What Analysts Are Saying About Micron After Earnings

By Chris Lange Updated Jan 13, 2:37AM EST · Published Oct 9, 10:15AM EDT

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What Analysts Are Saying About Micron After Earnings — © Thinkstock

Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) released its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings report after the markets closed on Tuesday. Over the past six months, this semiconductor giant has been all over the charts, with its shares practically doubling. On a positive note for the company, this earnings report more or less solidified Micron’s position at its current price level.

24/7 Wall St. has included some of the key highlights from the earnings report, as well as what analysts are saying after the fact. Some analysts are still seeing a little more room to run, though one standout believes this company is way overvalued.

Micron said that it had a net loss of $0.05 per share on $3.22 billion in revenue. The consensus estimates from Thomson Reuters had called for a net loss of $0.12 per share and revenue of $3.15 billion. In the same period of last year, the company had EPS of $0.37 and $3.6 billion in revenue.

For the quarter, DRAM sales volumes were up roughly 20%, while NAND sales volumes were up approximately 12%. DRAM average selling prices declined approximately 6%, while NAND average selling prices were relatively unchanged. The company’s overall consolidated gross margin of 18% for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 was slightly higher compared to the third quarter due to increases in gross margin of DRAM products.

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Merrill Lynch took a somewhat pessimistic position on the stock and reiterated an Underperform rating with $9 price objective. The brokerage firm gave its investment thesis as follows:

The bull-case scenario (potential success of 20nm DRAM and 3D NAND ramp-up and then OP generation at single digits; GM mid to high 20%) still indicates EPS far below $1 (vs $2.5 in 2014-15). High debt (gross $10 billion, net $4 billion) and potential dilution from a possible Inotera deal (completion delayed by uncertain agenda though) could limit shareholder value growth. Hynix looks better due to higher margins and minimal debt. Overall, we are positive on the memory chip industry, but remain Underperform on Micron given its low margin (high earnings multiples).

A few other analysts weighed in on Micron, with far more positive sentiment:

Deutsche Bank reiterated a Buy rating with a $20 price target.
Pacific Crest reiterated a Hold rating.
Wells Fargo reiterated an Outperform rating with a $22 price target.
Baird has an Outperform rating and raised its price target to $22 from $18.
Brean has a Buy rating and raised its price target to $23 from $18.
Goldman Sachs cut its price target to $16 from $18.
Mizuho has a Buy rating and raised its price target to $22 from $20.
Stifel has a Buy rating and raised its price target from $20 to $22.
Susquehanna has a Positive rating and raised its price target to $21 from $20.
Cowen reiterated a Positive rating.
Morgan Stanley reiterated an Overweight rating with a $20 price target.
Credit Suisse reiterated an Outperform rating with a $20 price target.

Shares of Micron closed Friday at $17.61, with a consensus analyst price target of $19.60 and a 52-week trading range of $9.31 to $19.30.

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About the Author Chris Lange →

Chris Lange is a writer for 24/7 Wall St., based in Houston. He has covered financial markets over the past decade with an emphasis on healthcare, tech, and IPOs. During this time, he has published thousands of articles with insightful analysis across these complex fields. Currently, Lange's focus is on military and geopolitical topics.

Lange's work has been quoted or mentioned in Forbes, The New York Times, Business Insider, USA Today, MSN, Yahoo, The Verge, Vice, The Intelligencer, Quartz, Nasdaq, The Motley Fool, Fox Business, International Business Times, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Barron’s, Benzinga, and many other major publications.

A graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Lange majored in business with a particular focus on investments. He has previous experience in the banking industry and startups.