KEYS vs. WDC: Keysight vs. Western Digital Stock Comparison
How do Keysight (KEYS) 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
Keysight (KEYS) and Western Digital (WDC) both fall under the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group, but KEYS is classified in Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components while WDC is classified in Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals.
| Profile Item | KEYS | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Keysight Technologies, Inc. | 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 | Electronic Equipment & Instruments | Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals |
| Market Capitalization | 46.33 billion USD | 98.74 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | October 20, 2014 | October 31, 1978 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | KEYS | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 59.88% | 78.89% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 33.36% | 106.11% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 9.24% | 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 Keysight (KEYS) is closer to market-like at 1.22 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
| Metric | KEYS | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 47.95% | 83.20% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.22 | 2.35 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -42.62% | -64.64% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.31M | 8.01M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | KEYS | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.16 | 0.90 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.82 | 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; Keysight (KEYS) at 20.90% also sits in the top quartile.
KEYS
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
20.90%
- Max
- 42.47%
- KEYS
- 20.90%
- 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% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Keysight (KEYS) at 19.14% also retains a top-quartile share.
KEYS
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
19.14%
- Max
- 27.60%
- KEYS
- 19.14%
- Q3
- 11.66%
- 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% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Keysight (KEYS) at 25.68% also operates in the top quartile.
KEYS
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
25.68%
- Max
- 36.27%
- KEYS
- 25.68%
- Q3
- 18.36%
- Median
- 8.84%
- 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 | KEYS | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 20.90% | 129.60% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.23% | 25.88% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 19.14% | 69.20% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 25.68% | 47.68% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 63.28% | 52.60% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Western Digital (WDC) at 35.70% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Keysight (KEYS) at 7.95% 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 Keysight (KEYS) at 39.32%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | KEYS | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 7.95% | 35.70% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -0.28% | 27.35% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 39.32% | 372.38% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -7.51% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Keysight (KEYS) at 2.02 and Western Digital (WDC) at 1.43 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
KEYS
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
2.02
- Max
- 5.34
- Q3
- 3.02
- KEYS
- 2.02
- Median
- 1.95
- Q1
- 1.32
- 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)
Both Keysight (KEYS) at 0.42 and Western Digital (WDC) at 0.10 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
KEYS
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.42
- Max
- 1.76
- Q3
- 0.78
- KEYS
- 0.42
- 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 | KEYS | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.02 | 1.43 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.42 | 0.10 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.09 | -0.06 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Keysight (KEYS) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Western Digital (WDC) reports a yield of 0.21%, ranking against industry peers normally.
KEYS
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 0.73%
- Q3
- 0.31%
- KEYS
- 0.00%
- 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)
Keysight (KEYS) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Western Digital (WDC) reports a payout of 1.93%, ranking against industry peers normally.
KEYS
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 32.27%
- Q3
- 14.48%
- KEYS
- 0.00%
- 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 | KEYS | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.21% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 1.93% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Western Digital (WDC) at 9.28 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Keysight (KEYS) at 36.82 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for WDC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
KEYS
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
36.82
- Max
- 69.48
- Q3
- 41.02
- KEYS
- 36.82
- Median
- 26.39
- Q1
- 19.36
- 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)
Both Keysight (KEYS) at 7.04 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.
KEYS
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
7.04
- Max
- 11.30
- KEYS
- 7.04
- Q3
- 5.82
- Median
- 2.56
- Q1
- 1.05
- 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 Keysight (KEYS) at 7.05 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.
KEYS
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
7.05
- Max
- 10.75
- KEYS
- 7.05
- 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 | KEYS | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 36.82 | 9.28 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 7.04 | 6.82 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 7.05 | 10.55 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.03% | 2.76% |