1. Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:WDC)
On May 18, 2026, Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:WDC) announced the integration of post-quantum cryptography into its latest high-capacity Ultrastar UltraSMR hard disk drives, marking a new step in storage security for next-generation AI infrastructure. The company said the move comes as AI systems increasingly shift from compute-focused architectures toward persistent data storage environments supporting training, inference, and broader AI interactions. Western Digital added that the new drives are currently undergoing qualification with multiple hyperscale customers, reflecting early interest in quantum-resilient storage technologies.
Earlier in May, Baird raised the firm’s price target on Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:WDC) to $450 from $310 and maintained an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm said its updated model, following the company’s Q1 results, points to another wave of accelerating demand for storage infrastructure.
Last month, Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:WDC) reported Q3 adjusted EPS of $2.72, versus the consensus estimate of $2.39. Revenue totaled $3.34B, versus the consensus estimate of $3.25B. CEO Irving Tan said the company delivered strong execution during the quarter, with revenue growth across all end markets alongside expanding gross and operating margins. Gross margin exceeded 50% during the period. Management also announced a 20% increase in the quarterly cash dividend to $0.15 per share, citing confidence in the durability of the business. Tan added that AI workloads ranging from training and inference to agentic and physical AI continue driving persistent storage demand, benefiting HDD deployments.
Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:WDC) develops and manufactures hard disk drive-based storage devices and data infrastructure solutions globally.
While we acknowledge the potential of WDC to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than WDC and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 10 AI Stocks with Potential to Rise 1000 Percent and 9 Best American Semiconductor Stocks to Buy According to Analysts
Disclosure: None. Insider Monkey focuses on uncovering the best investment ideas of hedge funds and insiders. Please subscribe to our free daily e-newsletter to get the latest investment ideas from hedge funds’ investor letters by entering your email address below.
