10-KPeriod: FY2018

WESTERN DIGITAL CORP Annual Report, Year Ended Jun 29, 2018

Filed August 24, 2018For Securities:WDC

Summary

Western Digital Corporation (WDC) reported solid financial performance for the fiscal year ended June 29, 2018. The company experienced revenue growth across all its key end markets: Client Devices, Data Center Devices and Solutions, and Client Solutions. This growth was driven by strong demand for flash-based products and capacity enterprise HDDs, coupled with ongoing improvements in production costs from technology transitions. Despite a significant loss on debt extinguishment and a substantial provisional tax expense related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the company's net income saw an increase compared to the previous fiscal year. WDC also continued its shareholder return program through dividends and share repurchases, demonstrating a commitment to capital allocation. However, investors should note the company's significant debt load and the ongoing risks associated with its joint venture with Toshiba Memory Corporation (TMC), including potential supply disruptions and strategic misalignments. The company also faces intense competition and rapid technological change in the data storage industry.

Financial Highlights

32 data points
Beta

Revenue

$20.65B

37.3% Gross Margin

Net Income

$675.00M

3.3% Net Margin

EPS (Diluted)

$2.20

Free Cash Flow

$3.37B

Financial Statements
Beta
Revenue$20.65B
Cost of Revenue$12.94B
Gross Profit$7.71B
SG&A Expenses$1.47B
Operating Expenses$4.09B
Operating Income$3.62B
Interest Expense$676.00M
Net Income$675.00M
EPS (Basic)$2.27
EPS (Diluted)$2.20
Shares Outstanding (Basic)297.00M
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)307.00M

Key Highlights

  • 1Net revenue increased by 8% year-over-year to $20.65 billion, driven by growth across all end markets.
  • 2Gross profit increased by 27% to $7.71 billion, with gross margin improving to 37.3% from 31.8% in the prior year.
  • 3The company recognized a provisional income tax expense of $1.57 billion related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, significantly impacting net income.
  • 4Total debt remained substantial at $11.38 billion, although the company took steps to refinance and reduce its overall interest cost.
  • 5WDC repurchased $591 million of its common stock and paid $592 million in dividends during the fiscal year, continuing its shareholder return initiatives.
  • 6The company highlighted ongoing investments in flash technologies and acknowledged expected declines in flash memory gross margins in fiscal year 2019 due to increasing supply.
  • 7Key risks identified include dependence on the Toshiba Memory Corporation (TMC) joint venture, intense industry competition, and rapid technological obsolescence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Western Digital reported a net revenue of $20.65 billion for the fiscal year ended June 29, 2018, representing an 8% increase compared to the previous year. This growth was observed across all its major end markets: Client Devices, Data Center Devices and Solutions, and Client Solutions.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 resulted in a significant provisional income tax expense of $1.57 billion for Western Digital, primarily due to a one-time mandatory deemed repatriation tax on foreign earnings. This significantly impacted the company's reported net income for the fiscal year.

Key risks include significant dependence on its joint venture with Toshiba Memory Corporation (TMC) for flash-based memory supply and technology development, which carries risks of supply disruption and strategic misalignment. The company also operates in a highly competitive industry subject to volatile demand, rapid technological change, and potential price erosion. Additionally, the company carries a substantial amount of debt, which could impact its financial flexibility.

Western Digital refinanced and repaid a significant portion of its debt during the fiscal year to lower interest costs and extend maturities. The company continued its capital return program by paying $592 million in dividends and repurchasing $591 million of its common stock, with a new $5 billion repurchase program authorized.