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Western Digital's Q4 Earnings Ahead: Key Trends Investors Should Watch
ZACKS· 2025-07-28 14:55
Core Insights - Western Digital Corporation (WDC) is set to release its fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on July 30, with earnings estimated at $1.47, reflecting a 2% growth year-over-year [1] - Revenue estimates are pegged at $2.45 billion, indicating a significant decline of 34.8% from the previous year [2] - The company has consistently surpassed earnings estimates in the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 7.3% [2] Revenue and Earnings Expectations - The consensus estimate for revenues stands at $2.45 billion, which is a 34.8% decline from the prior-year quarter [2] - Management projects non-GAAP earnings of $1.45, with a potential variance of +/- 20 cents [1][2] - WDC anticipates sequential revenue growth in Q4, driven by strong demand from cloud service providers [3][4] Market Demand and Product Performance - Continued strong demand from cloud service providers is expected to benefit WDC's fiscal fourth-quarter performance, with cloud revenues reaching $2 billion, up 38% year-over-year [3] - The company has shipped over 800,000 units of its 11-disk drives in the fiscal third quarter, with expectations to exceed 1 million units in the June quarter [4] - Management is focusing on HAMR technology and has secured long-term agreements with two major customers through mid-2026 [4] Strategic Initiatives and Innovations - WDC is investing in generative AI-driven storage deployments, which are anticipated to refresh client and consumer devices, thereby increasing content growth across various platforms [5] - The company has established a separate entity, Sandisk, to further expand its Flash business [5] - Recent developments include a partnership with Ingrasys to engineer a new Top-of-Rack Ethernet Bunch of Flash switch, aimed at meeting the surging data demands of AI workloads [13] Financial Strategies - WDC has launched a $2 billion share buyback program, reflecting a strong capital allocation strategy focused on long-term returns for investors [14] - Management expects operating expenses to rise slightly to $330–$340 million due to increased variable pay, new hires, and R&D investments [11] Challenges and Market Conditions - Ongoing macroeconomic volatility and trade conflicts are likely to impact WDC's performance in the upcoming quarter [6][10] - Despite broader uncertainties, demand from hyperscale customers remains strong amid a constrained supply situation [10]