On Wednesday, Goldman Sachs maintained a Neutral rating on Seagate Technology (NASDAQ:STX) stock with a steady price target of $112.00. The firm's analysis highlighted Seagate's fiscal first quarter results and second quarter guidance, which slightly surpassed previous expectations set by Wall Street. The company reported a non-GAAP gross margin of 33.3%, marking the highest level in over a decade, driven by strong performance in Nearline HDD products.
Despite the prolonged qualification process for Seagate's HAMR-based drives, the firm noted positive developments, with several cloud and enterprise customers currently evaluating the technology. Goldman Sachs expressed confidence in the eventual industry-wide adoption of HAMR technology.
However, the firm has adjusted its non-GAAP EPS forecasts for Seagate for the calendar years 2024-2026, reducing them by an average of 10%. This revision accounts for expected seasonality in the March quarter and the possibility of slowing Nearline HDD price increases.
The updated 12-month price target of $112 suggests a modest 5% potential upside from the after-hours trading price of $107. Goldman Sachs' report includes a summary of key points from Seagate's earnings release and call, as well as implications for Western Digital (NASDAQ:WDC), which also holds a Neutral rating from the firm. The full note provides an updated bull/bear framework for Seagate Technology.
In other recent news, Seagate Technology has experienced significant developments. Earnings and revenue results surpassed expectations, with a reported revenue of $2.17 billion and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.58. This success was driven by a substantial 49% increase in year-over-year revenue and a 55% rise in hard disk drive sales.
Several financial firms, including Citi, Evercore ISI, BofA Securities, Loop Capital, and Morgan Stanley, have raised their price targets for Seagate, reflecting an optimistic outlook on the company's financial performance. These revisions come in light of Seagate's robust quarterly results and the expected sustained demand strength, particularly from cloud services and enterprise original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
In other company news, Seagate's shareholders approved executive pay and the re-allotment of shares during the recent Annual General Meeting. Additionally, Robert A. Bruggeworth, a member of the Board of Directors, will not stand for re-election at the upcoming Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. These are among the recent developments shaping Seagate Technology's market journey.
InvestingPro Insights
Seagate Technology's recent performance aligns with several InvestingPro metrics and tips. The company's stock is trading near its 52-week high, with a significant 77.86% price total return over the past year. This strong performance is reflected in InvestingPro's observation of a "high return over the last year" and a "large price uptick over the last six months."
Despite Goldman Sachs maintaining a Neutral rating, InvestingPro data shows that Seagate's revenue grew 17.79% in the most recent quarter, indicating a potential turnaround from the -11.28% revenue decline over the last twelve months. This aligns with the InvestingPro Tip suggesting that "analysts anticipate sales growth in the current year."
It's worth noting that while Seagate's P/E ratio stands at 70.16, which could be considered high, an InvestingPro Tip points out that the company is "trading at a low P/E ratio relative to near-term earnings growth." This suggests potential value for investors looking at future earnings prospects.
For readers interested in a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 13 additional tips for Seagate Technology, providing a deeper understanding of the company's financial health and market position.
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