Western Digital Jumps To Record Highs After Earnings. AI Is Powering A 230% Rally This Year.

Core Insights - Western Digital's earnings report indicates strong demand for hard-disk drives (HDDs) driven by AI, with adjusted earnings up 137% year-over-year to $1.78 per share and sales increasing 27% to $2.82 billion, surpassing estimates for the September quarter [1][3] - The company is focusing on delivering higher-capacity HDDs to meet tight supply and increasing demand, as highlighted by CEO Irving Tan [2][3] - Gross margins improved significantly by 660 basis points year-over-year to 43.9%, reflecting effective cost control and a shift towards higher-capacity drives [3][4] Company Performance - Western Digital's stock has surged over 230% year-to-date, with a recent gain of more than 7% to $148.68, indicating strong market performance compared to rival Seagate, which is up approximately 200% [4][5] - The spinout of Sandisk has been beneficial, with Sandisk's stock rising 80% since its independent trading began in February [5] Market Dynamics - The demand for HDDs is being fueled by the increasing data requirements of the AI-driven economy, positioning HDDs as a reliable and cost-effective storage solution [2] - Analysts are optimistic about Western Digital's future, with an outperform rating reaffirmed by Evercore ISI, citing strong demand and margin expansion as key factors [3][4]