Kioxia's AI memory boom peaks as competition and risks mount
Profit surge and strategic moves Kioxia's operating profit hit ¥1.27tn, driven by AI memory demand. It deepened ties with NVIDIA, began 3D flash production, extended its Sandisk joint venture to 2034, repaid debt, and announced a US ADR listing, an ¥800bn buyback, and a $31bn Japan NAND investment.
These are the major positive developments that drove the stock during the period.
Stock plunges on oversupply and competition fears Shares fell about 50% from June peaks as investors worried about oversupply and competition. China's CXMT and YMTC advanced, with YMTC overtaking Kioxia in NAND shipments, while memory-price peak concerns and chip selloffs weighed on the stock.
This explains the major negative price driver during the period.
Legal and macro pressures A $229m patent verdict, tariffs, and yen intervention added pressure. Toshiba cut its stake to 14.06%, and AI-safety warnings from OpenAI and Anthropic raised doubts about the pace of AI investment, which is key to memory demand.
These external factors contributed to the stock's decline.
Merger talks with Western Digital revived Merger talks with Western Digital were revived, which could reshape the competitive landscape. However, the outcome remains uncertain, and the market reaction was mixed as investors weighed potential synergies against integration risks.
This is a new development that could affect future strategy and competition.
