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NTAP vs WDC
Which Stock Would AI Choose? NetApp (NTAP) vs. Western Digital (WDC) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- NTAP has received multiple analyst price target upgrades in recent weeks, including lifts to $210 and $209, reflecting strength in enterprise storage and AI infrastructure demand.
- WDC reported robust fiscal Q4 2026 results with revenue up 44% year over year, driven by hyperscale hard drive demand, though the stock has pulled back significantly from its June 2026 peak.
- Both companies operate in the data storage sector and benefit from AI-related data growth, with NTAP focused on enterprise and hybrid cloud solutions while WDC emphasizes high-capacity HDDs for data centers.
- NTAP shares have shown relatively more stable recent performance compared to WDC, which experienced a sharp correction after a strong year-to-date advance.
- NTAP was named a Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Storage Platforms, supporting its competitive positioning in hybrid cloud use cases.
- WDC offers higher earnings growth potential tied to AI buildouts but carries greater price volatility, while NTAP provides steadier execution metrics.
Introduction
NetApp (NTAP) and Western Digital (WDC) represent two distinct approaches to the expanding data storage market, both positioned to capitalize on surging demand from artificial intelligence workloads and cloud computing. This comparison examines their recent stock behavior, business models, and market positioning to assist investors and traders evaluating relative opportunities within the technology hardware sector. Participants seeking exposure to AI-driven storage trends, whether through enterprise software solutions or high-capacity hardware, may find this analysis relevant for assessing trade-offs in growth trajectories and risk profiles.
NTAP Overview and Recent Performance
NetApp, Inc. delivers intelligent data infrastructure solutions, specializing in enterprise storage, hybrid cloud, and data management software. In recent market activity, NTAP shares have traded near $187 following a period of strength, with year-to-date gains exceeding 70% amid broader technology sector advances. Key developments include recognition as a Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Storage Platforms, alongside multiple upward revisions to analyst price targets. Public cloud revenue contributed to fiscal 2026 results, with the segment showing double-digit growth and supporting margin expansion. Upcoming earnings scheduled for early September provide a near-term catalyst, while sustained enterprise IT spending and AI infrastructure needs have influenced positive sentiment in recent weeks.
WDC Overview and Recent Performance
Western Digital Corporation manufactures data storage devices, including hard disk drives and flash memory products primarily serving cloud, consumer, and client markets. In recent market activity, WDC shares have traded near $459 after retreating from a June 2026 high near $800, though the stock remains up substantially for the year. The company delivered strong fiscal fourth-quarter 2026 results, with revenue rising 44% year over year to $3.75 billion and adjusted earnings per share more than doubling, fueled by data center demand for high-capacity drives. Management provided optimistic guidance for the following quarter, citing durable AI-related storage needs. Despite robust fundamentals, the pullback from peak levels highlights sensitivity to valuation concerns and sector rotation in recent weeks.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
NetApp and Western Digital both supply critical components of the AI data ecosystem yet differ in focus and risk profile. NTAP emphasizes software-defined storage and hybrid cloud offerings suited to enterprise customers, delivering more predictable revenue streams and recent analyst support. In contrast, WDC targets high-volume hardware demand from hyperscalers, resulting in sharper earnings leverage during storage cycles but also greater price volatility, as evidenced by its post-peak correction. Sector exposure overlaps in data growth themes, though NTAP carries lower beta and steadier momentum while WDC offers higher growth visibility tied to exabyte shipments. Market sentiment favors both on AI tailwinds, yet NTAP has benefited from more consistent upgrades recently compared with WDC’s valuation-driven swings.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors including trend consistency, recent analyst revisions, and relative stability amid sector volatility, Tickeron’s AI models currently assign a higher probabilistic preference to NTAP. The stock’s steadier performance profile and multiple price target increases suggest more durable positioning in the current environment, whereas WDC’s sharper drawdown introduces greater uncertainty despite strong fundamentals. This assessment reflects data-driven pattern recognition rather than forward guarantees.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is NTAP is a Hold and WDC is a StrongBuy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
NTAP’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green whileWDC’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- NTAP’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- WDC’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
NTAP’s TA Score shows that 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while WDC’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- NTAP’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
- WDC’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 2 bearish.
Price Growth
NTAP (@Computer Communications) experienced а -0.76% price change this week, while WDC (@Computer Processing Hardware) price change was +1.74% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Computer Communications industry was -1.84%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -1.07%, and the average quarterly price growth was +15.21%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Computer Processing Hardware industry was -0.89%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +10.25%, and the average quarterly price growth was +35.88%.
Reported Earning Dates
NTAP is expected to report earnings on Dec 01, 2026.
WDC is expected to report earnings on Oct 22, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Computer Communications (-1.84% weekly)Computer communications industry develops technology that allows computing devices to exchange data with each other using connections/data links between nodes. Common types of computer network include Cloud (IAN), Internet, Wide (WAN, Local (LAN)/Wireless(WLAN) etc. The industry is an ever-more important part of technology, and is set to become even bigger as the Internet of Things (IoT) rapidly forays into the various aspects of our lives. Cisco Systems, Inc., Palo Alto Networks, Inc. and Arista Networks, Inc., Fortinet, Inc. are some of the major computer communications companies.
@Computer Processing Hardware (-0.89% weekly)Computer Processing Hardware industry produces central processing unit, monitor, keyboard, computer data storage devices, and graphics card. Business activity and economic growth are potential drivers of this industry – if more businesses are growing or flourishing, so would their investments in computer equipment. Dell Technologies, Inc, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., NCR Corporation are key producers of computer processing hardware.
| NTAP | WDC | NTAP / WDC | |
| Capitalization | 36.5B | 169B | 22% |
| EBITDA | 2.12B | 10.4B | 20% |
| Gain YTD | 75.572 | 171.554 | 44% |
| P/E Ratio | 26.21 | 17.36 | 151% |
| Revenue | 7.39B | 12.9B | 57% |
| Total Cash | 3.58B | 1.58B | 226% |
| Total Debt | 2.53B | 1.05B | 241% |
NTAP | WDC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 50 | 50 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 76 Overvalued | 66 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 22 | 37 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 13 | 12 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 38 | 35 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 22 | 62 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 38 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
WDC's Valuation (66) in the Computer Peripherals industry is in the same range as NTAP (76). This means that WDC’s stock grew similarly to NTAP’s over the last 12 months.
NTAP's Profit vs Risk Rating (22) in the Computer Peripherals industry is in the same range as WDC (37). This means that NTAP’s stock grew similarly to WDC’s over the last 12 months.
WDC's SMR Rating (12) in the Computer Peripherals industry is in the same range as NTAP (13). This means that WDC’s stock grew similarly to NTAP’s over the last 12 months.
WDC's Price Growth Rating (35) in the Computer Peripherals industry is in the same range as NTAP (38). This means that WDC’s stock grew similarly to NTAP’s over the last 12 months.
NTAP's P/E Growth Rating (22) in the Computer Peripherals industry is somewhat better than the same rating for WDC (62). This means that NTAP’s stock grew somewhat faster than WDC’s over the last 12 months.
| NTAP | WDC | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 64% | N/A |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 69% | 4 days ago 84% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 55% | 4 days ago 84% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 72% | 4 days ago 78% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 58% | 4 days ago 82% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 56% | 4 days ago 65% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 65% | 13 days ago 82% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 55% | 5 days ago 66% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 49% | N/A |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 62% | 4 days ago 61% |
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