Micron Stock: The Battle for $200 and Beyond

Friday's trading session delivered a notable rebound for memory chip leader Micron Technology, with shares climbing nearly 3%. This recovery followed a severe Thursday sell-off that saw the stock plummet almost 11%. The dramatic swing highlights the current volatility surrounding the semiconductor giant as investors question whether it can maintain its footing above the critical $200 threshold.

Amid the price fluctuations, significant institutional activity emerged. Regulatory filings revealed that Brandywine Global Investment Management substantially increased its stake in Micron by approximately 9.7%, bringing its total holdings to nearly 450,000 shares. This vote of confidence from a major investment manager stands in contrast to recent insider selling activity.

Over recent months, insider transactions have been notable. CFO Mark Murphy, along with other corporate officers, divested shares totaling more than $85 million. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra also participated in reducing his position through smaller transactions. While such sales are frequently part of predetermined diversification plans, the substantial volume has captured market attention.

UBS Bullish Stance: Price Target Jumps to $275

The primary catalyst behind Friday's upward movement originated from UBS research. The investment bank reaffirmed its buy recommendation while aggressively raising its price target from $245 to $275. The analysts' optimism stems from continuing tightness in the high-performance memory market, with particular emphasis on Micron's High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) products.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Micron?

These advanced memory components, essential for artificial intelligence accelerators, are reportedly sold out through the end of 2026. This unprecedented visibility provides Micron with significant pricing power and margin stability. While the broader semiconductor sector faces headwinds, the company continues to benefit from data centers' insatiable demand for increased memory capacity.

December Showdown: Earnings to Set Direction

All eyes now turn to December 17, 2025, when Micron is scheduled to report earnings for its first fiscal quarter of 2026. Management has provided guidance projecting earnings per share between $3.60 and $3.90. Should the company exceed these expectations and confirm robust HBM demand, the results could potentially reignite momentum toward previous highs around $250.

From a technical perspective, the psychologically significant $200 level represents crucial support. A sustained breakout above $212 would provide the bullish confirmation many investors await. However, a failure to hold the $200 mark could trigger further downward pressure in what remains a volatile semiconductor landscape.