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STX vs. WDC: Seagate vs. Western Digital Stock Comparison

How do Seagate (STX) 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

Seagate (STX) and Western Digital (WDC) are both classified in the Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals sub-industry within the broader Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Seagate (STX) and Western Digital (WDC)
Profile ItemSTXWDC
NameSeagate Technology Holdings plcWestern Digital Corp.
Country/RegionSingaporeUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentTechnology Hardware & Equipment
GICS IndustryTechnology Hardware, Storage & PeripheralsTechnology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
GICS Sub-IndustryTechnology Hardware, Storage & PeripheralsTechnology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
Market Capitalization105.83 billion USD98.74 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateDecember 11, 2002October 31, 1978
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Seagate (STX) and Western Digital (WDC)
MetricSTXWDC
Total Return (1Y)83.77%78.89%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)95.95%106.11%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)42.73%47.06%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Seagate (STX) and Western Digital (WDC)
MetricSTXWDC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)76.96%83.20%
Beta (5Y)2.242.35
Max Drawdown (5Y)-57.80%-64.64%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.72M8.01M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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STX 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 Seagate (STX) and Western Digital (WDC)
MetricSTXWDC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.030.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.511.32

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Seagate (STX) at 259.35% and Western Digital (WDC) at 129.60% turn shareholders’ equity into profit at rates above their industry benchmark ranges for ROE. That is a strong capital-efficiency signal, though leverage and the equity base still matter.

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

259.35%

STX
259.35%
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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Seagate (STX) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their ROE against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Seagate (STX) at 31.86% and Western Digital (WDC) at 69.20% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

31.86%

STX
31.86%
Max
27.60%
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%
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Seagate (STX) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their net margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Before financing and tax, both Seagate (STX) at 48.85% and Western Digital (WDC) at 47.68% run unusually efficient core operations — each operating margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

48.85%

STX
48.85%
Max
36.27%
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%
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Seagate (STX) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Seagate (STX) and Western Digital (WDC)
MetricSTXWDC
ROE (TTM)259.35%129.60%
ROA (TTM)37.21%25.88%
Net Margin (TTM)31.86%69.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)48.85%47.68%
Gross Margin (TTM)50.35%52.60%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Seagate (STX) at 34.06% and Western Digital (WDC) at 35.70% sit in the top peer quartile for revenue growth, so each is growing its top line faster than typical industry peers.

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

EPS Growth

Both companies show strong earnings momentum, but Western Digital (WDC) at 372.38% is the standout with EPS growth above its industry range; Seagate (STX) at 105.32% also sits in the top quartile.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Seagate (STX) and Western Digital (WDC)
MetricSTXWDC
Revenue Growth (YoY)34.06%35.70%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)18.20%27.35%
EPS Growth (YoY)105.32%372.38%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)----

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Seagate (STX) at 1.82 and Western Digital (WDC) at 1.43 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.82

Max
5.34
Q3
3.02
Median
1.95
STX
1.82
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
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Seagate (STX) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Seagate (STX) at 0.77 and Western Digital (WDC) at 0.10 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.77

Max
1.76
Q3
0.78
STX
0.77
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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Seagate (STX) 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 Seagate (STX) and Western Digital (WDC)
MetricSTXWDC
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.821.43
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.770.10
Net Debt / EBITDA0.24-0.06

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Seagate (STX) at 0.63% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Western Digital (WDC) at 0.21% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, STX the richer one.

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.63%

Max
0.73%
STX
0.63%
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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Seagate (STX) 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 Seagate (STX) at 15.52% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

15.52%

Max
32.27%
STX
15.52%
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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Seagate (STX) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Seagate (STX) and Western Digital (WDC)
MetricSTXWDC
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.63%0.21%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)15.52%1.93%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Western Digital (WDC) at 9.28 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Seagate (STX) at 24.17 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for WDC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

24.17

Max
69.48
Q3
41.02
Median
26.39
STX
24.17
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
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Seagate (STX) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Seagate (STX) at 7.67 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.

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

7.67

Max
11.30
STX
7.67
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
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Seagate (STX) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Western Digital (WDC) at 10.55 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Seagate (STX) at 30.67 prices even higher, above its industry range.

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

30.67

STX
30.67
Max
10.75
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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Seagate (STX) vs. Western Digital (WDC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Seagate (STX) and Western Digital (WDC)
MetricSTXWDC
P/E Ratio (TTM)24.179.28
P/S Ratio (TTM)7.676.82
P/B Ratio (MRQ)30.6710.55
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.17%2.76%