Headline: AI demand lifts memory names — Cantor’s Muse boosts price targets on SanDisk and Western Digital Cantor Fitzgerald analyst C.J. Muse just upgraded his outlook for the two leading memory-stock plays, citing strong AI-driven demand and tight supply that’s supporting higher prices and improving earnings visibility. What changed - Muse raised his price target on SanDisk (SNDK) to $1,400 (from $1,000) and on Western Digital (WDC) to $500 (from $420), while keeping Overweight ratings on both names. - At the same time, Wall Street consensus still pins both stocks as Strong Buys. However, average analyst targets — $1,008 for SNDK and $364.17 for WDC — suggest limited near-term upside from current levels (roughly 5% downside for SNDK and ~10% for WDC based on those means). Why Muse is bullish - SanDisk (SNDK): Muse expects another “beat and raise,” driven by broad demand across hyperscale, consumer and client markets. Tight supply is lifting prices and margins, and Muse sees the potential for SanDisk to announce long-term supply agreements (DRAM-style deals) that would boost pricing visibility and stabilize revenue streams. - Western Digital (WDC): Muse also calls for a beat-and-raise here, led by strong nearline demand and a customer shift to higher-capacity products that support better pricing. He bumped his model to $14.7 billion in revenue and $12.55 EPS for 2026, and $18.2 billion and $18.50 EPS for 2027 — figures that sit above consensus. Why crypto traders should care Storage is becoming strategic for both AI and crypto ecosystems: larger models, on-chain indexing, archival nodes and decentralized storage services all push demand for high-capacity, reliable memory and drives. Tight industry supply and long-term supply deals can translate into more predictable pricing and stronger margins — factors that matter to investors seeking durable growth exposure beyond traditional semiconductors. Bottom line Muse’s revisions underscore that SNDK and WDC remain Wall Street favorites as AI spending reshapes data-center and storage demand. Investors should weigh the bullish fundamental momentum against the current consensus targets that imply more tempered upside in the near term. Also read: AI firm Anthropic’s pre-IPO valuation hits a record $1 trillion. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

