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

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?

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. manufactures a wide range of consumer and industrial electronic equipment and products such as semiconductors, personal computers, peripherals, monitors, televisions, and home appliances including air conditioners and microwave ovens. The Company also produces Internet access network systems and telecommunications equipment including mobile phones.

<ul>
<li>Samsung's earnings was recently reported, with memory revenues up nearly 50% in the fourth quarter</li>
<li>This gain has been driven by very strong growth in AI and a normalization of inventory levels</li>
<li>The memory business is approaching positive margins once again, and SK hynix is already profitable</li>
</ul>


Samsung's earnings was recently reported, with memory revenues up nearly 50% in the fourth quarter
This gain has been driven by very strong growth in AI and a normalization of inventory levels
The memory business is approaching positive margins once again, and SK hynix is already profitable


Jim Handy of Objective Analysis has over 35 years in the electronics industry including 20 years as a leading semiconductor and SSD industry analyst. Early in his career he held marketing and design positions at leading semiconductor suppliers including Intel, National Semiconductor, and Infineon. A frequent presenter at trade shows, Mr. Handy is known for his technical depth, accurate forecasts, widespread industry presence and volume of publication. He has written hundreds of market reports, articles for trade journals, and white papers, and is frequently interviewed and quoted in the electronics trade press and other media.  He posts blogs at www.TheMemoryGuy.com, and www.TheSSDguy.com.