Yield Theory

Information Technology stock comparison

NTAP vs WDC: which business are you actually underwriting?

Compare NetApp, Inc. with Western Digital Corporation using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
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Updated
2026-08-14

NTAP vs WDC: quick comparison

Company factNTAPWDC
CompanyNetApp, Inc.Western Digital Corporation
ExchangeNASDAQNASDAQ
SEC industryComputer Storage DevicesComputer Storage Devices
Fiscal year-endApril 24July 3
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-06-0510-K · 2026-08-14

NTAP vs WDC: audited financials

WDC reported about 1.5× the revenue of NTAP in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, NTAP converted a larger share of revenue into net income (20.5% versus 19.8%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.

MetricNTAPWDC
Revenue$6.2B$9.5B
Net income$1.3B$1.9B
Operating cash flow$2.1B$1.7B
Diluted EPS$6.35$5.12
Net margin20.5%19.8%

NTAP: FY ending 2026-04-24 · WDC: FY ending 2025-06-27. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

How the businesses differ

Why this pair belongs in the comparison set

NTAP and WDC share the SEC industry classification “Computer Storage Devices,” giving the comparison a primary-source operating relationship. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.

NetApp, Inc. (NTAP)

NetApp provides data-storage hardware and software that manage information across on-premises and cloud environments.

Western Digital Corporation (WDC)

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

The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. NTAP is classified by the SEC as Computer Storage Devices, while WDC is classified as Computer Storage Devices. The matching industry code strengthens the peer comparison, although product mix can still differ materially.

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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.

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Which thesis does each company fit?

Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.

Study NTAP when…

  • The AI capital-expenditure cycle
  • Interest rates and the cost of long-duration growth
  • Enterprise IT budgets and cloud migration
  • Export controls and the US–China chip race

Study WDC when…

  • The AI capital-expenditure cycle
  • Interest rates and the cost of long-duration growth
  • Enterprise IT budgets and cloud migration
  • Export controls and the US–China chip race

Shared research themes

Computer Storage Devices (SEC industry)

SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.NTAP's fiscal year ends April 24, 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 1matched transaction row for NTAPand 7 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.

NTAP vs WDC FAQs

Are NTAP and WDC direct competitors?

NetApp, Inc. and Western Digital Corporation share the SEC industry classification “Computer Storage Devices.” That makes the operating comparison relevant, but it does not prove that every product, customer, or revenue stream competes directly.

Which is better, NTAP 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 NTAP 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 NetApp, 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 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.

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