JBL vs WDC: how the two businesses compare

  • Bigger business: JBL, with $29.8B of yearly revenue, about 3.1× WDC's $9.5B.
  • More profitable: WDC keeps 17 cents of each sales dollar as profit, against 2 cents at JBL.
  • More cash from each sale: WDC turns 18 cents of each sales dollar into operating cash flow, against 6 cents at JBL.

From each company's latest annual SEC filing. Fiscal years can end on different dates.

Jabil (JBL) is the larger business by reported revenue: $29.8B in its fiscal year ended Aug 2025, about 3.1× WDC's $9.5B (fiscal year ended Jun 2025). JBL's net margin was 2.2% and WDC's 17.3%. The SEC classifies them differently (Printed Circuit Boards; Computer Storage Devices); what connects them is shared exposure to the Tariffs & trade research theme, not a common industry.

Figures come from each company's own SEC filings. This page compares the businesses; it is not a price target or a verdict.

Sector
Information Technology
SEC industry
Different
Separate classifications
Fiscal year ends
Different
JBL August 31 · WDC July 3
Reviewed
Oct 23, 2026

JBL vs WDC: quick comparison

Company factJBLWDC
CompanyJabil Inc.Western Digital Corporation
ExchangeNYSENASDAQ
SEC industryPrinted Circuit BoardsComputer Storage Devices
Fiscal year-endAugust 31July 3
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-10-2310-K · 2026-08-14

JBL vs WDC: audited financials

  • Scale: JBL's $29.8B of revenue is about 3.1× WDC's $9.5B.
  • Net margin: WDC kept 17.3% of revenue as net income versus 2.2% at JBL.
  • Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled JBL 5.5% of revenue, or 2.50× net income; WDC 17.8% of revenue, or 1.03× net income. A ratio well above 1× usually reflects non-cash charges or working-capital release; well below 1× can reflect working-capital build or non-cash gains.
  • Periods: the fiscal years end about 2 months apart (2025-08-31 for JBL, 2025-06-27 for WDC), so each figure reflects somewhat different demand and cost conditions.

JBL: FY ending 2025-08-31 · WDC: FY ending 2025-06-27. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

Where JBL and WDC overlap, and where they don't

Overlap

  • Shared research theme: Tariffs & trade.

Differences

  • Different SEC industries: JBL files as Printed Circuit Boards; WDC as Computer Storage Devices.
  • Offset fiscal calendars: JBL's year ends August 31 and WDC's July 3, about 2 months apart.
  • Scale: JBL reported about 3.1× the annual revenue of WDC.
  • Profitability: net margin of 2.2% for JBL versus 17.3% for WDC.

Overlap is drawn from SEC classifications and Yield Theory research themes. It is not evidence that the companies sell to the same customers or compete product for product.

Jabil Inc. (JBL)

Jabil provides contract electronics manufacturing and supply-chain services for a broad range of hardware makers.

Western Digital Corporation (WDC)

Western Digital makes hard-disk drives and flash storage products for data centers, PCs, and consumer devices.

What moves each company

Company-specific drivers maintained by Yield Theory. Use them to decide which filing deserves deeper work; they are not predictions.

What moves JBL

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for JBL. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-10-23.

What moves WDC

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for WDC. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-08-14.

The investment question

You now know JBL reports about 3.1× WDC's revenue, and WDC keeps more of each dollar as net income. Those are the facts. The investment question is what each share price already assumes about their exposure to tariffs & trade, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.

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SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable. JBL's fiscal year ends August 31, while WDC's ends July 3. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 0 matched transaction rows for JBL and 8 matched transaction rows for WDC. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

JBL vs WDC FAQs

Are JBL and WDC direct competitors?

Not necessarily. Jabil files as Printed Circuit Boards and Western Digital as Computer Storage Devices. The pair is compared because both map to the Tariffs & trade research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.

Is JBL or WDC the bigger company by revenue?

Jabil (JBL) is the larger business by reported revenue: $29.8B in its fiscal year ended Aug 2025, about 3.1× WDC's $9.5B (fiscal year ended Jun 2025). JBL's net margin was 2.2% and WDC's 17.3%. The SEC classifies them differently (Printed Circuit Boards; Computer Storage Devices); what connects them is shared exposure to the Tariffs & trade research theme, not a common industry. Each figure is the annual amount tagged in the company's own SEC XBRL filing; market value depends on live prices, which this page does not publish.

Which is better, JBL or WDC?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this JBL vs WDC comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Jabil Inc. and Western Digital Corporation tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-11-09. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-11-09. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?

JBL vs WDC compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $39/month or $249/year.

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