智通财经网·2026-01-15 12:15Core Viewpoint - The surge in memory chip prices has made companies like Sandisk, Micron Technology, and Western Digital popular stocks, but it has created significant challenges for their customers, including Apple and HP, as the high costs of memory components pose investment risks that are unlikely to reverse in the short term [1] Group 1: Impact on Hardware Manufacturers - Consumer hardware manufacturers are facing pressure due to high memory component costs, leading to two choices: accept lower profit margins or raise prices, which could harm demand [1] - Apple’s stock has seen only an 8.6% increase in 2025, marking its worst performance since 2022, while HP's stock has dropped nearly one-third in 2025 and hit its lowest level since November 2020 [2] - Dell Technologies' stock has decreased by 28% since reaching a historical high in October [2] Group 2: Semiconductor Manufacturers' Risks - The rising memory prices also pose risks for semiconductor manufacturers like Qualcomm and Arm, with recent downgrades in their ratings by Mizuho Securities and Bank of America [5] - The market is expected to continue pressuring these companies as long as memory prices remain high, driven by demand from artificial intelligence [5] - Dell is viewed positively due to its server business growth, which offsets the negative impact of rising memory prices [5] Group 3: Memory Price Trends and Industry Outlook - Samsung reported a more than 30% increase in average DRAM chip prices and about a 20% increase in NAND chip prices, with expectations that this trend will continue into 2026 or longer [6] - The memory cost for consumer hardware products may account for 10% to 20% of material costs, leading to concerns about profitability for companies like Apple and HP [6] - HP's earnings forecast for 2026 has been lowered by 7.1% due to rising memory costs, while Dell's performance expectations remain relatively stable due to strong demand in its server business [7] Group 4: Long-term Industry Dynamics - Analysts suggest that the current memory chip shortage is not just a cyclical issue but may indicate a permanent strategic reconfiguration of global silicon wafer capacity [6] - The anticipated significant increase in memory component costs over the next two years could impact even large companies like Apple [7] - The cyclical nature of memory prices is acknowledged, but the current supply shortage suggests that prices are unlikely to decrease in the short term [7]