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NTAP vs WDC
Which Stock Would AI Choose? NetApp (NTAP) vs. Western Digital (WDC) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- NTAP delivered record fiscal Q1 2027 results with revenue up 30% year-over-year and raised full-year guidance, reflecting strong demand for its hybrid cloud and AI-ready storage solutions.
- WDC reported robust fiscal 2026 results with revenue growth exceeding 43% in the latest quarter, driven by surging hyperscale and AI data center demand for high-capacity storage.
- NTAP has shown more consistent price stability in recent market activity compared with the sharper swings observed in WDC.
- Both companies operate in the data storage sector and benefit from AI infrastructure spending, yet WDC exhibits higher revenue growth rates while NTAP maintains stronger gross margins.
- Recent analyst sentiment remains constructive for both, with upward revisions to earnings estimates amid ongoing enterprise and cloud adoption trends.
- Market positioning differs markedly, with NTAP focused on enterprise data management and WDC emphasizing high-volume NAND and HDD solutions for hyperscalers.
Introduction
NetApp (NTAP) and Western Digital (WDC) represent two distinct approaches within the data storage industry, making their comparison relevant for investors and traders seeking exposure to AI-driven infrastructure growth. Both companies supply critical hardware and software solutions that support expanding enterprise and cloud data needs, yet they differ in business focus, scale, and growth profiles. This analysis examines recent performance, sector dynamics, and relative positioning to assist market participants evaluating storage-related opportunities. The comparison draws on verifiable developments from the past several weeks while providing context suitable for longer-term reference.
NTAP Overview and Recent Performance
NetApp, Inc. provides enterprise storage systems, data management software, and cloud services that help organizations manage and protect data across hybrid environments. In recent market activity, NTAP shares have traded near multi-year highs following the release of fiscal first-quarter 2027 results that exceeded expectations, with revenue rising approximately 30% year-over-year. The company raised its full-year outlook, citing continued strength in flash and cloud offerings tied to artificial intelligence workloads. Partnerships such as the recent collaboration with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have underscored its AI and data analytics capabilities, supporting positive sentiment. Price behavior has remained relatively stable amid broader technology sector movements, with the stock outperforming the market over the trailing twelve months.
WDC Overview and Recent Performance
Western Digital Corporation designs and manufactures hard disk drives, solid-state drives, and related storage solutions primarily for cloud, consumer, and client markets. In recent market activity, WDC has experienced substantial gains alongside elevated volatility, reflecting strong hyperscale demand for high-capacity storage amid AI expansion. Fiscal 2026 results showed revenue growth above 43% in the most recent quarter, accompanied by significant margin expansion and earnings that surpassed consensus estimates. The company has highlighted multi-year customer agreements and advancements in next-generation drive technologies. While the stock has posted outsized returns over the past year, it has also undergone notable pullbacks during periods of market rotation, illustrating the cyclical nature of memory and storage pricing cycles.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
NetApp operates primarily in enterprise data management with emphasis on hybrid cloud integration and software-defined storage, while Western Digital focuses on high-volume hardware production of NAND flash and hard disk drives for large-scale data centers. Growth drivers for NTAP center on recurring software revenue and AI workload optimization, whereas WDC benefits from cyclical pricing strength and capacity demand in the memory segment. Recent momentum has favored both, yet WDC has delivered higher percentage revenue increases alongside greater price volatility. Risk factors include component cost pressures for NetApp and inventory or pricing cycles for Western Digital. Sector exposure overlaps in technology hardware, but market sentiment reflects differing risk-return profiles, with NetApp viewed as steadier and Western Digital positioned for amplified upside during favorable storage cycles.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as trend consistency, earnings momentum, and relative positioning within the AI storage ecosystem, Tickeron’s AI would currently assign a modestly higher probability of favorable near-term performance to WDC. Its stronger revenue growth trajectory and hyperscale exposure align with sustained data center expansion, although elevated volatility introduces execution risk. NetApp demonstrates more stable fundamentals and consistent estimate revisions, offering a balanced alternative for investors prioritizing lower drawdown potential. The assessment remains probabilistic and subject to evolving market conditions.
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 StrongBuy.
NTAP | WDC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 37 | 24 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 80 Overvalued | 66 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 16 | 39 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 13 | 12 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 13 | 35 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 17 | 78 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 31 | 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 (80). This means that WDC’s stock grew similarly to NTAP’s over the last 12 months.
NTAP's Profit vs Risk Rating (16) in the Computer Peripherals industry is in the same range as WDC (39). 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.
NTAP's Price Growth Rating (13) 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's P/E Growth Rating (17) in the Computer Peripherals industry is somewhat better than the same rating for WDC (78). This means that NTAP’s stock grew somewhat faster than WDC’s over the last 12 months.
| NTAP | WDC | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | N/A |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 71% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 70% | 2 days ago 79% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 69% | 2 days ago 78% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 66% | 2 days ago 82% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 64% | 2 days ago 64% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 7 days ago 82% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 20 days ago 56% | 15 days ago 65% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 51% | 2 days ago 80% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 62% | 2 days ago 75% |
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 overvalued. 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 while WDC’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 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- NTAP’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 4 bearish.
- WDC’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
NTAP (@Computer Communications) experienced а +3.16% price change this week, while WDC (@Computer Processing Hardware) price change was +1.13% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Computer Communications industry was -1.74%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -4.40%, and the average quarterly price growth was +22.69%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Computer Processing Hardware industry was -2.41%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -4.45%, and the average quarterly price growth was +37.14%.
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 (-1.74% 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 (-2.41% 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.
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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% | +1.62% | ||
| DELL - NTAP | 68% Closely correlated | -3.46% | ||
| HPQ - NTAP | 65% Loosely correlated | +0.06% | ||
| WDC - NTAP | 58% Loosely correlated | -0.78% | ||
| LOGI - NTAP | 55% Loosely correlated | -0.75% | ||
| STX - NTAP | 55% Loosely correlated | +0.51% | ||
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