Mizuho Analyst Raises Micron Stock Price Target Amid AI-Driven Memory Demand Surge Micron Technology’s stock has surged over 125% year-to-date, fueled by robust demand for memory chips driven by artificial intelligence advancements. Vijay Rakesh, a top analyst at Mizuho, has raised his price target for Micron shares from $545 to $740 while maintaining a “Buy” rating. Rakesh attributes the upward momentum to agentic AI, which he believes is significantly increasing demand for memory and processing power. The analyst’s revised projections highlight the growing importance of AI-driven applications in shaping the semiconductor industry’s trajectory. Rakesh’s research note emphasizes that Micron’s position is strengthened by both short-term and long-term factors. In the near term, he points to rising demand for traditional DRAM and NAND memory, as AI applications continue to expand into consumer markets. This has led to higher pricing power for memory providers, boosting profitability. Looking ahead, Rakesh forecasts substantial growth in Micron’s revenue and earnings. For Fiscal 2026, 2027, and 2028, he raises revenue estimates to $109 billion, $181 billion, and $179 billion, respectively, from previous forecasts of $108 billion, $165 billion, and $164 billion. Similarly, EPS estimates are elevated to $58.16, $104.74, and $94.40, up from $57.21, $95.04, and $85.35. A key focus of Rakesh’s analysis is the rapid expansion of high-bandwidth memory (HBM), a critical component for AI infrastructure. He projects HBM revenue to reach $19.1 billion in Fiscal 2026, $30.7 billion in 2027, and $35.7 billion in 2028. This represents a 40% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), with HBM revenue expected to surpass $100 billion by 2028. Rakesh underscores that AI demand remains strong, with momentum anticipated to persist through at least 2027.#ai #micron_technology #vijay_rakesh #mizuho #hbm
Quantum Computing Stocks Drop Amid Price Target Cuts, Analysts Highlight Long-Term Growth Potential Shares of IonQ (IONQ), D-Wave Quantum (QBTS), and Rigetti Computing (RGTI) experienced declines in early trading on Tuesday following a price target reduction by Mizuho Securities analyst Vijay Rakesh. The analyst adjusted his forecasts for all three stocks, lowering his estimates to $61 for IonQ (from $80), $31 for D-Wave (from $40), and $33 for Rigetti (from $43). Despite the downward revisions, Rakesh maintained an "Outperform" rating on each company, signaling his continued confidence in the sector’s long-term prospects. The price cuts reflect short-term caution among investors, though Rakesh emphasized that the broader quantum computing narrative remains intact. The analyst, ranked #32 on TipRanks with a 60% success rate and an average return of 44.70% per rating, attributed the near-term volatility to market uncertainty. However, he pointed to several structural trends that could drive sustained growth in the industry. One key factor is the increasing adoption of NVQLink, a technology that enhances error correction and enables the integration of quantum and classical computing systems. This advancement is critical for making quantum computers more practical for real-world applications, such as complex simulations and optimization problems. Rakesh noted that the ability to combine these computing paradigms is a significant step toward commercial viability. At the same time, competition within the sector is intensifying as companies race to achieve more than 200 logical qubits—a benchmark for scalable quantum computing. Most industry players have set targets to reach this milestone between 2027 and 2029, creating a race to innovate and secure market leadership.#ionq #mizuho_securities #vijay_rakesh #d_wave_quantum #rigetti_computing
