Citadel Sells Sandisk Shares, Increases Stake in D-Wave Quantum
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 22 2026
0mins
Should l Buy SNDK?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Citadel Sells Sandisk: In Q3, Citadel Advisors sold nearly 2 million shares of Sandisk, reducing its stake by 97%, reflecting concerns over cyclical risks in the storage chip industry that could impact Sandisk's future market performance.
- D-Wave Quantum Investment: Citadel increased its stake in D-Wave Quantum during the same quarter, despite the company's products being years away from mainstream adoption; the stock has surged 1,900% since January 2023, indicating strong market enthusiasm for quantum computing.
- Sandisk Earnings Outlook: Although Sandisk's non-GAAP earnings fell 33% in Q1, the company expects adjusted earnings to jump 160% in Q2, primarily driven by robust demand for AI infrastructure, which could propel growth in the coming quarters.
- Quantum Computing Market Prospects: D-Wave focuses on superconducting quantum computing, and while its sales are projected to reach only $4 billion by 2030, its first-mover advantage in the quantum space may provide funding for future developments, even as its current stock price appears to be in bubble territory.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy SNDK?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on SNDK
Wall Street analysts forecast SNDK stock price to fall
14 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 619.080
Low
220.00
Averages
283.69
High
410.00
Current: 619.080
Low
220.00
Averages
283.69
High
410.00
About SNDK
SanDisk Corporation is a developer, manufacturer and provider of data storage devices and solutions based on NAND flash technology and has consumer brands and franchises globally. The Company's solutions include a range of solid state drives (SSDs) embedded products, removable cards, universal serial bus (USB) drives, and wafers and components. Its broad portfolio of technology and products addresses multiple end markets of cloud, client and consumer. Its cloud end market is comprised primarily of products for public or private cloud environments and enterprise customers. The Company, through the client end market, provides numerous data solutions that it incorporates into its client’s devices, which consist of solid state drive desktop and notebook personal computers, gaming consoles and set top boxes, and flash-based embedded storage products. The Company serves the consumer end market with a portfolio of solid state drives and removable flash, including cards and USB flash drives.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Analysis & Outlook: A Reality Assessment
- Market Reaction: Stocks opened significantly lower, indicating a shift away from the previous "ignore geopolitics" mindset.
- Recovery Trend: By late morning, there was a noticeable recovery in stock prices, suggesting some stabilization in the market.
See More
Global Stock Markets Retreat as Oil Prices Surge
- Market Decline: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.94%, reaching a 3.25-month low, reflecting investor concerns over escalating tensions in Iran, which may impact future investment decisions and market stability.
- Surge in Oil Prices: WTI crude oil prices rose over 4% to an 8.5-month high due to threats from Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, intensifying fears of energy supply disruptions and potential inflationary pressures in the economy.
- Natural Gas Price Spike: European natural gas prices surged more than 22% to a three-year high after Qatar's Ras Laffan plant was targeted by an Iranian drone attack, posing significant risks to global liquefied natural gas supply and market stability.
- Economic Data Expectations: This week, the ADP employment change is expected to increase by 50,000, while the ISM services index is projected to slip slightly, with markets closely monitoring these indicators to assess economic health and potential implications for Federal Reserve monetary policy decisions.
See More
SanDisk Shares Plummet Amid Geopolitical Tensions and Inflation Fears
- Market Sentiment Deteriorates: Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and surging oil prices, SanDisk (SNDK) shares fell 8.35% to $567.36, reflecting heightened investor concerns over growth-oriented tech stocks.
- Geopolitical Impact: The intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran has raised fears of a prolonged confrontation, driving oil prices higher and increasing inflationary pressures, which pose greater downside risks for tech stocks.
- Volatility Surges: The S&P 500 dropped 1.5%, while the VIX soared to its highest level since November, indicating a significant risk-off shift in the market, particularly impacting semiconductor stocks.
- Investor Confidence Shaken: President Trump's comments suggesting a potential long-term U.S. involvement in conflicts have further unsettled investors, leading to widespread sell-offs in tech stocks, with SanDisk's performance being particularly weak.
See More
South Korean Market Turbulence Signals U.S. Stock Trends
- Market Signal: The South Korean ETF (EWY) experienced an approximately 11% selloff overnight, indicating its role as a 'canary in the coal mine' for potential turbulence in the U.S. stock market.
- Profit Signal: Following a buy signal on April 9, 2025, the South Korean ETF (EWY) has shown a strong upward trend, with recent sell-offs prompting investors to consider taking partial profits.
- Memory Market Dynamics: Due to surging AI demand, major memory manufacturers like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are perceived as lower risk compared to other AI stocks, contributing to South Korea's market outperforming QQQ by 27.48%.
- Global Industrial Recovery: As a major exporter of industrial goods, South Korea benefits from a global uptick in industrial activity, further bolstering investor confidence in the market.
See More
February's Most Searched Stock Rankings Shift
- Stock Ranking Changes: In February, stocks like Palantir, AMD, and Amazon re-entered the top ten, indicating sustained market interest, particularly as Palantir rebounded to fourth place after not ranking in the top 12 in January, reflecting investor confidence in its growth potential.
- Micron and SanDisk Rise: Micron jumped from 11th to 4th place, while SanDisk moved from 12th to 10th, showcasing strong market interest in the semiconductor sector, especially against a backdrop of robust tech stock performance, which may further drive investment enthusiasm.
- Nvidia's Upward Trend: Nvidia's search ranking increased by two spots in February, demonstrating investor recognition of its technological innovations and market performance, despite a year-to-date return of -3.4%, its one-year return stands at 60%, indicating continued favor for its long-term growth potential.
- iShares Silver Trust Decline: Although the iShares Silver Trust remained in the top five in February, it dropped two places, reflecting market sensitivity to silver price fluctuations, as investors may be seeking assets with greater growth potential.
See More
Sandisk, Micron, Corning: The Common Factor Among the Biggest Losers in This Stock Market Selloff.
Theme of the Phrase: The phrase "The bigger they are, the harder they fall" suggests that those who are more powerful or prominent face greater consequences when they fail or are defeated.
Implication in Context: This saying can be applied to various scenarios, including sports, business, and politics, where larger entities or individuals may experience more significant setbacks compared to smaller counterparts.
See More
Analysis & Outlook: A Reality Assessment
- Market Reaction: Stocks opened significantly lower, indicating a shift away from the previous "ignore geopolitics" mindset.
- Recovery Trend: By late morning, there was a noticeable recovery in stock prices, suggesting some stabilization in the market.
See More
Global Stock Markets Retreat as Oil Prices Surge
- Market Decline: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.94%, reaching a 3.25-month low, reflecting investor concerns over escalating tensions in Iran, which may impact future investment decisions and market stability.
- Surge in Oil Prices: WTI crude oil prices rose over 4% to an 8.5-month high due to threats from Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, intensifying fears of energy supply disruptions and potential inflationary pressures in the economy.
- Natural Gas Price Spike: European natural gas prices surged more than 22% to a three-year high after Qatar's Ras Laffan plant was targeted by an Iranian drone attack, posing significant risks to global liquefied natural gas supply and market stability.
- Economic Data Expectations: This week, the ADP employment change is expected to increase by 50,000, while the ISM services index is projected to slip slightly, with markets closely monitoring these indicators to assess economic health and potential implications for Federal Reserve monetary policy decisions.
See More
SanDisk Shares Plummet Amid Geopolitical Tensions and Inflation Fears
- Market Sentiment Deteriorates: Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and surging oil prices, SanDisk (SNDK) shares fell 8.35% to $567.36, reflecting heightened investor concerns over growth-oriented tech stocks.
- Geopolitical Impact: The intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran has raised fears of a prolonged confrontation, driving oil prices higher and increasing inflationary pressures, which pose greater downside risks for tech stocks.
- Volatility Surges: The S&P 500 dropped 1.5%, while the VIX soared to its highest level since November, indicating a significant risk-off shift in the market, particularly impacting semiconductor stocks.
- Investor Confidence Shaken: President Trump's comments suggesting a potential long-term U.S. involvement in conflicts have further unsettled investors, leading to widespread sell-offs in tech stocks, with SanDisk's performance being particularly weak.
See More
South Korean Market Turbulence Signals U.S. Stock Trends
- Market Signal: The South Korean ETF (EWY) experienced an approximately 11% selloff overnight, indicating its role as a 'canary in the coal mine' for potential turbulence in the U.S. stock market.
- Profit Signal: Following a buy signal on April 9, 2025, the South Korean ETF (EWY) has shown a strong upward trend, with recent sell-offs prompting investors to consider taking partial profits.
- Memory Market Dynamics: Due to surging AI demand, major memory manufacturers like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are perceived as lower risk compared to other AI stocks, contributing to South Korea's market outperforming QQQ by 27.48%.
- Global Industrial Recovery: As a major exporter of industrial goods, South Korea benefits from a global uptick in industrial activity, further bolstering investor confidence in the market.
See More
February's Most Searched Stock Rankings Shift
- Stock Ranking Changes: In February, stocks like Palantir, AMD, and Amazon re-entered the top ten, indicating sustained market interest, particularly as Palantir rebounded to fourth place after not ranking in the top 12 in January, reflecting investor confidence in its growth potential.
- Micron and SanDisk Rise: Micron jumped from 11th to 4th place, while SanDisk moved from 12th to 10th, showcasing strong market interest in the semiconductor sector, especially against a backdrop of robust tech stock performance, which may further drive investment enthusiasm.
- Nvidia's Upward Trend: Nvidia's search ranking increased by two spots in February, demonstrating investor recognition of its technological innovations and market performance, despite a year-to-date return of -3.4%, its one-year return stands at 60%, indicating continued favor for its long-term growth potential.
- iShares Silver Trust Decline: Although the iShares Silver Trust remained in the top five in February, it dropped two places, reflecting market sensitivity to silver price fluctuations, as investors may be seeking assets with greater growth potential.
See More
Sandisk, Micron, Corning: The Common Factor Among the Biggest Losers in This Stock Market Selloff.
Theme of the Phrase: The phrase "The bigger they are, the harder they fall" suggests that those who are more powerful or prominent face greater consequences when they fail or are defeated.
Implication in Context: This saying can be applied to various scenarios, including sports, business, and politics, where larger entities or individuals may experience more significant setbacks compared to smaller counterparts.
See More
