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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.

Company profile comparison for CDW (CDW) and Western Digital (WDC)
Profile ItemCDWWDC
NameCDW CorporationWestern Digital Corp.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentTechnology Hardware & Equipment
GICS IndustryElectronic Equipment, Instruments & ComponentsTechnology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
GICS Sub-IndustryTechnology DistributorsTechnology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
Market Capitalization19.60 billion USD98.74 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJune 27, 2013October 31, 1978
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CDW
WDC
GSPC
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CDW (CDW) 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 CDW (CDW) and Western Digital (WDC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CDW (CDW) and Western Digital (WDC)
MetricCDWWDC
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

CDW
WDC
GSPC
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CDW (CDW) 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 CDW (CDW) and Western Digital (WDC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

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.

Risk profile metrics for CDW (CDW) and Western Digital (WDC)
MetricCDWWDC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)48.60%83.20%
Beta (5Y)0.902.35
Max Drawdown (5Y)-60.37%-64.64%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.60M8.01M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CDW and WDC are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for CDW (CDW) and Western Digital (WDC)
MetricCDWWDC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.260.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.371.32

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%
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CDW (CDW) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their ROE against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

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%
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CDW (CDW) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their net margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

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%
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CDW (CDW) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CDW (CDW) and Western Digital (WDC)
MetricCDWWDC
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.

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

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.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CDW (CDW) and Western Digital (WDC)
MetricCDWWDC
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
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CDW (CDW) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

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
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CDW (CDW) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for CDW (CDW) and Western Digital (WDC)
MetricCDWWDC
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.271.43
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.980.10
Net Debt / EBITDA3.01-0.06

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%
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CDW (CDW) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

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%
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CDW (CDW) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CDW (CDW) and Western Digital (WDC)
MetricCDWWDC
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
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CDW (CDW) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

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
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CDW (CDW) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

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
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CDW (CDW) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CDW (CDW) and Western Digital (WDC)
MetricCDWWDC
P/E Ratio (TTM)18.329.28
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.806.82
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.4510.55
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.43%2.76%