Stock Markets February 25, 2026

Analyst Predicts Extended NAND Shortage Ahead of SanDisk Presentation

Lynx Equity's KC Rajkumar expects NAND constraints to outlast DRAM availability and anticipates SanDisk to address long-term cloud supply deals

By Ajmal Hussain SNDK
Analyst Predicts Extended NAND Shortage Ahead of SanDisk Presentation
SNDK

Ahead of SanDisk's appearance at the Bernstein Insights TMT Forum, analyst KC Rajkumar of Lynx Equity Strategies cautions that the NAND flash supply shortage will likely persist longer than DRAM constraints, projecting NAND relief not until 2028. Rajkumar expects SanDisk executives to discuss the shortage and updates on multi-year, non-cancellable supply negotiations with major cloud providers, and he reiterated confidence in 2026 EPS of $90 to $100 based on management comments.

Key Points

  • NAND flash supply shortage expected to outlast DRAM shortage, delaying meaningful NAND relief until 2028 - impacts semiconductors and storage sectors
  • SanDisk management is expected to address supply constraints and provide updates on multi-year, non-cancellable supply negotiations with Tier1 cloud service providers - impacts cloud and data center procurement
  • Analyst projects 2026 EPS of $90 to $100 for SanDisk and views market pullbacks as potential buying opportunities - impacts equity investors focused on storage names

SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) is set to present at the Bernstein Insights: What’s Next in Tech? 4th Annual TMT Forum today at 6:30 p.m. ET.

In advance of the event, KC Rajkumar, an analyst at Lynx Equity Strategies, outlined his expectations and key themes he believes will be addressed during the company’s investor presentation.

Supply outlook

Rajkumar indicated that the current supply shortfall in the NAND flash market is likely to be more prolonged than the DRAM shortage. He expects that significant DRAM capacity will come online by the second half of 2027, while buyers of NAND flash may need to wait until 2028 before capacity eases.

The analyst emphasized that the supply-demand imbalance for NAND is not likely to vanish in the foreseeable future. He therefore anticipates that SanDisk’s CEO and CFO will discuss the shortage during today’s presentation and deliver updates on ongoing negotiations with Tier1 cloud service providers regarding multi-year, non-cancellable supply agreements.

Contracts and cycle dynamics

Rajkumar raised a question about the historical frequency of long-duration supply contracts in the NAND industry, noting that NAND vendors have not, in his view, entered into supply agreements longer than a quarter in recent memory. He said this shift toward longer contracts alters the market dynamic and characterizes the current cycle as unlike prior ones.

Financial outlook

Citing SanDisk management comments from the company’s earnings call, Rajkumar expressed confidence that earnings per share for 2026 could fall in the $90 to $100 range. The analyst also stated that he views price pullbacks in the stock as buying opportunities.

Investor tools referenced

The discussion included a reference to ProPicks AI, which evaluates SNDK alongside many other companies each month using over 100 financial metrics. The tool is described as applying AI to identify stocks with attractive risk-reward profiles based on current data, and the original reference noted past identified winners such as Super Micro Computer and AppLovin. The note indicated ProPicks can show whether SNDK is currently featured in any strategies or if alternative opportunities exist in the same sector.


Takeaway

Investors tuning into SanDisk’s presentation should expect management commentary on the persistent NAND shortage and progress in securing longer-term supply commitments from major cloud customers, while keeping an eye on the company’s forward EPS guidance as discussed by the analyst.

Risks

  • Timing risk for supply relief - DRAM capacity is expected in the second half of 2027 while NAND relief may not arrive until 2028, creating continued supply pressure for semiconductors and storage markets
  • Contracting uncertainty - the move toward multi-year, non-cancellable supply agreements with Tier1 cloud providers represents negotiation risk and could materially affect supply allocations for the cloud and storage sectors
  • Market-cycle divergence - Rajkumar notes this NAND cycle is unlike past cycles due to longer-term contracts, introducing uncertainty for suppliers and buyers in the semiconductor and cloud infrastructure markets

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