Micron Technology (MU) FY Conference Transcript

Micron Technology (MU) FY Conference Summary Company Overview - Company: Micron Technology (MU) - Event: FY Conference held on May 14, 2025 - Analyst: Harlan Sur, Semiconductor and Semiconductor Capital Equipment Analyst at JPMorgan Key Industry Insights - Market Trends: - Anticipated quarter-on-quarter bit shipment growth in both DRAM and NAND due to cleared excess inventories in consumer markets [4][5] - Strong demand observed in data centers and consumer markets, with a springtime resurgence noted [7][22] - Pricing inflection for DRAM and NAND is progressing positively, with DRAM pricing showing strong upward trends [5][13] Financial Performance - Gross Margins: - Expected slight decline in gross margins by 140 basis points to approximately 36.5% due to a higher mix of consumer-oriented volumes and lower pricing trends in Q1 [5][14] - Potential for improved gross margins in fiscal Q4, driven by better pricing trends [13][14] Product Developments - High Bandwidth Memory (HBM): - Production of HBM 3E12 has started, with expectations for it to dominate demand in the second half of the year [15][17] - Yield improvements for HBM 12 high are progressing faster than previous generations [20][21] - NAND Technology: - Gen 9 NAND technology ramping well, aligned with demand [52] - Anticipated share gains in enterprise SSDs, with data center SSD market share increasing from 5% to 15% over the past three years [46] Competitive Landscape - Tariff and Trade Impacts: - Current demand trends are primarily driven by healthy market conditions rather than tariff-related pull-ins, although some customers may be reacting to tariff uncertainties [22][23] - Micron is monitoring the implications of tariff reviews and has not had to increase prices for U.S. customers due to exemptions [28][30] - China Competition: - Chinese competitors are gaining traction in the market, particularly in legacy DDR4 applications, but Micron focuses on high-end applications where performance and reliability are critical [58][59] Strategic Focus - Market Segmentation: - Micron has reorganized into four business units to enhance focus on high-end computing markets, core data center, client applications, and automotive/embedded business [65][68] - Future disclosures will include revenue, gross margin, and operating margin for each segment to provide better insights into business management and capital allocation [69] Future Outlook - AI and Compute Demand: - Continued robust demand for HBM and high-capacity DRAM modules, with capital spending plans from cloud service providers remaining strong [39][40] - Anticipated growth in the high-end computing market, with HBM projected to be a significant market opportunity [68] Conclusion - Micron Technology is navigating a complex landscape with strong demand in data centers and consumer markets, while strategically positioning itself for future growth through product innovation and market segmentation. The company remains focused on maintaining its competitive edge in high-performance memory solutions amidst evolving market dynamics.