Micron enters Q4 earnings with expectations already extremely high, so a headline beat may not be enough. Forward guidance, HBM demand, pricing, and margins will matter more. The key structural change is the combination of HBM and Strategic Customer Agreements, which could raise Micron's through-cycle earnings floor and reduce the severity of future memory downturns. The most compelling signal is valuation: MU's share price has surged while its forward P/E has fallen toward 6.7x, meaning earnings estimates are rising even faster than the stock.

