Winners and Losers in the Solid State Drive (SSD) and Enterprise Memory Markets With Updates on STEC, Fusion-IO, Micron Technology, Netlist, OCZ Technology, and SanDisk

PRINCETON, N.J., March 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Next Inning Technology Research (http://www.nextinning.com), an online investment newsletter focused on technology stocks, has issued updated outlooks for STEC (Nasdaq: STEC), Fusion-IO (NYSE: FIO), Micron Technology (Nasdaq: MU), Netlist (Nasdaq: NLST), OCZ Technology (Nasdaq: OCZ), and SanDisk (Nasdaq: SNDK).

Editor Paul McWilliams spent a decades-long career as a senior executive in the technology industry and has earned a reputation for his skill in communicating complex technology trends to individual investors and professional analysts alike. His reports have won over readers with their ability to unravel the complexities of the industry and, more importantly, identify which companies are likely to be the winners and losers as technology trends change. 

McWilliams' latest report updates his outlook on the Solid State Drive (SSD) market and its supply chain.  McWilliams' forecasts for this market have been spot-on for years.  He has correctly forecasted rallies that have yielded gains of 250% and has suggested selling stocks that subsequently fell nearly 90%.  His new report is a must read for tech investors and analysts alike.

Among the stocks where Next Inning was positive ahead of Q4 earnings so far were Cree (up 54% year to date), Marvell (up 47% year to date), Micron (up 42% year to date), PMC Sierra (up 28% year to date) and SanDisk (up nearly 20% year to date); he was bearish on Fusion-IO (down 25% year to date) and Cypress (flat year to date).

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Topics discussed in the latest reports include:

-- McWilliams wrote years before solid state drives (SSD) became a headline topic that we would see innovative companies develop compelling solid state storage systems using NAND Flash.  However, he warned that it would be difficult for companies to develop what he called "durable differentiation."  In other words, as McWilliams correctly predicted, the early entrants in the enterprise SSD market have been only a "flash" in the pan.

-- After calling a 2009 trade in STEC that yielded a whopping 250% profit, McWilliams warned Next Inning readers the party was over.  While he called several successful swing trades during STEC's volatile trip down, he staunchly maintained there was little chance the distinctly downward trend would reverse.  As it turned out, STEC has lost more than 80% of its value since McWilliams called the exit.  However, with a balance sheet that is worth over $4 and new products finally ready for market, now might be a good time to reconsider this once high flying stock.  Does McWilliams see it as a potential winner for 2013, or even a good swing-trade candidate? 

-- When Barrons named Fusion-IO as one of its best stock picks for 2012 during the fall of 2011, the stock sailed over $40 and McWilliams said it was time to sell.  Since then the profit projections have dropped like a rock and the stock has fallen by roughly 60%.  Does McWilliams think Fusion-IO is due for a bounce or that it will follow the path set by STEC, OCZ and module maker, Netlist, which are all down 80% to 90% from their respective peaks? 

-- Netlist grabbed Wall Street's attention in 2009 with its "Rank Reduction" technology that allowed server chips to increase the amount of DRAM memory they could address. When this sent the price of Netlist to double digits in 2009, McWilliams warned his readers the party wouldn't last and that it was time to exit the stock.  The price of Netlist has since dropped over 90% and now trades as a penny stock.  Netlist is now trying to reinvent itself with NAND Flash solutions and "HyperCloud" memory modules.   

-- How will NAND Flash pricing trends impact Fusion-IO, OCZ and NetList this year?  Will higher NAND Flash prices be a positive or a negative for these SSD companies?  What might happen if NAND Flash chips go on allocation later this year as some pundits predict?  Are Micron and SanDisk better positioned to take advantage of these trends? Could SanDisk shares hit $70 this year? With Micron now up 45% from where it was trading in early January when McWilliams alerted Next Inning subscribers to upside potential for the stock, is it time for Micron investors to take profits or does McWilliams foresee more upside?

Founded in September 2002, Next Inning's model portfolio has returned 241% since its inception versus 71% for the S&P 500.

About Next Inning:

Next Inning is a subscription-based investment newsletter that provides regular coverage on more than 150 technology and semiconductor stocks.  Subscribers receive intra-day analysis, commentary and recommendations, as well as access to monthly semiconductor sales analysis, regular Special Reports, and the Next Inning model portfolio. Editor Paul McWilliams is a 30+ year semiconductor industry veteran.

NOTE: This release was published by Indie Research Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor with CRD #131926.  Interested parties may visit adviserinfo.sec.gov for additional information.  Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.

CONTACT: Marcia Martin, Next Inning Technology Research, +1-888-278-5515

SOURCE Indie Research Advisors, LLC