U.S. stock market midday update: Super Micro Computer rises against the trend by 10.03%, can the surge in AI server demand offset margin compression and bearish ratings?

U.S. Stock Market Midday Update

Super Micro Computer rose 10.03%, with increased trading volume. Based on recent key news:

1. On September 16, Goldman Sachs analyst Katherine Murphy maintained a sell rating on Super Micro Computer, setting a target price of $34. The company's stock closed at $35.64 yesterday. The analyst consensus is hold, with an average target price of $39.23, indicating a potential upside of 10.07% from current levels. This news has put some pressure on the stock price.

2. On September 16, Super Micro Computer's stock price fell 20% over the past 12 months. Despite its price-to-earnings ratio being only 11 times, investors remain hesitant due to low profit margins and internal control issues among executives. This news has a negative impact on the stock price.

3. On September 17, major company analysts, including Susquehanna, maintained a sell rating, pointing out that ongoing negative cash flow, server assembly profit compression, and intensified competition from traditional OEMs are structural downward pressures. This news has a negative impact on the stock price. However, demand for AI servers is increasing, and the market is significantly expanding.

Stocks with High Trading Volume in the Industry

SanDisk rose 5.91%. Based on recent news:

1. On September 16, Lingkai Semiconductor completed A+ round financing, promoting the development of high-bandwidth flash memory technology. This move has boosted market confidence in flash memory technology, driving up SanDisk's stock price.

2. On September 15, AI industry leaders called for a slowdown in the development of cutting-edge models, raising market concerns about cuts in AI infrastructure spending, which generally pressured storage chip stocks. SanDisk had previously seen significant gains, and this pullback is accompanied by profit-taking selling pressure.

3. On September 14, SanDisk Chairman and CEO David Goeckeler sold 32,834 shares of common stock, reducing his direct holdings to 413,410 shares. This move has raised market concerns about insider confidence in the company, putting pressure on the stock price in the short term. The overall performance of the storage chip industry is diverging, with investors focusing on changes in industry demand.

Apple rose 1.40%, with increased trading volume. Based on recent key news:

1. On September 18, Apple is advancing its plan to return to the enterprise server market, intending to use its self-developed M8 Ultra chip combined with NVIDIA high-speed networking equipment, expected to be deployed by 2029. This move aims to reduce cloud costs and protect service business profit margins, driving up the stock price. Source: Zhitong Finance

2. On September 17, Apple is in talks with NVIDIA to adopt its networking technology, planning to sell servers to AI developers and government enterprise clients. This news provides new imaginative space for Apple's AI narrative, with a warm sentiment. Source: Wall Street Insights

3. On September 15, Apple launched the iPhone 18 Pro series, with good pre-order responses. Morgan Stanley noted that while the supply of new devices has increased, delivery times have not shortened, reflecting demand that exceeds expectations, which is favorable for the stock price. Source: Jinshi Data Industry demand is strong, driven by AI market expansion Dell Technologies Inc. rose 4.95%. Based on recent key news:

4. On September 15, the CEO of Dell Technologies stated that under the AI boom, the prices of computing devices and personal computers will continue to rise, and the "structural shortage" of hardware device chips may worsen further by 2027. This news sparked optimistic expectations in the market regarding the demand for Dell products, driving the stock price up. Source: CaiLianShe

5. On September 16, at Citi's TMT conference, the CFO of Dell Technologies emphasized the sustainability of the company's AI infrastructure growth, further boosting investor confidence, resulting in a stock price increase. Source: Benzinga

6. On September 16, Silver Lake entities proposed to sell 80,010 shares of Dell stock, valued at approximately $42.75 million. Nevertheless, the momentum of Dell's AI servers continues to attract investor interest, leading to a rise in stock price. Source: Benzinga. Strong demand for AI infrastructure is driving market growth.

Stocks ranked among the top in industry market capitalization

Seagate Technology rose 2.04%. Based on recent key news:

1. On September 16, Seagate Technology executive Romano sold 45,898 shares through multiple transactions, with an average price between $819 and $844. This sale was conducted under a pre-arranged trading plan established on April 30, 2026. TipRanks' insider trading activity tool shows that insiders of the company sold a total of $191.60 million worth of stock over the past three months, indicating a very negative internal confidence signal.

2. On September 16, Seagate Technology's technical sentiment signal indicated a buy, with a current market capitalization of $18.88 billion and a year-to-date price performance of 193.24%.

3. On September 17, the overall performance of the storage chip industry was mixed, with Seagate Technology's stock price rising 1.43% and trading volume increasing. Investors may focus on subsequent changes in industry demand and inventory cycle dynamics. The recent performance of the storage chip industry has been mixed, necessitating attention to demand changes and inventory cycle dynamics