Core Viewpoint - Western Digital Corporation's recent fiscal third-quarter earnings announcement highlighted a strong performance, exceeding profit expectations and providing optimistic forward guidance, which has garnered positive investor sentiment [1][4][15]. Financial Performance - For fiscal Q3 2025, Western Digital reported revenue of $2.29 billion, reflecting a 31% year-over-year increase, despite a slight sequential decline [7][9]. - The company achieved a non-GAAP EPS of $1.36, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $1.06, indicating effective cost management and favorable pricing dynamics [8]. - Non-GAAP gross margins reached 40.1%, exceeding the anticipated 40% threshold, showcasing operational efficiency [8][6]. Future Guidance - Management projects Q4 revenue between $2.30 billion and $2.60 billion, with a midpoint of $2.45 billion, which is above analyst expectations [4]. - The profit forecast for non-GAAP EPS is set between $1.25 and $1.65, with a midpoint of $1.45, indicating anticipated revenue stability and profitability [5]. Market Position and Demand - The cloud segment remains a significant driver, accounting for 87% of total revenue in Q3, with cloud revenue hitting $2.0 billion, a 38% year-over-year increase [9][10]. - The demand for high-capacity storage solutions is accelerating due to the growth of AI applications and data storage needs [10]. Dividend Initiation - Western Digital's Board of Directors has authorized a quarterly cash dividend program, starting with an initial dividend of $0.10 per share, signaling confidence in the business model and financial stability [11][12]. Analyst Sentiment - Following the earnings report, analysts have shown positive sentiment, with several firms reiterating or upgrading their ratings, maintaining a consensus rating of Moderate Buy [13][14]. - The average analyst price target is approximately $66.42, suggesting potential upside from the current stock price [14]. Strategic Outlook - The successful transition post-separation from the flash memory business positions Western Digital favorably within the data storage sector, indicating potential for a cyclical recovery [3][15][16].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the third fiscal quarter, the company reported revenue of $2.3 billion, down 5% sequentially but up 31% year over year [15] - Non-GAAP gross margin was 40.1%, reflecting a sequential improvement of 1.7 percentage points [17] - Non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) was $1.36, driven by disciplined cost management and tax benefits [15][17] - Free cash flow for the quarter was $436 million [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cloud business represented 87% of total revenue at $2 billion, down 4% sequentially but up 38% year over year [16] - Client business accounted for 6% of total revenue at $137 million, down 2% sequentially and year over year [16] - Consumer segment represented 7% of revenue at $150 million, down 13% sequentially and 4% year over year [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Nearline bit shipments decreased by 6% sequentially to 145 exabytes, while average price per unit increased by 4% sequentially to $179 [16] - Demand from hyperscale customers remains robust despite broader market uncertainties [12][13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on three pillars for capital allocation: reinvestment in the business, debt reduction, and returning cash to shareholders [11] - The introduction of a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share reflects confidence in long-term cash generation ability [21] - The company is addressing tariff-related challenges through cross-functional teams and strategic evaluations of supply chain shifts [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the current uncertain environment driven by tariffs and global trade tensions but remains optimistic about data center demand [12][14] - The company expects sequential revenue growth in the fiscal fourth quarter, driven by sustained strength in data center demand [14] - Management emphasized the importance of long-term agreements with hyperscale customers for better visibility and planning [13][32] Other Important Information - The company successfully redeemed $1.8 billion of its 2026 senior notes, strengthening its balance sheet [11][20] - The effective tax rate for the fiscal third quarter was 2%, lower than expected due to one-time deferred tax benefits [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Inquiry about capital allocation and dividend growth - Management stated that once net leverage is reduced to the target range of 1.0-1.5x, they intend to return 100% of excess cash to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks [28] Question: Visibility on revenue margins and EPS growth - Management indicated that long-term agreements with customers provide greater visibility and confidence in strong demand through 2025 and into 2026 [32] Question: Clarification on tariff impacts - Management noted that while there is demand uncertainty in certain segments due to tariffs, they do not anticipate direct tariff impacts on pricing or costs in Q4 [36] Question: Discussion on gross margin expectations - Management highlighted that strong gross margins are driven by technology value and operational discipline, with potential for continued expansion [40][73] Question: Insights on LTAs and their benefits - Management explained that LTAs provide critical visibility and help maintain supply-demand balance, with agreements extending from three to six months to nine to twelve months [87] Question: Commentary on exabyte growth and capacity - Management stated that exabyte growth is primarily driven by technology improvements, allowing for capacity increases without significant capital expenditures [46] Question: Future of non-enterprise and non-cloud markets - Management confirmed that these markets remain a material part of the business, with ongoing efforts to drive growth in those areas [98]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the third fiscal quarter, the company reported revenue of $2.3 billion, down 5% sequentially but up 31% year over year [12] - Non-GAAP gross margin was 40.1%, an improvement of 1.7 percentage points sequentially [14] - Non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) was $1.36, driven by disciplined cost management and tax benefits [12][14] - Free cash flow for the quarter was $436 million [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cloud business represented 87% of total revenue at $2 billion, down 4% sequentially but up 38% year over year [13] - Client business accounted for 6% of total revenue at $137 million, down 2% sequentially and year over year [13] - Consumer segment represented 7% of revenue at $150 million, down 13% sequentially and 4% year over year [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Nearline bit shipments decreased by 6% sequentially to 145 exabytes, while average price per unit increased by 4% to $179 [12][13] - Demand from hyperscale customers remains robust despite broader market uncertainties [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on three pillars for capital allocation: reinvestment in the business, debt reduction, and returning cash to shareholders [8] - The introduction of a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share reflects confidence in long-term cash generation [18] - The company is committed to innovation in HDD technology, with a focus on high-capacity drives and energy efficiency [6] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The current environment is characterized by uncertainty due to tariffs and global trade tensions, but demand from hyperscale customers remains strong [9][10] - The company expects sequential revenue growth in the fiscal fourth quarter, driven by data center demand [10][11] - Management expressed confidence in navigating the dynamic environment and maintaining a healthy supply-demand balance [20] Other Important Information - The company successfully redeemed $1.8 billion of its 2026 senior notes, strengthening its balance sheet [8][17] - The effective tax rate for the fiscal third quarter was 2%, lower than expected due to one-time deferred tax benefits [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Inquiry about capital allocation and dividend growth - Management indicated that once the net leverage is reduced to the target range of 1.0 to 1.5x, they plan to return 100% of excess cash to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks [25][26] Question: Visibility into revenue margins and EPS growth - Management noted that long-term agreements with hyperscale customers provide greater visibility, suggesting strong demand through 2025 and into 2026 [28][30] Question: Clarification on tariff impacts - Management stated that while there are no direct tariff impacts anticipated, there is demand uncertainty in certain segments due to market volatility [34][36] Question: Discussion on gross margins and pricing dynamics - Management confirmed that gross margins are driven by technology value and operational discipline, with expectations for continued strength [38][40] Question: Insights on manufacturing capacity and exabyte growth - Management highlighted that exabyte growth is primarily driven by technology improvements rather than additional manufacturing capacity [44][53] Question: Update on HAMR technology and customer engagement - Management expects to start qualification for HAMR technology in the second half of 2026, with production ramp-up planned for early 2027 [78][80] Question: Concerns about hyperscaler demand and potential double ordering - Management reassured that there are no signs of double ordering and that demand patterns align with long-term agreements [67][69]

Financial Performance - Western Digital reported revenue of $2.3 billion[5] - The company's non-GAAP EPS was $1.36[5] - Non-GAAP gross margin reached 40.1%[5] - Operating cash flow was $508 million[5] - Free cash flow amounted to $436 million[5] - Cash and cash equivalents totaled $3.5 billion[5] Capital Allocation - Western Digital successfully redeemed $1.8 billion of its 4.750% Sr Unsecured Notes due 2026 on April 14, 2025[5] - The Board of Directors authorized a quarterly cash dividend program and declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per share[5] Revenue Trends - Cloud revenue was $2.0 billion, a decrease of 4% QoQ but an increase of 38% YoY[8] - Client revenue was $137 million, a decrease of 2% QoQ and 2% YoY[8] - Consumer revenue was $150 million, a decrease of 13% QoQ and 4% YoY[8] Q4 Fiscal Year 2025 Guidance - Revenue is expected to be $2.45 billion, plus or minus $150 million[19] - Non-GAAP EPS is guided at $1.45, plus or minus $0.20[19]

Core Viewpoint - Western Digital Corporation is set to release its third-quarter earnings results, with expectations of improved earnings per share but a decline in revenue compared to the previous year [1]. Financial Performance - Analysts predict Western Digital will report earnings of $1.11 per share for the third quarter, an increase from 63 cents per share in the same period last year [1]. - The company is projected to report quarterly revenue of $2.48 billion, down from $3.46 billion a year earlier [1]. Business Developments - On February 24, Western Digital announced the completion of the planned separation of its flash business, Sandisk [2]. Stock Performance - Western Digital shares experienced a decline of 0.7%, closing at $40.62 [3]. Analyst Ratings - Rosenblatt analyst Kevin Cassidy maintained a Buy rating but reduced the price target from $76 to $50 [8]. - Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore kept an Overweight rating while cutting the price target from $93 to $46 [8]. - Benchmark analyst Mark Miller upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy with a price target of $55 [8]. - Mizuho analyst Vijay Rakesh maintained an Outperform rating and lowered the price target from $82 to $68 [8]. - UBS analyst Timothy Arcuri maintained a Neutral rating and reduced the price target from $74 to $50 [8].

Q2FY25 Financial Performance - Revenue reached $2.33 billion [6], a 7% increase QoQ and a significant 50% increase YoY [8, 15] - Non-GAAP gross margin was 35.5% [6], up approximately 220 bps sequentially, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of expansion [8] - Non-GAAP operating margin improved to 23.1% [6], a sequential increase of approximately 270 bps [8] - Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $2.03 [6], at the high end of the guidance range [8] - Adjusted EBITDA increased sequentially by 19% to $591 million [8] - Free cash flow improved significantly to $150 million [8], a substantial increase from $27 million in the previous quarter [8] HDD Capacity and Technology - Total HDD capacity shipped reached 151.8 EB [7, 18] - Average capacity per drive increased to 11.6 TB [7, 18], a 9% increase QoQ [7] - Mass Capacity revenue grew for the sixth consecutive quarter, representing 93% of total HDD exabytes [13] - Nearline revenue nearly doubled year-on-year [13] Q3FY25 Guidance - Revenue is projected to be $2.10 billion ± $150 million [21] - Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share are expected to be $1.70 ± $0.20 [21]

Market Overview - The S&P 500 experienced its sixth consecutive day of gains, with no negative impact from economic data or earnings reports [1] - The Dow increased by 300 points (+0.75%), the S&P 500 rose by 32 points (+0.58%), and the Nasdaq grew by 95 points (+0.55%) [2] - Bond yields decreased, with the 10-year yield at 4.17% and the 2-year yield at 3.65% [2] Housing Market - The Case Shiller Home Price Index for February showed a headline increase of +3.9%, which is 20 basis points lower than the previous month [3] - The 10-City survey reported a +5.2% increase, down from +5.7%, while the 20-City index showed a +4.5% increase, down from +4.7% [3] - Notable cities for rising home prices included New York City (+7.7%), Chicago (+7.0%), and Cleveland (+6.6%) [3] Labor Market - The JOLTS report for March indicated job openings at 7.19 million, below the expected 7.5 million, with the previous month revised down to 7.5 million [5] - Job quits remained stable at 3.3 million, with a quits rate of +2.1% [6] - Layoffs in the retail sector decreased by 66,000, and federal government layoffs fell by 11,000 [6] Consumer Confidence - The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for April dropped to 86.0, below the expected 87.3 and down 7.9 points from the previous month [7] - The Expectations Index fell to 54.4, a decrease of -12.5 month over month, marking the lowest level since October 2011 [8] - 32.1% of consumers expect fewer jobs in the next six months, the highest rate since April 2009 [8] Company Earnings - Visa reported fiscal Q2 earnings of $2.76 per share, exceeding expectations of $2.68 and the previous year's $2.51, with revenues of $9.59 billion slightly above the anticipated $9.56 billion [10] - Starbucks missed both earnings and revenue expectations for fiscal Q2, reporting earnings of 41 cents per share and revenues of $8.76 billion, below the expected $8.79 billion [12] - Booking Holdings posted strong Q1 results with earnings of $24.81 per share and revenues of $4.76 billion, surpassing expectations [13] - Seagate Technologies exceeded estimates with fiscal Q3 earnings of $1.90 per share and revenues of $2.16 billion, raising guidance for the next quarter to $2.40 per share [14]

Core Viewpoint - Rosenblatt analyst Kevin Cassidy has relaunched coverage on Western Digital (WDC) with a Buy rating and lowered the price target from $76 to $50, reflecting a valuation based on expected profitable growth in the HDD market [1] Group 1: Market Dynamics - HDDs are expected to remain the dominant storage media, accounting for over 80% of cloud storage, with exabyte shipments projected to grow at a 23% CAGR from 2024 to 2028 [2] - AI-driven storage demand is accelerating, contributing an estimated 8% growth to the HDD market by 2028, with Nearline HDD growth forecasted at 14% CAGR when including AI [2][3] Group 2: Financial Performance - Western Digital anticipates fiscal 2025 revenue for HDDs to be approximately $2.2 billion to $2.3 billion, with a sequential gross margin expansion of 50 basis points [5] - The company expects to generate $600 million from the SanDisk spin-off and aims for adjusted gross margins of 38% or higher and operating margins of 24% or higher in the long term [6] Group 3: Strategic Focus - Western Digital is shifting its focus to cloud storage, projected to contribute 88% of revenue by fiscal 2025, with Nearline HDDs being the primary revenue driver [3][4] - The company is transitioning to higher-capacity HDDs (40TB+) with EAMR and HAMR technologies to maintain cost-competitive leadership in the AI-driven era [8][10] Group 4: Cost Competitiveness - HDDs maintain a six times cost advantage over enterprise SSDs and a 3.6 times TCO advantage, with plans to transition to HAMR technology by 2027 [4][9] - HDD manufacturing has a capital intensity of just 5%, significantly lower than NAND's 44%, and has lower emissions intensity per TB [9] Group 5: Shareholder Returns - Western Digital is initiating a dividend in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 and is committed to returning 100% of excess cash to shareholders after achieving a net leverage target of 1.0 to 1.5 times EBITDA [7]

Core Viewpoint - Seagate Technology Holdings plc is set to report its third-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings, with expectations of revenue growth driven by mass capacity demand, particularly from cloud customers and AI applications [1][2][3]. Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is $1.75 per share, unchanged over the past 30 days, compared to non-GAAP earnings of 33 cents per share in the same quarter last year [1]. - Management anticipates revenues of approximately $2.1 billion, with non-GAAP earnings expected to be $1.70 per share [2]. - Revenue estimates for the HDD segment are projected at $1.989 billion, reflecting a 34.7% increase year-over-year, while non-HDD segment revenues are expected to decline by 15.6% to $150.2 million [8]. Market Dynamics - Seagate expects continued improvements in mass capacity due to rising nearline demand from global cloud customers and enhancements in enterprise and OEM markets [2]. - The company has increased production of its 24-28 terabyte PMR drives, which are now its top-selling product line [4]. - The demand for HDDs is anticipated to rise as cloud service providers focus on AI application development and infrastructure [3]. Revenue and Margin Expectations - Mass capacity revenues are expected to increase by 50.1% year-over-year to $1.77 billion in the fiscal third quarter [7]. - Non-GAAP gross margin is projected to be 35.8%, up from 26.1% in the prior-year quarter, benefiting from strong demand for new nearline products and pricing actions [9]. Supply Chain and Operational Challenges - Supply chain issues are expected to impact revenues by approximately $200 million, although the company plans to meet build-to-order commitments [2]. - Non-GAAP operating expenses for the fiscal third quarter are estimated at $290 million [9]. Earnings Prediction - Current models do not predict an earnings beat for Seagate, with an Earnings ESP of -1.28% and a Zacks Rank of 5 (Strong Sell) [10].

Core Insights - Varonis Systems, Inc. has announced a partnership with Pure Storage to enhance data security and cyber resilience for customers [1][2] - The collaboration allows Varonis to integrate its AI-powered data security platform with Pure Storage's advanced data storage solutions, enabling proactive data protection and rapid recovery from cyber incidents [2][6] Company Overview - Varonis is recognized as a leader in data security, focusing on discovering and classifying critical data, removing exposures, and detecting advanced threats using AI automation [3][4] - Pure Storage is a leading provider of advanced data storage solutions, known for its simplicity and flexibility, and has been recognized as a leader in the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Primary Storage Platforms [2][5] Partnership Benefits - The partnership aims to empower organizations to secure sensitive data, detect threats, and recover quickly from cyber incidents, addressing the rising risks of ransomware [2][6] - Varonis' platform will enable Pure Storage customers to automate security outcomes such as data classification, access governance, and threat detection [4][6] Technology Integration - Varonis will scan data in Pure Storage systems in real-time, matching classification results with identities and permissions to identify and mitigate data exposure risks [6] - The integration includes features like mapping complex permissions, right-sizing access, and using AI to analyze user behavior for threat detection [6]