Western Digital (WDC) Stock Analysis

August 16, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at Western Digital (WDC): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Technology Hardware & Equipment peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for Western Digital (WDC)
Profile Item	WDC
Name	Western Digital Corporation
Country/Region	United States
GICS Sector	Information Technology
GICS Industry Group	Technology Hardware & Equipment
GICS Industry	Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
GICS Sub-Industry	Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
Market Capitalization	175.37 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq
Listing Date	October 31, 1978
Security Type	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

WDC

GSPC

Western Digital (WDC) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Western Digital (WDC) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Western Digital (WDC) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Western Digital (WDC) metric values compared with Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WDC	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	569.17%	54.92%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	151.32%	26.41%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	60.67%	12.94%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

WDC

GSPC

Western Digital (WDC) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Western Digital (WDC) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Western Digital (WDC) metric values compared with Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WDC	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	78.93%	55.35%
Beta (5Y)	2.13	1.34
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-55.32%	-56.03%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. WDC is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Western Digital (WDC) metric values compared with Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WDC	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	7.16	1.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	11.72	1.55

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Western Digital (WDC) posts ROE of 130.85%, above the industry benchmark range. Equity is being turned into profit at an exceptional rate, but very high ROE should still be checked against leverage, buybacks, and the size of the equity base.

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

130.85%

Group distribution

WDC: 130.85%
Max: 44.01%
Q3: 18.43%
Median: 10.41%
Q1: 0.66%
Min: -24.95%

Largest peers

STX: 371.53%
AAPL: 148.75%
WDC: 130.85%
SNDK: 91.64%
ANET: 31.48%
CSCO: 27.32%
DELL: --

Where Western Digital (WDC) stands on ROE within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

Western Digital (WDC) keeps 72.95% of revenue as net profit on net margin, above the industry benchmark range. That is unusually strong bottom-line conversion, though tax effects, asset sales, or other one-off gains should be checked before treating it as durable.

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

72.95%

Group distribution

WDC: 72.95%
Max: 26.11%
Q3: 10.66%
Median: 3.40%
Q1: -0.39%
Min: -11.93%

Largest peers

WDC: 72.95%
SNDK: 56.47%
ANET: 38.37%
AAPL: 27.62%
STX: 26.11%
CSCO: 20.95%
DELL: 6.28%

Where Western Digital (WDC) stands on net margin within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Western Digital (WDC) turns 42.86% of revenue into operating profit on operating margin, above the industry benchmark range. Core operations are retaining an unusually large share before interest and taxes, which points to pricing power or tight cost control if the margin is sustainable.

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

42.86%

Group distribution

WDC: 42.86%
Max: 36.90%
Q3: 17.13%
Median: 7.40%
Q1: 2.09%
Min: -18.45%

Largest peers

SNDK: 78.49%
ANET: 45.39%
STX: 43.07%
WDC: 42.86%
AAPL: 32.62%
CSCO: 27.70%
DELL: 8.86%

Where Western Digital (WDC) stands on operating margin within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

Western Digital (WDC) metric values compared with Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WDC	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	130.85%	10.41%
ROA (TTM)	20.63%	4.42%
Net Margin (TTM)	72.95%	3.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)	42.86%	7.40%
Gross Margin (TTM)	48.85%	39.15%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Western Digital (WDC) grew revenue 50.70%, above the industry benchmark range. Demand is expanding faster than at any typical peer, though growth that far ahead of the group is worth checking for acquisitions or other one-off contributions.

Western Digital (WDC): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

No usable EPS growth is available for Western Digital (WDC) this period, so the earnings-momentum read is skipped.

Western Digital (WDC): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

Western Digital (WDC) metric values compared with Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WDC	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	50.70%	8.93%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-20.28%	1.97%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	9.70%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	2.66%	3.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Western Digital (WDC) has current ratio of 1.33, in the healthier middle range for its industry. The short-term asset cushion looks balanced relative to peers rather than stretched thin.

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.33

Group distribution

Max: 4.95
Q3: 3.05
Median: 1.99
WDC: 1.33
Q1: 1.32
Min: 0.17

Largest peers

ANET: 2.96
SNDK: 2.29
STX: 1.67
WDC: 1.33
AAPL: 1.00
DELL: 0.95
CSCO: 0.93

Where Western Digital (WDC) stands on current ratio within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Western Digital (WDC) has debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal leverage range. Its mix of debt and equity looks typical for the industry.

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.12

Group distribution

Max: 1.80
Q3: 0.82
Median: 0.27
WDC: 0.12
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

STX: 1.80
AAPL: 0.78
CSCO: 0.59
WDC: 0.12
DELL: --
ANET: --
SNDK: --

Where Western Digital (WDC) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

Western Digital (WDC) metric values compared with Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WDC	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.33	1.99
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.12	0.27
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.11	0.25

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Western Digital (WDC) has dividend yield of 0.10%, in the industry’s normal income range. It provides a meaningful dividend without the red flag of an unusually high headline yield.

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.10%

Group distribution

Max: 0.74%
Q3: 0.32%
WDC: 0.10%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

CSCO: 1.46%
DELL: 0.45%
AAPL: 0.34%
STX: 0.32%
WDC: 0.10%
ANET: 0.00%
SNDK: 0.00%

Where Western Digital (WDC) stands on dividend yield within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Western Digital (WDC) has payout ratio of 2.06%, within the industry’s typical payout band. The dividend shares profits with investors while leaving earnings coverage that looks normal for the peer group.

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

2.06%

Group distribution

Max: 34.91%
Q3: 14.28%
WDC: 2.06%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

CSCO: 49.85%
STX: 21.15%
DELL: 17.57%
AAPL: 12.04%
WDC: 2.06%
ANET: 0.00%
SNDK: 0.00%

Where Western Digital (WDC) stands on payout ratio within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

Western Digital (WDC) metric values compared with Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WDC	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.10%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	2.06%	0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Western Digital (WDC) trades at P/E ratio of 20.08, in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for its industry. Investors are paying less for each dollar of TTM earnings than they usually pay for comparable businesses.

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

20.08

Group distribution

Max: 106.10
Q3: 62.78
Median: 36.76
Q1: 22.85
WDC: 20.08
Min: 11.58

Largest peers

STX: 69.93
ANET: 62.92
DELL: 39.08
AAPL: 35.08
CSCO: 34.15
SNDK: 20.70
WDC: 20.08

Where Western Digital (WDC) stands on P/E ratio within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Western Digital (WDC) trades at 13.57 on P/S ratio, in the higher sales-valuation quartile. Investors are paying up for each dollar of revenue, so stronger margins, growth, or revenue quality need to carry that price.

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

13.57

Group distribution

Max: 17.14
WDC: 13.57
Q3: 7.76
Median: 3.42
Q1: 1.39
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

ANET: 23.79
STX: 18.12
WDC: 13.57
SNDK: 11.83
AAPL: 9.56
CSCO: 6.95
DELL: 2.37

Where Western Digital (WDC) stands on P/S ratio within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Western Digital (WDC) trades at 24.33 on P/B ratio, above the industry benchmark range. Investors are putting an unusually rich price on each dollar of book equity relative to peers.

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

24.33

Group distribution

WDC: 24.33
Max: 17.63
Q3: 8.56
Median: 4.23
Q1: 2.14
Min: -1.92

Largest peers

STX: 199.48
AAPL: 41.57
WDC: 24.33
SNDK: 17.63
ANET: 16.95
CSCO: 9.01
DELL: -226.91

Where Western Digital (WDC) stands on P/B ratio within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

Western Digital (WDC) metric values compared with Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WDC	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	20.08	36.76
P/S Ratio (TTM)	13.57	3.42
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	24.33	4.23
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.32%	2.00%