智通财经网·2026-01-22 05:57Core Viewpoint - The global storage prices have accelerated in Q3 and Q4 of 2025, with expectations for Q1 2026 prices to exceed forecasts due to tight supply and increasing AI demand outpacing capacity expansion [1] Group 1: Market Dynamics - AI storage is driving increased demand, necessitating an optimized multi-tier storage system to accommodate the rapidly growing KV cache space [1] - The supply of DRAM is expected to grow slower than demand, with major manufacturers like Samsung and SK Hynix projecting production increases of 5% and 8% respectively for 2026, but still falling short of market needs [3] - NAND supply is becoming more concentrated in enterprise-level products, with expected production cuts from major players like Samsung and SK Hynix due to prioritization of DRAM profitability [3] Group 2: Price Trends - In Q1 2026, DRAM prices are projected to increase by 55%-60% quarter-on-quarter, driven by a shift in production capacity towards server and HBM applications [4] - NAND prices are expected to rise by 33%-38% in the same period, influenced by supply constraints and the prioritization of server demands [4] - Major NAND manufacturers are implementing long-term contracts with significant price increases, with some contracts seeing nearly double the previous prices [4] Group 3: Company Performance - Major global storage companies are set to release strong earnings forecasts, with Samsung predicting a revenue increase of 23% year-on-year for Q4 2025 [5] - Biwei Storage anticipates a revenue increase of 165% year-on-year for Q4 2025, while Nanya Technology expects record revenue and significant profit growth [5] - The upcoming earnings reports from major players like Hynix, Samsung, and Western Digital are expected to positively impact the overall market [7] Group 4: Investment Recommendations - The focus should be on storage manufacturers, storage module/chip companies, and storage testing/packaging sectors due to the ongoing price increases and demand growth [7] - Potential opportunities in storage control chips and interface chips should be monitored as the market evolves [7] - Key investment targets include major global storage companies, module manufacturers, niche storage firms, and testing/packaging service providers [8][9]