Core Insights - Seagate Technology Holdings Plc. is a key player in the data storage industry, focusing on innovative storage solutions and benefiting from the increasing demand for data centers and AI applications [1] Financial Performance - Seagate reported earnings per share (EPS) of $3.11, exceeding the estimated $2.78 and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.83, marking a positive surprise of over 10% [2][6] - The company's revenue for the quarter was approximately $2.83 billion, surpassing the estimated $2.73 billion and showing growth from $2.33 billion reported in the same period last year [3][6] - Over the past four quarters, Seagate has consistently outperformed consensus earnings and revenue estimates, indicating strong financial growth [3] Operational Highlights - The strong results are attributed to operational execution and sustained demand for data centers, with CEO Dave Mosley noting the success of HAMR-based Mozaic products as a key factor [4] - Despite the positive earnings report, Seagate's shares remained mostly flat in extended trading, although the company provided strong guidance for the upcoming third quarter [4] Financial Metrics - The P/E ratio of approximately 46.23 indicates investor confidence, while the price-to-sales ratio of about 8.31 reflects its market value relative to revenue [5] - The negative debt-to-equity ratio of -79.27 suggests a higher level of debt compared to equity, which is a consideration for investors [5][6]

Financial Performance - Seagate reported a revenue of $2.825 billion for the second fiscal quarter of FY2026, representing a year-over-year growth of 21.5% and a quarter-over-quarter growth of 7.5% [1] - The GAAP gross margin for the December quarter was 41.6%, while the Non-GAAP gross margin was 42.2% [1] - The GAAP operating margin stood at 29.8%, with a Non-GAAP operating margin of 31.9% [1] Product and Market Outlook - Seagate's nearline mechanical hard drive capacity has sold out for the current calendar year, with orders for the first half of 2027 expected to be accepted in the coming months [3] - The average capacity of Seagate's nearline mechanical hard drives increased by 22% in the last quarter [3] - The new generation HAMR platform, Mozaic 4, is set to ramp up production later this quarter, with expectations to complete certification processes for multiple cloud service providers in the coming months [3] - Seagate anticipates strong demand for mechanical hard drives to continue for a significant period [3] - The company projects a revenue of $2.9 billion for FY2026Q3 [3]

智通财经APP获悉，与闪迪、西部数据共同位列美国三大存储产品领军势力的希捷科技(STX.US)周二美股收盘后公布季度业绩 以及未来展望，数据显示出全球科技企业对于高性能近线HDD与企业级数据中心SSD近乎"无止境"炸裂式需求推动之下，这家 存储巨头季度业绩与业绩展望指引均全线超出华尔街分析师预期。希捷的这份全线超预期式强劲增长业绩，可谓全面强化三大 存储芯片原厂——三星、SK海力士与美光科技，以及西部数据和闪迪等存储产品巨头们强势领衔的所谓"存储超级周期"繁荣增 长叙事。 市场最为聚焦的业绩展望方面，希捷科技管理层给出的2026财年第三财季的营收和利润均显著高于华尔街分析师一致预期，全 面凸显出随着企业加速扩大人工智能应用规模带来AI算力需求指数级扩张，其企业级HDD与SSD高性能数据存储设备需求持续 强劲。 包括Meta、微软以及谷歌在内的全球最大规模科技巨头们正愈发激进向AI数据中心以及密切相关联的AI基础设施投资领域数万 亿美元规模，用于训练和高效率运行超大参数大语言模型(LMM)。这种AI算力需求持续井喷式扩张所带来的堪称无止境存储需 求激增，正在史无前例地惠及西部数据、希捷以及闪迪等传统存储型硬件供 ...

Market Overview - Wall Street experienced renewed momentum with the S&P 500 reaching fresh highs, while major U.S. indices closed mixed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 0.8% to 49,003.41, the S&P 500 increased by 0.41% to 6,978.60, and the Nasdaq rose by 0.9% to 23,817.09 [1] Seagate Technology Holdings Plc - Seagate's stock increased by 3.76% to close at $371.76, with an intraday high of $383.88 and a low of $361. The stock's 52-week range is between $63.21 and $383.88. In after-hours trading, the stock rose by 9.66% to $407.64 [1] - Seagate reported second-quarter earnings of $3.11 per share, surpassing estimates of $2.81, with revenue of $2.83 billion, exceeding the consensus of $2.73 billion and up from $2.33 billion a year earlier. The results were driven by strong data center demand and momentum from HAMR-based Mozaic products. For the third quarter, Seagate guided for adjusted EPS of $3.20–$3.60 and revenue of $2.8–$3.0 billion, both ahead of Wall Street expectations [2] Texas Instruments Inc. - Texas Instruments saw a marginal increase of 0.02%, closing at $196.63, with an intraday high of $198.41 and a low of $194.34. The stock's 52-week range is $139.95 to $221.69. In after-hours trading, the stock surged by 8.08% to $212.51 [3] - Texas Instruments reported fourth-quarter revenue of $4.42 billion, slightly missing estimates of $4.44 billion, while earnings were $1.27 per share, below the consensus of $1.30. The results included a six-cent per share reduction not part of its original guidance, despite a 10% year-over-year revenue increase. The company generated $7.2 billion in operating cash flow and $2.9 billion in free cash flow over the past 12 months, ending the quarter with $3.23 billion in cash. For the first quarter, the company guided revenue of $4.32–$4.68 billion and earnings of $1.22–$1.48 per share, broadly in line to slightly above expectations [4] Richtech Robotics Inc. - Richtech Robotics surged by 44.62%, closing at $5.51, with an intraday high of $5.60 and a low of $4.05. The stock's 52-week range is $1.37 to $7.43 [5] - The company announced a new partnership with Microsoft to enhance its AI capabilities, which significantly contributed to the stock's gains. The partnership focuses on integrating Azure AI vision, voice, and reasoning tools into its ADAM robot, enabling more contextual and autonomous behavior. The upgraded ADAM platform can now consider various factors such as time of day and weather, while proactively addressing potential operational issues [6] Corning Incorporated - Corning's stock jumped by 15.55% to $109.74, with an intraday high of $113.99 and a low of $100.97. The stock rose by 3.88% in extended trading to $114 [7] - A $6 billion deal with Meta Platforms to supply data center infrastructure significantly boosted Corning's shares. The agreement involves supplying Meta with optical fiber, cable, and connectivity solutions tailored for high-density AI data centers, aimed at supporting Meta's AI applications and infrastructure needs. Corning plans to expand manufacturing capacity in North Carolina, including a major expansion at its Hickory optical cable facility, where Meta will be the anchor customer [8] Lam Research - Lam Research's stock rose by 7.00%, closing at $238.46, with an intraday high of $239.5 and a low of $228.76. The stock rose by 1.07% to $241 in after-hours trading [9] - Investors are anticipating the company's upcoming earnings report, with expectations of positive guidance and performance exceeding expectations. Analysts expect Lam Research to report EPS of $1.17, with a focus on both potential earnings beats and forward guidance [10]

Core Viewpoint - The semiconductor capital equipment sector presents a safer investment opportunity compared to data storage stocks, which have seen significant price increases recently. Group 1: Data Storage Stocks - Major players in the data storage sector, including Micron, Western Digital, Seagate, and SanDisk, have reported substantial gains, with SanDisk more than doubling in value since the beginning of the year [1][2]. - Despite a severe shortage of memory products due to data center expansions, the volatility of commodity chip makers makes them risky investments [2][3]. - Potential disruptions from competitors or changes in investment strategies by hyperscalers could negatively impact these stocks [3]. Group 2: Semiconductor Capital Equipment - The semiconductor capital equipment companies, such as ASML, Applied Materials, KLA, and Lam Research, have also seen significant gains, ranging from 29% to 39% since January [5][6]. - These companies are expected to benefit from increased orders as manufacturers ramp up production to address chip shortages [5][6]. - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) plans to invest between $52 billion and $56 billion in capital expenditures for 2023, a 27% to 37% increase from the previous year, indicating strong demand for semiconductor production [7][8]. Group 3: Future Outlook - TSMC does not anticipate a balance between supply and demand until 2028 or 2029, suggesting sustained high capital expenditures, which is favorable for capital equipment makers [8]. - The demand for AI semiconductors is driving investments in advanced manufacturing equipment, benefiting companies like ASML [9]. - Micron is also investing heavily in new production facilities, which will create consistent orders for capital equipment suppliers [11][12]. Group 4: Market Reactions and Predictions - Intel's recent poor guidance, despite solid quarterly results, highlights the challenges in meeting chip demand, which could lead to increased business for capital equipment makers [13][14]. - Upcoming earnings reports from major semiconductor capital equipment companies are highly anticipated, with expectations for strong performance, although the high stock prices may lead to volatility [15][16]. - Analysts suggest that if stocks like Lam Research experience a pullback, it could present a buying opportunity for long-term investors [18][19].

Core Viewpoint - Seagate Technology reported strong fiscal second-quarter results for 2026, highlighting record revenue, profitability, and demand across data center markets, driven by the ramp-up of heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) products and a strategic focus on high-capacity nearline drives [3][6][2]. Financial Performance - Seagate's fiscal Q2 revenue reached $2.83 billion, marking a 7% sequential increase and a 22% year-over-year growth [7][6]. - Non-GAAP gross margin was reported at 42.2%, up 210 basis points sequentially, while non-GAAP operating margin expanded to 31.9%, an increase of 290 basis points [7][10]. - Non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) stood at $3.11, reflecting a 19% quarter-over-quarter increase [7][10]. Product and Capacity Developments - The company shipped 190 exabytes in the quarter, a 26% increase year-over-year, with data center shipments accounting for 87% of the total volume [8][9]. - Seagate's nearline drive capacities increased by 22% year-over-year, approaching 23 terabytes per drive, with cloud customers averaging even higher capacities [6][10]. - Quarterly HAMR shipments exceeded 1.5 million units, with Mozaic 3 drives qualified with major U.S. cloud service providers (CSPs) and Mozaic 4 qualification on track [5][6]. Cash Flow and Debt Management - The company generated $607 million in free cash flow, the highest in eight years, and ended the quarter with over $1 billion in cash and cash equivalents [12][13]. - Seagate retired approximately $500 million of exchangeable senior notes and returned $154 million to shareholders through dividends, improving its net leverage ratio to 1.1x [13][12]. Future Outlook - For the March quarter, Seagate guided revenue to approximately $2.9 billion, representing a 34% year-over-year improvement at the midpoint, with non-GAAP operating margin expected to approach the mid-30s percentage range [14][15]. - Management anticipates that data center demand will offset typical seasonality in the edge IoT market, with expectations for further expansion in free cash flow driven by operational efficiency [16][14]. Pricing and Supply Agreements - Seagate has established purchase orders for all quarters of calendar 2026, with volume and pricing well defined, while indications for calendar 2027 volumes are positive but pricing remains unconfirmed [18][17]. - Executives noted that customer behavior is improving planning, enhancing visibility and factory planning for Seagate [19][17].

The Nasdaq led US stock futures higher on Wednesday as AI trade fervor spread ahead of the Federal Reserve’s latest policy decision and earnings from megacap techs. Contracts on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) climbed about 0.9%, while those on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) hovered below the flat line. S&P 500 futures (ES=F) moved up 0.3% on the heels of an all-time closing high. Techs are set to buoy markets again as a surprise record surge in orders for ASML's (ASML) chipmaking machines sto ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Seagate reported December quarter revenue of $2.83 billion, representing a 7% sequential increase and a 22% year-over-year increase [15] - Non-GAAP gross margin improved to 42.2%, up 210 basis points sequentially, while non-GAAP operating margin expanded by 290 basis points to 31.9% [15][19] - Non-GAAP EPS was $3.11, reflecting a 19% increase quarter-over-quarter [15][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The data center market accounted for 87% of shipment volume, with 165 exabytes shipped, up 4% sequentially and 31% year-over-year [16] - Average cloud nearline drive capacities increased to nearly 26 terabytes in the December quarter, with a strong demand for higher capacity drives [17] - The edge IoT market contributed $601 million, supported by seasonal improvements in consumer products [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Demand for high-capacity nearline drives in global cloud data centers continued to grow, with nearline capacity fully allocated through calendar year 2026 [7] - The average nearline drive capacity rose by 22% year-over-year, approaching 23 TB per drive [8] - Video applications are driving significant demand, with platforms like YouTube seeing 20 million video uploads daily, up from 2 million three years ago [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Seagate's HAMR technology roadmap is positioned to meet growing demand and improve total cost of ownership (TCO) for customers [12][14] - The company aims to maintain supply discipline while satisfying exabyte growth through advancements in areal density without increasing unit production volume [7] - Seagate is focused on expanding profitability through a higher capacity product mix, supported by strong demand from AI applications [13][24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strong demand environment, particularly from global cloud customers, and expects data center demand to offset typical seasonality [22][23] - The company anticipates revenue for the March quarter to be in the range of $2.9 billion ±$100 million, representing a 34% year-over-year improvement [23] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining pricing discipline and the potential for flat to slightly increased pricing in the future [28][71] Other Important Information - Seagate generated over $600 million in free cash flow, the highest level in eight years, and retired $500 million in gross debt [15][21] - The company expects to continue improving profitability and cash generation throughout calendar 2026 [24] - Seagate's net leverage ratio improved to 1.1 times, with expectations for further reduction as profitability increases [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more detail on gross margins going forward? - Management indicated that pricing will be dictated by demand, with potential for flat to slightly up pricing as capacity increases [28] Question: How do you see the pricing dynamics evolving? - Management noted that demand remains strong, and discussions with customers are focused on future planning [35] Question: What is the expected growth rate for exabyte shipments in 2026? - Management did not provide specific guidance for 2026 but indicated a mid-20% growth expectation for nearline exabytes [60] Question: How is the transition to HAMR technology progressing? - The transition is on track, with six out of eight major cloud service providers qualified for HAMR products [48] Question: What portion of your LTAs has fixed pricing agreements? - Management confirmed that for 2026, volume and pricing are well defined, but pricing for 2027 has not yet been fixed [96]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Seagate reported December quarter revenue of $2.83 billion, up 7% sequentially and 22% year-over-year, setting new records for profitability metrics [15][24] - Non-GAAP gross margin increased to 42.2%, up 210 basis points sequentially, while non-GAAP operating margin expanded by 290 basis points to 31.9% [15][19] - Non-GAAP EPS was $3.11, reflecting a 19% increase quarter-over-quarter [15][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The data center market accounted for 87% of shipment volume, with 165 exabytes shipped, up 4% sequentially and 31% year-over-year [16] - Average cloud nearline drive capacities rose to nearly 26 TB in the December quarter, indicating a shift towards higher capacity drives [17] - The edge IoT market contributed $601 million, supported by seasonal improvements in consumer products [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Demand for high-capacity nearline drives in global cloud data centers continued to grow, with nearline capacity fully allocated through calendar year 2026 [7][16] - Video applications are driving significant demand, with platforms like YouTube seeing 20 million video uploads daily, up from 2 million three years ago [8] - The strategic value of data is increasing, particularly with the rise of AI applications that require large volumes of historic data [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Seagate's HAMR technology roadmap is positioned to meet growing demand and improve total cost of ownership (TCO) for customers [12][14] - The company aims to maintain supply discipline while satisfying exabyte growth through advancements in areal density without increasing unit production volume [7][12] - Seagate is focused on expanding profitability through a higher capacity product mix, supported by strong demand from AI applications [13][24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strong demand environment, particularly from global cloud customers, and expects data center demand to offset typical seasonality [22][23] - The company anticipates continued sequential improvement in revenue and profitability throughout calendar 2026 [24] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining predictable supply and pricing strategies as they transition to higher capacity products [28][70] Other Important Information - Seagate generated over $600 million in free cash flow, the highest level in eight years, and retired $500 million in gross debt [15][21] - The company expects capital expenditures for fiscal year 2026 to remain within the target range of 4%-6% of revenue [21][102] - Cash and cash equivalents totaled just over $1 billion, with ample liquidity of $2.3 billion [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more detail on gross margins going forward? - Management indicated that pricing will be dictated by demand, with potential for flat to slightly up pricing as capacity increases [28][29] Question: How do you see the pricing dynamics evolving? - Management noted that strong demand is leading to better discussions with customers about future pricing, with expectations for flat to slightly up pricing [34][70] Question: What is the expected growth rate for exabyte shipments in 2026? - Management did not provide specific guidance for 2026 but indicated a mid-20% growth rate for nearline exabytes based on historical performance [58] Question: How is the transition to HAMR technology progressing? - Management reported successful qualification of major cloud service providers and expects to ramp up production of 4 TB per disk drives [47][91] Question: What portion of your LTAs has fixed pricing agreements? - Management confirmed that pricing and volume for 2026 are well defined, with ongoing discussions for 2027 [96][97]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Seagate reported December quarter revenue of $2.83 billion, representing a 7% sequential increase and a 22% year-over-year increase [14] - Non-GAAP gross margin improved to 42.2%, up 210 basis points sequentially, while non-GAAP operating margin expanded by 290 basis points to 31.9% [14][17] - Non-GAAP EPS was $3.11, reflecting a 19% increase quarter-over-quarter [14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The data center market accounted for 87% of shipment volume, with 165 exabytes shipped, up 4% sequentially and 31% year-over-year [15] - Average cloud nearline drive capacities increased to nearly 26 terabytes in the December quarter, indicating a shift towards higher capacity drives [16] - The edge IoT market contributed $601 million, supported by seasonal improvements in consumer products [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Demand for high-capacity nearline drives in global cloud data centers continued to grow, with sustained demand trends expected to persist [6][7] - Video applications are driving significant demand for hard drives, with platforms like YouTube seeing a surge in uploads [8] - The strategic value of data is increasing, particularly with the rise of AI applications that require large volumes of historic data [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Seagate's HAMR technology is positioned as a long-term enabler of mass capacity storage, with expectations to deliver 10 TB per disk early in the next decade [5][12] - The company aims to maintain supply discipline while meeting demand growth through advancements in areal density without increasing unit production volume [7] - Seagate is focused on expanding profitability through a higher capacity product mix, supported by strong demand from AI applications [12][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strong demand environment, particularly among global cloud customers, and expects data center demand to offset typical seasonal declines [20][21] - The company anticipates revenue for the March quarter to be in the range of $2.9 billion ±$100 million, representing a 34% year-over-year improvement [21] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining pricing discipline and the potential for flat to slightly increasing pricing in the future [26][71] Other Important Information - Seagate generated over $600 million in free cash flow, the highest level in eight years, and retired $500 million in gross debt [14][20] - The company expects capital expenditures for fiscal year 2026 to remain within the target range of 4%-6% of revenue [19][102] - Cash and cash equivalents totaled just over $1 billion, with ample liquidity of $2.3 billion [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more detail on gross margins going forward? - Management indicated that pricing will be dictated by demand, with potential for flat to slightly up pricing as capacity increases [26] Question: Can you help bridge the drivers between mix and price? - Management noted that demand remains strong, and discussions with customers are focused on future planning [32] Question: What is the expected exabyte growth for this calendar year? - Management did not provide specific guidance for calendar 2026 but indicated a mid-20% exabyte growth CAGR is expected [58] Question: How is the transition to HAMR technology progressing? - The transition is on track, with six out of eight top cloud service providers qualified for HAMR technology [46] Question: What portion of your LTAs has fixed pricing agreements? - Management confirmed that volume and pricing for 2026 are well defined, with discussions for 2027 beginning soon [95]