Key Takeaways From Western Digital Analyst Ratings

During the last three months, 20 analysts shared their evaluations of Western Digital WDC, revealing diverse outlooks from bullish to bearish.

The table below offers a condensed view of their recent ratings, showcasing the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.

Bullish Somewhat Bullish Indifferent Somewhat Bearish Bearish
Total Ratings 5 10 5 0 0
Last 30D 1 0 0 0 0
1M Ago 4 8 3 0 0
2M Ago 0 2 2 0 0
3M Ago 0 0 0 0 0

Analysts have recently evaluated Western Digital and provided 12-month price targets. The average target is $84.3, accompanied by a high estimate of $115.00 and a low estimate of $65.00. This current average reflects an increase of 23.41% from the previous average price target of $68.31.

price target chart

Exploring Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Overview

The perception of Western Digital by financial experts is analyzed through recent analyst actions. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.

Analyst Analyst Firm Action Taken Rating Current Price Target Prior Price Target
Jim Kelleher Argus Research Raises Buy $88.00 $68.00
Amit Daryanani Evercore ISI Group Raises Outperform $85.00 $80.00
Mark Miller Benchmark Announces Buy $85.00 -
Matt Bryson Wedbush Maintains Outperform $85.00 -
Joseph Moore Morgan Stanley Raises Overweight $86.00 $83.00
Tristan Gerra Baird Raises Outperform $100.00 $65.00
Tom O'Malley Barclays Raises Overweight $80.00 $70.00
Joseph Moore Morgan Stanley Raises Overweight $83.00 $73.00
Wamsi Mohan B of A Securities Raises Buy $85.00 $75.00
Timothy Arcuri UBS Raises Neutral $80.00 $65.00
Toshiya Hari Goldman Sachs Raises Neutral $76.00 $58.00
Aaron Rakers Wells Fargo Raises Overweight $95.00 $72.00
Medhi Hosseini Susquehanna Raises Neutral $83.00 $68.00
Vijay Rakesh Mizuho Raises Buy $80.00 $66.00
C J Muse Cantor Fitzgerald Raises Overweight $100.00 $70.00
Kevin Cassidy Rosenblatt Raises Buy $115.00 $65.00
Amit Daryanani Evercore ISI Group Announces Outperform $80.00 -
C J Muse Cantor Fitzgerald Maintains Overweight $70.00 -
Timothy Arcuri UBS Raises Neutral $65.00 $55.00
Kevin Cassidy Rosenblatt Raises Neutral $65.00 $60.00

Key Insights:

  • Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to Western Digital. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.
  • Rating: Gaining insights, analysts provide qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of Western Digital compared to the broader market.
  • Price Targets: Analysts explore the dynamics of price targets, providing estimates for the future value of Western Digital's stock. This examination reveals shifts in analysts' expectations over time.

Assessing these analyst evaluations alongside crucial financial indicators can provide a comprehensive overview of Western Digital's market position. Stay informed and make well-judged decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.

Stay up to date on Western Digital analyst ratings.

Discovering Western Digital: A Closer Look

Western Digital is a leading vertically integrated supplier of data storage solutions, spanning both hard disk drives and solid-state drives. In the HDD market it forms a practical duopoly with Seagate, and it is the largest global producer of NAND flash chips for SSDs in a joint venture with competitor Kioxia.

Key Indicators: Western Digital's Financial Health

Market Capitalization Perspectives: The company's market capitalization falls below industry averages, signaling a relatively smaller size compared to peers. This positioning may be influenced by factors such as perceived growth potential or operational scale.

Decline in Revenue: Over the 3 months period, Western Digital faced challenges, resulting in a decline of approximately -2.41% in revenue growth as of 31 December, 2023. This signifies a reduction in the company's top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Information Technology sector.

Net Margin: The company's net margin is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive net margin of -9.93%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost control.

Return on Equity (ROE): Western Digital's ROE falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in efficiently using equity capital. With an ROE of -2.98%, the company may face hurdles in generating optimal returns for shareholders.

Return on Assets (ROA): Western Digital's ROA is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of -1.24%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial returns.

Debt Management: Western Digital's debt-to-equity ratio surpasses industry norms, standing at 0.83. This suggests the company carries a substantial amount of debt, posing potential financial challenges.

The Significance of Analyst Ratings Explained

Analysts are specialists within banking and financial systems that typically report for specific stocks or within defined sectors. These people research company financial statements, sit in conference calls and meetings, and speak with relevant insiders to determine what are known as analyst ratings for stocks. Typically, analysts will rate each stock once a quarter.

Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.

If you want to keep track of which analysts are outperforming others, you can view updated analyst ratings along withanalyst success scores in Benzinga Pro.

This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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