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Western Digital Corporation (WDC)



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Upturn Advisory Summary
08/14/2025: WDC (2-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.
1 Year Target Price $87.76
1 Year Target Price $87.76
15 | Strong Buy |
5 | Buy |
5 | Hold |
0 | Sell |
0 | Strong Sell |
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 27.97% | Avg. Invested days 47 | Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating |
Upturn Star Rating ![]() ![]() | Upturn Advisory Performance ![]() | Stock Returns Performance ![]() |
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Key Highlights
Company Size Large-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 26.60B USD | Price to earnings Ratio 17.13 | 1Y Target Price 87.76 |
Price to earnings Ratio 17.13 | 1Y Target Price 87.76 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 25 | Beta 1.64 | 52 Weeks Range 28.78 - 78.80 | Updated Date 08/15/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 28.78 - 78.80 | Updated Date 08/15/2025 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) 0.13% | Basic EPS (TTM) 4.45 |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Revenue by Geography
Geography revenue - Year on Year
Earnings Date
Report Date 2025-07-30 | When After Market | Estimate 1.48 | Actual 1.66 |
Profitability
Profit Margin 19.84% | Operating Margin (TTM) 15.4% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 7.03% | Return on Equity (TTM) 19.81% |
Valuation
Trailing PE 17.13 | Forward PE 11.38 | Enterprise Value 29424486547 | Price to Sales(TTM) 2.79 |
Enterprise Value 29424486547 | Price to Sales(TTM) 2.79 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 3.09 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 10.57 | Shares Outstanding 348878016 | Shares Floating 345177720 |
Shares Outstanding 348878016 | Shares Floating 345177720 | ||
Percent Insiders 0.75 | Percent Institutions 103.38 |
Upturn AI SWOT
Western Digital Corporation

Company Overview
History and Background
Western Digital Corporation (WDC) was founded in 1970. Initially, it manufactured calculator chips, then shifted to storage solutions, becoming a leading provider of hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs). Significant milestones include acquisitions of HGST (Hitachi Global Storage Technologies) in 2012 and SanDisk in 2016, expanding its product portfolio and market reach.
Core Business Areas
- HDD: Designs, manufactures, and sells hard disk drives for various applications, including desktop PCs, laptops, data centers, and consumer electronics.
- SSD: Develops and markets solid-state drives for PCs, data centers, and embedded systems, offering faster performance and greater durability than HDDs.
- Flash Memory: Produces flash memory components and solutions under the SanDisk brand, including memory cards, USB drives, and embedded storage for mobile devices.
Leadership and Structure
David Goeckeler is the CEO of Western Digital. The company is structured into business units focused on different product categories and customer segments. The board of directors provides oversight and strategic guidance.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- HDDs (Hard Disk Drives): Traditional storage devices used in PCs, servers, and external storage. Competitors are Seagate Technology (STX) and Toshiba. HDD revenue is estimated to be higher than SSD, but market share data is difficult to get on HDDs and SSDs separately. Market share estimates show WDC and STX as neck-and-neck.
- SSDs (Solid State Drives): Faster and more durable storage solutions used in laptops, desktops, and data centers. Competitors include Samsung, Micron Technology (MU), SK Hynix, Intel and Kioxia. Market share data varies by source, but Samsung leads, followed by WDC and other competitors.
- SanDisk Flash Memory Products: Includes memory cards, USB drives, and embedded flash storage for mobile devices. Competitors include Samsung, Micron Technology (MU) and Kingston.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The storage industry is dynamic, driven by increasing data generation and the need for faster and more reliable storage solutions. It faces cyclical demand, technology transitions (HDD to SSD), and pricing pressures. The industry is very competitive and innovative with new technologies constantly changing the landscape.
Positioning
Western Digital is a major player in the storage industry, offering a broad range of HDD, SSD, and flash memory products. Its competitive advantages include its scale, technology portfolio, and established relationships with OEMs and channel partners.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The global data storage market is estimated to reach hundreds of billions of dollars. WDC is positioned to capture a significant portion through its diverse product offerings and market presence. The TAM is estimated to reach nearly 227 billion USD in 2029. WDC captures a decent percentage of the TAM.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Broad product portfolio (HDD, SSD, Flash)
- Strong brand recognition (Western Digital, SanDisk)
- Large scale and manufacturing capabilities
- Established relationships with OEMs and channel partners
- Technology innovation and patents
Weaknesses
- Exposure to cyclical demand
- Dependency on commodity pricing
- Lagging behind Samsung in SSD technology
- Debt burden from acquisitions
- Impact from slower PC and mobile markets
Opportunities
- Growing demand for cloud storage
- Adoption of SSDs in data centers
- Expansion into emerging markets
- Development of new storage technologies
- Growth in AI workloads.
Threats
- Intense competition from Samsung, Micron, and Seagate
- Price erosion in HDD and SSD markets
- Technological obsolescence
- Geopolitical risks and trade tensions
- Economic downturns
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- Samsung (SMSN.IL - Korea Exchange)
- Seagate Technology (STX)
- Micron Technology (MU)
Competitive Landscape
Western Digital faces intense competition in the storage market. It competes on price, performance, and technology. Its competitive advantages include its broad product portfolio and established customer relationships. Disadvantages can be innovation speeds compared to some competitors, and debt level. These market share numbers are approximate and combine all storage mediums (SSD, HDD, etc.).
Major Acquisitions
SanDisk
- Year: 2016
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 19000
- Strategic Rationale: Expanded Western Digital's presence in the flash memory market and provided access to new technologies and customers.
HGST (Hitachi Global Storage Technologies)
- Year: 2012
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 4300
- Strategic Rationale: Increased Western Digital's market share in the HDD market and expanded its product portfolio.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Historically, growth has been driven by increasing demand for storage across various applications. However, growth has been volatile due to market cycles and technological transitions.
Future Projections: Analyst estimates vary, but generally project continued growth in the storage market, with SSDs driving a significant portion of the expansion. Future performance will depend on execution and technology leadership.
Recent Initiatives: Recent initiatives include focusing on higher-margin SSD products, expanding into cloud storage solutions, and optimizing manufacturing operations.
Summary
Western Digital is a major player in the data storage industry, leveraging its diverse product portfolio. However, it faces cyclical demand and intense competition, particularly in SSD technology. Recent strategic initiatives and market trends offer growth opportunities, but managing debt and adapting to changing technologies are crucial. While the company is solid, WDC needs to be careful with its acquisitions. WDC has great brands but needs to focus on debt and profitability and can potentially be much stronger.
Peer Comparison
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Company SEC Filings (10-K, 10-Q)
- Market Research Reports (Gartner, IDC)
- Financial News Outlets (Bloomberg, Reuters, Yahoo Finance)
- Company Investor Relations Website
- Competitor Information
Disclaimers:
The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Market data and analyst estimates are subject to change. Investment decisions should be based on individual research and due diligence.
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
About Western Digital Corporation
Exchange NASDAQ | Headquaters San Jose, CA, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 1987-01-02 | CEO & Director Mr. Tiang Yew Tan | ||
Sector Technology | Industry Computer Hardware | Full time employees - | Website https://www.westerndigital.com |
Full time employees - | Website https://www.westerndigital.com |
Western Digital Corporation develops, manufactures, and sells data storage devices and solutions based on hard disk drive (HDD) technology in the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Its products include internal HDDs, data center drives, data center platforms, external drives, portable drives, NAS for home and office, and accessories. Its portfolio of technology and products addresses primary end markets, such as cloud, client, and consumer. The company sells its data storage devices and solutions through its sales personnel, dealers, distributors, and retailers. Western Digital Corporation was founded in 1970 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

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