Sandisk hits record on AI memory boom, but oversupply and competition bite
Record AI memory demand and deals Sandisk posted record results as AI memory demand surged, including a Meta supply deal, NAND prices tripling, $93.9B in locked contracts, and 195% growth in edge storage. Analysts sharply raised targets.
This is the core positive force that drove Sandisk's business and stock during the quarter.
Capital returns and index inclusion Sandisk announced a $15.5B buyback and joined the S&P 100, boosting shareholder returns and visibility. These moves signaled confidence and attracted more investor attention.
These are new capital and market-structure events that supported the stock.
Oversupply fears and capacity increases Memory stocks fell 30–35% on oversupply fears as SK Hynix's $31B plan and TSMC's capex signaled more capacity. Weak fiscal 2027 guidance added to worries, leaving 'no room for error' after a 2,000% valuation surge.
This is the main negative force that pressured Sandisk's stock during the quarter.
Competition and demand threats Chinese rivals CXMT and YMTC intensified competition, and restrictions hit Sandisk's China unit. Anthropic's AI-slowdown call triggered a 6% selloff, while DeepSeek's model cuts SSD memory needs by 87.5%, threatening future data-center demand.
These are new competitive and demand-side risks that emerged during the quarter.