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Three Memory Giants Join Trillion-Dollar Club as AI Drives HBM Shortage

Investors have re-rated Micron, Samsung and SK Hynix on sold-out high-bandwidth memory bookings, creating a large valuation gap that could reverse if supply or AI spending changes.

Overview

  • Micron briefly topped a $1 trillion market value after a roughly 19% intraday jump on Tuesday, May 26, following a sharp analyst upgrade that sent heavy buying into the stock.
  • UBS analyst Timothy Arcuri more than tripled Micron’s price target to $1,625, a move cited by multiple outlets as the immediate catalyst for the company’s surge.
  • SK Hynix crossed the $1 trillion mark on Wednesday, May 27, completing a rapid sequence in which Samsung, Micron and SK Hynix each reached trillion-dollar valuations within weeks.
  • The rally reflects tight supply for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) — the fast, stacked memory used next to AI accelerators — with HBM capacity reported sold out through 2026 and memory prices rising sharply in recent quarters.
  • Analysts warn the memory business remains cyclical and vulnerable to downside if competitors ramp HBM output or AI data-center spending slows, making upcoming company earnings and any capacity announcements key near-term signals.