Core Insights - The Zacks Computer-Storage Devices industry is experiencing long-term growth driven by digital transformation, edge computing, AI workloads, and enterprise cloud adoption, with companies like Western Digital benefiting from increased demand for high-capacity HDDs and SSDs [1][2]. Industry Overview - The industry includes companies that design, develop, manufacture, and market HDDs and SSDs for various applications, including PCs, servers, and consumer electronics. Some players also offer software-defined storage solutions and purpose-built servers [3]. Trends Influencing the Industry - The rapid proliferation of AI is reshaping the tech landscape, increasing demand for high-speed, high-capacity storage solutions. Traditional storage architectures are being replaced by NVMe-based SSDs and software-defined storage to meet the needs of AI applications [4]. - Innovation in cloud storage technologies is driving industry growth, with companies leveraging AI and machine learning to optimize storage solutions amid increasing data complexity [5]. - Companies are focusing on virtualization and edge computing to enhance data storage efficiency, with a shift towards recurring revenue models as cloud-native storage gains traction [6]. Market Performance - The Zacks Computer-Storage Devices industry has outperformed the S&P 500, rising 57.7% over the past year compared to the S&P 500's 14.7% growth, although it lags behind the broader sector's 21.1% increase [12]. Valuation Metrics - The industry is currently trading at a forward 12-month Price/Earnings (P/E) ratio of 18.66X, below the S&P 500's 23.35X and the sector's 28.15X, indicating potential undervaluation [15]. Company Highlights - **Western Digital (WDC)**: The company is experiencing strong demand for its high-capacity drives, with shipments of its ePMR products exceeding 2.2 million units in the September quarter. WDC expects fiscal second-quarter revenues of $2.9 billion, up 20% year-over-year, driven by data center demand [18][20]. - **Sandisk Corporation (SNDK)**: Demand for Sandisk's NAND products is expected to exceed supply, with data center revenues growing 26% sequentially. The company anticipates fiscal second-quarter revenues between $2.55 billion and $2.65 billion, driven by bit growth and price increases [23][24]. - **Teradata (TDC)**: TDC is well-positioned in the hybrid cloud space, with public cloud ARR increasing 11% year-over-year. The company expects free cash flow in the range of $260-$280 million for fiscal 2025 [29][30].

Core Viewpoint - The Zacks Computer – Storage Devices industry has significantly outperformed the broader market, driven by explosive growth in artificial intelligence workloads requiring high-capacity storage solutions [2][5]. Industry Performance - The Zacks Computer – Storage Devices industry advanced nearly 70% year-to-date, compared to the S&P 500's 16.5% gain [2]. - Data center operators and hyperscalers are expanding infrastructure rapidly, sustaining demand for both hard disk drives (HDDs) and NAND flash-based solutions [3]. Company Highlights - Western Digital Corporation (WDC) has delivered a remarkable 260% return year-to-date, with fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS projected at $7.66, reflecting over 55% growth from the prior year [7][9]. - Revenues from the Cloud segment, which account for nearly 90% of Western Digital's revenue, grew 31% in the most recent quarter [9]. - Sandisk Corporation (SNDK), spun off from Western Digital, has risen nearly 500% since its relisting in February 2025, with fiscal 2026 EPS growth projected at over 300% [10][13]. Market Trends - The AI-powered storage market is projected to grow from $30.27 billion in 2025 to $187.61 billion by 2035, at a 20% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) [6]. - Innovations such as UltraSMR and heat-assisted magnetic recording have enabled Western Digital to ship industry-leading 30TB+ drives tailored for AI data lakes [9]. Investment Outlook - Both Western Digital and Sandisk carry Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) ratings, benefiting from favorable earnings revisions and positioned to capture a significant share of the upcoming storage spending wave [18].

Core Insights - Western Digital Corporation (WDC) has launched an expanded System Integration and Test (SIT) Lab, a 25,600-square-foot facility aimed at accelerating product qualification and enhancing customer collaboration [1][11]. Company Developments - The new SIT Lab is designed to address the increasing demand for faster, reliable, and scalable storage solutions, particularly in the context of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud workloads [2][3]. - WDC's investment in the SIT Lab reflects its commitment to customer-first priorities, with engineers collaborating with key customers throughout the product lifecycle to ensure that high-capacity HDDs and next-generation data storage systems meet evolving needs [3][5]. - The facility in Rochester integrates with WDC's global network, supporting over 2,000 customer systems across the U.S. and Asia, which is expected to enhance cross-regional collaboration and localized customer support [4][11]. Market Position and Competitive Landscape - The demand for mass-capacity storage is increasing, driven by cloud investment cycles and the expansion of AI-ready data center infrastructure, positioning WDC favorably against competitors like Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX) [6]. - Seagate is ramping up production of its Mozaic 3+ platform, with significant developments expected in the coming years, indicating a competitive landscape in the storage sector [6][7]. - NetApp is also experiencing growth in demand for its all-flash arrays, with a notable annualized net revenue run rate of $3.6 billion, reflecting a 6% year-over-year increase [8][9]. Financial Performance - WDC's shares have increased by 9.7% over the past month, slightly underperforming the Zacks Computer-Storage Devices industry's rise of 10.1% [12]. - The forward price/earnings ratio for WDC is currently at 16.06X, which is lower than the industry's average of 22.39X, indicating potential value [14]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WDC's earnings for fiscal 2026 has been revised up by 1.85% to $6.62 over the past 60 days, reflecting positive sentiment [15].

Core Insights - Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:WDC) is identified as one of the most undervalued stocks on NASDAQ, with a price target raised from $85 to $115 by Benchmark, reflecting increased demand for high-capacity drives [1] - Benchmark has revised its fiscal year 2026 projections for Western Digital, now forecasting non-GAAP earnings of $7.29 per diluted share on sales of $11.43 billion, an increase from previous estimates of $6.92 per diluted share on sales of $11.15 billion [2] - The company's performance is expected to be bolstered by the ongoing strength of its AI and data center clients in fiscal year 2027 [2] - Western Digital is recognized as a prominent manufacturer of data storage solutions, including external storage systems, NAND flash-based solutions, and hard disk drives (HDDs) [3]

Core Insights - Seagate Technology Holdings plc is set to report its fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings on July 29, with earnings estimated at $2.46 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 134.3% and revenues projected at $2.41 billion, indicating a 27.5% rise from the previous year [1] Group 1: Earnings and Revenue Expectations - The management anticipates quarterly revenues of $2.4 billion, with non-GAAP earnings expected to be $2.4 per share [1] - Seagate has consistently beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 15.67% [1] - The expected mass capacity revenues for Q4 are projected to rise 39.5% year over year to $2 billion [7][8] Group 2: Market Demand and Product Strategy - There is a rising demand for mass capacity storage driven by increasing nearline cloud requirements, aligning with cloud investment cycles and AI-ready data center expansions [2] - Seagate's high-capacity nearline products are experiencing strong demand from cloud customers globally, contributing to increased revenues and profits [3] - The launch of the Mozaic 3+ hard drive platform featuring HAMR technology is expected to enhance Seagate's market share in mass capacity storage solutions [4] Group 3: Technology and Production - Seagate's technology strategy is focused on ramping up HAMR technology to meet the growing demand from cloud customers, with Mozaic drives being the only products in the industry offering 3 terabytes per disk [5] - The company has significantly increased production of its 24-28 terabyte PMR drives, which are now its top-selling product line in terms of revenue and exabyte shipments [4] Group 4: Financial Performance and Margins - The gross margin for the fiscal fourth quarter is projected at 36.8%, an increase from 30.9% in the prior year, driven by strong nearline demand and optimized pricing [9] - Revenue estimates for the HDD segment are pegged at $2.25 million, reflecting a 30.1% increase from the previous year, while the non-HDD segment is expected to decline by 3.4% [8]

Core Insights - Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ: WDC) is recognized as a leading provider of data storage solutions, particularly known for its hard disk drives (HDDs) [1] - The company is positioned for significant and long-term growth, primarily driven by the increasing demand for data storage due to the explosion in data generation [1] Company Analysis - The analysis emphasizes a quantamental approach, combining data-driven models with fundamental research to evaluate the company's financial profile [1] - Metrics such as PEG ratios are utilized in the structured investment process, which includes both top-down screening and bottom-up company-specific analysis [1] Investment Perspective - The article aims to make compelling research accessible to both retail and professional investors, ensuring analytical depth and a clear investment thesis [1] - There is an indication of a potential beneficial long position in WDC, suggesting a positive outlook on the company's stock [1]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Computer-Storage Devices industry is expected to experience robust growth due to factors such as digital transformation, edge computing, AI workloads, and enterprise cloud adoption [1] - The increasing demand for secure storage solutions driven by rising cyberattacks will further enhance the need for sophisticated data storage [1] - Major players in the industry include Western Digital Corporation (WDC), NetApp, Inc. (NTAP), and Teradata Corporation (TDC) [1] Trends Impacting the Industry - The rapid proliferation of AI is reshaping the tech landscape, leading to increased demand for high-speed, high-capacity, and low-latency storage solutions [3] - Traditional storage architectures are being replaced by NVMe-based SSDs and software-defined storage to meet the data throughput required by AI applications [3] - Cloud storage technologies are evolving, with companies leveraging AI and machine learning to optimize storage solutions and manage increasing data complexity [4] Market Conditions - Worldwide IT spending is projected to reach $5.61 trillion in 2025, reflecting a 9.8% increase from 2024, with the Devices segment expected to grow by 10.4% [5] - Despite positive IT spending forecasts, escalating trade tensions and macroeconomic uncertainties pose challenges to the industry [5] - The Zacks Computer-Storage Devices industry has underperformed the S&P 500, declining 32.4% over the past year compared to the S&P 500's gain of 9.7% [10] Company Highlights - **Western Digital (WDC)**: Focused on cloud end-markets, WDC is addressing supply chain challenges and expects strong data center demand to drive sales. The company has secured long-term deals through mid-2026 [17][18] - **Teradata (TDC)**: TDC's innovations in AI and hybrid cloud are gaining traction, with partnerships with major cloud service providers enhancing its offerings. The company has launched the Enterprise Vector Store to support AI applications [21][22] - **NetApp (NTAP)**: NTAP is experiencing increased demand for its all-flash arrays and expects to capture more market share. The company reported five-fold year-over-year growth in its AI business for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2025 [27][29]