Shares of Micron Technology Inc. are up 1.4% in premarket trading after Cowen analyst Karl Ackerman said that the company was "best positioned" to drive profitability and lower its cost structure on NAND, relative to other players. "Micron has the greatest bit density/wafer and lowest manufacturing cost on 64L TLC 3D NAND today," he wrote. "We think it is highly probable MU could extend its cost leadership to 96L 3D NAND." Micron reports after the bell Wednesday. Ackerman said that Western Digital Corp. also looks "well positioned" to drive cost improvements, and he maintained his long-term optimism on equipment makers "given increasing capital intensity of producing 3D NAND." Lam Research Corp. is Ackerman's favored name there. Micron shares are up 92% over the past 12 months, while the S&P 500 has gained 13% and the PHLX Semiconductor Index has risen 29%.