AI利好比预期更大！需求爆棚，毛利率超高，“硬盘巨头”希捷科技股价飙升创新高

Core Viewpoint - The explosive demand for data storage driven by AI is reshaping the hard disk drive market, with Seagate Technology reporting significantly better-than-expected quarterly results and strong future guidance, leading to a surge in its stock price to an all-time high [1][3][4]. Financial Performance - Seagate's revenue for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 reached $2.63 billion, a year-on-year increase of 21.3%, exceeding Morgan Stanley and market expectations by 3% [6]. - The adjusted earnings per share were $2.61, a 65% increase compared to the previous year, significantly above the FactSet analyst estimate of $2.40 [3][6]. - The non-GAAP gross margin for the quarter was 40.1%, surpassing market expectations by 150 basis points and achieving the company's 40% target ahead of schedule [6][7]. Market Outlook - Seagate expects sales for the current quarter to reach $2.7 billion, again exceeding analyst predictions of $2.67 billion [3]. - The company has secured contracts for high-capacity hard drives aimed at the cloud market, with orders extending to 2026, indicating a clear visibility of demand through 2027 [3][6]. Analyst Sentiment - Following the earnings report, analysts have raised their target prices for Seagate, reflecting optimism about AI-driven storage demand growth [7][10]. - Morgan Stanley increased its net profit forecasts for Seagate for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 by 5-7%, raising the target price from $265 to $270 [7][10]. - Evercore ISI analyst set a target price of $330, indicating confidence in Seagate's ability to capitalize on the growing demand for high-capacity storage driven by AI workloads [10].