Seagate(US:STX)2025-07-29 22:02Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved record gross margin levels with a non-GAAP gross margin of 37.9%, up 170 basis points sequentially [3][4] - Revenue for June reached $2.44 billion, a 13% sequential increase and a 30% year-over-year increase [3][4] - For fiscal year 2025, revenue grew nearly 40% to $9.1 billion, with non-GAAP EPS of $8.10 [4][10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Hard drive revenue increased by 14% sequentially, reaching $2.3 billion, driven by nearline cloud sales [4][5] - Mass capacity revenue exceeded $2 billion, up 15% sequentially and 40% year-over-year, with shipments of 151 exabytes [5][6] - Nearline shipments into cloud and edge data centers represented 91% of mass capacity volume, with a 14% sequential increase [5][6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The data center market accounted for approximately 75% of fiscal year 2025 revenue, indicating strong demand from cloud and enterprise customers [7] - The company plans to focus on two main areas: data center and edge IoT, reflecting the AI-driven market [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is ramping HAMR-based MOSEIK products and has qualified three major cloud service providers [6][10] - The strategic focus is on enhancing profitability and optimizing cash generation through a structurally changed business model [13] - The company anticipates capital expenditures to be within the target range of 4% to 6% of revenue for fiscal year 2026 [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustained demand strength for high-capacity nearline drives, supporting revenue and margin expansion [11][12] - The company expects September revenue to be in the range of $2.5 billion, reflecting a 15% year-over-year improvement [12] - Management noted that the visibility gained through their B2O strategy instills confidence in future demand [11][12] Other Important Information - Free cash flow nearly doubled to $425 million in June, with a commitment to return nearly 75% of free cash flow to shareholders [10][11] - The company reduced its debt balance by approximately $150 million during the quarter, exiting with a gross debt of about $5 billion [11] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you confirm the implied gross margin guidance for September? - Management indicated that the estimate was significantly lower than what is implied in the guidance, expecting higher gross and operating margins than modeled [18][19] Question: What are the trends in AI inference edge demand? - Management noted strong demand for video properties in the cloud and various applications at the edge, indicating growth in data storage needs [22][24] Question: How is the HAMR contribution expected to change in the coming quarters? - Management confirmed steady growth in HAMR and expects a positive impact on gross margins as higher capacity drives are ramped up [35][36] Question: What is the outlook for revenue growth and capacity ramp? - Management stated that demand is strong and above supply, with guidance based on production capabilities and ongoing qualifications [44][46] Question: How does the company view the competitive landscape with NAND? - Management emphasized that the interface between NAND and HDD remains stable, with a strong value proposition for mass data storage in cloud markets [121][122] Question: Can you provide insights on gross margin drivers for September? - Management indicated that improvements would come from higher HAMR volume, better pricing, and cost reductions per terabyte [129][130]