New York, January 29, 2026, 16:17 EST — After-hours
- Micron was last up 0.2% in after-hours trading, hitting $435.96; during the session, shares fluctuated between $417.91 and $446.80
- Samsung and SK Hynix cautioned that PC and smartphone manufacturers are finding it tough to lock in DRAM supply, with production capacity increasingly diverted to AI-driven HBM chips
- Apple will report after the bell, providing a near-term update on device demand and component costs
Micron Technology (MU) shares nudged higher in after-hours trading Thursday, last ticking up 0.2% to $435.96. The stock swung wildly during the session, nearly a $29 range from low to high. Trading volume hit around 38.9 million shares.
The memory-chip maker grabbed fresh spotlight after Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix flagged that DRAM shortages—the main memory in PCs and smartphones—are intensifying. This comes as manufacturers shift capacity toward high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for AI servers. “PC and mobile customers are having difficulties securing memory supplies,” said Park Joon Deok, SK Hynix’s head of DRAM marketing, in a call with analysts. (Reuters)
Why this matters now: tighter supply usually pushes memory prices up, boosting Micron’s margins. But on the flip side, rising component costs can squeeze device makers and, down the line, hit unit demand.
Micron moved in step with the broader AI-related chip sector. On Wednesday, a Reuters report noted gains in chip stocks after Texas Instruments and ASML posted results suggesting that data-center demand is expanding beyond Nvidia’s high-end processors. Louise Dudley, a portfolio manager at Federated Hermes, said, “Companies across the broader supply chain … are reporting that conditions are improving.” (Reuters)
Thursday’s action was rougher. The Nasdaq dropped 1.26%, with Microsoft plunging over 12% post-earnings. That hit big tech hard and sapped some steam from the AI trade. “There’s just no momentum in these stocks,” said Jay Hatfield, CEO and CIO at Infrastructure Capital Advisors. (Reuters)
A major concern for Micron is a downturn on the consumer front. Should demand for PCs and smartphones weaken beyond forecasts, gains from price increases could evaporate fast.
Then there’s the familiar issue of supply cycles. Once new capacity hits the market, prices can swing from tight to loose almost overnight.
Apple is up next with its earnings call Thursday at 5:00 p.m. ET. Investors will be tuned in for clues about whether rising memory prices are causing shifts in specs, launch delays, or tighter profit margins. (Apple)
Micron watchers are zeroing in on familiar cues: memory makers’ remarks on pricing and availability, plus insights from tech earnings pointing to data-center expansions that continue to pull HBM supply ahead.
