Why Are Western Digital, Micron Shares Trading Higher Today?

Lockdown measures to combat a Covid-19 resurgence in the Chinese city of Xian have affected chip-making facilities owned by Samsung Electronics Co Ltd SSNLFSCMP reports.

  • Samsung said it will "temporarily adjust operations" at its plants in the city and "take all necessary measures."
  • Samsung's two memory wafer fabrication plants in the city comprise 15% of the global NAND flash production capacity.
  • Other chip producers and users that could be affected by the news include Western Digital Corp WDCMicron Technology Inc MU, and Seagate Technology Holdings PLC STX.
  • While the scale and duration of any production loss are unknown, given disciplined NAND Flash vendor-held inventory levels, Wells Fargo analyst Aaron Rakers would view NAND production impacts as a positive for Western Digital and Micron. 
  • According to Trendfocus, Samsung's two Xi'an NAND Flash fabs totaled 245,000 wspm capacity during Q3, equaling 42% of Samsung's total NAND Flash manufacturing capacity and 15% of the full NAND Flash industry capacity.
  • Benchmark analyst Mark Miller said he believes Samsung's report is driving up Western Digital's shares, noting that Samsung has two NAND plants in the city. 
  • Shares of Western Digital competitors Seagate and Micron have been up to over 40% since mid-October. The improving memory chip prices, expectations for continued strength in cloud demand, and Micron's expectations for a solid second half of 2022drove the momentum.
  • Miller reiterated a Buy and $92 price target on Western Digital.
  • Price Action: WDC shares traded higher by 6.03% at $66.62 on the last check Wednesday. MU shares traded higher by 3.58% at $96.26
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