What Happened?
Shares of memory chips maker Micron (NYSE: MU) fell 4.3% in the morning session after a broader market rotation out of the technology sector led to profit-taking following a recent rally.
The move was part of a wider trend that saw high-growth technology stocks fall, with the Nasdaq experiencing the sharpest decline among the major indices. Multiple reports indicated that traders were locking in profits, particularly from the artificial-intelligence trade, which had previously seen a strong run-up. This market action represented a shift in investor focus, as money moved out of tech.
Defense stocks emerged as the primary beneficiary of this capital shift, surging after President Trump proposed a massive $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027. Major contractors rallied on the news, with Northrop Grumman jumping over 10% and Lockheed Martin gaining nearly 8%, providing a counterbalance to the tech slump that kept the S&P 500 flat. The rotation into heavy industry was further supported by a stabilization in energy markets, as crude prices rebounded.
The stock market overreacts to news, and big price drops can present good opportunities to buy high-quality stocks. Is now the time to buy Micron? Access our full analysis report here.
What Is The Market Telling Us
Micron’s shares are extremely volatile and have had 39 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today’s move indicates the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.
The previous big move we wrote about was 2 days ago when the stock gained 8.6% on the news that a broader market rally drove investor optimism in artificial intelligence and big tech stocks.
The S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq all pushed higher, approaching record levels set late last year. Much of the positive momentum was linked to the technology sector, with a particular focus on companies advancing artificial intelligence, a key theme at the annual CES trade show in Las Vegas. This continued a powerful trend from 2025, when AI-related developments were a primary catalyst for the market's bull run. The upbeat sentiment was further supported by hopes for easier monetary policy from the Federal Reserve following a weaker-than-expected US Services PMI reading.
Micron is up 2.7% since the beginning of the year, and at $323.83 per share, it is trading close to its 52-week high of $343.43 from January 2026. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of Micron’s shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $4,183.
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