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Western Digital (WDC)
NASDAQ:WDC
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Western Digital (WDC) AI Stock Analysis

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WDC

Western Digital

(NASDAQ:WDC)

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Outperform 78 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:78Outperform
Price Target:
$157.00
▲(4.52% Upside)
Western Digital's strong earnings call performance and positive technical indicators are the most significant factors driving the stock's score. The company's financial recovery and strategic focus on AI and data center solutions further support its potential. However, the relatively high valuation and past financial volatility are risks to consider.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
The significant year-over-year revenue growth indicates strong demand for Western Digital's products, particularly driven by AI-related needs, which suggests a durable expansion in market reach and product adoption.
Cash Generation
Strong free cash flow generation indicates efficient operations and the ability to reinvest in growth opportunities or return capital to shareholders, enhancing long-term financial health.
AI-Driven Demand
AI-driven demand for high-capacity storage solutions positions Western Digital to capitalize on a structural industry trend, supporting sustained growth and innovation in product offerings.
Negative Factors
Debt Levels
While leverage is currently manageable, reliance on debt financing could pose risks if market conditions change, potentially impacting financial flexibility and stability.
Operating Expenses
Higher-than-expected operating expenses could pressure margins and profitability if not controlled, affecting long-term operational efficiency and cost management.
Macroeconomic Uncertainties
Macroeconomic uncertainties can impact demand and supply chain stability, posing risks to revenue consistency and strategic planning, affecting long-term business resilience.

Western Digital (WDC) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Western Digital Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionWestern Digital Corporation (WDC) is a leading global provider of data storage solutions, specializing in hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), and other data storage technologies. The company operates in two primary segments: Client Solutions and Data Center Solutions. Its core products include internal and external drives for personal computers, enterprise storage systems for data centers, and flash storage solutions for various applications, serving a diverse range of markets from consumer electronics to enterprise IT infrastructure.
How the Company Makes MoneyWestern Digital generates revenue primarily through the sale of its storage devices and solutions. Key revenue streams include the sale of HDDs and SSDs to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), retailers, and directly to consumers. The company also earns revenue from data center solutions, which include enterprise-grade storage systems and cloud storage products. Significant partnerships with major technology companies and cloud service providers contribute to its earnings by ensuring a steady demand for its storage solutions. Additionally, Western Digital invests in research and development to innovate and enhance its product offerings, which helps maintain its competitive edge and drive sales growth.

Western Digital Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Segment
Revenue by Segment
Chart Insights
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Western Digital Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 30, 2025
(Q1-2026)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jan 22, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
Western Digital reported strong financial performance with significant revenue and earnings growth, driven by AI-related demand. The company increased shareholder returns and effectively managed operational efficiencies, despite slightly higher operating expenses. The overall outlook remains positive with continued demand growth and strategic investments.
Q1-2026 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Revenue and Earnings Growth
Western Digital delivered revenue of $2.8 billion, up 27% year-over-year, and non-GAAP earnings per share of $1.78, both exceeding the high end of guidance.
Increased Shareholder Returns
The company significantly increased share repurchases to $553 million and announced a 25% increase in dividend per share to $0.125.
AI-Driven Demand
The rapid adoption of AI is driving robust demand for higher capacity drives, with top customers providing purchase orders extending through 2026 and 2027.
Strong Free Cash Flow Generation
Free cash flow for the quarter was $599 million, reflecting a strong free cash flow margin above 20%.
Positive Gross Margin Performance
Gross margin was 43.9%, up 660 basis points year-over-year, driven by a mix shift towards higher capacity drives and cost control.
Negative Updates
Operating Expenses Slightly Exceeded Guidance
Operating expenses were $381 million, slightly exceeding guidance due to higher variable compensation.
Macroeconomic Uncertainties
The company continues to navigate macroeconomic uncertainties, though specifics were not detailed.
Company Guidance
During the Western Digital First Quarter Fiscal 2026 Earnings Call, the company provided guidance indicating a robust financial performance driven by the expanding demand for data storage solutions due to AI adoption. Western Digital reported a revenue of $2.8 billion, a 27% year-over-year increase, with a non-GAAP gross margin of 43.9% and earnings per share of $1.78. The company highlighted strong free cash flow generation of $599 million and announced a 25% increase in quarterly dividends to $0.125 per share. Looking ahead to the second quarter, Western Digital anticipates revenue growth to approximately $2.9 billion, gross margins between 44% and 45%, and earnings per share of $1.88. The company also detailed its strategic investments and product developments, including the advancement of its HAMR and ePMR technologies, to meet the increasing demand for high-capacity drives fueled by AI and data-driven workloads.

Western Digital Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Western Digital demonstrates a significant turnaround in its financial performance in TTM, with improved revenue growth, profitability, and cash flow. The company has managed to stabilize its balance sheet, although past volatility and leverage levels are considerations. Overall, Western Digital's financial statements reflect a strong recovery trajectory, yet caution is warranted given historical fluctuations.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Western Digital's income statement shows a strong recovery in TTM with a revenue growth rate of 2.12% from the previous year and a significant improvement in profitability, evidenced by a gross profit margin of 38.0% and a net profit margin of 14.16%, compared to negative figures in prior periods. The EBIT margin of 22.85% and EBITDA margin of 24.53% in TTM further highlight the company's return to operational efficiency and profitability. However, past volatility and negative margins remain a concern.
Balance Sheet
68
Positive
The balance sheet indicates a moderate risk with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89 in TTM, showing a manageable level of leverage. The return on equity has improved to 35.40% in TTM, reflecting better profitability. However, the equity ratio is 37.92%, suggesting a dependency on liabilities to finance assets. Historical fluctuations in equity and liabilities raise concerns about financial stability.
Cash Flow
72
Positive
Western Digital's cash flow statement shows a strong recovery in TTM with positive free cash flow growth and an operating cash flow to net income ratio of 0.90, indicating strong cash generation relative to earnings. The free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.68 also supports healthy cash conversion. Prior negative cash flows underscore past operational challenges.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2019Dec 2018
Income Statement
Total Revenue9.52B6.32B6.25B16.57B20.65B
Gross Profit3.69B1.77B1.39B3.75B7.71B
EBITDA1.94B243.00M289.00M1.99B5.89B
Net Income1.86B-798.00M-1.68B-754.00M675.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets14.00B24.19B24.55B26.37B29.23B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments2.47B1.55B2.02B3.46B5.00B
Total Debt4.71B7.43B7.07B10.52B11.17B
Total Liabilities8.46B13.14B12.71B16.40B17.70B
Stockholders Equity5.54B11.05B11.84B9.97B11.53B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.28B-781.00M-1.22B790.00M3.40B
Operating Cash Flow1.69B-294.00M-408.00M1.55B4.21B
Investing Cash Flow150.00M-27.00M-762.00M-1.27B-1.66B
Financing Cash Flow-1.61B187.00M875.00M-1.83B-3.90B

Western Digital Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price150.21
Price Trends
50DMA
110.12
Positive
100DMA
89.02
Positive
200DMA
67.38
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
7.95
Negative
RSI
72.70
Negative
STOCH
79.98
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For WDC, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 150.21 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 125.30, above the 50-day MA of 110.12, and above the 200-day MA of 67.38, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 7.95 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 72.70 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 79.98 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for WDC.

Western Digital Risk Analysis

Western Digital disclosed 26 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Western Digital reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Western Digital Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
$51.49B31.1325.98%0.13%2.12%
$31.88B238.2410.04%11.31%-1.30%
$23.51B20.81123.00%1.77%3.45%9.69%
$29.93B30.3517.90%47.04%-17.89%
$56.57B28.621.08%31.56%106.00%
$25.86B10.074.21%3.11%-3.54%
$37.18B12.37-10.20%1.83%8.50%-7.62%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
WDC
Western Digital
150.21
100.58
202.66%
HPQ
HP
27.67
-7.19
-20.63%
NTAP
NetApp
117.78
3.99
3.51%
STX
Seagate Tech
255.88
159.12
164.45%
SMCI
Super Micro Computer
51.96
25.91
99.46%
PSTG
Pure Storage
98.70
47.75
93.72%

Western Digital Corporate Events

Western Digital Reports Strong Q1 2026 Results
Oct 31, 2025

Western Digital Corp. is a leading data storage company that provides innovative solutions for cloud, enterprise, and AI-driven data workloads. The company is known for its cutting-edge technology and commitment to scalable and sustainable storage solutions.

Western Digital’s Q4 2025 Earnings Call Highlights
Aug 1, 2025

Western Digital Corp. recently held its earnings call for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2025, revealing a generally positive sentiment. The company reported strong financial performance, primarily driven by robust demand in the data center segment and significant debt reduction. The introduction of dividends and share repurchase programs further underscores Western Digital’s commitment to returning value to shareholders, despite a decline in consumer revenue and uncertainties related to tariffs. Overall, the positive aspects of the earnings call significantly overshadowed the negatives.

Western Digital Reports Strong Fiscal 2025 Results
Jul 31, 2025

Western Digital Corp., a leader in data storage solutions, operates in the technology sector, providing scalable and sustainable technology for hyperscalers, enterprises, and cloud providers. In its fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year 2025, Western Digital reported significant financial growth, with a 30% year-over-year increase in quarterly revenue to $2.61 billion and a 51% increase in annual revenue to $9.52 billion. The company also achieved a GAAP diluted EPS of $0.67 and a non-GAAP diluted EPS of $1.66, alongside a robust free cash flow of $675 million. Key financial metrics highlighted include a 620 basis point increase in gross margin year-over-year and a substantial reduction in operating expenses by 51% for the quarter. Western Digital also announced strategic financial moves, including reducing debt by $2.6 billion, initiating a cash dividend, and authorizing a $2.0 billion share repurchase program. Looking ahead, the company expects continued growth, driven by strong demand in the cloud market, with projected revenue growth of 22% year-over-year for the first quarter of fiscal 2026. Management remains optimistic about the future, emphasizing the foundational role of HDDs in the data infrastructure landscape and the company’s position in an AI-driven future.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Oct 31, 2025