SanDisk shares jump 500% YTD on AI driven NAND demand

Shares of SanDisk Corporation have surged over 500 percent year-to-date in 2026, reaching new highs as the company capitalizes on booming demand for NAND flash memory driven by artificial intelligence infrastructure. The stock, which began trading independently following its spinoff from Western Digital in February 2025, has delivered extraordinary returns for investors, with its price climbing from approximately $36 at its debut to over $1,600.

The company's financial performance has been propelled by the global AI buildout, particularly demand from hyperscale data centers. SanDisk reported robust fiscal third-quarter results in late April, with revenue of $5.95 billion, a 251 percent increase year-over-year, and earnings per share of $23.41, significantly exceeding analyst expectations. The data center segment, a key growth driver, posted $1.47 billion in revenue for the quarter, up 645 percent from the prior year. Non-GAAP gross margin expanded dramatically to 78.4 percent.

CEO David Goeckeler described the period as a fundamental inflection point, noting that demand for the company's NAND products continues to outpace supply, a dynamic expected to persist. SanDisk has...