Western Digital Announces Financial Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2018

Fiscal 2018 Revenue Grows to $20.6 Billion, +8% Year-over-Year

Authorizes New $5 Billion Share Repurchase Program

Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ: WDC) today reported revenue of $5.1 billion for its fourth fiscal quarter ended June 29, 2018. Operating income was $843 million with net income of $756 million, or $2.46 per share. Excluding certain non-GAAP adjustments, the company achieved non-GAAP operating income of $1.3 billion and non-GAAP net income of $1.1 billion, or $3.61 per share.

In the year-ago quarter, the company reported revenue of $4.8 billion, operating income of $652 million and net income of $280 million, or $0.93 per share. Non-GAAP operating income in the year-ago quarter was $1.2 billion and non-GAAP net income was $881 million, or $2.93 per share.

The company generated $863 million in cash from operations during the fourth fiscal quarter of 2018, ending with $5.1 billion of total cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities. On May 2, 2018, the company declared a cash dividend of $0.50 per share of its common stock, which was paid to shareholders on July 16, 2018.

For fiscal 2018, the company achieved record revenue of $20.6 billion, operating income of $3.6 billion and net income of $675 million, or $2.20 per share, compared to fiscal 2017 revenue of $19.1 billion, operating income of $2.0 billion and net income of $397 million, or $1.34 per share. On a non-GAAP basis, fiscal 2018 operating income was $5.4 billion and net income was $4.5 billion, or $14.73 per share, compared to fiscal 2017 operating income of $3.9 billion and  net income of $2.7 billion, or $9.19 per share. The company generated $4.2 billion in cash from operations during the fiscal year 2018 and returned $1.2 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. 

"I am pleased with our financial performance as we report strong revenue, profitability and cash flow generation," said Steve Milligan, chief executive officer of Western Digital. "The Western Digital platform allows us to continue to deliver differentiated financial performance enabling us to effectively navigate dynamic market conditions. With a deepening customer engagement, and our growing exposure to secular growth areas such as mobility and cloud, we remain poised to deliver compelling long-term shareholder value."

The company also announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a new $5 billion share repurchase program, replacing all prior programs. 

"Western Digital's products and solutions are a key enabler of the ongoing growth in the volume and value of data. Our differentiated performance has demonstrated the stability, reliability and resiliency of our business model," said Steve Milligan. "This new significant share repurchase authorization reflects ongoing confidence in the fundamentals of our business and its cash flow generation capabilities. We believe it is an excellent capital allocation opportunity to enhance long-term shareholder value."

The investment community conference call to discuss these results, the company's guidance for the first fiscal quarter 2019 and an accompanying presentation will be broadcast live online today at 2:30 p.m. Pacific/5:30 p.m. Eastern. The live and archived conference call/webcast, the company's guidance for the first fiscal quarter and the earnings presentation can be accessed online at investor.wdc.com. The telephone replay number in the U.S. is 1(855) 859-2056 or +1(404) 537-3406 for international callers. The required conference ID is 8876946.

About Western Digital®

Western Digital creates environments for data to thrive. The company is driving the innovation needed to help customers capture, preserve, access and transform an ever-increasing diversity of data. Everywhere data lives, from advanced data centers to mobile sensors to personal devices, our industry-leading solutions deliver the possibilities of data. Western Digital data-centric solutions are marketed under the G-Technology™, HGST, SanDisk®, Tegile™, Upthere™ and WD® brands. Financial and investor information is available on the company's Investor Relations website at investor.wdc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements concerning the company's preliminary financial results for its fourth fiscal quarter ended June 29, 2018 and fiscal year 2018; platform and product portfolio; market positioning; growth opportunities; and potential repurchases in the future by the company of shares of its common stock. 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 fourth fiscal quarter ended June 29, 2018 and fiscal year 2018 included in this press release represent the most current information available to management. The company's actual results when disclosed in its Form 10-K may differ from these preliminary results as a result of the completion of the company's financial closing procedures; final adjustments; completion of the review and audit by the company's independent registered accounting firm and other developments that may arise between now and the disclosure of the final results. Other 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; business conditions and growth in the storage ecosystem; impact of competitive products and pricing; market acceptance and cost of commodity materials and specialized product components; actions by competitors; unexpected advances in competing technologies; our development and introduction of products based on new technologies and expansion into new data storage markets; risks associated with acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties listed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the company's Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 8, 2018, 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 these forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events.

Financial Statements

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2018 Quarterly Fact Sheets

Guidance Summary - July 26 2018

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Western Digital, the Western Digital logo, G-Technology, HGST, SanDisk, Tegile, Upthere and WD are registered trademarks or trademarks of Western Digital Corporation or its affiliates in the US and/or other countries.