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STX vs HPE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Communication Equipment
STX vs HPE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Computer Hardware | Communication Equipment |
| Market Cap | $167.14B | $39.47B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $11.01B | $35.79B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.38B | $-156M |
| Gross Margin | 41.5% | 30.7% |
| Operating Margin | 28.3% | 5.8% |
| Forward P/E | 52.0x | 12.3x |
| Total Debt | $5.37B | $22.36B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $891M | $5.77B |
STX vs HPE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seagate Technology … (STX) | 100 | 1445.0 | +1345.0% |
| Hewlett Packard Ent… (HPE) | 100 | 305.9 | +205.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: STX vs HPE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
STX carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 38.9%, EPS growth 328.5%, 3Y rev CAGR -7.9%
- 41.0% 10Y total return vs HPE's 269.0%
- 38.9% revenue growth vs HPE's 14.1%
HPE is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 1.62, yield 2.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.62, Low D/E 90.3%, current ratio 1.01x
- Beta 1.62, yield 2.0%, current ratio 1.01x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 38.9% revenue growth vs HPE's 14.1% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (12.3x vs 52.0x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 21.6% margin vs HPE's -0.4% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.62 vs STX's 2.04 | |
| Dividends | 2.0% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs STX's 0.4% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +7.1% vs HPE's +82.6% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 27.9% ROA vs HPE's -0.2%, ROIC 41.4% vs 3.5% |
STX vs HPE — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
STX vs HPE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
STX leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HPE is the larger business by revenue, generating $35.8B annually — 3.3x STX's $11.0B. STX is the more profitable business, keeping 21.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to HPE's -0.4%. On growth, STX holds the edge at +44.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $11.0B | $35.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3.4B | $4.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.4B | -$156M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.6B | $4.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +41.5% | +30.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +28.3% | +5.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +21.6% | -0.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +23.9% | +12.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +44.1% | +19.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +108.3% | -26.2% |
Valuation Metrics
HPE leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, HPE's 12.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than STX's 80.2x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $167.1B | $39.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $171.6B | $56.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 113.21x | -665.92x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 51.98x | 12.33x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 9.20x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 80.16x | 12.80x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 18.37x | 1.15x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 1.59x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 204.33x | 62.95x |
Profitability & Efficiency
STX leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
STX delivers a 9.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $-1 for HPE. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), STX scores 7/9 vs HPE's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.2% | -0.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +27.9% | -0.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +41.4% | +3.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +37.7% | +3.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.90x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $4.5B | $16.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $891M | $5.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $5.4B | $22.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 10.54x | -11.81x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
STX leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in STX five years ago would be worth $85,249 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $19,554 for HPE. Over the past 12 months, STX leads with a +706.0% total return vs HPE's +82.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors STX at 139.7% vs HPE's 30.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +166.8% | +23.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +706.0% | +82.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1276.8% | +120.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +752.5% | +95.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +4102.9% | +269.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +139.7% | +30.1% |
Risk & Volatility
HPE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HPE is the less volatile stock with a 1.62 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than STX's 2.04 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.04x | 1.62x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $792.01 | $30.41 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $93.33 | $16.17 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.8% | +97.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 87.1 | 74.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.9M | 15.0M |
Analyst Outlook
HPE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates STX as "Buy" and HPE as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply -3.3% upside for HPE (target: $29) vs -18.6% for STX (target: $624). For income investors, HPE offers the higher dividend yield at 2.02% vs STX's 0.36%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $623.71 | $28.71 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 52 | 37 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.4% | +2.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.76 | $0.60 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.5% |
STX leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). HPE leads in 3 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
STX vs HPE: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is STX or HPE a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX) is the stronger pick with 38.
9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 14. 1% for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE). Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX) offers the better valuation at 113. 2x trailing P/E (52. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX) a "Buy" — based on 52 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — STX or HPE?
On forward P/E, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company is actually cheaper at 12.
3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — STX or HPE?
Over the past 5 years, Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX) delivered a total return of +752.
5%, compared to +95. 5% for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: STX returned +41. 0% versus HPE's +269. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — STX or HPE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
62β versus Seagate Technology Holdings plc's 2. 04β — meaning STX is approximately 26% more volatile than HPE relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — STX or HPE?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX) is pulling ahead at 38.
9% versus 14. 1% for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Seagate Technology Holdings plc grew EPS 328. 5% year-over-year, compared to -102. 3% for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, HPE leads at 6. 9% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — STX or HPE?
Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX) is the more profitable company, earning 16.
1% net margin versus 0. 2% for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company — meaning it keeps 16. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: STX leads at 20. 8% versus 4. 8% for HPE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — STX leads at 35. 2%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is STX or HPE more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE) trades at 12.
3x forward P/E versus 52. 0x for Seagate Technology Holdings plc — 39. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HPE: -3. 3% to $28. 71.
08Which pays a better dividend — STX or HPE?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE) offers the highest yield at 2. 0%, versus 0. 4% for Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX).
09Is STX or HPE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (2.
0% yield, +269. 0% 10Y return). Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX) carries a higher beta of 2. 04 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HPE: +269. 0%, STX: +41. 0%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between STX and HPE?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: STX is a mid-cap high-growth stock; HPE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. HPE pays a dividend while STX does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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