Why Micron Stock Is Soaring in After-Hours Trading
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A record quarter has a funny way of sparking investors' enthusiasm.Recovering from their 3% dip during today's trading session, shares of Micron Technology (MU 3.01%) are jumping higher in the after-hours trading session. The company reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 financial results that blew past analysts' expectations, and bulls are expressing their enthusiasm by bidding the stock higher. As of 5:19 p.m. ET, shares of Micron are up 8.1% from where they closed at the end of the regular trading session today. Image source: Getty Images. Smashing estimates on the top- and bottom-lines is merely part of the story Reporting a company record for first-quarter financial results, Micron booked revenue of $13.64 billion in Q1 2026, a 56.7% year-over-year increase. Analysts anticipated Micron would report sales of $12.88 billion. While the company reported year-over-year growth from all four of its business units, the cloud memory business unit, which accounted for $5.28 billion in sales, represented the most significant source of growth, with a 99.5% increase compared to Q1 fiscal 2025. ExpandNASDAQ: MUMicron TechnologyToday's Change(-3.01%) $-6.99Current Price$225.52Key Data PointsMarket Cap$262BDay's Range$221.69 - $237.4552wk Range$61.54 - $264.75Volume41MAvg Vol26MGross Margin40.17%Dividend Yield0.20% The strong performance extended to the bottom of the income statement, where Micron reported adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $4.78 -- notably greater than the adjusted diluted EPS of $3.94 that analysts estimated the company would report. Micron also provided investors with something to celebrate regarding cash flow, as the company reported free cash flow of $3.9 billion. A quarterly record, Micron's Q1 2026 free cash flow surpassed the company's prior record (in fiscal Q4 2018) by over 20%.Advertisement Looking ahead, management projected second-quarter 2026 revenue of $18.3 billion to $19.1 billion and adjusted diluted EPS of $8.22 to $8.62. For context, Micron reported revenue and adjusted diluted EPS of $8.1 billion and $1.56, respectively, in the second quarter of 2025. Should tech investors race to join the buying spree on Micron stock? Unsurprisingly, Micron stock is soaring after the company reported stellar financial results. Prospective investors, however, will want to avoid following the herd and conduct thorough due diligence to determine if the stock is a suitable match for their investment goals.About the AuthorScott Levine is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering energy, industrials, technology, and materials. He is also a high school English teacher and a small business owner. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and creative writing from Binghamton University, a master’s degree in secondary education from Adelphi University, and an advanced certificate in school building leadership from CUNY Queens College. A crossword puzzle enthusiast, he has solved more than 3,100 New York Times puzzles with a 97% solve rate.TMFProudMonkeyX@TMFProudMonkeyRead NextDec 17, 2025 •By Parkev Tatevosian, CFAShould Investors Buy Micron Stock Before the Huge Investor Update?Dec 13, 2025 •By John BallardIs Micron Technology Stock a Buy Right Now?Dec 12, 2025 •By Harsh ChauhanShould You Buy Micron Technology Stock Before Dec. 17?Dec 10, 2025 •By Rick OrfordThe Case for Buying This Under-the-Radar AI Stock Before Its Next Big CatalystDec 9, 2025 •By Jon QuastForget Generative AI: Agentic AI Is the Next Big Trend to BuyDec 9, 2025 •By Parkev Tatevosian, CFAIs Micron Stock a Buying Opportunity for 2026?