Core Viewpoint - SanDisk (NASDAQ: SNDK) has experienced a significant rise in stock value, with a 1,500% increase since its IPO about a year ago, and is expected to continue gaining momentum through 2026 due to industry-wide developments and anticipated memory shortages [1][6]. Group 1: Stock Performance - On February 11, 2023, SNDK shares rose by 10.65%, with an additional increase of 6.51% in pre-market trading on February 12, bringing the stock price to $638.51 [2]. - The recent rally in SanDisk stock is influenced by broader sector developments, particularly driven by Micron's (NASDAQ: MU) announcement of early shipments of HBM4 chips, which led to a nearly 10% increase in Micron's stock [5]. Group 2: Industry Trends - The year 2026 is projected to experience a significant memory shortage, referred to as 'RAMaggedon', driven by the demand from AI companies and the willingness of suppliers to meet this demand, which is expected to lead to higher prices and increased revenue for memory manufacturers [6][7]. - The potential decision by Nvidia to withdraw from the consumer market due to the memory shortage has raised concerns outside institutional investors, but it is seen as a positive development for SanDisk's growth prospects [7]. Group 3: Market Sentiment and Ratings - Despite the optimism surrounding AI investments, there is uncertainty regarding the actual results compared to expectations, which may affect market sentiment towards SanDisk [9]. - SanDisk shares are currently rated as 'Moderate Buy' on the stock analysis platform TipRanks, although the rapid rise in stock price may lead to a reassessment of the price target, which forecasts a slight retracement from $638.34 to $637.33 [10][11].