29 January 2026 | 4:26PM EST Equity Research Western Digital Corp. (WDC): First Take: Strong results and guidance Key stock takeaways: We expect the stock to trade up following a strong quarter, with guidance well above the Street. We believe investor expectations were elevated given Seagate's strong report, as well as growing confidence in continued pricing and margin momentum as HDD shortages persist. We expect investors to focus on critical elements of management's commentary on the conference call, incl ...

1月29日国际金、银价格冲高后急跌；瑞士百达资管：黄金将持续受益于"货币贬值担忧"；苹果2026财 年第一财季营收创历史新高；闪迪2026财年第二财季营收增长61%；美联储新主席人选即将宣布；特朗 普称计划同伊朗对话。 【市场回顾】 北京时间1月30日，日韩股市主要股指走势分化。北京时间8时07分，韩国综合指数在开盘小幅走低后转 涨，涨幅为0.5%，日经225指数在高开后转跌，下跌0.17%。 当地时间1月29日，国际金、银价格冲高后急跌。现货黄金一度触及5598.75美元/盎司，随后跳水，日 内跌幅一度超5%；现货白银价格日内跌幅一度超8%。截至收盘，贵金属价格跌幅收窄，现货黄金跌 0.68%，现货白银跌0.63%。 当地时间1月29日，美股三大股指收盘涨跌不一。截至收盘，道琼斯工业指数涨0.11%报49071.56点，标 普500指数跌0.13%报6969.01点，纳斯达克指数跌0.72%报23685.12点。 当地时间1月29日，欧洲主要股指收盘涨跌不一。德国DAX指数跌1.92%报24347.16点；法国CAC40指 数涨0.06%报8071.36点；英国富时100指数涨0.17%报10171.76点 ...

Core Viewpoint - Western Digital Corporation (WDC) reported strong quarterly results and future outlook, driven by unprecedented demand for high-capacity HDDs due to the AI data center boom, exceeding Wall Street expectations [1][2][6]. Financial Performance - For Q2 FY26, Western Digital's total revenue increased by 25% year-over-year to $3.02 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of approximately $2.95 billion [2][3]. - The adjusted gross margin under non-GAAP was 46.1%, exceeding the expected 44.5% [2]. - Free cash flow was approximately $653 million, also above the forecast of $637 million [2]. - The adjusted EPS was $2.13, higher than the anticipated $1.93, with net profit increasing by 92% year-over-year to about $807 million [2][3]. Market Outlook - The company expects Q3 FY26 diluted EPS to range between $2.15 and $2.45, significantly above the consensus estimate of $1.99 [3]. - Total revenue for the upcoming quarter is projected to be between $3.1 billion and $3.3 billion, again exceeding analyst expectations [3]. Industry Context - The demand for enterprise-level high-capacity HDDs and SSDs is being driven by the rapid expansion of AI data centers, with major tech companies investing heavily in AI infrastructure [6][11]. - Western Digital, along with Seagate and SanDisk, has seen stock prices rise significantly, with Western Digital's stock increasing by 285% in 2025 and 60% since 2026 [1][6]. - The storage industry is experiencing a "super cycle," with a strong focus on nearline HDDs and enterprise SSDs to meet the growing storage needs of AI applications [7][11]. Supply Strategy - Western Digital and Seagate are not rushing to increase HDD production capacity, adhering to a "supply discipline" to avoid past cycles of overproduction and price wars [12][13]. - The company aims to enhance output through product structure and technology upgrades rather than expanding capacity aggressively [12].

| | | GAAP | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | Q2FY26 Q1FY26 | Q2FY25 | 0/0 | Y/Y | | Revenue | $3,017 $2,818 | $2.409 | +7% | +25% | | Gross Margin | 45.7% 43.5% | 37.7% | +220 bps | +800 bps | | Operating Income | $908 $792 | $560 | +15% | +62% | | Operating Margin | 30.1% 28.1% | 23.2% | +200 bps | +690 bps | | Diluted Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders | $1,802 $1,154 | $455 | +56% | +296% | | Diluted Net Income Per Common Share | $4.73 $3.07 | $1.27 | +54% | +272% | 智通财经APP获悉，与闪迪、希捷共同 ...

西部数据公司(Western Digital Corporation)(NASDAQ: WDC )第二季度利润和收入均超华尔 街预期，并预测第三季度业绩将强于预期，这得益于云客户扩大数据中心容量以支持人工智能工 作负载的需求。西部数据股价在盘后交易中上涨约2%。 这家数据存储制造商报告第二季度每股收益为2.13美元，超过分析师预期的1.91美元。收入增 至31亿美元，高于29.2亿美元的一致预期。 西部数据预测第三季度每股收益为2.15至2.45美元，而分析师预期为1.99美元。公司预计收入 为31亿至33亿美元，同样高于29.8亿美元的一致预期。 西部数据公司(Western Digital Corporation)(NASDAQ: WDC )第二季度利润和收入均超华尔街预期，并 预测第三季度业绩将强于预期，这得益于云客户扩大数据中心容量以支持人工智能工作负载的需求。西 部数据股价在盘后交易中上涨约2%。 西部数据股价在过去一年中上涨了约六倍，这得益于云客户在人工智能投资激增期间寻求扩大数 据中心建设的需求。包括微软和Meta在内的大型科技公司表示，他们计划今年继续大力投资数 这些业绩出现之际，西部数据受益 ...

Core Insights - Western Digital (WDC) reported quarterly earnings of $2.13 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.95 per share, and up from $1.77 per share a year ago [1] - The company achieved a revenue of $3.02 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.24%, but down from $4.29 billion year-over-year [3] Earnings Performance - The earnings surprise for the recent quarter was +9.34%, following a previous surprise of +11.95% when earnings were $1.78 per share against an expectation of $1.59 [2] - Over the last four quarters, Western Digital has consistently surpassed consensus EPS estimates [2] Stock Performance - Western Digital shares have increased approximately 62.4% since the beginning of the year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 1.9% [4] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating expectations for continued outperformance in the near future [7] Future Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $1.94 on revenues of $2.93 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $7.78 on revenues of $11.88 billion [8] - The Computer-Storage Devices industry is currently ranked in the top 10% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook for stocks within this sector [9] Related Industry Insights - Super Micro Computer (SMCI), another company in the same industry, is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.49 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of -19.7%, with revenues projected at $10.44 billion, an increase of 84% from the previous year [10][11]

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (Mark One) Washington, D.C. 20549 ☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended January 2, 2026 FORM 10-Q Or ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from to Commission file number: 1-8703 Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (408) 717-6000 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the A ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 was $3 billion, up 25% year-over-year, driven by strong demand for Nearline drives [12] - Earnings per share (EPS) was $2.13, an increase of 78% year-over-year, exceeding guidance [15] - Gross margin improved to 46.1%, up 770 basis points year-over-year and 220 basis points sequentially [13][14] - Operating income was slightly above $1 billion, translating into an operating margin of 33.8% [14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cloud segment represented 89% of total revenue at $2.7 billion, up 28% year-over-year [13] - Client segment accounted for 6% of total revenue at $176 million, up 26% year-over-year [13] - Consumer segment represented 5% of revenue at $168 million, down 3% year-over-year [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company shipped over 3.5 million units of its latest generation ePMR products, offering capacities up to 32 TB [12][8] - The company delivered 215 exabytes (EB) to customers, up 22% year-over-year [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on AI and cloud storage solutions, emphasizing high-capacity drives and partnerships with hyperscale customers [7][9] - A strategic investment in Qolab was announced to advance next-generation nanofabrication processes [10] - The company is hosting an innovation day to share updated roadmaps for HAMR and ePMR products [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in continued demand for storage solutions driven by AI and cloud growth [5][6] - The company anticipates revenue for Q3 fiscal 2026 to be around $3.2 billion, reflecting approximately 40% year-over-year growth [17] - Management highlighted a stable pricing environment and ongoing cost reductions, projecting further gross margin expansion [22][23] Other Important Information - The company returned $1.4 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends since the launch of its capital return program [16] - The board approved a quarterly cash dividend of $12.50 per share, payable on March 18, 2026 [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Gross margin guidance and durability of incremental margin - Management confirmed a gross margin of 46.1% and guidance of 47%-48%, with incremental margins around 75% [20][22] Question: Purchase orders and pricing strategy - Management indicated strong demand and stable pricing, with long-term agreements in place with top customers [27][28] Question: Customer engagement and contracts - The company has developed a customer-centric approach, resulting in longer-term contracts and improved relationships with hyperscale customers [34] Question: UltraSMR mix and gross margins - Management noted an increasing mix of UltraSMR drives, which are beneficial for both customers and profitability [42][43] Question: Yields and reliability of products - Yields on ePMR products are in the low 90s%, with positive feedback on reliability from customers [46] Question: HAMR roadmap and investments - The company has pulled in the HAMR qualification timeline and expects it to be neutral to accretive to gross margins once ramped [55][77] Question: Revenue per exabyte and mix changes - Revenue per exabyte is driven by strong demand from the cloud segment, with stable pricing trends [81] Question: Cost reductions and future expectations - Current cost reductions are around 10% year-over-year, with potential for further reductions as higher capacity drives are adopted [87]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 was $3 billion, up 25% year-over-year, driven by strong demand for Nearline drives [12] - Earnings per share (EPS) was $2.13, an increase of 78% year-over-year [15] - Gross margin improved to 46.1%, up 770 basis points year-over-year and 220 basis points sequentially [13][14] - Operating income was slightly above $1 billion, translating into an operating margin of 33.8% [14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cloud segment represented 89% of total revenue at $2.7 billion, up 28% year-over-year [13] - Client segment accounted for 6% of total revenue at $176 million, up 26% year-over-year [13] - Consumer segment represented 5% of revenue at $168 million, down 3% year-over-year [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company shipped over 3.5 million units of its latest generation ePMR products, offering capacities up to 32 TB [12][8] - The company delivered 215 exabytes (EB) to customers, up 22% year-over-year [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on AI and cloud storage solutions, emphasizing higher density storage to meet growing demand [7][9] - Strategic investments include a partnership with Qolab to advance next-generation nanofabrication processes [10] - The company is hosting an Innovation Day to share updated roadmaps for HAMR and ePMR products [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in continued demand for storage solutions driven by AI and cloud growth [5][6] - The company anticipates revenue for Q3 fiscal 2026 to be $3.2 billion, reflecting approximately 40% year-over-year growth [17] - Management expects gross margin to be between 47%-48% in the next quarter [17] Other Important Information - The company returned $1.4 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends since the launch of its capital return program [16] - The board approved a quarterly cash dividend of $12.50 per share, payable on March 18, 2026 [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Gross margin durability and cost curve - Management indicated that the gross margin is expected to maintain a high incremental margin flow-through, with cost per terabyte decreasing by about 10% year-over-year [19][20][22] Question: Purchase orders and pricing strategy - Management confirmed that they have firm purchase orders with top customers through 2026 and established long-term agreements (LTAs) for 2027 and 2028, reflecting the value delivered to customers [26][27] Question: Customer engagement and contracts - The company has developed a customer-centric approach, deepening relationships with hyperscale customers, resulting in longer-term contracts [34][35] Question: UltraSMR mix and gross margins - The UltraSMR mix has crossed 50% and is expected to increase, positively impacting gross margins due to its software-based nature [41][43] Question: Yields and reliability - Yields on ePMR products are in the low 90s%, with good feedback on reliability, contributing to cost reductions as yields improve [46] Question: HAMR roadmap and customer interest - The company has pulled in the HAMR qualification timeline and is starting qualifications with multiple hyperscale customers [64][74] Question: Investments related to HAMR - Ongoing investments in HAMR are expected to be neutral to accretive to gross margins once ramped up [55][77] Question: Revenue per exabyte and mix changes - Revenue per exabyte is driven by strong demand from the cloud segment, with stable pricing trends [80][82] Question: Cost reductions and future expectations - Current cost reductions are about 10% year-over-year, with potential for increases as higher capacity drives are adopted [86]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q2 2026 was $3 billion, up 25% year-over-year, driven by strong demand for Nearline drives [10] - Earnings per share (EPS) was $2.13, an increase of 78% year-over-year [12] - Gross margin improved to 46.1%, up 770 basis points year-over-year and 220 basis points sequentially [11] - Operating income was slightly above $1 billion, translating into an operating margin of 33.8% [11] - Operating cash flow for the quarter was $745 million, with capital expenditures of $92 million, resulting in free cash flow of $653 million [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cloud segment represented 89% of total revenue at $2.7 billion, up 28% year-over-year [11] - Client segment accounted for 6% of total revenue at $176 million, up 26% year-over-year [11] - Consumer segment represented 5% of revenue at $168 million, down 3% year-over-year [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company shipped over 3.5 million units of its latest generation ePMR products, offering capacities up to 32 TB [10][11] - The demand for higher capacity storage solutions is driven by the growth of AI and cloud technologies [5][6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on increasing drive areal density and accelerating HAMR and ePMR roadmaps to meet customer demands [5][6] - A strategic investment in Qolab was announced to advance next-generation nanofabrication processes [9] - The company is hosting an innovation day to share updated roadmaps for HAMR and ePMR products [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ongoing demand for storage solutions driven by AI and cloud growth [4][5] - The company anticipates revenue for Q3 2026 to be $3.2 billion, reflecting approximately 40% year-over-year growth [14] - Gross margin is expected to be between 47%-48% for the next quarter [14] Other Important Information - The company returned $1.4 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends since the launch of its capital return program [13] - A quarterly cash dividend of $12.50 per share was approved, payable on March 18, 2026 [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Gross margin guidance and durability of incremental margin - Management confirmed a stable pricing environment and effective cost control, leading to an expected gross margin of 47%-48% [16][18] Question: Purchase orders and pricing strategy - Management highlighted the value delivered to customers and the stable pricing environment, allowing for better economics in long-term agreements [24][26] Question: Customer engagement and contracts - The company has developed a customer-centric approach, resulting in longer-term contracts and improved relationships with hyperscale customers [31][33] Question: UltraSMR mix and gross margins - The UltraSMR mix has crossed 50% and is expected to increase, positively impacting gross margins due to its software-based nature [38][40] Question: Yields and reliability of ePMR products - Yields on ePMR products are in the low 90s%, with positive feedback on reliability from customers [44] Question: HAMR roadmap and investments - The qualification process for HAMR has been pulled forward, with expectations of neutral to accretive gross margins once ramped [53][70] Question: Revenue per exabyte and mix changes - Revenue per exabyte is driven by strong demand from cloud customers, with stable pricing contributing to growth [78]