Financials Market: Micron Cheap Despite AI Rally; Low S&P 500 Valuation

Micron Technology’s shares have more than tripled year-to-date but trade at just above six times forward earnings, giving it the third-lowest valuation in the S&P 500 behind Charter Communications and General Motors. The article discusses whether the memory industry’s historic cyclicality still justifies Micron’s low multiple, noting the company’s new long-term customer agreements (including binding volume commitments, take-or-pay provisions and price floors) that Micron says generally extend through 2030 and could cover roughly half or more of revenue once completed. Nvidia’s CFO Colette Kress warned of "extreme pricing conditions in memory," which could benefit Micron as a major supplier of high-bandwidth memory for AI systems. Risks remain, including added supply (including competition from China) and contract resets, leaving debate over whether Micron deserves a valuation re-rating.