CDW vs. WDC: CDW vs. Western Digital Stock Comparison
How do CDW (CDW) 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
CDW (CDW) and Western Digital (WDC) both fall under the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group, but CDW is classified in Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components while WDC is classified in Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals.
| Profile Item | CDW | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | CDW Corporation | Western Digital Corp. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Technology Hardware & Equipment | Technology Hardware & Equipment |
| GICS Industry | Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Technology Distributors | Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals |
| Market Capitalization | 19.60 billion USD | 98.74 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 27, 2013 | October 31, 1978 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CDW | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 16.85% | 78.89% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -6.46% | 106.11% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -1.35% | 47.06% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Western Digital (WDC) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.35, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas CDW (CDW) is closer to market-like at 0.90 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
| Metric | CDW | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 48.60% | 83.20% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.90 | 2.35 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -60.37% | -64.64% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.60M | 8.01M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CDW | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.26 | 0.90 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.37 | 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; CDW (CDW) at 42.47% also sits in the top quartile.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
42.47%
- CDW
- 42.47%
- Max
- 42.47%
- Q3
- 19.13%
- Median
- 11.00%
- Q1
- 1.63%
- Min
- -20.62%
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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Western Digital (WDC) at 69.20% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while CDW (CDW) at 4.48% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
4.48%
- Max
- 27.60%
- Q3
- 11.66%
- CDW
- 4.48%
- Median
- 4.08%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -11.02%
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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Western Digital (WDC) at 47.68% turns sales into operating profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while CDW (CDW) at 8.14% operates around its industry’s norm.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
8.14%
- Max
- 36.27%
- Q3
- 18.36%
- Median
- 8.84%
- CDW
- 8.14%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -21.39%
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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CDW | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 42.47% | 129.60% |
| ROA (TTM) | 6.47% | 25.88% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 4.48% | 69.20% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 8.14% | 47.68% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 21.00% | 52.60% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Western Digital (WDC) at 35.70% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while CDW (CDW) at 6.79% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for WDC.
EPS Growth
Western Digital (WDC) at 372.38% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than CDW (CDW) at 1.38%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CDW | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.79% | 35.70% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.89% | 27.35% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 1.38% | 372.38% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -0.21% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Western Digital (WDC) at 1.43 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while CDW (CDW) at 1.27 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CDW.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
1.27
- Max
- 5.34
- Q3
- 3.02
- Median
- 1.95
- Q1
- 1.32
- CDW
- 1.27
- Min
- 0.17
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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Western Digital (WDC) at 0.10 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while CDW (CDW) at 2.98 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
2.98
- CDW
- 2.98
- Max
- 1.76
- Q3
- 0.78
- Median
- 0.24
- Q1
- 0.04
- Min
- 0.01
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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CDW | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.27 | 1.43 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 2.98 | 0.10 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.01 | -0.06 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Western Digital (WDC) at 0.21% pays an industry-typical yield; CDW (CDW) at 1.59% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
1.59%
- CDW
- 1.59%
- Max
- 0.73%
- Q3
- 0.31%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Western Digital (WDC) at 1.93% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while CDW (CDW) at 29.40% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
29.40%
- Max
- 32.27%
- CDW
- 29.40%
- Q3
- 14.48%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CDW | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.59% | 0.21% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 29.40% | 1.93% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both CDW (CDW) at 18.32 and Western Digital (WDC) at 9.28 sit in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, with the market paying less for a dollar of trailing earnings than it pays for typical peers.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
18.32
- Max
- 69.48
- Q3
- 41.02
- Median
- 26.39
- Q1
- 19.36
- CDW
- 18.32
- Min
- 6.07
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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
CDW (CDW) at 0.80 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Western Digital (WDC) at 6.82 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.80
- Max
- 11.30
- Q3
- 5.82
- Median
- 2.56
- Q1
- 1.05
- CDW
- 0.80
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both CDW (CDW) at 7.45 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.
CDW
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
7.45
- Max
- 10.75
- CDW
- 7.45
- Q3
- 5.52
- Median
- 3.17
- Q1
- 1.79
- Min
- 0.33
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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CDW | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 18.32 | 9.28 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.80 | 6.82 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 7.45 | 10.55 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.43% | 2.76% |