Davy
Small-Cap Investor, Archetype-Research, Undercovered Companies & Data-Center Supply Chains
A four-year memory supply shortage could make low forward earnings multiples compelling if long-term agreements hold. At forward P/Es of 3.5 for Samsung, 5 for Micron and 3.1 for SK hynix, the sub-4 names could return roughly 100% over four years and still retain value even if margins subsequently compress sharply. x.com x.com
Micron, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix look very cheap if their long-term agreements do not impose overly conservative price ceilings. Greater clarity on those pricing terms could send memory stocks up 30% in a single day. x.com
Micron, SanDisk and SK Hynix look very bullish because Samsung says the memory shortage will worsen in 2027. x.com
Memory makers' long-term agreements cannot protect pricing when buyers regain leverage. The market underestimates downside even before a price collapse; SK hynix's agreements price within market-linked ranges, per @jukan05. The agreements will be ripped apart when the market turns to buyers, at the latest when China ramps. SK hynix, Samsung, Micron, SanDisk and Kioxia are exposed. x.com
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix can invest heavily and still generate free cash flow that makes memory stocks look strikingly cheap. In 2027, they will spend $150B combined on capex yet generate $500-600B of free cash flow, against just $1.8T of combined enterprise value, or less than 3.5x 2027 FCF. Long memory. x.com
SK hynix's surging earnings challenge the idea that commodity memory profits are about to vanish. The attached report says third-quarter operating profit rose more than sevenfold and its operating margin reached 80%; analysts quoted there expect the earnings climb to continue at least through next year. Micron and Samsung are named alongside SK hynix. x.com
Inflation, rising rates, Chinese competition and rising AI-related financial costs are pressuring the memory market. Micron, Samsung and SK hynix look exposed; waiting for the cycle to turn. x.com x.com
Hynix's sold-out memory supply supports expectations for big numbers from Micron, still trading at 5x forward earnings. Hynix says its HBM and DRAM chips are sold out until 2029 and a chip shortage is likely to continue into 2030. Big numbers and capital return are expected after Micron reports in December. x.com
SK hynix should reprice strongly because its blowout earnings make the case that memory is structurally different now. At the current earnings pace, it would earn back its entire market cap in two years; buybacks and dividends also return cash to shareholders and add to value. x.com
Memory stocks face huge downside because memory is a commodity, and today's undersupply will turn to oversupply as capex rises. Demand is inelastic, so suppliers have pricing power only while undersupplied; Samsung, SK hynix and Micron are all raising capex, and China's big DRAM expansion will ease shortages across the chain. Stocks peak before financials weaken, DRAM prices are already falling, and customers are optimizing memory use, so low P/Es offer no protection. x.com
Micron and SK hynix pricing in a memory shortage past 2030 extends the memory-cycle case beyond the Street's 2028 expectation. SK hynix's record quarter adds evidence: per Wall St Engine, revenue rose 328% to $78.9B, operating profit rose 632% to $62.8B, and operating margin hit 80%. Agentic and physical AI could add demand as they roll out. x.com x.com
