Latest news with #MagneticRecording
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
BofA Raises Western Digital (WDC) PT to $71 Following 2025 BofA Global Technology Conference
Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:WDC) is one of the 8 Best Inexpensive Stocks to Buy Right Now. On June 9, Bank of America raised its price target for Western Digital to $71 from $62, while maintaining a Buy rating on the shares. This optimism stems from insights gained at the 2025 BofA Global Technology Conference, where analysts became more bullish on the Hard Disk Drive/HDD industry. BofA anticipates that the increasing demand from hyperscale customers will outpace Exabyte production growth over the next few quarters, which would favorably position the HDD sector and suggest potential gains for Western Digital investors. In FQ3 2025, Western Digital's revenue was $2.3 billion, which was up 31% year-over-year. Cloud revenue alone contributed $2 billion, which accounted for 87% of total revenue and grew by 38%. A data center filled with racks of hard disk drives and solid state drives. The company completed the planned separation of its Flash business in the quarter, which allowed it to focus on core HDD operations. Furthermore, Western Digital secured long-term agreements with two of its largest hyperscale customers, which provided demand visibility through H1 2026. The company is also on track with its Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording/HAMR technology milestones and collaborated closely with two hyperscale customers while receiving positive feedback. Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:WDC) develops, manufactures, and sells data storage devices and solutions internationally. While we acknowledge the potential of WDC as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the . READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.


Time of India
09-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
While big tech builds massive data centers, Seagate drops bombshell with 40TB drives that can change everything
Seagate has already shipped some 40TB hard drives, but they are not available for public sale yet. These new drives use Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) tech to store more data on each disk platter , 4TB per platter multiple 10 platters is equal to 40TB, as per reports. The drives are built on a new platform called Mozaic 4 plus, which is part of Seagate's next-gen storage tech. Only limited units have been sent to Seagate's customers so far for testing. Big testing phase will continue into 2026, so these drives won't be mass-produced until the first half of 2026. The goal is to move a large chunk of Seagate's data storage to HAMR-based drives because they're more efficient for data centers. These high-capacity drives help reduce space and increase efficiency in massive data centers , that's where the real use is. Seagate leads, but HAMR lags Seagate also plans to launch 44TB drives by 2027 and 50 TB drives by 2028. Their original target was 50TB by 2026, but it's delay shows how hard it is to scale HAMR tech. Still, this 40TB drive puts Seagate ahead in the race to make the world's biggest hard drive. Rival company Western Digital is going a different route , they're still using ePMR and OptiNAND for now. WD is also working on HAMR, but they'll launch their 40TB HAMR HDD only by late 2026. WD says HAMR will be truly useful only at 40TB and beyond, so till then they're improving old tech like UltraSMR to stretch HDD capacity. Live Events Toshiba, another competitor, is working on Microwave-Assisted Magnetic Recording (MAMR) right now. Toshiba wants to release a 35 TB HAMR drive before 2026 and may combine MAMR plus HAMR to push capacity. These drives are not for regular people or gamers , they're designed for huge data centers and AI-heavy work like cybersecurity. Even though it's not in stores, Seagate's 40 TB shipment proves they're leading the tech game, even if it'll take time to fully roll out. But still, getting to commercial use will be tough, and other companies are being cautious , that shows it's a long, tricky journey. FAQs Q1. What is Seagate's 40TB hard drive used for? It's made for big data centers, not for personal or home use. Q2. When will Seagate's 40TB drive be available to buy? Mass production may start in 2026 after testing is finished.


Express Tribune
02-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Seagate confirms shipping of 40TB HAMR HDDs
Seagate has quietly shipped limited samples of its new 40-terabyte hard drives, marking a significant step forward in storage technology. The 40TB drives use Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) technology, specifically Seagate's Mozaic 4+ platform, achieving 4TB per platter across ten platters. This innovation promises substantial gains in storage capacity and efficiency, especially for data centres handling large-scale operations. At a recent investor conference, Seagate's Chief Technology Officer, Dr John Morris, confirmed that engineering samples have already been delivered to select customers. 'We do plan to initiate qualifications next quarter, continuing into 2026, where we will bring a broad portion of our customer base onto the Mozaic 4 platform,' he said. Full production and commercial availability depend on the pace at which data centres integrate and validate the new drives. The company aims to shift a significant proportion of its exabyte-level shipments to HAMR-based drives, which offer improved capacity and operational efficiency. Seagate CEO Dr Dave Mosley highlighted the benefits for data centres: 'Ten disks give you 40 terabytes, offering better efficiencies at the fleet level, which is how our customers think.' Looking ahead, Seagate plans to expand capacity further, targeting 44TB drives by 2027 and 50TB models by 2028. These ambitions reflect ongoing challenges in scaling HAMR technology, with the 50TB drive launch delayed from an original 2017 projection to 2026. These ultra-high-capacity drives primarily target enterprise and data centre clients, rather than typical consumer markets, due to their specialised nature and cost. Seagate's early shipments underscore its technical lead in the race for the largest hard disk drives, though commercial rollout remains cautious amid the complexities of advanced storage technologies.


Techday NZ
25-05-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Seagate raises share buyback to USD $5 billion, sets 2028 goals
Seagate has outlined its long-term strategy for value growth, new financial targets through fiscal year 2028, and an expansion of its share repurchase programme. At its 2025 Investor and Analyst Event, Seagate set out its approach to capitalising on data storage demand and driving both profitability and shareholder value. Dave Mosley, Seagate's Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Technology innovation and AI are fueling exponential data growth and driving demand for the hard drive storage industry." "Seagate today is uniquely positioned to capture this opportunity with our Mozaic portfolio powered by market-leading HAMR technology. Our differentiated portfolio addresses critical data centre challenges, including cost, scale and sustainability, enabling us to deliver storage solutions for customers from cloud to edge." He continued, "Since our last Investor and Analyst Event in 2021, we have made structural improvements to extend demand visibility, maintain supply discipline, optimise product mix, and streamline cost structure. We are a stronger company today thanks to the dedicated efforts of our global team." "This is an incredibly exciting time at Seagate, and we are confident we have the right technology and strategy to lead the next era of storage in today's data-driven world, while delivering enhanced value to shareholders." The company presented new financial targets set through the fiscal year 2028, which, according to Seagate, are underpinned by the adoption of its HAMR (Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording) technology. This approach, the company asserts, provides a pathway from its current Mozaic 3+TB/disk product towards future 10+TB/disk capacities, responding to increasing requirements for mass-capacity storage. Mozaic is highlighted as Seagate's portfolio leveraging HAMR technology, targeted to address growing needs for both scale and efficiency in data centre environments. The roadmap outlined at the event details Seagate's intention to incrementally increase areal density and drive advancements in storage capacities, aiming to outpace industry requirements for enterprises and cloud providers alike. In addition to its product and strategy updates, Seagate announced that its Board of Directors has authorised an increase in share repurchase capacity, lifting the authorisation to USD $5 billion. This expanded authorisation, which does not carry a time limit, demonstrates what the company says is an ongoing commitment to returning capital to shareholders and reflects its confidence in its strategic direction and financial health. The company noted that any share repurchases would be subject to Seagate's financial position, performance, cash availability, capital demands, distributable reserves, and other considerations evaluated by the board. The increased focus on long-term profitability is positioned around both continued execution and operational discipline, as well as targeted investment in storage technologies. Seagate referenced structural changes since 2021 as key drivers enhancing its capacity to address market cycles and project financial visibility. Seagate reinforced its view that exponential data growth, fuelled by technology and artificial intelligence, is creating new demands within the hard drive storage industry. The company asserts its Mozaic HAMR-based portfolio offers competitive advantages on cost, scalability, and environmental considerations, intended to support deployment across cloud and edge environments. The company's materials presented during the event confirm plans for a sequence of product launches that continue the expansion of its Mozaic line, with a strategic focus on capacity increases critical to both hyperscale and enterprise markets. Seagate reports it has shipped more than four billion terabytes of data capacity since its founding, and maintains a product portfolio that covers data storage requirements from edge compute locations to core cloud data centres.


Techday NZ
23-05-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Seagate unveils growth strategy, boosts share repurchases to USD $5bn
Seagate Technology has announced a new business strategy targeting financial and technological growth supported by its Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) technology and a revised share repurchase program. The company has set new financial targets through its 2028 fiscal year, underpinned by the introduction and broader adoption of HAMR technology, which it claims will transform storage capacity and efficiency for hyperscale and enterprise data centres. As part of the announced strategy, Seagate also increased its share repurchase authorisation to USD $5 billion. Seagate outlined a product roadmap featuring its Mozaic platform, with projections to progress from 3+ terabytes per disk to more than 10 terabytes per disk in response to escalating demand for storage driven by artificial intelligence and cloud computing. The roadmap is designed to address increasing requirements from large-scale data centres, offering a scalable path to higher data storage densities. Dave Mosley, Seagate's Chief Executive Officer, said: "Technology innovation and AI are fueling exponential data growth and driving demand for the hard drive storage industry. Seagate today is uniquely positioned to capture this opportunity with our Mozaic portfolio powered by market-leading HAMR technology. Our differentiated portfolio addresses critical data center challenges, including cost, scale and sustainability, enabling us to deliver storage solutions for customers from cloud to edge." Mosley further commented: "Since our last Investor Day in 2021, we have made structural improvements to extend demand visibility, maintain supply discipline, optimize product mix, and streamline cost structure. We are a stronger company today thanks to the dedicated efforts of our global team. This is an incredibly exciting time at Seagate, and we are confident we have the right technology and strategy to lead the next era of storage in today's data-driven world, while delivering enhanced value to shareholders." During its investor event, Seagate shared new financial targets that cover the period through FY2028. The company is aiming for a revenue compound annual growth rate in the low-to-mid teens, a non-GAAP gross margin target of 40% with potential for further expansion, and an incremental margin of approximately 50% starting at USD $2.6 billion in quarterly revenue. Operating expenses are projected to remain around 10% of revenue, and capital expenditures are expected to be between 4% and 6% of revenue. The company anticipates returning more than 75% of free cash flow to shareholders. Part of the updated capital allocation strategy includes an increase in the share repurchase authorisation to USD $5 billion. The authorisation does not have a specific expiration date, and decisions regarding share repurchases will be influenced by Seagate's financial position, results of operations, available cash and cash flow, capital requirements, distributable reserves, and other factors deemed relevant by the company. The financial targets and product development roadmap are being introduced as data centre operators and cloud service providers face mounting requirements for cost-effective, high-capacity storage solutions. Seagate expects demand will be mainly driven by increased adoption of AI workloads, cloud migration, and continued digital transformation across several industries. Seagate's Mozaic portfolio, designed to be powered by HAMR technology, intends to address these requirements by elevating data storage density while aiming to improve cost efficiencies and operational sustainability within data centres. The company's management maintains that its technology and operational decisions are structured to provide long-term shareholder value while supporting evolving market needs. The company confirmed that the execution of repurchases within the expanded authorisation will remain flexible and evaluate multiple business and financial considerations. The share repurchase programme represents an ongoing component of Seagate's broader capital allocation strategy, reflecting management's stated confidence in the sustainability of its business model and future prospects. Seagate's updated strategic focus follows previous structural improvements since its last major investor update in 2021. These changes include efforts to enhance demand forecasting, maintain supply chain discipline, optimise product range, and reduce operating costs.