND, and NOR memory and storage products through its Micron® and Crucial® brands
- The company manufactures its products at wholly-owned facilities globally and utilizes subcontractors for certain manufacturing processes
- Micron's products are sold into various markets, including data center, PC, graphics, networking, mobile devices, automotive, industrial, and consumer embedded applications
- Key competitors include Kioxia Holdings, Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, Sandisk, YMTC, and CXMT
Industry and Market Trends:
- The semiconductor memory and storage industry is highly competitive, with competitors seeking to increase supply, improve yields, and reduce die size to drive down prices
- Demand for memory and storage products is influenced by factors such as economic conditions, customer inventory levels, and technological advancements
- Regulatory actions, such as trade restrictions and tariffs, can impact manufacturing costs and product competitiveness
- Sustainability and governance expectations from stakeholders are increasing, presenting both opportunities and risks for the company
Recent Events:
- Micron announced plans to invest in leading-edge memory manufacturing facilities in the U.S., supported by CHIPS Act funding
- The company entered into direct funding agreements with the U.S. Department of Commerce for up to $6.1 billion in CHIPS Act funding for fabs in Idaho and New York
- Micron signed a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms for up to $275 million in CHIPS Act funding for a fab in Virginia
Risk Factors:
- Volatility in average selling prices and gross margins due to industry dynamics and competitive pressures
- Geopolitical and regulatory risks associated with Micron's international operations
- Reliance on a limited number of key customers and end markets
- Challenges in developing and producing new competitive memory and storage technologies
- Risks related to capacity expansions and achieving expected returns
- Dependency on availability and quality of materials, supplies, and third-party service providers
- Cybersecurity threats and system failures that could disrupt operations
- Intellectual property protection and retention of key technical talent
Legal Matters:
- Ongoing patent infringement lawsuits with Netlist, YMTC, and others related to Micron's memory and storage products
- Securities class action and shareholder derivative lawsuits alleging false or misleading statements
- Cooperation with the Chinese government's antitrust investigation into DRAM suppliers
Management's Discussion and Analysis:
- Revenue and gross margin performance impacted by DRAM and NAND pricing and demand trends
- Significant capital expenditures to support capacity expansions and technology transitions
- Reliance on government incentives and tax benefits to fund a portion of capital and operating costs
- Volatility in cash flows and operating results, which could negatively impact the company's credit rating and financing
- Efforts to align NAND supply with industry demand trends, including reducing wafer starts and capital expenditures
Earnings calls
Earnings Report 2025Q2 (2025-03-20)
Key takeaways
- HBM is a critical growth driver: Micron's success is heavily reliant on its HBM leadership and its ability to ramp up production to meet growing demand.
- NAND recovery is crucial: Improving NAND profitability is essential for overall margin expansion, and the company's supply discipline will be key.
- AI is a significant tailwind: The increasing adoption of AI in various applications is driving demand for memory and storage, particularly high-capacity and high-bandwidth solutions.
- Gross margin improvement is expected but gradual: While management anticipates gross margin improvement, headwinds from NAND underutilization and startup costs will limit the pace of recovery.
- Strategic investments are focused on long-term growth: Micron's capital investments in HBM capacity and new fabs are aimed at securing its position in the memory market for the long term.
Focus of management’s prepared remarks
- HBM Leadership and Growth: Micron is the HBM technology leader, with HBM revenue exceeding $1 billion in fiscal Q2 and growing more than 50% sequentially. They are sold out of HBM output for calendar 2025 and are in discussions for 2026 demand.
- Data Center Focus: Data center DRAM revenue reached a new record. Micron is the only company shipping low-power DRAM into the data center in high volume. They expect multibillion-dollar revenue from high-capacity D5 modules and LP products for the data center in fiscal 2025.
- Technology Leadership: Micron's 1-beta DRAM technology leads the industry, and they are extending this leadership with the launch of the 1-gamma node. Gen9 NAND technology delivers the industry's fastest TLC-based NAND.
- Strategic Investments: Micron is making disciplined investments to capitalize on AI growth, including expanding HBM capacity and building a new HBM advanced packaging facility in Singapore. The new DRAM fab in Idaho will provide meaningful DRAM output starting in fiscal 2027.
- AI-Driven Demand: Dramatic improvements in computation hardware are driving down the cost of inference, making generative AI-based capabilities more accessible. HBM memory provides the bandwidth necessary to leverage high-performance processors in the most effective manner.
- Market Outlook: The company projects mid-single-digit server unit growth in calendar 2025, with growth in both traditional and AI servers. They have increased their HBM TAM estimate for calendar 2025 to over $35 billion.
- Supply Management: Micron expects its supply growth in calendar 2025 to be lower than industry demand growth for both DRAM and NAND. They plan to reuse a portion of underutilized NAND equipment to support capital-efficient conversions to leading-edge nodes, resulting in a structural reduction of NAND wafer capacity.
- End Market Performance: PC market is expected to grow mid-single digits in calendar 2025, driven by Windows 10 end-of-life and AI applications. Smartphone unit volume growth is expected to be in the low single-digit percentages. Automotive memory and storage content per car continues to increase.
Focus of the analyst Q&A
- Gross Margin Trajectory:
- Concerns about the sequential decline in gross margins and the factors contributing to it (consumer mix, NAND underutilization).
- Questions about the expected improvement in gross margins beyond the current quarter and the drivers behind it (HBM mix, market conditions).
- Specific inquiry about the potential for gross margins to return to previous levels.
- Fiscal Q3 Guidance Breakdown:
- Requests for a more detailed breakdown of the fiscal Q3 revenue guidance, specifically the contribution from DRAM versus NAND.
- Questions about the expected bit growth in each of those segments.
- Inventory Management:
- Inquiries about the company's inventory targets and the timeline for achieving them.
- Concerns about the magnitude of the inventory reduction and the factors influencing it (HBM supply, market demand).
- HBM Performance and Outlook:
- Questions about the impact of HBM3E yields on gross margins as the company transitions to 12-high stacks.
- Inquiries about the sustainability of HBM market share and the company's capacity to meet future demand.
- Lower-End Market Exposure:
- Concerns about the company's exposure to lower-end products like LP4 and DDR4 and their impact on margins.
- Questions about the potential for these products to become less of a drag on margins as the business grows.
- Pricing Dynamics:
- Concerns about how much of the recent memory price improvements are due to true end demand versus tariff-related pull-ins.
- Questions about the sustainability of industry pricing dynamics.
- Underutilization Charges and Construction Costs:
- Inquiries about the timing and magnitude of underutilization charges on the NAND side.
- Concerns about the incremental construction costs associated with new facilities.
Summary
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Financial Performance
Micron reported fiscal Q2 2025 revenue of $8.1 billion, down 8% sequentially but up 38% year-over-year. DRAM revenue was $6.1 billion, up 47% year-over-year, while NAND revenue was $1.9 billion, up 18% year-over-year. EPS was $1.56, exceeding guidance. Gross margin was 37.9%, down 160 basis points sequentially. The company projects fiscal Q3 revenue of $8.8 billion, with EPS of $1.57.
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Revenue Drivers
Growth in data center DRAM, particularly HBM, was a significant revenue driver. HBM revenue grew over 50% sequentially, exceeding $1 billion. High-capacity DRAM modules and LPDRAM for data centers also exceeded $1 billion. Data center NAND demand moderated due to customer inventory adjustments. PC and smartphone markets are expected to contribute to growth in the second half of calendar 2025, driven by AI adoption and the end of Windows 10 support.
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Profit Margins and Cost Management
Gross margin decreased sequentially due to pricing and consumer-oriented segments, particularly in NAND. This was partially offset by a high-value mix shift in DRAM. Operating expenses were $1 billion, flat sequentially. The company expects fiscal 2025 OpEx to increase by over 10% to support high-value products, including HBM. NAND underutilization continues to weigh on gross margins. The company is taking actions to manage NAND supply, including underloading, reducing CapEx, and delaying node transitions.
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Guidance and Outlook
Micron forecasts fiscal Q3 revenue of $8.8 billion, with a gross margin of 36.5% and EPS of $1.57. They expect DRAM and NAND bit shipments to grow in fiscal Q3. Capital spending for fiscal 2025 remains at approximately $14 billion, focused on HBM, facility construction, back-end manufacturing, and R&D. The company expects to maintain its bit share in DRAM and NAND in calendar 2025. DRAM inventories are projected to be tight by the end of fiscal 2025.
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Strategic Initiatives
Micron is focused on growing HBM capacity in existing facilities and is building a new HBM advanced packaging facility in Singapore. They are managing the ramp of Gen9 NAND technology, mindful of supply-demand balance. The company is investing in multi-year facility investments to support DRAM and HBM manufacturing, including a new fab in Idaho. They are focused on increasing the mix of revenue towards higher profit pools in both DRAM and NAND.
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Management Commentary
Management stated that Micron is in the best competitive position in its history and is achieving share gains in high-margin product categories. They are confident in their ability to navigate current market dynamics with disciplined investments and a focus on high-value portfolio mix shift. They highlighted the transformative growth driven by AI and are on track for record revenue and significantly improved profitability in fiscal 2025. "Micron is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the transformative growth driven by AI from data center to edge devices."
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Industry and Market Conditions
Calendar 2024 DRAM bit demand growth was in the high teens, while NAND bit demand growth was approximately 10%. The company forecasts calendar 2025 DRAM bit demand growth in the mid- to high teens percentage range and NAND in the low double-digit percentage range. They expect Micron's supply growth in calendar 2025 to be lower than industry demand growth for both DRAM and NAND. The company anticipates sustained NAND industry supply-demand balance through increased time between node transitions and sustained reductions in NAND industry CapEx and wafer capacity.
Comparative analysis
Benchmarks (as of 2025-04-23)
- Performance Comparison:
- Micron Technology Inc. (MU) has generally underperformed the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) across most time periods. For instance, the one-year performance shows MU at -34.46% compared to XLK at 0.7%. However, in the past week, MU has outperformed XLK, with returns of 6.0% and 2.69% respectively.
- Risk and Return Analysis:
- The annualized returns indicate that MU has provided lower returns compared to XLK over the 1, 2, and 3-year periods. For example, the 3-year annualized return for MU is 1.96%, while for XLK it is 11.83%.
- MU exhibits higher annualized volatility compared to XLK. For example, in Q1 2025, MU's volatility reached as high as 103.66% while XLK's reached 57.02%. This indicates that MU's price fluctuates more widely than XLK's.
- MU's maximum drawdown was -57.63% on 2025-04-04, which is significantly larger than XLK's maximum drawdown of -33.56% on 2022-10-12. This suggests that MU is riskier than XLK, as it experiences more significant declines from peak values.
- Risk-Adjusted Performance:
- The Sharpe ratios for XLK are generally higher than those for MU, indicating that XLK offers better risk-adjusted returns. Recently, the Sharpe ratio for MU has been negative, while XLK has maintained positive Sharpe ratios.
- MU's beta is consistently higher than XLK's, indicating that MU is more sensitive to market movements. Recently, MU's beta has been in the range of 2.15 to 2.42, while XLK's beta has been in the range of 1.39 to 1.64.
- Overall Assessment:
- Micron Technology Inc. (MU) has underperformed Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) across most metrics, including historical performance, annualized returns, and risk-adjusted returns. MU exhibits higher volatility and larger drawdowns, indicating a riskier investment profile compared to XLK. While MU's higher beta suggests greater sensitivity to market movements, its lower Sharpe ratio indicates that it does not compensate investors adequately for the increased risk.
Peers Price History(as of 2025-04-23)
- Performance Comparison:
- Micron Technology (MU) has shown mixed performance compared to Intel Corp. (INTC) and Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI). Over the past year, MU outperformed INTC but significantly underperformed ADI. Specifically, MU's 1-year return was -34.46%, while INTC's was -39.7% and ADI's was -5.27%. Over a longer 2-year and 3-year period, MU outperformed INTC but underperformed ADI over 3 years. For example, MU's 2-year return was 23.84% compared to INTC's -28.87% and ADI's 1.47%. Recently, MU has underperformed both INTC and ADI year-to-date, with returns of -16.38% compared to INTC's 1.83% and ADI's -12.98%.
- Risk and Return Analysis:
- The annualized returns indicate that MU has been more volatile than its peers. MU's annualized return for the past year was -34.46%, compared to INTC's -39.7% and ADI's -5.27%. Over a 2-year period, MU's annualized return was 11.28%, while INTC's was -15.66% and ADI's was 0.73%. The annualized volatility data shows that MU generally experiences higher volatility. For instance, in Q1 2025, MU's volatility reached 103.66%, while INTC's was 95.53% and ADI's was 78.38%. The maximum drawdown for MU was -57.63% on 2025-04-04, which is less than INTC's -66.08% but more than ADI's -32.2%. This suggests that MU carries a higher level of risk compared to ADI but less than INTC.
- Risk-Adjusted Performance:
- The Sharpe Ratio, which measures risk-adjusted return, indicates that ADI generally offers a better risk-adjusted return compared to MU and INTC. Throughout the period, ADI consistently showed higher Sharpe Ratios. For example, in Q1 2025, MU's Sharpe Ratio was -0.8, INTC's was -0.93, and ADI's was 0.16. The Beta values for MU, INTC, and ADI were consistently above 1, indicating that these stocks are more volatile than the market. MU generally had higher Beta values, suggesting it is more sensitive to market movements.
- Overall Assessment:
- Based on the analysis, Micron Technology (MU) presents a higher-risk, higher-reward profile compared to Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI). While MU has shown periods of outperformance, particularly over 2 and 3 year periods compared to Intel (INTC), it also exhibits greater volatility and larger drawdowns. ADI, on the other hand, offers more stable and consistent risk-adjusted returns. Investors seeking stability and lower risk may prefer ADI, while those with a higher risk tolerance and a focus on potential outsized gains may consider MU. The recent underperformance of MU and the increased volatility in the semiconductor industry suggest caution.
Peers Fundamentals(as of 2025-02-28)
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Market Position and Size:
- Micron Technology (MU) has a market capitalization of $81.5 billion, which is less than Intel (INTC) at $89.8 billion and Analog Devices (ADI) at $90.8 billion.
- MU's revenue for the most recent quarter is $31.3 billion, which is less than Intel's $53.1 billion but significantly greater than Analog Devices' $9.3 billion.
- MU's EBITDA of $14.3 billion is greater than both Intel's $6.7 billion and Analog Devices' $4.1 billion. MU's net income of $4.7 billion is greater than Intel's -$18.8 billion and Analog Devices' $1.6 billion.
- Within its peer group, Micron Technology is smaller in terms of market capitalization compared to Intel and Analog Devices. However, its revenue is significantly higher than Analog Devices, and it demonstrates stronger profitability metrics (EBITDA, Net Income) than Intel. This suggests a strong market position in its specific niche within the semiconductor industry.
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Profitability and Efficiency:
- Micron Technology's Gross Profit Margin is 34.84%, which is greater than Intel's 32.66% but less than Analog Devices' 49.09%. The industry average is -40.07%.
- MU's EBITDA Margin is 45.54%, which is significantly greater than Intel's 12.56% and slightly greater than Analog Devices' 44.01%. The industry average is -1954.9%.
- MU's Net Profit Margin is 14.92%, which is greater than Intel's -35.32% but less than Analog Devices' 16.75%. The industry average is -1877.28%.
- Considering its market cap and revenue, Micron Technology demonstrates strong profitability. Its EBITDA margin is particularly noteworthy, indicating efficient operations.
- Micron Technology outperforms Intel in all profitability metrics and is generally in line with Analog Devices. Compared to industry averages, Micron significantly outperforms in all profitability metrics.
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Financial Health and Stability:
- Micron Technology's Current Ratio is 3.13, which is greater than Intel's 1.33 and Analog Devices' 1.93, but less than the industry average of 4.36.
- MU's Quick Ratio is 1.99, which is greater than Intel's 0.98 and Analog Devices' 1.43, but less than the industry average of 3.57.
- MU's Total Debt to Total Equity Ratio is 30.89, which is less than Intel's 50.84 and the industry average of 64.26, but greater than Analog Devices' 21.58.
- MU's Debt / EBITDA is 1.01, which is less than Intel's 7.5, Analog Devices' 1.84, and the industry average of 13.03.
- MU's Cash Flow / Total Debt is 90.68, which is greater than Intel's 14.24 and Analog Devices' 47.86, and the industry average of -476.89.
- Micron Technology exhibits strong liquidity and a manageable debt position. Its current and quick ratios are healthy, and its debt levels are relatively low compared to its EBITDA and cash flow.
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Valuation and Market Perception:
- Micron Technology's Enterprise Value To Sales is 3.51, which is greater than Intel's 2.29, but less than Analog Devices' 11.83 and the industry average of 12.24.
- MU's Enterprise Value To EBITDA is 7.66, which is less than Intel's 18.2, Analog Devices' 26.89, and the industry average of 234.75.
- MU's Price To Earnings is 17.53, which is less than Analog Devices' 58.39 and the industry average of 67.67.
- MU's Price to Book Ratio is 1.68, which is greater than Intel's 0.9, but less than Analog Devices' 2.59 and the industry average of 6.09.
- MU's Price To Sales Ratio is 2.61, which is greater than Intel's 1.66, but less than Analog Devices' 9.78 and the industry average of 14.31.
- MU's Price to Free Cash Flow is 134.5, which is greater than Intel's -5.73 and Analog Devices' 28.52, and the industry average of -179.6.
- Micron Technology appears to be undervalued compared to Analog Devices and the industry average, based on its lower EV/Sales, EV/EBITDA, P/E, P/B, and P/S ratios.
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Cash Flow and Capital Management:
- Micron Technology's Net Operating Cash Flow is $13.1 billion, which is greater than Intel's $8.3 billion and Analog Devices' $3.8 billion.
- MU's Total Capital Expenditure is $12.5 billion, which is less than Intel's $23.9 billion but significantly greater than Analog Devices' $0.7 billion.
- MU's Free Cash Flow is $0.6 billion, which is greater than Intel's -$15.7 billion but less than Analog Devices' $3.2 billion.
- Micron Technology demonstrates strong cash flow generation, with a high net operating cash flow. However, its free cash flow is relatively low due to significant capital expenditures.
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Growth and Future Prospect:
- MU shows higher average sales/revenue growth (15.4%) compared to the peer average (7.87%).
- MU shows higher average EBITDA growth (58.55%) compared to the peer average (17.6%).
- MU shows higher average Net Income growth (-83.71%) compared to the peer average (-110.71%).
- MU shows higher average Basic Earnings per Share growth (-85.5%) compared to the peer average (-115.24%).
- MU shows higher average EBIT Margin growth (-96.75%) compared to the peer average (-1086.2%).
- MU's 5-year CAGR (9.83%) is significantly higher than its 3-year CAGR (0.16%), indicating accelerating revenue growth over the longer term.
- MU's 5-year CAGR (12.32%) is significantly higher than its 3-year CAGR (-5.63%), indicating improving profitability over the longer term.
- MU's 5-year CAGR (15.26%) is significantly higher than its 3-year CAGR (-19.7%), indicating improving profitability over the longer term.
- MU's 5-year CAGR (15.15%) is significantly higher than its 3-year CAGR (-19.48%), indicating improving profitability over the longer term.
- MU's 5-year CAGR (2.87%) is significantly higher than its 3-year CAGR (-50.04%), indicating improving cash flow generation over the longer term.
- MU's 5-year CAGR (-6.34%) is significantly higher than its 3-year CAGR (-50.12%), indicating improving cash flow generation over the longer term.
- MU's 5-year CAGR (8.88%) is significantly higher than its 3-year CAGR (-15.86%), indicating improving profitability over the longer term.
- MU's growth rates have been generally increasing over the 5-year period, as evidenced by the higher 5-year CAGRs compared to the 3-year CAGRs.
- MU's most recent year-over-year growth rates are significantly higher than its 5-year CAGRs, indicating an acceleration of growth in the most recent period.
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Potential for Investment:
- From an investment perspective, Micron Technology appears attractive due to its strong financial performance, efficient returns, and robust cash flow.
- While its market capitalization is smaller than some of its peers, its superior profitability and growth potential suggest that it may be undervalued by the market.
- Micron Technology's higher earnings per share, combined with a relatively lower P/E ratio (17.53 compared to Analog Devices' 58.39 and the industry average of 67.67), suggests that it offers better value to shareholders compared to its peers.
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Key Risks and Considerations:
- Micron Technology's Net Income growth shows significant fluctuations, with a standard deviation of 205.0%.
- Micron Technology's Basic Earnings per Share growth shows significant fluctuations, with a standard deviation of 206.44%.
- Micron Technology's Free Cash Flow growth shows significant fluctuations, with a standard deviation of 344.16%.
- Micron Technology's Free Cash Flow Margin growth shows significant fluctuations, with a standard deviation of 280.47%.
- Micron Technology's EBIT Margin growth shows significant fluctuations, with a standard deviation of 181.47%.
- Micron Technology has a smaller market capitalization compared to Intel and Analog Devices, potentially limiting its influence and access to capital.
- Despite strong operating cash flow, Micron Technology's free cash flow is lower than Analog Devices due to significant capital expenditures.
- Micron Technology's valuation multiples, such as EV/Sales, EV/EBITDA, and P/E, are lower than Analog Devices and the industry average, suggesting potential undervaluation or market skepticism.
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Overall Assessment:
- Micron Technology exhibits strong financial health, characterized by high profitability, efficient returns, and robust cash flow generation.
- While its market capitalization is smaller than some of its peers, its financial performance indicates a solid and well-managed company.
- Micron Technology holds a strong competitive position within the semiconductor industry, particularly in its specific niche of memory and storage solutions.
- Its superior profitability and efficiency compared to Intel, combined with its strong cash flow, position it well for future growth and market leadership.