Micron Technology raised its fourth-quarter revenue and profit forecast on Monday. The move comes as demand for its memory chips used in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure keeps rising. The company anticipates quarterly revenue of $11.2 billion , with a $100 million margin of error. This is well above its previous outlook of $10.7 billion, plus or minus $300 million. The memory chip maker also raised its adjusted gross margin forecast to 44.5%, up from 42%. Earnings are now projected at $2.85 per share, compared with the earlier $2.50 estimate. The improved guidance sent Micron’s shares up about 3% in early trading. Investors see the revised numbers as a sign that the company is successfully riding the AI boom. Micron pushes prices amid tight AI chip supply Micron’s raised forecast is powered largely by stronger pricing across its memory chip portfolio, especially in its dynamic random access memory (DRAM) products. DRAM plays a central role in AI computing, where massive amounts of data must be stored, retrieved, and processed almost instantly. This makes DRAM indispensable for both training and running AI models. The biggest boost, however, comes from surging demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips. These specialized chips offer far greater data transfer speeds than conventional DRAM, allowing AI systems to work with huge datasets in real time. HBM is a cornerstone technology for next-generation AI data centers, powering everything from large language models to autonomous systems. At an Industry Conference, Chief Business Officer Sumit Sadana said that Micron had raised prices without slowing demand, noting that the company’s end markets worldwide had shown robust pricing trends and had achieved significant success in increasing prices. Analysts believe Micron’s pricing power directly results from tight supply conditions. HBM production is technically complex, requiring advanced manufacturing processes that only a handful of companies worldwide can execute at scale. Expanding production takes time and billions of dollars in investment. This scarcity has given memory chipmakers an unusual advantage. Historically, the industry has been plagued by cycles of oversupply, forcing companies to cut prices and accept thinner margins. But the AI boom has flipped that dynamic — now, demand is rising faster than production capacity, enabling firms like Micron to set higher prices and protect profitability. Market watchers note that Micron is benefiting not just from AI demand, but also from its early move into advanced HBM development. The company has locked in steady high-value orders by securing contracts with leading AI hardware makers. Micron rides AI wave to outperform estimates Micron’s momentum reflects a bigger industry trend. Big tech companies are pouring billions into AI-focused data centers . These facilities require huge amounts of high-speed memory, and Micron is one of the few players able to meet those needs at scale. SK Hynix, another major AI memory chip supplier, expects the market for specialized AI chips to grow by 30% annually through 2030, signaling strong long-term potential for companies in the sector. Still, there are challenges ahead. A planned 100% tariff on some chips imported into the U.S. could hurt growth. However, the duties will not apply to companies manufacturing domestically or committing to U.S. production. Micron has already positioned itself well in that regard. In June, it announced it would expand its U.S. investments by $30 billion, bringing its total planned U.S. spending to $200 billion. With AI infrastructure build-outs accelerating worldwide, Micron’s latest forecast suggests it could finish the year ahead of Wall Street expectations — and with more pricing power than it has enjoyed in years. Cryptopolitan Academy: Coming Soon - A New Way to Earn Passive Income with DeFi in 2025. Learn More
