STX vs WDC

For growth investors, Western Digital Corporation (WDC) is the stronger pick with 50.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 38. 9% for Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX). Western Digital Corporation (WDC) offers the better valuation at 90. 9x trailing P/E (51. 6x 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.

On trailing P/E, Western Digital Corporation (WDC) is the cheapest at 90.

9x versus Seagate Technology Holdings plc at 113. 9x. On forward P/E, Western Digital Corporation is actually cheaper at 51. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, Western Digital Corporation (WDC) delivered a total return of +798.

7%, compared to +787. 8% for Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: STX returned +38. 9% versus WDC's +1537%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX) is the lower-risk stock at 2.

04β versus Western Digital Corporation's 2. 30β — meaning WDC is approximately 13% more volatile than STX relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Western Digital Corporation (WDC) is pulling ahead at 50.

7% versus 38. 9% for Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Seagate Technology Holdings plc grew EPS 328. 5% year-over-year, compared to 296. 2% for Western Digital Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, STX leads at -7. 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.

Western Digital Corporation (WDC) is the more profitable company, earning 19.

5% net margin versus 16. 1% for Seagate Technology Holdings plc — meaning it keeps 19. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WDC leads at 24. 5% versus 20. 8% for STX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WDC leads at 38. 8%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Western Digital Corporation (WDC) trades at 51.

6x forward P/E versus 52. 3x for Seagate Technology Holdings plc — 0. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WDC: -12. 4% to $407. 54.

In this comparison, STX (0.

4% yield) pays a dividend. WDC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Western Digital Corporation (WDC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1537% 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 (WDC: +1537%, STX: +38. 9%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

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.