Fact based stock research
Western Digital (NasdaqGS:WDC)
US9581021055
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For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
Western Digital stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 91 (better than 91% compared with investment alternatives), Western Digital (Technology Hardware & Peripherals, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of Western Digital are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 73 (better than 73% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 91) but are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 48), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 91, is a strong buy recommendation based on Western Digital's financial characteristics. As the company Western Digital's key financial metrics exhibit excellent performance in two areas, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 73) and above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 91), it could be argued that the risk-taking in financing (Obermatt Safety Rank of only 48) indicates that the company is optimistic about the future and sees debt as an opportunity to boost returns. More debt means more shareholder returns if everything goes well. However, higher debt burdens are risky when interest rates rise or the business deteriorates in a crisis. If you believe the company's future is market-typical or even better, this could be an argument for a share purchase. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
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360° Viewnew| Country | USA |
| Industry | Technology Hardware & Peripherals |
| Index | Human Rights, Recycling, NASDAQ 100, NASDAQ, S&P 500 |
| Size class | X-Large |
This stock has achievements: Top 10 Stock.
31-Jul-2025. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
Analysts rarely agree on a stock’s future. So, who do you believe? Obermatt translates those collective views into a single Sentiment Rank. That plus the financial ranks give you the ultimate 360° View. Sign up to access them.
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Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: Western Digital
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 71 |
|
48 |
|
57 |
|
73 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 79 |
|
92 |
|
100 |
|
91 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 42 |
|
19 |
|
20 |
|
48 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 11 |
|
12 |
|
26 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 55 |
|
30 |
|
39 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 91 (better than 91% compared with investment alternatives), Western Digital (Technology Hardware & Peripherals, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of Western Digital are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 73 (better than 73% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 91) but are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 48), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 91, is a strong buy recommendation based on Western Digital's financial characteristics. As the company Western Digital's key financial metrics exhibit excellent performance in two areas, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 73) and above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 91), it could be argued that the risk-taking in financing (Obermatt Safety Rank of only 48) indicates that the company is optimistic about the future and sees debt as an opportunity to boost returns. More debt means more shareholder returns if everything goes well. However, higher debt burdens are risky when interest rates rise or the business deteriorates in a crisis. If you believe the company's future is market-typical or even better, this could be an argument for a share purchase. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 71 |
|
48 |
|
57 |
|
73 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 79 |
|
92 |
|
100 |
|
91 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 42 |
|
19 |
|
20 |
|
48 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 78 |
|
51 |
|
60 |
|
91 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 73 (better than 73% compared with alternatives), Western Digital shares are more attractively priced than the majority of comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators above average for Western Digital. Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price to earnings, P/E ratio) is 86 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is lower than for 86% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning Western Digital's profit levels. The same is valid for the expected Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Capital Rank of 52, and for Dividend Yield with a Dividend Yield Rank of 59. But, compared with other companies in the same industry, the stock price is higher than average as regards expected revenues; only 62% of all competitors have an even higher stock price as regards to sales revenues (a Price-to-Sales Rank of 38). Profits, the level of invested capital, and dividend policy suggest that this stock is attractively priced. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 73, is a buy recommendation based on Western Digital's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Since it is on the expensive side for Price-to-Sales, it may mean that Western Digital has pricing power in its distribution market because it can charge higher prices than its competitors. If this is the case, all four value indicators are positive signals for purchasing Western Digital shares. 9. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 76 |
|
72 |
|
61 |
|
38 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 97 |
|
74 |
|
82 |
|
86 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 63 |
|
71 |
|
69 |
|
52 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
59 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 71 |
|
48 |
|
57 |
|
73 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 91 (better than 91% compared with alternatives) for 2025, Western Digital shows one of the highest growth dynamics in its industry. Investors also speak of high momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all but one indicator above average for Western Digital. Sales Growth has a rank of 79 which means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 79% of its competitors. Both Profit Growth, with a rank of 98, and Stock Returns, with a rank of 81, are also above average. But Capital Growth only has a rank of 34, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital less than 66% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 91, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. That may be a good sign if the company is already well positioned and doesn't require more investments at this time. They may focus on growing the top (revenues) and bottom (profits) lines, recently rewarded with above-average stock returns for shareholders. But it may also be a sign of danger as the company is falling back with capital investment activities concerning competition. This requires further analysis of corporate communications. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 55 |
|
100 |
|
70 |
|
79 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 80 |
|
45 |
|
100 |
|
98 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | 63 |
|
100 |
|
100 |
|
34 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 57 |
|
79 |
|
69 |
|
81 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 79 |
|
92 |
|
100 |
|
91 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 48 (better than 48% compared with alternatives), the company Western Digital has financing practices on the riskier side, which means that their overall debt burden is above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of Western Digital is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for Western Digital and the other two below average. Refinancing is at 56, meaning the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 56% of its competitors. But Leverage is high with a rank of 49, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 51% of its competitors. Liquidity is also on the riskier side with a rank of 23, meaning the company generates less profit to service its debt than 77% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 48 (worse than 52% compared with alternatives), Western Digital has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. A good Refinancing Rank means that the problems of the company may not be around the corner. But high Leverage is only good if things go well, and low Liquidity is a signal for caution. The financing signals for Western Digital are on the riskier side, requiring the company's future to be on the safer side. Investors may want to look at Growth and Sentiment ranks before making an investment decision. In the long-term, investors may have a debt challenge with Western Digital and should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 28 |
|
49 |
|
36 |
|
49 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 66 |
|
43 |
|
56 |
|
56 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 42 |
|
7 |
|
20 |
|
23 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 42 |
|
19 |
|
20 |
|
48 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
56 |
|
56 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | 42 |
|
52 |
|
2 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | 53 |
|
20 |
|
60 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | 4 |
|
7 |
|
28 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | 11 |
|
12 |
|
26 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for Western Digital from July 31, 2025.
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