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NTAP vs WDC
Which Stock Would AI Choose? NetApp (NTAP) vs. Western Digital (WDC) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both NTAP and WDC operate in the data storage sector and benefit from rising demand for AI and cloud infrastructure.
- NTAP focuses on enterprise data management and hybrid cloud solutions, delivering consistent revenue growth and outperformance versus the broader market in recent weeks.
- WDC specializes in hard disk drives and NAND flash memory, experiencing substantial year-to-date gains amid AI-driven storage needs but facing greater short-term price volatility.
- Recent market activity shows NTAP trading at elevated levels with strong analyst attention ahead of earnings, while WDC has seen sharp swings tied to sector sentiment.
- Key contrasts include NTAP’s software-oriented stability versus WDC’s hardware exposure to memory cycles and higher growth potential with elevated risk.
- Market sentiment favors both stocks for long-term data growth themes, though relative performance depends on AI spending trends and macroeconomic conditions.
Introduction
NetApp, Inc. (NTAP) and Western Digital Corporation (WDC) are two leading players in the data storage industry, each positioned to capitalize on surging demand for digital infrastructure. This comparison examines their business models, recent price behavior, and relative positioning in the current market environment. Institutional investors, active traders, and growth-oriented portfolios seeking exposure to technology hardware and enterprise solutions may find this analysis relevant for evaluating sector allocation and stock selection within the storage and semiconductor-adjacent space.
NTAP Overview and Recent Performance
NetApp, Inc. (NTAP) provides data management and storage solutions, with a focus on hybrid cloud environments and AI-optimized infrastructure for enterprise customers. The company has reported steady revenue expansion, with fiscal 2026 results showing annual revenue of $6.93 billion, up 5.37% year-over-year. In recent weeks, NTAP shares have traded higher, supported by positive momentum ahead of upcoming earnings and continued investment in AI capabilities. Year-to-date returns have significantly outpaced the S&P 500, reflecting investor confidence in its software-driven approach and cloud partnerships. Sentiment has been influenced by broader technology spending trends and the company’s positioning in enterprise data environments.
WDC Overview and Recent Performance
Western Digital Corporation (WDC) designs and manufactures hard disk drives, solid-state drives, and NAND flash memory products, serving both consumer and enterprise markets with particular strength in high-capacity storage for data centers. The stock has delivered exceptional year-to-date and one-year returns, far exceeding broader market benchmarks amid robust AI-related demand for storage hardware. Recent market activity includes notable price swings, with the shares closing at $519.80 on July 24, 2026, after a session decline, amid sector-wide movements in memory stocks. Performance has been shaped by earnings beats in prior quarters, analyst price target revisions, and fluctuating sentiment around supply dynamics and AI infrastructure buildout.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
NetApp, Inc. (NTAP) emphasizes software and services for data management and hybrid cloud deployment, providing more predictable revenue streams tied to enterprise contracts. In contrast, Western Digital Corporation (WDC) centers on hardware manufacturing of storage media, exposing it more directly to cyclical memory pricing and component demand fluctuations. Growth drivers for NTAP include AI workload optimization and cloud migrations, while WDC benefits from expanded hard-disk and flash capacity needs in hyperscale data centers. Recent momentum has favored WDC with outsized returns, though accompanied by higher volatility compared with NTAP’s steadier trajectory. Risk factors for WDC encompass commodity-like exposure to NAND and HDD markets, whereas NTAP faces competition in software-defined storage. Sector exposure overlaps in technology infrastructure, yet market sentiment reflects WDC’s greater sensitivity to short-term memory sector news flow.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors including trend consistency, earnings visibility, and relative positioning within the storage sector, Tickeron’s AI would currently assign a modestly higher probabilistic preference to NTAP for its demonstrated stability and alignment with enterprise AI adoption patterns. WDC exhibits stronger recent price appreciation but carries elevated volatility tied to hardware cycles. This assessment remains probabilistic and subject to evolving market data rather than a definitive recommendation.
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 StrongBuy and WDC is a Buy.
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 4 FA rating(s) are green whileWDC’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- NTAP’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 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 2 bullish TA indicator(s).
- NTAP’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 4 bearish.
- WDC’s TA Score: 2 bullish, 8 bearish.
Price Growth
NTAP (@Computer Communications) experienced а +4.02% price change this week, while WDC (@Computer Processing Hardware) price change was -4.52% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Computer Communications industry was +0.59%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -7.59%, and the average quarterly price growth was +4.24%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Computer Processing Hardware industry was -3.34%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -12.56%, and the average quarterly price growth was +18.85%.
Reported Earning Dates
NTAP is expected to report earnings on Sep 02, 2026.
WDC is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Computer Communications (+0.59% 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 (-3.34% 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 | 34.1B | 184B | 19% |
| EBITDA | 1.96B | 7.59B | 26% |
| Gain YTD | 63.879 | 209.650 | 30% |
| P/E Ratio | 27.40 | 31.90 | 86% |
| Revenue | 6.93B | 11.8B | 59% |
| Total Cash | 3.58B | 3.24B | 111% |
| Total Debt | 2.73B | 1.58B | 173% |
NTAP | WDC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 11 | 85 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 83 Overvalued | 74 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 26 | 34 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 12 | 14 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 1 | 34 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 19 | 35 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 45 | 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 (74) in the Computer Peripherals industry is in the same range as NTAP (83). This means that WDC’s stock grew similarly to NTAP’s over the last 12 months.
NTAP's Profit vs Risk Rating (26) in the Computer Peripherals industry is in the same range as WDC (34). This means that NTAP’s stock grew similarly to WDC’s over the last 12 months.
NTAP's SMR Rating (12) in the Computer Peripherals industry is in the same range as WDC (14). This means that NTAP’s stock grew similarly to WDC’s over the last 12 months.
NTAP's Price Growth Rating (1) in the Computer Peripherals industry is somewhat better than the same rating for WDC (34). This means that NTAP’s stock grew somewhat faster than WDC’s over the last 12 months.
NTAP's P/E Growth Rating (19) in the Computer Peripherals industry is in the same range as WDC (35). This means that NTAP’s stock grew similarly to WDC’s over the last 12 months.
| NTAP | WDC | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 56% | 7 days ago 60% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 71% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 73% | 2 days ago 68% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 63% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 67% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 62% | 2 days ago 65% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 65% | 8 days ago 83% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 15 days ago 55% | 2 days ago 65% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 55% | 2 days ago 90% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | N/A | 2 days ago 68% |
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NTAP and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, NTAP has been closely correlated with DELL. These tickers have moved in lockstep 68% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if NTAP jumps, then DELL could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To NTAP | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NTAP | 100% | -0.74% | ||
| DELL - NTAP | 68% Closely correlated | -5.73% | ||
| HPQ - NTAP | 65% Loosely correlated | +0.42% | ||
| WDC - NTAP | 58% Loosely correlated | -0.32% | ||
| LOGI - NTAP | 55% Loosely correlated | -7.76% | ||
| STX - NTAP | 55% Loosely correlated | +2.29% | ||
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