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The Latest Research & Analysis from CS:

Client Note: Foundries Hike DRAM Prices as Automated Bots Sweep DDR5 Inventory

In this memo to clients, we note that the global memory market is showing an accelerated phase of tightening, driven by the aggressive expansion of AI infrastructure as the primary catalyst. Right now, we are tracking two distinct yet deeply connected market developments: massive contract price hikes from major memory foundries, exceeding 100% in recent negotiations, and a surge in automated, large-scale hoarding of DDR5 inventory, which could significantly affect how components are tracked and resold. Collectively, these indicators point to a period of intensified supply chain distortion and heightened competition for memory components.

For the secondary hardware ecosystem, encompassing IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) operators, refurbishers, and component traders, this primary market squeeze could alter current business dynamics.

Client Note: Foundries Hike DRAM Prices as Automated Bots Sweep DDR5 Inventory

In this memo to clients, we note that the global memory market is showing an accelerated phase of tightening, driven by the aggressive expansion of AI infrastructure as the primary catalyst. Right now, we are tracking two distinct yet deeply connected market developments: massive contract price hikes from major memory foundries, exceeding 100% in recent negotiations, and a surge in automated, large-scale hoarding of DDR5 inventory, which could significantly affect how components are tracked and resold. Collectively, these indicators point to a period of intensified supply chain distortion and heightened competition for memory components.

For the secondary hardware ecosystem, encompassing IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) operators, refurbishers, and component traders, this primary market squeeze could alter current business dynamics.

ITAD Industry Briefing: February Edition

Out of everything we published this month, at least four forces stand out as they’ve taken new momentum. These are the things that will define the next 12 to 18 months for this industry. First, the e-waste export opportunity is closing very quickly. Second, AI spending is splitting your portfolio in two. Third, compliance now beats price. And fourth, EU regulations are becoming the global standard. These four forces are the foundation of key developments we are seeing in the sector, as articulated in this presentation.

HP Inc. earnings point to memory inflation challenge

HP Inc. has just reported its first fiscal quarter of 2026, showing an 11% year-over-year jump in Personal Systems revenue to 10.3 billion dollars and a 12% growth in PC units shipped . But the real story is that memory inflation is now reshaping the economics of hardware, with HP warning that surging DRAM and NAND costs, along with U.S. trade regulations, are pressuring margins and weighing on its full-year outlook.

Technology: How AI’s Breakneck Pace Is Outrunning Enterprise Strategy and Your IT Refresh Cycle

It took 12 days for Anthropic to release two major AI models back to back. And with each release, the capability bar moves up, software value gets questioned, and the hardware underneath it all turns over faster than your refresh cycle was ever designed to handle.  This episode is a straight-talk breakdown of what that pace means for enterprise IT strategy, ITAM programs, and ITAD operations. This is not AI hype, but an honest analysis on the very real decisions landing on your desk right now as a result of it.

SIMS and Iron Mountain Are Repricing the ITAD and Positioning it as a Primary Growth Engine

In this episode, David Daoud of Compliance Standards LLC examines how Sims Limited and Iron Mountain are repositioning IT asset disposition from an operational afterthought to a primary growth engine inside publicly traded platforms. Both companies recently reported approximately 70% year-over-year growth in their ITAD divisions. More importantly, they elevated Asset Lifecycle Management and Sims Lifecycle Services in their earnings narratives, capital allocation priorities, and forward guidance.

More Analyses

Management: From Legacy Drag to Competitive Lift: How ITADs Could Help Clients Cut Technical Debt

Technical debt has moved from a back‑office IT issue to a board‑level business problem, as legacy systems now drive customer churn, block AI programs, and consume a growing share of tech budgets. This report shows ITAD providers how to turn that pressure into revenue by positioning decommissioning as a modernization enabler rather than an end‑of‑life afterthought, mapping sector‑specific refresh waves in banking, telecom, retail, logistics, and more into concrete decommissioning pipelines. It also includes an executive snapshot quantifying the client upside (run‑rate savings, outage reduction, AI acceleration, ESG gains) and a detailed go‑to‑market guide that helps ITADs frame technical debt in business terms, win a seat at the refresh table, and productize offers like technical‑debt assessments, modernization‑linked playbooks, and AI‑readiness exit plans.