Western Digital Reports Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results

News Summary

• Fourth quarter revenue was $3.76 billion, up 9% sequentially (QoQ). Cloud revenue increased 21% (QoQ), Client revenue increased 3% (QoQ) and Consumer revenue decreased 7% (QoQ). Fiscal year 2024 revenue was $13.00 billion.

• Fourth quarter GAAP earnings per share (EPS) was $0.88 and Non-GAAP EPS was $1.44. Fiscal year 2024 GAAP EPS was $(1.72) and Non-GAAP EPS was $(0.20).

• Expect fiscal first quarter 2025 revenue to be in the range of $4.00 billion to $4.20 billion.

• Expect Non-GAAP EPS in the range of $1.55 to $1.85.

Western Digital Corp. (Nasdaq: WDC) today reported fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year 2024 financial results.

"Our fourth quarter and fiscal year 2024 results are reflective of the diverse and innovative portfolio we have developed in alignment with our strategic roadmap. Together, with the structural changes we have made to strengthen our operations, we are benefitting from the broad recovery we are seeing across our end markets and structurally improving through-cycle profitability for both Flash and HDD," said David Goeckeler, Western Digital CEO.

"The emergence of the AI Data Cycle marks a transformational period within our industry that will drive fundamental shifts across our end markets, increasing the need for storage and creating new demand drivers. As we look ahead, we are confident in our ability to leverage our technology leadership position to capitalize on these exciting growth opportunities and deliver value for our customers," continued David Goeckeler.

Q4 2024 Financial Highlights

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The company had an operating cash inflow of $366 million and ended the quarter with $1.88 billion of total cash and cash equivalents.

Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Highlights

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Additional details can be found within the company's earnings presentation, which is accessible online at investor.wdc.com.

End Market Summary

In the fiscal fourth quarter:

• Cloud represented 50% of total revenue. The sequential growth is attributed to higher nearline shipments and pricing in HDD, coupled with increased bit shipments and pricing in enterprise SSDs. The year-over-year increase was due to higher shipments and price per unit in nearline HDDs, along with higher enterprise SSD bit shipments.

• Client represented 32% of total revenue. The sequential increase was due to the increase in flash ASPs offsetting a decline in flash bit shipments while HDD revenue decreased slightly. The year-over-year growth was driven by higher flash ASPs.

• Consumer represented 18% of total revenue. Sequentially, the decrease was due to lower flash and HDD bit shipments partially offset by higher ASPs in both flash and HDD. The year-over-year increase was driven by improved flash ASPs and bit shipments.

In the fiscal year 2024:

• Cloud represented 41% of total revenue. The year-over-year increase was due to higher demand for capacity enterprise HDDs and improved pricing.

• Client represented 36% of total revenue. The year-over-year increase was due to higher flash bit shipments.

• Consumer represented 23% of total revenue. The year-over-year increase was due to higher flash bit shipments.

(1) Non-GAAP gross margin guidance excludes amortization of acquired intangible assets and stock-based compensation expense of approximately $10 million to $20 million. The company's Non-GAAP operating expenses guidance excludes stock-based compensation expense and expenses related to business separation costs, totaling approximately $150 million to $170 million. In the aggregate, Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share guidance excludes these items totaling approximately $160 million to $190 million. The timing and amount of these charges excluded from Non-GAAP gross margin, Non-GAAP operating expenses, and Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share cannot be further allocated or quantified with certainty. The timing and amount of additional charges the company excludes from its Non-GAAP income tax expense and Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share depend on the timing and determination of certain actions and cannot be reasonably predicted. Accordingly, full reconciliations of Non-GAAP gross margin, Non-GAAP operating expenses, Non-GAAP income tax expense and Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures (GAAP gross profit, GAAP operating expenses, income tax expense and diluted earnings per share, respectively) are not available without unreasonable effort.

(2) Non-GAAP tax rate is determined based on a percentage of Non-GAAP pre-tax income or loss. Our estimated Non-GAAP tax rate may differ from our GAAP tax rate (i) due to differences in the tax treatment of items excluded from our Non-GAAP net income or loss; (ii) the fact that our GAAP income tax expense or benefit recorded in any interim period is based on an estimated forecasted GAAP tax rate for the full year, excluding loss jurisdictions; and (iii) because our GAAP taxes recorded in any interim period are dependent on the timing and determination of certain GAAP operating expenses.

Accounting Assessment for Recent Development in Litigation Matter

On July 26, 2024, a jury awarded a lump sum of $262 million against a subsidiary of the company in a patent infringement action. The company respectfully disagrees with the jury's verdict, continues to believe it has meritorious arguments to the judgment, and plans to appeal. In addition to the lump sum amount, the company anticipates that the plaintiff will request costs, attorney's fees and interest.

The company is currently evaluating the appropriate accounting treatment for this matter, and the financial information reported in this press release does not include the impact of these recent developments, pending completion of that assessment. The company expects to complete its accounting assessment in connection with the preparation of its Annual Report on Form 10-K, which it expects to file on or before August 27, 2024. As a result, the company expects that the financial information included in that report will differ from the preliminary fiscal fourth quarter US GAAP financial results reported in this press release. The company does not expect a change to its reported Non-GAAP financial results in connection with its assessment of this matter.

Revisions to Prior Period Financial Results

As previously reported, in connection with the preparation of its condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and six months ended December 29, 2023, the company identified certain errors related to the company's reporting and recording of its interests in its equity method investments in Flash Ventures. These errors related to unadjusted differences between Flash Ventures' application of Japanese generally accepted accounting principles to certain lease-related transactions compared to the applicable U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. These unadjusted differences resulted in differences in the equity in earnings from these entities recognized by the company in Other income (expense), net and the carrying value of the company's equity method investments in Flash Ventures in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. The company evaluated the errors and determined the related impacts were not material to its financial statements for the prior periods when they occurred. The company has revised previously reported financial information for such immaterial errors, and the unaudited preliminary condensed consolidated financial statements included in this press release incorporate revisions made to correct these errors for the periods presented. Please refer to the tables outlining revisions to results of operations in the company's earnings presentation, which is accessible online at investor.wdc.com, and to the company's upcoming Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 28, 2024, for additional information related to these revisions.

Investor Communications

The investment community conference call to discuss these results and the company's business outlook for the fiscal first quarter of 2025 will be broadcast live online today at 1:30 p.m. Pacific/4:30 p.m. Eastern. The live and archived conference call/webcast and the earnings presentation can be accessed online at investor.wdc.com.

About Western Digital

Western Digital is on a mission to unlock the potential of data by harnessing the possibility to use it. With Flash and HDD franchises, underpinned by advancements in storage technologies, we create breakthrough innovations and powerful data storage solutions that enable the world to actualize its aspirations. Core to our values, we recognize the urgency to combat climate change and have committed to ambitious carbon reduction goals approved by the Science Based Targets initiative. Learn more about Western Digital and the Western Digital®, SanDisk® and WD® brands at www.westerndigital.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws, including statements regarding expectations for: the company's business outlook and financial performance for the fiscal first quarter of 2025 and beyond; the impact of the company's product portfolio, strategic roadmap and operational updates on financial performance and future profitability; market conditions and growth opportunities; the continuation and effect of the company's technology leadership; the impact of the AI Data Cycle on the company's industry, end markets, products and performance; the merits of the company's position in certain litigation matters; the timing and impact on financial results of the company's completion of its accounting assessment related to recent developments in a litigation matter; and the timing for filing the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. The preliminary financial results for the company's fiscal fourth quarter and year ended June 28, 2024 included in this press release represent the most current information available to management. Actual results when disclosed in the company's Form 10-K may differ from these preliminary results as a result of the completion of the company's financial closing procedures, including completion of the annual assessment of impairment of goodwill; final adjustments; completion of the audit by the company's independent registered accounting firm; and other developments that may arise between now and the filing of the company's Form 10-K. Other key risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include: volatility in global economic conditions and demand for the company's products; operational, financial and legal challenges and difficulties inherent in implementing a separation of the company's HDD and Flash businesses; the final approval of the separation by the company's board of directors; inflation; increase in interest rates and economic recession; future responses to and effects of global health crises; the impact of business and market conditions; the outcome and impact of the company's announced separation transaction, including with respect to customer and supplier relationships, regulatory and contractual restrictions, stock price volatility and the diversion of management's attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; the impact of competitive products and pricing; the company's development and introduction of products based on new technologies and expansion into new data storage markets; risks associated with cost saving initiatives, restructurings, acquisitions, divestitures, mergers, joint ventures and the company's strategic relationships; difficulties or delays in manufacturing or other supply chain disruptions; hiring and retention of key employees; the company's level of debt and other financial obligations; changes to the company's relationships with key customers; compromise, damage or interruption from cybersecurity incidents or other data system security risks; actions by competitors; the company's ability to achieve its GHG emissions reduction and other ESG goals; the impact of international conflicts; risks associated with compliance with changing legal and regulatory requirements and the outcome of legal proceedings; and other risks and uncertainties listed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on August 22, 2023 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 7, 2023 and February 12, 2024, to which your attention is directed. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events, except as required by law.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2024 Press Release with Financial Tables and Guidance Summary

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2024 Earnings Presentation

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