Semiconductors, Memory and SSDs Specialist, Objective Analysis

Jim Handy

Semiconductors, Memory and SSDs Specialist

Objective Analysis

Objective Analysis offers third-party independent market research and data for the semiconductor industry and investors in the semiconductor industry.

Semiconductors, Memory and SSDs

Equity Bottom-Up

NVIDIA Corporation designs, develops, and markets three dimensional (3D) graphics processors and related software.  The Company's products provide interactive 3D graphics to the mainstream personal computer market.

<ul>
<li>Nvidia announced another sharp sales increase to $26 billion in quarterly revenues</li>
<li>The company's growth is far greater than hyperscaler CapEx growth, as standard servers yield to AI servers: Bad news for Intel &amp; AMD</li>
<li>Some of this may stem from an inventory build at the hyperscaler, which may lead to another Boom/Bust cycle similar to 2018 and 2022</li>
</ul>


Nvidia announced another sharp sales increase to $26 billion in quarterly revenues
The company's growth is far greater than hyperscaler CapEx growth, as standard servers yield to AI servers: Bad news for Intel &amp; AMD
Some of this may stem from an inventory build at the hyperscaler, which may lead to another Boom/Bust cycle similar to 2018 and 2022


SK Hynix Inc. provides products and services for the electronic components industry. The Company manufactures semiconductors, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), NAND flash memory, and static random access memory (SRAM) chips.

<ul>
<li>SK hynix earnings were announced, with a 10% Q/Q revenue increase driving a 734% increase in operating profit</li>
<li>Although the company cited AI demand as the basis for this, its DRAM revenues, which are very AI dependent, increase very little</li>
<li>NAND SSD demand increased significantly, with a 30% increase in revenues, largely attributable to price increases</li>
</ul>


SK hynix earnings were announced, with a 10% Q/Q revenue increase driving a 734% increase in operating profit
Although the company cited AI demand as the basis for this, its DRAM revenues, which are very AI dependent, increase very little
NAND SSD demand increased significantly, with a 30% increase in revenues, largely attributable to price increases


Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>A major earthquake struck Taiwan on April 3, where 25-30% of the world's semiconductor wafers are produced</li>
<li>Most semiconductor fabs are far away from the earthquake's epicenter</li>
<li>Those companies that have issued statements indicate that damage was slight, but there is still likely to be a shortage, which should boost chip maker profitability through 2024</li>
</ul>


A major earthquake struck Taiwan on April 3, where 25-30% of the world's semiconductor wafers are produced
Most semiconductor fabs are far away from the earthquake's epicenter
Those companies that have issued statements indicate that damage was slight, but there is still likely to be a shortage, which should boost chip maker profitability through 2024


Micron Technology, Inc., through its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets dynamic random access memory chips (DRAMs), very fast static random access memory chips (SRAMs), Flash Memory, other semiconductor components, and memory modules.

<ul>
<li>Micron Technology reported very positive revenues this quarter and a return to profitability</li>
<li>A large part of this stems from the impact that HBM demand is constraining production of standard DDR5 DRAM, driving it into a shortage</li>
<li>This is good news for Micron and its DRAM competitors Samsung and SK hynix</li>
</ul>


Micron Technology reported very positive revenues this quarter and a return to profitability
A large part of this stems from the impact that HBM demand is constraining production of standard DDR5 DRAM, driving it into a shortage
This is good news for Micron and its DRAM competitors Samsung and SK hynix


Micron Earnings: HBM Driving Price Increases in Other Sectors

<ul>
<li>The AI GPU market has been exploding, and this has turned the DRAM market's downturn into a strong upturn</li>
<li>With this growth, DRAM manufacturers have seen their business turn around, thanks to increased use of HBM</li>
<li>Two questions concern us: Will AI growth last? Will increased competition in HBM DRAM create a price collapse?</li>
</ul>


The AI GPU market has been exploding, and this has turned the DRAM market's downturn into a strong upturn
With this growth, DRAM manufacturers have seen their business turn around, thanks to increased use of HBM
Two questions concern us: Will AI growth last? Will increased competition in HBM DRAM create a price collapse?


The Big Question: Can Today's AI Surge Last?

Objective Analysis
Semiconductors, Memory and SSDs

Nvidia Up Sharply Again - Can This Last?

Nvidia's quarterly sales of $26 billion, driven by AI server demand, poses a threat to Intel and AMD, but hyperscalers may be building up...

Jim Handy

SK Hynix: AI Is Still the Main Driver

Today's SK hynix earnings show the continued strength of AI demand, but not in HBM as most industry observers expected. This time NAND flash is...

Jim Handy

Will Taiwan Quake Trigger a Shortage?

Taiwan's April 3 earthquake should negatively impact semiconductor production to create a shortage that is likely to increase chip makers'...

Jim Handy

Micron Earnings: HBM Driving Price Increases in Other Sectors

Micron Technology sees positive revenues and profitability due to HBM demand creating a DDR5 DRAM shortage, benefiting Micron, Samsung, and SK hynix.

Jim Handy

The Big Question: Can Today's AI Surge Last?

Today there's a surge in AI spending, and this has led to a recovery for DRAM makers. This Insight questions where this money is coming from, and...

Jim Handy

Nvidia Up Sharply Again - Can This Last?

​Nvidia's quarterly sales of $26 billion, driven by AI server demand, poses a threat to Intel and AMD, but hyperscalers may be building up...

Jim Handy

SK Hynix: AI Is Still the Main Driver

Today's SK hynix earnings show the continued strength of AI demand, but not in HBM as most industry observers expected. This time NAND flash is...

Jim Handy

Will Taiwan Quake Trigger a Shortage?

​Taiwan's April 3 earthquake should negatively impact semiconductor production to create a shortage that is likely to increase chip makers'...

Jim Handy

Micron Earnings: HBM Driving Price Increases in Other Sectors

​Micron Technology sees positive revenues and profitability due to HBM demand creating a DDR5 DRAM shortage, benefiting Micron, Samsung, and SK hynix.

Jim Handy

The Big Question: Can Today's AI Surge Last?

Today there's a surge in AI spending, and this has led to a recovery for DRAM makers. This Insight questions where this money is coming from, and...

Jim Handy

Nvidia's quarterly sales of $26 billion, driven by AI server demand, poses a threat to Intel and AMD, but hyperscalers may be building up...

Taiwan's April 3 earthquake should negatively impact semiconductor production to create a shortage that is likely to increase chip makers'...

Micron Technology sees positive revenues and profitability due to HBM demand creating a DDR5 DRAM shortage, benefiting Micron, Samsung, and SK hynix.