CMS·2025-11-09 15:06Investment Rating - The report maintains a positive investment rating for the storage industry, highlighting the ongoing upward cycle driven by AI demand and limited supply capacity [2]. Core Insights - The storage industry has entered an accelerated upward cycle since Q3 2025, primarily driven by explosive demand from the AI era, leading to a significant supply-demand gap and rapid price increases [1][11]. - The profitability of overseas storage manufacturers continues to improve, with domestic storage module companies also experiencing a turnaround in profitability [6][51]. - The report emphasizes the importance of focusing on domestic storage module companies, niche storage chip manufacturers, and supporting supply chain companies as key investment opportunities [7]. Summary by Sections 1. AI Era Driving Storage Demand and Price Increases - The current upward cycle in the storage industry is characterized by sustained price increases due to surging demand from AI applications, with a notable shift from mobile and internet-driven demand to generative AI [6][12]. - Data center storage demand is projected to grow from 600EB in 2020 to 2.4ZB by 2028, indicating a significant increase in storage requirements [13][18]. 2. Profitability of Overseas Manufacturers and Domestic Module Companies - Major overseas manufacturers like Samsung and Micron reported record revenues and profitability in Q3 2025, with Samsung achieving a sales figure of approximately $18.7 billion, marking a 20% year-on-year increase [51]. - Domestic storage module manufacturers have improved their profitability, with many turning losses into profits as they increase inventory levels in anticipation of rising prices [55]. 3. Investment Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on overseas storage companies such as SanDisk, Micron, SK Hynix, and Western Digital, as well as domestic companies like Jiangbolong, Baiwei Storage, and Zhaoyi Innovation [7][56]. - The overall supply-demand gap in the storage industry is expected to widen further in 2026, with prices likely to continue rising, making it a favorable environment for investment [6][7].