Micron, SK Hynix, Samsung Ride 125% DRAM Surge Toward $1 Trillion Valuations
Updated
Updated · The Motley Fool · May 31
Micron, SK Hynix, Samsung Ride 125% DRAM Surge Toward $1 Trillion Valuations
7 articles · Updated · The Motley Fool · May 31
Gartner forecasts 2026 DRAM prices will jump 125% and data-storage prices 234%, extending an AI-driven memory and storage squeeze into next year.
AI data centers underestimated how much memory and storage they would need, turning capacity shortages into a pricing windfall for chipmakers and hard-drive suppliers.
Micron’s revenue rose 74% in the quarter ended February and net income more than tripled, while memory prices are up about 40% year to date and 240% over 12 months.
Micron shares have surged more than 237% in 2026 and roughly 900% over 12 months, lifting its market value above $1 trillion; SK Hynix has also reached that club and Samsung is climbing on the same trend.
Citigroup expects DRAM prices to keep rising through next year, and with Micron, Samsung and SK Hynix nearly sold out through then, Mordor Intelligence sees the global DRAM market growing about 15% annually through 2031.
With internal conflicts threatening production, can Samsung maintain its lead in the high-stakes AI memory race?
Will Google’s new algorithm crash the booming memory market, or simply create an even greater demand for AI?
As AI's energy thirst strains global power grids, can nations build new power sources fast enough to prevent soaring energy bills?
Record-High Memory Prices in 2026: AI Infrastructure Boom Reshapes DRAM, NAND, and Industry Investment
Overview
In 2026, the memory market is experiencing an unprecedented surge, driven by robust demand from AI infrastructure expansion and new computing platforms. This has led to record-high DRAM prices, with DDR4 8Gb chips reaching $20 per unit in May—a 25% jump from April. The strong appetite for high-performance DRAM like HBM4 and DDR5 is fueling these gains, while contract prices for conventional DRAM are projected to rise by up to 63% quarter-over-quarter. As a result, leading manufacturers are seeing significant financial gains, marking a transformative period for the industry.