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AI Drives Kioxia Stock Skyward: Next-Gen Memory Ready
3 Jul
Summary
- Kioxia's shares surged over sevenfold due to the AI investment boom.
- The company invented NAND flash memory and is developing next-gen chips.
- Demand for high-capacity NAND memory is growing with AI inference.
- Kioxia is two to four years ahead of rivals in NAND performance.
Kioxia is set to hold a ceremony on Friday at its fab in northern Japan, marking its preparation for mass manufacturing next-generation memory. The company's shares have seen a remarkable surge, increasing more than sevenfold this year, significantly boosted by the ongoing AI investment boom. This growth represents a significant turnaround for Kioxia, formerly known for Japan's struggles in the chipmaking sector.
The increased demand for high-capacity NAND memory is a direct consequence of AI's expansion from model training to inference. As AI usage grows, the need for efficient data processing in this new phase has escalated. This shift has created a concentrated demand for Kioxia's products, as other chipmakers had previously prioritized DRAM investment.
Kioxia will mass produce its 10th-generation BiCS Flash memory at its facility in Iwate prefecture. The company holds a technological lead, being two to four years ahead of competitors in NAND performance and power consumption, attributed to innovations like its wafer bonding technology. Kioxia is also considering a stock split and aims to list American depositary shares on a U.S. exchange in the upcoming financial year, which begins in April 2027.
