Micron vs. Texas Instruments: Which Chip Stock Is the Better Buy Now?

Core Insights - Micron Technology and Texas Instruments are key players in the semiconductor industry, focusing on different segments: Micron on memory chips and Texas Instruments on analog and embedded chips [1][2] Micron Technology - Micron is positioned for long-term growth due to its involvement in transformative tech trends such as AI, high-performance data centers, and autonomous vehicles [3] - The company has shifted its focus from the volatile consumer electronics market to more stable sectors like automotive and enterprise IT, resulting in a more resilient revenue base [4] - In Q4 2025, Micron's revenues and non-GAAP EPS increased by 46% and 157% year-over-year, driven by AI demand [8] - Micron's HBM3E products are in high demand due to their energy efficiency and bandwidth, making them suitable for AI workloads [5] - The company is a core HBM supplier for NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 50 GPUs, indicating strong integration in the AI supply chain [6] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate predicts revenue growth of 42.4% for fiscal 2026 and 14.8% for fiscal 2027, with EPS expected to rise by 100% and 12% respectively [7] - Micron's stock has seen a year-to-date gain of 133.5%, with a forward P/E ratio of 11.7, making it more attractively valued than Texas Instruments [8][20] Texas Instruments - Texas Instruments specializes in analog and embedded chips, with growth opportunities in robotics, electric vehicles, and infrastructure automation [11] - The company plans to manufacture over 95% of its wafers internally by 2030, enhancing control over production and costs [12] - In Q2 2025, Texas Instruments reported a 16% year-over-year revenue increase to $4.45 billion, with non-GAAP EPS rising by 15.6% to $1.41 [13] - Texas Instruments faces geopolitical risks, particularly in China, which accounted for about 20% of its 2024 revenues [14] - The automotive segment's slow recovery may hinder Texas Instruments' overall growth, with revenue growth estimates of 13% for 2025 and 8.7% for 2026 [15] - Texas Instruments' stock has declined by 3.2% year-to-date, with a forward P/E ratio of 29.1 [18][20] Conclusion - Micron Technology is currently viewed as the better investment option due to its strong fundamentals, established position in the AI-driven memory market, and favorable valuation compared to Texas Instruments [24][25]