Western Digital Management
Management criteria checks 2/4
Western Digital's CEO is Irving Tan, appointed in Oct 2024, has a tenure of 1.83 years. total yearly compensation is $11.53M, comprised of 7.2% salary and 92.8% bonuses, including company stock and options. directly owns 0.17% of the company’s shares, worth $280.66M. The average tenure of the management team and the board of directors is 1.5 years and 7.8 years respectively.
Key information
Irving Tan
Chief executive officer
US$11.5m
Total compensation
| CEO salary percentage | 7.25% |
| CEO tenure | 1.8yrs |
| CEO ownership | 0.2% |
| Management average tenure | 1.5yrs |
| Board average tenure | 7.8yrs |
Recent management updates
Recent updates
Narrative Update • Aug 11
WDC: Long-Term AI Storage Demand Will Outweigh HAMR Execution Risks
The analyst price target for Western Digital has been revised higher to $662.13 from $584.79. This reflects updated expectations from analysts who point to stronger AI and cloud related demand, solid pricing trends in storage, and model revisions following recent quarterly results across the sector.Seeking Alpha • Aug 11
Western Digital: Q4 2026 Confirms The Market Is Still Underpricing EPS Growth
Summary I'm reiterating Western Digital as a Strong Buy with a raised price target of $1250. WDC's Q4 2026 results and Q1 2027 guidance validate sustained earnings power, with annualized non-GAAP EPS now tracking at $16 and a path to $25 by 2028. The valuation still looks attractive on a growth-adjusted basis because WDC's FWD non-GAAP PEG is only 0.31x versus the sector median of 1.28x. My 2028 EPS estimate is $25, and applying a 50x FWD non-GAAP P/E multiple gets me to a $1250 price target. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
Narrative Update • Jul 28
WDC: AI Storage Supercycle Expectations Will Eventually Pressure Rich P/E
Western Digital's updated analyst price target moves from $226.76 to $415.00, reflecting analysts' focus on stronger assumed revenue growth, higher profit margins, and a lower future P/E multiple, supported by a broad series of recent target hikes tied to AI driven storage demand and firmer HDD pricing expectations. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Western Digital points to a generally constructive stance on AI related storage demand and hard disk drive pricing, but there are also clear pockets of caution that matter for valuation and execution risk.
New Narrative • Jul 17
Western Digital (WDC) Stock Price is riding a 54% margin that isn't quite what it looks like
Cyclical high for earnings on current shortages. Jeff Bezos "your margin is my opportunity" China supply could pressure margins Depends on complexity of memory and storage Western Digital (WDC) has quietly become one of the cleanest ways to own the AI buildout, and that is exactly what makes it worth a second look.
Narrative Update • Jul 14
WDC: AI Infrastructure Storage Contracts Will Drive Future Earnings Repricing
Western Digital’s updated analyst price target of $897.27, up from $685.00, reflects analysts’ broader repricing of the stock as they factor in stronger expectations around AI driven storage demand, firm hard disk drive pricing, and higher projected profit margins supported by recent Street research. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Western Digital points to a cluster of bullish analysts raising price targets across the hard disk drive and storage sector, with many tying their views to AI driven storage demand, firm pricing, and the company’s ability to execute against existing guidance ranges.Narrative Update • Jun 30
WDC: AI Storage Hype And HDD Pricing Assumptions Will Pressure Future Returns
Western Digital's analyst fair value estimate has been raised from $518.26 to $584.79 as analysts factor in higher assumed revenue growth and a richer future P/E linked to AI driven storage demand, alongside a broad wave of higher price targets across recent research. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Western Digital points to strong interest in the stock from AI focused investors, but there is not complete agreement on how much of the opportunity is already reflected in current expectations.Narrative Update • Jun 16
WDC: AI Storage Cycle And Balance Sheet Actions Will Shape Future Upside
Western Digital's analyst price target has been raised from $440 to $685, with analysts citing stronger AI driven demand for memory and storage, firmer industry pricing, and updated expectations for revenue, margins, and future P/E multiples. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Western Digital centers on rising price targets and constructive commentary around AI related demand for storage and memory.Narrative Update • Jun 02
WDC: AI Storage Demand And Supply Discipline Will Shape Future EPS Power
Western Digital's analyst price target has been nudged higher, with the model's fair value estimate moving from about $508 to $518 as analysts point to AI driven storage demand, tighter industry supply, and expectations for sustained pricing power across hard disk drives and memory. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research has trended toward higher valuation markers for Western Digital, with a series of price target revisions that lean heavily on AI related storage demand, tight supply conditions, and expectations for firm pricing across both hard disk drives and memory.Narrative Update • May 18
WDC: AI Storage Demand And EPS Floor Will Shape Balanced Outlook
Western Digital's updated analyst price target has moved from about $372 to roughly $508, as analysts factor in higher projected revenue growth, wider profit margins, and a slightly adjusted discount rate alongside expectations for a lower future P/E multiple. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Western Digital has been dominated by a series of higher price targets, with multiple firms lifting their valuations by double and triple digits.Narrative Update • Apr 28
WDC: AI Storage And Buybacks Will Support EPS Floor While Expectations Rise
Analysts have lifted the Western Digital price target by about $51, reflecting updated assumptions for faster revenue growth, a higher future P/E multiple, and revised margin expectations following a series of recent target hikes across the Street. Analyst Commentary Recent research points to a strong wave of optimism around Western Digital, with multiple firms lifting price targets by wide margins and a few highlighting valuation and execution risks for investors to watch.Narrative Update • Apr 13
WDC: AI Storage Optimism And Rich P/E Will Drive Future Downside Risk
Western Digital's updated fair value estimate has shifted from $170 to about $227 per share, reflecting analysts' higher assessed revenue growth potential, a slightly adjusted margin outlook, and a richer future P/E assumption following a broad wave of Street price target increases. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Western Digital has been dominated by higher price targets and rating upgrades, including moves from large firms such as JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, BofA, Citi and Wells Fargo.Narrative Update • Mar 30
WDC: AI Storage And $20 EPS Roadmap Will Drive Future Upside
Narrative Update: Western Digital Analyst Price Target The updated analyst price target for Western Digital reflects a recalibrated view that incorporates higher projected revenue growth, slightly adjusted discount rate assumptions, and modestly lower future P/E expectations. Analysts point to management's confidence in $20 plus EPS, a path toward higher margins, and AI driven storage demand as key supports for the revised valuation in the $300 plus range.Narrative Update • Mar 16
WDC: AI Storage Demand Will Support EPS Floor And Margin Expansion
Western Digital's analyst price target is maintained at $321, as analysts point to reaffirmed management confidence in a $20-plus EPS floor, long term goals for higher gross and EBIT margins, and growing AI-driven storage demand as key supports for the valuation. Analyst Commentary Recent research commentary around Western Digital has been broadly constructive, with several firms updating price targets and highlighting the same core themes that management underscored at the investor conference.Narrative Update • Mar 02
WDC: AI Storage Demand Will Support Higher Margins And Cash Returns
Western Digital's analyst price target has been updated to $321. Analysts point to modeled assumptions of higher revenue growth, wider profit margins, a slightly lower discount rate and a modestly reduced future P/E multiple as key drivers of the change.Narrative Update • Feb 16
WDC: Future AI Storage Demand And HDD Pricing May Support Upside
Analysts have lifted their implied fair value estimate for Western Digital to $440.00 per share. They cite updated assumptions that include higher revenue growth, stronger profit margins and a slightly lower discount rate, along with a P/E outlook broadly consistent with prior expectations and a series of recent price target increases across the Street.Narrative Update • Feb 02
WDC: Elevated HDD Pricing And Margin Assumptions Will Drive Future Downside Risk
Analysts lifted their Western Digital fair value estimate to $170 from $145, citing higher assumed revenue growth, wider profit margins, and a lower future P/E multiple reflected across a wave of recent price target increases from major firms. Analyst Commentary Across recent research, Western Digital has attracted a series of higher price targets from major firms, including JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs and Mizuho.Narrative Update • Jan 19
WDC: Elevated HDD Pricing Assumptions Will Drive Future Downside Surprise Risk
Analysts have lifted their price target on Western Digital from US$42.07 to US$145.00, citing updated assumptions around revenue growth, profitability, and a higher future P/E multiple in line with recent bullish Street research. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research around Western Digital has clustered around higher price targets and more constructive earnings assumptions, but there are still some clear pockets of caution that are worth flagging if you are thinking about risk and reward.Analysis Article • Jan 16
Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:WDC) Stocks Shoot Up 27% But Its P/S Still Looks Reasonable
Despite an already strong run, Western Digital Corporation ( NASDAQ:WDC ) shares have been powering on, with a gain of...Narrative Update • Jan 05
WDC: Future HDD Demand And AI Storage Needs May Support Upside
Analysts have lifted their fair value estimate for Western Digital to about $242.69 from $85.00, citing higher price targets supported by stronger than expected shipments, firm pricing, gross margin upside, and improved long term P/E and profitability assumptions. Analyst Commentary Bullish analysts have been lifting their price targets across a wide range, pointing to stronger shipment trends, firm pricing, and upside in both gross and operating margins as key drivers of their updated views on Western Digital.Narrative Update • Dec 19
WDC: AI Storage Demand Will Support Higher Margins Amid Cycle Uncertainty
Analysts have nudged our Western Digital fair value estimate higher to about $187 per share from roughly $181, reflecting stronger than expected enterprise HDD and NAND demand, improving pricing and margin dynamics, and higher forward valuation multiples following a series of Street price target hikes into the $135 to $200 range. Analyst Commentary Bullish analysts have broadly raised price targets into the mid 100s to $200 range, citing a combination of better than expected earnings execution, improving supply demand conditions in both HDD and NAND, and rising confidence in Western Digital's ability to sustain higher margins through the current cycle.Narrative Update • Dec 05
WDC: AI Storage Demand Will Sustain Tight Supply And Margin Upside
Analysts nudged our Western Digital fair value estimate modestly higher, from $180.57 to $181.43, citing a wave of sharply higher Street price targets that reflect stronger than expected exabyte shipments, tighter HDD and NAND supply, improving pricing, and conviction that AI driven storage demand will support structurally higher growth and margins. Analyst Commentary Street research has turned meaningfully more constructive on Western Digital, with a series of higher price targets reflecting a stronger fundamental and cyclical backdrop across both HDD and NAND.Narrative Update • Nov 21
WDC: Accelerating AI-Driven Demand Will Sustain Tight Supply And Margin Upside
Western Digital's analyst-derived fair value has been raised significantly, increasing from approximately $167 to $181 per share. Analysts attribute this to stronger earnings, robust demand, and improved pricing dynamics, as reflected in recent price target increases across the Street.Analysis Article • Nov 07
Impressive Earnings May Not Tell The Whole Story For Western Digital (NASDAQ:WDC)
Western Digital Corporation ( NASDAQ:WDC ) just reported some strong earnings, and the market reacted accordingly with...Narrative Update • Nov 06
WDC: Future Demand Trends And Supply Tightness Will Shape Share Performance
The consensus analyst price target for Western Digital has been raised significantly, increasing from approximately $126 to $167 per share. Analysts point to strong earnings, expanding margins, and robust demand outlooks as major drivers for the upgrade.CEO Compensation Analysis
| Date | Total Compensation | Salary | Company Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 03 2026 | n/a | n/a | US$9b |
| Apr 03 2026 | n/a | n/a | US$6b |
| Jan 02 2026 | n/a | n/a | US$4b |
| Oct 03 2025 | n/a | n/a | US$3b |
| Jun 27 2025 | US$12m | US$836k | US$2b |
Compensation vs Market: Irving's total compensation ($USD11.53M) is about average for companies of similar size in the US market ($USD14.39M).
Compensation vs Earnings: Insufficient data to compare Irving's compensation with company performance.
CEO
Irving Tan (56 yo)
1.8yrs
Tenure
US$11,534,369
Compensation
Mr. Tiang Yew Tan, also known as Irving, is Chief Executive Officer of Western Digital Corporation from October 10, 2024 and serves as its Director since February 2025. He was Executive Vice President of G...
Leadership Team
| Name | Position | Tenure | Compensation | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO & Director | 1.8yrs | US$11.53m | 0.17% $ 280.7m | |
| Executive VP & CFO | 1.3yrs | US$10.22m | 0.011% $ 18.7m | |
| Executive VP & Chief of Global Operations | 1.5yrs | US$4.71m | 0.024% $ 40.6m | |
| Executive VP | 2.6yrs | US$4.46m | 0.033% $ 55.8m | |
| Senior Vice President of Finance | 1.3yrs | US$2.16m | 0.015% $ 24.4m | |
| Executive VP & Chief Product Officer | 1.4yrs | US$7.77m | 0.046% $ 77.8m | |
| Chief Investment Officer | no data | no data | no data | |
| Senior VP & Chief Accounting Officer | less than a year | no data | no data | |
| Chief Information Officer | no data | no data | no data | |
| Vice President of Investor Relations | no data | no data | no data | |
| Executive VP and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer | 1.5yrs | no data | 0.029% $ 49.5m | |
| Vice President of Strategy & Corporate Development | 1.6yrs | no data | no data |
1.5yrs
Average Tenure
57yo
Average Age
Experienced Management: WDC's management team is not considered experienced ( 1.5 years average tenure), which suggests a new team.
Board Members
| Name | Position | Tenure | Compensation | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO & Director | 1.5yrs | US$11.53m | 0.17% $ 280.7m | |
| Independent Director | 8yrs | US$354.24k | 0.011% $ 18.4m | |
| Independent Director | 26.6yrs | US$474.96k | 0.0021% $ 3.4m | |
| Lead Independent Director | 7.8yrs | US$417.44k | 0.012% $ 19.7m | |
| Independent Director | 1.5yrs | US$273.21k | 0.00067% $ 1.1m | |
| Independent Chairman of the Board | 11.7yrs | US$456.95k | 0.0057% $ 9.5m | |
| Independent Director | 7.8yrs | US$364.98k | 0.0075% $ 12.5m | |
| Independent Director | 1.5yrs | US$275.07k | 0.0011% $ 1.9m | |
| Independent Director | less than a year | no data | no data |
7.8yrs
Average Tenure
65yo
Average Age
Experienced Board: WDC's board of directors are considered experienced (7.8 years average tenure).
Company Analysis and Financial Data Status
| Data | Last Updated (UTC time) |
|---|---|
| Company Analysis | 2026/08/14 21:54 |
| End of Day Share Price | 2026/08/14 00:00 |
| Earnings | 2026/07/03 |
| Annual Earnings | 2026/07/03 |
Data Sources
The data used in our company analysis is from S&P Global Market Intelligence LLC. The following data is used in our analysis model to generate this report. Data is normalised which can introduce a delay from the source being available.
| Package | Data | Timeframe | Example US Source * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company Financials | 10 years |
| |
| Analyst Consensus Estimates | +3 years |
|
|
| Market Prices | 30 years |
| |
| Ownership | 10 years |
| |
| Management | 10 years |
| |
| Key Developments | 10 years |
|
* Example for US securities, for non-US equivalent regulatory forms and sources are used.
Unless specified all financial data is based on a yearly period but updated quarterly. This is known as Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) or Last Twelve Month (LTM) Data. Learn more.
Analysis Model and Snowflake
Details of the analysis model used to generate this report is available on our Github page, we also have guides on how to use our reports and tutorials on Youtube.
Learn about the world class team who designed and built the Simply Wall St analysis model.
Industry and Sector Metrics
Our industry and section metrics are calculated every 6 hours by Simply Wall St, details of our process are available on Github.
Analyst Sources
Western Digital Corporation is covered by 50 analysts. 20 of those analysts submitted the estimates of revenue or earnings used as inputs to our report. Analysts submissions are updated throughout the day.
| Analyst | Institution |
|---|---|
| James Fontanelli | Arete Research Services LLP |
| James Kelleher | Argus Research Company |
| Tristan Gerra | Baird |