AVGO vs. WDC: Broadcom vs. Western Digital Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Broadcom (AVGO) and Western Digital (WDC) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Broadcom (AVGO) and Western Digital (WDC) share the Information Technology sector but sit in different industry groups — AVGO in Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and WDC in Technology Hardware & Equipment.

Company profile comparison for Broadcom (AVGO) and Western Digital (WDC)
Profile Item	AVGO	WDC
Name	Broadcom Inc.	Western Digital Corp.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Information Technology	Information Technology
GICS Industry Group	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment	Technology Hardware & Equipment
GICS Industry	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment	Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
GICS Sub-Industry	Semiconductors	Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
Market Capitalization	1,401.97 billion USD	98.74 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	August 6, 2009	October 31, 1978
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AVGO

WDC

GSPC

Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Western Digital (WDC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Broadcom (AVGO) and Western Digital (WDC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Broadcom (AVGO) and Western Digital (WDC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and Western Digital (WDC)
Metric	AVGO	WDC
Total Return (1Y)	-8.02%	78.89%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	53.49%	106.11%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	44.26%	47.06%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AVGO

WDC

GSPC

Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Western Digital (WDC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Broadcom (AVGO) and Western Digital (WDC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and Western Digital (WDC)
Metric	AVGO	WDC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	48.06%	83.20%
Beta (5Y)	1.50	2.35
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-41.15%	-64.64%
Avg. Volume (3M)	23.75M	8.01M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AVGO and WDC are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. Each dashed Capital Allocation Line uses that stock's own industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and Western Digital (WDC)
Metric	AVGO	WDC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.26	0.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.35	1.32

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Western Digital (WDC) at 129.60% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Broadcom (AVGO) at 44.25% also sits in the top quartile.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

44.25%

Max: 52.82%
AVGO: 44.25%
Q3: 22.26%
Median: 10.58%
Q1: 1.29%
Min: -16.89%

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

129.60%

WDC: 129.60%
Max: 42.47%
Q3: 19.13%
Median: 11.00%
Q1: 1.63%
Min: -20.62%

Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Western Digital (WDC) at 69.20% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Broadcom (AVGO) at 42.94% also retains a top-quartile share.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

42.94%

Max: 63.80%
AVGO: 42.94%
Q3: 28.36%
Median: 11.44%
Q1: 0.90%
Min: -37.77%

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

69.20%

WDC: 69.20%
Max: 27.60%
Q3: 11.66%
Median: 4.08%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -11.02%

Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Western Digital (WDC) at 47.68% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Broadcom (AVGO) at 54.31% also operates in the top quartile.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

54.31%

Max: 58.66%
AVGO: 54.31%
Q3: 30.23%
Median: 15.91%
Q1: 7.54%
Min: -25.74%

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

47.68%

WDC: 47.68%
Max: 36.27%
Q3: 18.36%
Median: 8.84%
Q1: 1.46%
Min: -21.39%

Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and Western Digital (WDC)
Metric	AVGO	WDC
ROE (TTM)	44.25%	129.60%
ROA (TTM)	15.37%	25.88%
Net Margin (TTM)	42.94%	69.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)	54.31%	47.68%
Gross Margin (TTM)	75.52%	52.60%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Western Digital (WDC) at 35.70% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Broadcom (AVGO) at 23.87% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for WDC.

Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Broadcom (AVGO) at 287.80% and Western Digital (WDC) at 372.38% grew per-share earnings faster than their entire industry benchmark ranges for EPS growth — a strong showing on both sides, though a depressed base year can exaggerate the percentage, so the level of earnings matters too.

Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and Western Digital (WDC)
Metric	AVGO	WDC
Revenue Growth (YoY)	23.87%	35.70%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	24.38%	27.35%
EPS Growth (YoY)	287.80%	372.38%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	21.60%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Broadcom (AVGO) at 2.50 and Western Digital (WDC) at 1.43 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.50

Max: 10.33
Q3: 5.62
Median: 3.33
AVGO: 2.50
Q1: 2.35
Min: 1.03

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.43

Max: 5.34
Q3: 3.02
Median: 1.95
WDC: 1.43
Q1: 1.32
Min: 0.17

Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Broadcom (AVGO) at 0.60 and Western Digital (WDC) at 0.10 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.60

Max: 1.46
Q3: 0.65
AVGO: 0.60
Median: 0.27
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.00

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.10

Max: 1.76
Q3: 0.78
Median: 0.24
WDC: 0.10
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.01

Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and Western Digital (WDC)
Metric	AVGO	WDC
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.50	1.43
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.60	0.10
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.68	-0.06

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Broadcom (AVGO) at 0.89% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Western Digital (WDC) at 0.21% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, AVGO the richer one.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.89%

Max: 1.37%
AVGO: 0.89%
Q3: 0.65%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.21%

Max: 0.73%
Q3: 0.31%
WDC: 0.21%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Western Digital (WDC) at 1.93% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Broadcom (AVGO) at 32.44% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

32.44%

Max: 49.64%
AVGO: 32.44%
Q3: 21.71%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.93%

Max: 32.27%
Q3: 14.48%
WDC: 1.93%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and Western Digital (WDC)
Metric	AVGO	WDC
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.89%	0.21%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	32.44%	1.93%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Western Digital (WDC) at 9.28 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Broadcom (AVGO) at 37.51 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for WDC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

37.51

Max: 110.34
Q3: 66.81
AVGO: 37.51
Median: 37.02
Q1: 23.96
Min: 8.12

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

9.28

Max: 69.48
Q3: 41.02
Median: 26.39
Q1: 19.36
WDC: 9.28
Min: 6.07

Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Broadcom (AVGO) at 15.73 and Western Digital (WDC) at 6.82 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

15.73

Max: 21.42
AVGO: 15.73
Q3: 12.27
Median: 5.76
Q1: 2.73
Min: 0.00

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

6.82

Max: 11.30
WDC: 6.82
Q3: 5.82
Median: 2.56
Q1: 1.05
Min: 0.00

Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Broadcom (AVGO) at 14.06 and Western Digital (WDC) at 10.55 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

14.06

AVGO: 14.06
Max: 14.06
Q3: 7.44
Median: 4.29
Q1: 2.30
Min: 0.20

WDC

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

10.55

Max: 10.75
WDC: 10.55
Q3: 5.52
Median: 3.17
Q1: 1.79
Min: 0.33

Broadcom (AVGO) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and Western Digital (WDC)
Metric	AVGO	WDC
P/E Ratio (TTM)	37.51	9.28
P/S Ratio (TTM)	15.73	6.82
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	14.06	10.55
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.18%	2.76%