Micron Had Fastest Growth Among Semiconductor Leaders

Strong growth in computer memory chips helped fuel an 8% increase in overall semiconductor sales in 2014, to an estimated $340 billion.

By BRIAN DEAGON, INVESTORS BUSINESS DAILY, Jan. 07, 2015 – 

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) had the largest market share, with its revenue expected to come in near $50.8 billion for the year, according to research firm Gartner. Intel is slated to report Q4 earnings on Jan. 15 after the market close.

Flash memory chip maker Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) showed the fastest revenue growth among the largest chip vendors in 2014. Its revenue rose an estimated 41% for the year to $16.8 billion, placing it fourth overall, Gartner said.

Micron stock rose 61% in 2014, peaking at 36.59 on Dec. 18 as it benefitted from the strong memory market. The company reported fiscal first-quarter earnings late Tuesday. Revenue rose 13% to $4.57 billion, slightly missing views, and the company's Q2 outlook fell short of consensus estimates.

Micron stock was down a fraction in afternoon trading in the stock market today.

"As a group, DRAM vendors outperformed the rest of the semiconductor industry," Gartner analysts Andrew Norwood said in a press release. "DRAM revenue will hit $46 billion in 2014, an all-time high surpassing the previous record set back in 1995."

There was significantly more merger and acquisition activity among the major vendors in 2014 than the previous year. Among the deals was the $6.6 billion paid by Avago Technologies (NASDAQ:AVGO) to acquire LSI, completed in May. Avago chips are used in the Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 6.

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