Micron Technology found itself at the center of the semiconductor world’s attention this week, as swirling rumors about its exclusion from Nvidia’s next-generation supply chain collided with the company’s own emphatic rebuttal. The result? A dramatic surge in Micron’s stock price, renewed investor optimism, and a fresh spotlight on the high-stakes race for dominance in the booming high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market.
On February 11, 2026, Micron’s stock closed at $410.34 on the New York Stock Exchange, marking a robust 9.94% increase from the previous day. According to Hankyung, the rally came after Micron’s Chief Financial Officer, Mark Murphy, took the stage at the Wolfe Research semiconductor conference to address—and firmly dismiss—speculation that Micron had failed to meet Nvidia’s standards for its next-generation HBM4 memory chips and was thus excluded from the graphics giant’s supply chain.
“Reports that we were excluded from Nvidia’s next-generation supply chain due to not meeting their standards are simply inaccurate,” Murphy stated. He went on to clarify that Micron’s HBM4 product has not only entered full-scale mass production but that shipments to customers had already commenced—a full year ahead of the company’s original schedule. Murphy added, “Shipments during the first quarter of this fiscal year are expanding smoothly, one quarter earlier than we announced in December.” (Yonhap Infomax)
His comments directly challenged a recent report by semiconductor analysis firm Semianalysis, which suggested Micron was unlikely to be included in Nvidia’s initial HBM4 supply chain because its products did not meet the required performance benchmarks, specifically the 11Gbps data transfer speed. Murphy, however, exuded confidence in Micron’s competitive position, asserting, “Our HBM4 yield is on plan, our products deliver over 11Gbps, and we are very confident in our performance, quality, and reliability.” (Yonhap)
The stakes are high. HBM4, or sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory, is the backbone of the latest artificial intelligence accelerators, including Nvidia’s much-anticipated Vera Rubin chip. Industry chatter had recently painted a picture of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix as the dominant players in this space, with Micron trailing behind. Samsung, for instance, has applied a sixth-generation 10nm DRAM (1c) process to its HBM4, boasting speeds up to 11.7Gbps—well above the JEDEC standard of 8Gbps. SK Hynix, meanwhile, has reportedly completed development and mass production setup, and is said to be supplying two-thirds of Nvidia’s HBM4 volume for 2026. (Yonhap)
But Micron’s public pushback appears to have shifted the narrative. Murphy revealed that not only is production capacity expanding smoothly, but the company’s entire 2026 HBM supply has already sold out. “HBM production capacity is expanding smoothly, and as we mentioned a few months ago, our HBM supply for this year is already sold out,” he said. The strong demand for HBM products, Murphy noted, is likely to outstrip supply well beyond 2026, indicating a robust market environment. (Yonhap Infomax)
The market’s reaction was swift and decisive. Following Murphy’s statements, Micron’s stock price surged more than 10% intraday—a clear sign that investors were reassured by the company’s message. As SBS Biz reported, the overnight rally in Micron shares sent ripples across the global semiconductor sector, with related Korean stocks such as LaserCell, OpenEdge Technologies, DI, Hanmi Semiconductor, and Hanwha Vision all posting significant gains on February 12. The semiconductor and securities sectors led the charge on the KOSPI and KOSDAQ indices, which also set new highs, reflecting renewed industry optimism.
Hanmi Semiconductor, which supplies the thermal compression bonders essential for HBM manufacturing, indicated that demand from Micron remains strong. Chairman Kwak Dong-shin commented at the SEMICON Korea 2026 Leadership Dinner that, “Things look positive. We’re receiving a lot of orders for thermal compression bonders related to Micron’s HBM4 production.” (Yonhap)
Micron’s determination to quash the rumors was seen by some analysts as a response to the increasingly competitive landscape shaped by Samsung and SK Hynix’s recent public displays of confidence. Samsung’s Chief Technology Officer, Song Jae-hyuk, declared at the SEMICON Korea 2026 event that customer feedback on their HBM4 was “very positive,” and described the product as “the best in terms of technology.” The company plans to begin mass shipments to Nvidia after the Lunar New Year. SK Hynix, for its part, was first to complete HBM4 development and is already set up for mass production, having secured a major share of Nvidia’s orders for the year. (Yonhap)
The drama over HBM4 supply is more than just a corporate rivalry—it’s emblematic of the intense global race to power the next generation of AI and data-driven technologies. HBM memory, with its ability to move massive amounts of data at blazing speeds, is a critical enabler for AI accelerators, supercomputers, and data centers. As demand for AI applications—from chatbots to autonomous vehicles—continues to skyrocket, the companies that can deliver the fastest, most reliable memory stand to reap enormous rewards.
Yet, the market is far from settled. While Samsung and SK Hynix have established themselves as leaders, Micron’s insistence that its HBM4 is not only competitive but also in high demand suggests the race is still wide open. The company’s ability to accelerate its production timeline and secure early customer shipments may help it regain ground in a market where perception can be as important as performance.
For investors and industry watchers, the events of this week are a potent reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in the semiconductor sector. A single rumor, if left unchecked, can rattle markets and reshape competitive dynamics. Conversely, a well-timed public statement—backed by hard facts and a bit of bravado—can restore confidence and send stocks soaring.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the battle for HBM4 supremacy is far from over, and the world will be watching closely as Micron, Samsung, SK Hynix, and others vie for the future of high-performance computing.