SanDisk

MARCH , 11 ,2010

Most recent closing price: $33.49

If blogosphere chatter counts, storage specialist SanDisk, which describes itself as the global leader in Flash memory cards, might be a new supplier to Apple.

"There is a lot of chatter that SanDisk has the NAND Flash for the new iPhone that is coming out in June," said Lazard Capital Markets analyst Daniel Amir. "That's going to be a big deal when that comes out."

Amir explains that Apple uses a "tremendous amount" of Flash storage in its products and that future iterations of the iPad might feature Flash by SanDisk. Apple, he said, accounts for 20% to 25% of the world's NAND Flash consumption, potentially spelling good news for SanDisk's margins.

SanDisk did not make specific reference to an Apple relationship during its recent fourth-quarter conference call. CEO Eli Harari, however, cited the iPad as an exciting new device that is "demonstrating the significant new opportunities ahead for flash mass storage."

Specific details are hard to come by. "We don't specifically address questions related to our existing or potential customer relationships," explained a SanDisk spokeswoman, in an email to TheStreet.

SanDisk shares have risen more than 300% in the last twelve months. The company has also raised its first-quarter revenue forecast and is anticipating major Flash demand over the coming years.