Sandisk (NASDAQ: SNDK) makes NAND memory chips, which are primarily used for long-term data storage in devices like solid-state drives. That may sound like a pretty boring business with not a lot of innovation going on in it — and you’d be right.
That’s why Sandisk and its peers are normally pretty boring stocks, but all of that changed in 2026. Demand for storage skyrocketed alongside data center build-outs, consuming all available production capacity. All of a sudden, Sandisk’s products were hot commodities, and prices skyrocketed, which translated into incredible stock growth for Sandisk.
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It’s up nearly 500% this year — second-best in the S&P 500. This also allowed Sandisk to form a new, sustainable business model. I think the transition to this model will help Sandisk tremendously over the long term and eliminate some of the cyclicality typically associated with companies in the memory chip industry.
That completely flips the narrative behind investing in Sandisk’s stock, making this an ideal time to buy it.
Sandisk isn’t as dependent on market conditions
In normal times with ample supply, there isn’t a lot that separates Sandisk’s storage devices from its competition, so only one thing matters: price. The lowest price wins here, which isn’t the greatest for Sandisk as a business.
However, with sky-high demand and no supply, Sandisk is taking this opportunity to reformulate its business model. The aptly named “New Business Model (NBM)” is basically a contractual agreement with some clients that sets a floor and ceiling for memory prices but has committed volumes. This is a key development, because it makes Sandisk’s future more predictable.
Consistent cash flows allow the management team to allocate capital where they see fit, rather than worrying about what the business will look like a few years down the road. That’s why subscription business models are king, as they are predictable. With Sandisk moving toward contract-based work, this will help smooth out the demand curve and reduce cyclical drawdowns that have plagued investors in this industry.
However, the stock is still priced like it’s due for a cyclical drawdown.
SNDK PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts
Remember: 6.3 times forward earnings is a dirt cheap price tag to pay for any stock. Sandisk’s business model shifting more toward consistent contract work, so this should result in an increased stock premium, as it won’t be as dependent on price swings in the market.
