wdc-20220805
0000106040false00001060402022-08-052022-08-05

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 5, 2022
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WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware001-0870333-0956711
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
5601 Great Oaks Parkway
95119
San Jose
California
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)
(408717-6000
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value Per ShareWDC
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
(Nasdaq Global Select Market)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐



Item 2.02    Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On August 5, 2022, Western Digital Corporation announced financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year ended July 1, 2022. A copy of the press release making this announcement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information in this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)    Exhibits

99. 1    Press Release issued by Western Digital Corporation on August 5, 2022 announcing financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year ended July 1, 2022.

104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)




SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Western Digital Corporation
(Registrant)
By:/s/ Michael C. Ray
Michael C. Ray
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer
and Secretary
Date: August 5, 2022







Document

Exhibit 99.1
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Western Digital Reports Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Results

News Summary
Fourth quarter revenue was $4.53 billion, down 8% year-over-year (YoY). Cloud revenue increased 5%, Client revenue declined 14%, and Consumer revenue declined 23% YoY. Fiscal year 2022 revenue was $18.79 billion, up 11% YoY.
Fourth quarter GAAP earnings per share (EPS) was $0.95 and Non-GAAP EPS was $1.78. Fiscal year 2022 GAAP EPS was $4.75 and non-GAAP EPS was $8.22.
Generated operating cash flow of $295 million and free cash flow of $(97) million in the fourth quarter. Generated operating cash flow of $1.88 billion and free cash flow of $0.68 billion in fiscal year 2022.
Expect fiscal first quarter 2023 revenue to be in the range of $3.60 billion to $3.80 billion with Non-GAAP EPS in the range of $0.35 to $0.65.

SAN JOSE, Calif., — August 5, 2022 — Western Digital Corp. (Nasdaq: WDC) today reported fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year 2022 financial results.

“I am proud of our team for driving strong fiscal year 2022 performance, during which revenue grew 11% and non-GAAP EPS increased 81%, demonstrating progress in unlocking the earnings potential of our business,” said David Goeckeler, Western Digital CEO. “In addition to strong financial performance, fiscal year 2022 was a hallmark year for Western Digital from an innovation, product development and execution perspective. The combination of our innovation engine and the multiple channels to deliver our products to the market puts Western Digital in a great position to capitalize on the large and growing opportunities in storage ahead even in the midst of macro dynamics weighing on near-term demand.”










Western Digital Reports Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Results
Page 2

Q4 2022 Financial Highlights
GAAPNon-GAAP
Q4 2022Q3 2022Q/QQ4 2022Q3 2022Q/Q
Revenue ($M)$4,528$4,381up 3%$4,528$4,381up 3%
Gross Margin31.9%27.0%up 4.9 ppt32.3%31.7%up 0.6 ppt
Operating Expenses ($M)$883$857up 3%$760$740up 3%
Operating Income ($M)$562$324up 73%$702$650up 8%
Net Income ($M)$301$25*$567$521up 9%
Earnings Per Share$0.95$0.08*$1.78$1.65up 8%
* not a meaningful figure
GAAPNon-GAAP
Q4 2022Q4 2021Y/YQ4 2022Q4 2021Y/Y
Revenue ($M)$4,528$4,920down 8%$4,528$4,920down 8%
Gross Margin31.9%31.8%up 0.1 ppt32.3%32.9%down 0.6 ppt
Operating Expenses ($M)$883$891down 1%$760$790down 4%
Operating Income ($M)$562$675down 17%$702$828down 15%
Net Income ($M)$301$622down 52%$567$680down 17%
Earnings Per Share$0.95$1.97down 52%$1.78$2.16down 18%

The company generated $295 million in cash flow from operations, made a scheduled and discretionary debt repayment of $150 million and ended the quarter with $2.33 billion of total cash and cash equivalents.

Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Highlights
GAAPNon-GAAP
20222021Y/Y20222021Y/Y
Revenue ($M)$18,793$16,922up 11%$18,793$16,922up 11%
Gross Margin31.3%26.7%up 4.6 ppt32.9%28.6%up 4.3 ppt
Operating Expenses ($M)$3,483$3,301up 6%$3,002$2,926up 3%
Operating Income ($M)$2,391$1,220up 96%$3,186$1,906up 67%
Net Income ($M)$1,500$821up 83%$2,599$1,406up 85%
Earnings Per Share$4.75$2.66up 79%$8.22$4.55up 81%


Additional details can be found within the company’s earnings presentation, which is accessible online at investor.wdc.com.



Western Digital Reports Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Results
Page 3

End Market Summary
Revenue ($M)Q4 2022Q3 2022Q/QQ4 2021Y/Y20222021Y/Y
Cloud$2,098$1,774up 18%$1,995up 5%$8,017$5,723up 40%
Client1,6371,732down 5%1,895down 14%7,0767,281down 3%
Consumer793875down 9%1,030down 23%3,7003,918down 6%
Total Revenue$4,528$4,381up 3%$4,920down 8%$18,793$16,922up 11%

In the fiscal fourth quarter:
Cloud represented 46% of total revenue. Within Cloud, the continued ramp of our 18-terabyte and 20-terabyte drives drove a 7% year-over-year increase in nearline HDD revenue. In Flash, enterprise SSD revenue more than doubled sequentially and was up 38% year-over-year.

Client represented 36% of total revenue. On both a sequential and year-over-year basis, client HDD led the revenue decline while Flash was roughly flat.

Consumer represented 18% of revenue. On a sequential basis, the revenue decline was primarily due to lower retail HDD shipments. The year-over-year decrease was due to broad-based decline in retail products across HDD and Flash.

In fiscal year 2022:
Cloud represented 42% of total revenue. The revenue increase was led by a 38% increase in nearline HDD while Flash products for enterprise SSD applications more than doubled.

Client represented 38% of total revenue. Revenue declined modestly as growth in Flash was offset by a mid-30% decrease in client HDD.

Consumer represented 20% of total revenue. The revenue decline was all attributed to retail HDD.







Western Digital Reports Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Results
Page 4

Business Outlook for Fiscal First Quarter of 2023
Three Months Ending
September 30, 2022
GAAP(1)
Non-GAAP(1)
Revenue ($B)$3.60 - $3.80$3.60 - $3.80
Gross margin27.1% - 29.1%27.5% - 29.5%
Operating expenses ($M)$870 - $890$760 - $780
Interest and other expense, net ($M)~$70~$70
Tax rateN/A
     28% - 30%(2)
Diluted earnings per shareN/A$0.35 - $0.65
Diluted shares outstanding (in millions)~319~319
(1) Non-GAAP gross margin guidance excludes stock-based compensation expense of approximately $10 million to $15 million. The company’s Non-GAAP operating expenses guidance excludes amortization of acquired intangible assets and stock-based compensation expense, totaling approximately $100 million to $120 million. In the aggregate, Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share guidance excludes these items totaling $110 million to $135 million. The timing and amount of these charges excluded from Non-GAAP gross margin, Non-GAAP operating expenses, and Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share cannot be further allocated or quantified with certainty. Additionally, the timing and amount of additional charges the company excludes from its Non-GAAP tax rate and Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share are dependent on the timing and determination of certain actions and cannot be reasonably predicted. Accordingly, full reconciliations of Non-GAAP gross margin, Non-GAAP operating expenses, Non-GAAP tax rate and Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures (gross margin, operating expenses, tax rate and diluted earnings per share, respectively) are not available without unreasonable effort.

(2) The Non-GAAP tax rate provided is based on a percentage of Non-GAAP pre-tax income. Due to differences in the tax treatment of items excluded from our Non-GAAP net income and because our tax rate is based on an estimated forecasted annual GAAP tax rate, our estimated Non-GAAP tax rate may differ from our GAAP tax rate and from our actual tax rates. Tax law changes that became effective for our fiscal year 2023 require the capitalization of certain R&D costs that were previously eligible for immediate deduction from taxable income. The impact of these tax law changes is expected to include an immediate increase in our tax rate of approximately 12 percentage points, which is reflected in the guidance provided in the table above. This impact on the tax rate is expected to decrease gradually over time.




Western Digital Reports Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Results
Page 5

Investor Communications
The investment community conference call to discuss these results and the company’s business outlook for the fiscal first quarter of 2023 will be broadcast live online today at 5:30 a.m. Pacific/8:30 a.m. Eastern. The live and archived conference call/webcast and the earnings presentation can be accessed online at investor.wdc.com.

About Western Digital
Western Digital is on a mission to unlock the potential of data by harnessing the possibility to use it. With Flash and HDD franchises, underpinned by advancements in memory technologies, we create breakthrough innovations and powerful data storage solutions that enable the world to actualize its aspirations. Core to our values, we recognize the urgency to combat climate change and have committed to ambitious carbon reduction goals approved by the Science Based Targets initiative. Learn more about Western Digital and the Western Digital®, SanDisk® and WD® brands at www.westerndigital.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws, including statements regarding expectations for the company’s business outlook and financial performance for the fiscal first quarter of 2023; demand trends, and market conditions; and the potential for the company's innovation engine and multiple channels to market to drive future performance. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. The preliminary financial results for the company’s fiscal fourth quarter ended July 1, 2022 and fiscal year 2022 included in this press release represent the most current information available to management. The company’s actual results when disclosed in its Form 10-K may differ from these preliminary results as a result of the completion of the company’s financial closing procedures; final adjustments; completion of the review and audit by the company’s independent registered accounting firm; and other developments that may arise between now and the disclosure of the final results. Other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include: future responses to and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; volatility in global economic conditions; impact of business and market conditions; the outcome and impact of our ongoing strategic review, including with respect to customer and supplier relationships, regulatory and contractual restrictions, stock price volatility and the diversion of management's attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; impact of competitive products and pricing; our development and introduction of products based on new technologies and expansion into new data storage markets; risks associated with cost saving initiatives, restructurings, acquisitions, divestitures, mergers, joint ventures and our strategic relationships; difficulties or delays



Western Digital Reports Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Results
Page 6

in manufacturing or other supply chain disruptions; hiring and retention of key employees; our level of debt and other financial obligations; changes to our relationships with key customers; disruptions in operations from cybersecurity incidents or other system security risks; actions by competitors; risks associated with compliance with changing legal and regulatory requirements and the outcome of legal proceedings; and other risks and uncertainties listed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the company’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on August 27, 2021, to which your attention is directed. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events, except as required by law.

###
Western Digital, the Western Digital logo, SanDisk and WD are registered trademarks or trademarks of Western Digital Corporation or its affiliates in the US and/or other countries.
















WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION
PRELIMINARY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions; unaudited; on a US GAAP basis)
July 1,
2022
July 2,
2021
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents$2,327 $3,370 
Accounts receivable, net2,804 2,257 
Inventories3,638 3,616 
Other current assets684 514 
Total current assets9,453 9,757 
Property, plant and equipment, net3,670 3,188 
Notes receivable and investments in Flash Ventures1,396 1,586 
Goodwill10,041 10,066 
Other intangible assets, net213 442 
Other non-current assets1,486 1,093 
Total assets$26,259 $26,132 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable$1,902 $1,934 
Accounts payable to related parties320 398 
Accrued expenses1,825 1,653 
Accrued compensation510 634 
Current portion of long-term debt— 251 
Total current liabilities4,557 4,870 
Long-term debt7,022 8,474 
Other liabilities2,459 2,067 
Total liabilities14,038 15,411 
Total shareholders’ equity12,221 10,721 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity$26,259 $26,132 



WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION
PRELIMINARY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in millions, except per share amounts; unaudited; on a US GAAP basis)

Three Months EndedYears Ended
July 1,
2022
July 2,
2021
July 1,
2022
July 2,
2021
Revenue, net$4,528 $4,920 $18,793 $16,922 
Cost of revenue3,083 3,354 12,919 12,401 
Gross profit1,445 1,566 5,874 4,521 
Operating expenses:
Research and development598 598 2,323 2,243 
Selling, general and administrative266 297 1,117 1,105 
Employee termination, asset impairment and other charges19 (4)43 (47)
Total operating expenses883 891 3,483 3,301 
Operating income562 675 2,391 1,220 
Interest and other expense, net(51)(79)(268)(293)
Income before taxes511 596 2,123 927 
Income tax expense/(benefit)210 (26)623 106 
Net income$301 $622 $1,500 $821 
Income per common share
Basic$0.96 $2.03 $4.81 $2.69 
Diluted$0.95 $1.97 $4.75 $2.66 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic314 307 312 305 
Diluted318 315 316 309 




WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION
PRELIMINARY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions; unaudited; on a US GAAP basis)





Three Months EndedYears Ended
July 1,
2022
July 2,
2021
July 1,
2022
July 2,
2021
Operating Activities
Net income$301 $622 $1,500 $821 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization221 251 929 1,212 
Stock-based compensation77 79 326 318 
Deferred income taxes73 (201)114 (242)
Gain on disposal of assets(2)(5)(16)(70)
Gain on business divestiture(9)— (9)— 
Amortization of debt issuance costs and discounts10 10 44 40 
Other non-cash operating activities, net25 20 67 (6)
Changes in:
Accounts receivable, net(450)(353)(546)121 
Inventories23 67 (22)(546)
Accounts payable(29)150 (129)11 
Accounts payable to related parties(76)(78)(9)
Accrued expenses219 101 171 352 
Accrued compensation26 140 (123)162 
Other assets and liabilities, net(114)112 (348)(266)
Net cash provided by operating activities295 994 1,880 1,898 
Investing Activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment, net(278)(304)(1,107)(1,003)
Activity related to Flash Ventures, net(114)102 (91)231 
Strategic Investments and other, net22 (1)
Net cash used in investing activities(370)(203)(1,192)(765)
Financing Activities
Employee stock plans, net55 58 32 78 
Repayment of debt(150)(213)(3,621)(886)
Proceeds from debt— — 1,894 — 
Debt issuance costs— — (23)— 
Other— — — (9)
Net cash used in financing activities(95)(155)(1,718)(817)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash(8)— (13)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents(178)636 (1,043)322 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period2,505 2,734 3,370 3,048 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period$2,327 $3,370 $2,327 $3,370 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Noncash exchange of Term Loan A-1 for Term Loan A-2$— $— $2,104 $— 



WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION
Supplemental Operating Segment Results
(in millions; except percentages; unaudited)
Three Months EndedYears Ended
July 1,
2022
July 2,
2021
July 1,
2022
July 2,
2021
Net revenue:
Flash$2,400 $2,419 $9,753 $8,706 
HDD2,128 2,501 9,040 8,216 
Total net revenue$4,528 $4,920 $18,793 $16,922 
Gross profit:
Flash$862 $859 $3,527 $2,611 
HDD600 759 2,661 2,221 
Total gross profit for segments1,462 1,618 6,188 4,832 
Unallocated corporate items:
Contamination related charges(4)— (207)— 
Amortization of acquired intangible assets(1)(38)(66)(331)
Stock-based compensation expense(12)(14)(48)(55)
Recoveries from a power outage incident— — 75 
Total unallocated corporate items(17)(52)(314)(311)
Consolidated gross profit$1,445 $1,566 $5,874 $4,521 
Gross margin:
Flash35.9 %35.5 %36.2 %30.0 %
HDD28.2 %30.3 %29.4 %27.0 %
Total gross margin for segments32.3 %32.9 %32.9 %28.6 %
Consolidated gross margin31.9 %31.8 %31.3 %26.7 %

Historically, the company had been managed and reported under a single operating segment. Late in the first quarter of fiscal 2021, the company announced a decision to reorganize its business by forming two separate product business units: flash-based products (“Flash”) and hard disk drives (“HDD”). To align with the new operating model and business structure, the company made management organizational changes and implemented new reporting modules and processes to provide discrete information to manage the business. Effective July 3, 2021, management finalized its assessment of its operating segments and now reports two segments: Flash and HDD. In the table above, total gross profit for segments and total gross margin for segments are Non-GAAP financial measures, which are also referred to herein as Non-GAAP gross profit and Non-GAAP gross margin, respectively.




WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION
PRELIMINARY RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(in millions; unaudited)
Three Months EndedYears Ended
 July 1,
2022
April 1,
2022
July 2,
2021
July 1,
2022
July 2,
2021
GAAP cost of revenue$3,083 $3,200 $3,354 $12,919 $12,401 
Contamination related charges(4)(203)— (207)— 
Stock-based compensation expense(12)(13)(14)(48)(55)
Amortization of acquired intangible assets(1)— (38)(66)(331)
Recoveries from a power outage incident — — 75 
Non-GAAP cost of revenue$3,066 $2,991 $3,302 $12,605 $12,090 
GAAP gross profit$1,445 $1,181 $1,566 $5,874 $4,521 
Contamination related charges203 — 207 — 
Stock-based compensation expense12 13 14 48 55 
Amortization of acquired intangible assets— 38 66 331 
Recoveries from a power outage incident— (7)— (7)(75)
Non-GAAP gross profit$1,462 $1,390 $1,618 $6,188 $4,832 
GAAP operating expenses$883 $857 $891 $3,483 $3,301 
Stock-based compensation expense(65)(73)(65)(278)(263)
Amortization of acquired intangible assets(39)(39)(38)(155)(155)
Employee termination, asset impairment and other charges(19)(4)(43)47 
Other— (1)(2)(5)(4)
Non-GAAP operating expenses$760 $740 $790 $3,002 $2,926 
GAAP operating income$562 $324 $675 $2,391 $1,220 
Cost of revenue adjustments17 209 52 314 311 
Operating expense adjustments123 117 101 481 375 
Non-GAAP operating income$702 $650 $828 $3,186 $1,906 
GAAP interest and other expense, net$(51)$(62)$(79)$(268)$(293)
Non-cash economic interest and Other(14)(2)— 11 
Non-GAAP interest and other expense, net$(65)$(64)$(79)$(265)$(282)
GAAP income tax expense/(benefit)$210 $237 $(26)$623 $106 
Income tax adjustments(140)(172)95 (301)112 
Non-GAAP income tax expense$70 $65 $69 $322 $218 



WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION
PRELIMINARY RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(in millions, except per share amounts; unaudited)

Three Months EndedYears Ended
 July 1,
2022
April 1,
2022
July 2,
2021
July 1,
2022
July 2,
2021
GAAP net income$301 $25 $622 $1,500 $821 
Contamination related charges203 — 207 — 
Stock-based compensation expense77 86 79 326 318 
Amortization of acquired intangible assets40 39 76 221 486 
Recoveries from a power outage incident— (7)— (7)(75)
Employee termination, asset impairment and other charges19 (4)43 (47)
Non-cash economic interest and Other(14)(1)15 
Income tax adjustments140 172 (95)301 (112)
Non-GAAP net income$567 $521 $680 $2,599 $1,406 
Diluted income per common share
GAAP$0.95 $0.08 $1.97 $4.75 $2.66 
Non-GAAP$1.78 $1.65 $2.16 $8.22 $4.55 
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding:
GAAP318 316 315 316 309 
Non-GAAP318 316 315 316 309 
Cash flows
Cash flow provided by operating activities$295 $398 $994 $1,880 $1,898 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment, net(278)(290)(304)(1,107)(1,003)
Activity related to Flash Ventures, net(114)40 102 (91)231 
Free cash flow$(97)$148 $792 $682 $1,126 














To supplement the condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the table above sets forth Non-GAAP cost of revenue; Non-GAAP gross profit; Non-GAAP gross margin; Non-GAAP operating expenses; Non-GAAP operating income; Non-GAAP interest and other expense, net; Non-GAAP income tax expense; Non-GAAP net income; Non-GAAP diluted income per common share and free cash flow (“Non-GAAP measures”). These Non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative for, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP and may be different from Non-GAAP measures used by other companies. The company believes the presentation of these Non-GAAP measures, when shown in conjunction with the corresponding GAAP measures, provides useful information to investors for measuring the company’s earnings performance and comparing it against prior periods. Specifically, the company believes these Non-GAAP measures provide useful information to both management and investors as they exclude certain expenses, gains and losses that the company believes are not indicative of its core operating results or because they are consistent with the financial models and estimates published by many analysts who follow the company and its peers. As discussed further below, these Non-GAAP measures exclude, as applicable, contamination related charges, stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquired intangible assets, recoveries from a power outage incident, employee termination, asset impairment and other charges, non-cash economic interest, other adjustments, and income tax adjustments, and the company believes these measures along with the related reconciliations to the GAAP measures provide additional detail and comparability for assessing the company's results. These Non-GAAP measures are some of the primary indicators management uses for assessing the company's performance and planning and forecasting future periods. These measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results.

As described above, the company excludes the following items from its Non-GAAP measures:

Contamination related charges. In February 2022, a contamination of certain materials used in the company's manufacturing process occurred and affected production operation at the flash-based memory manufacturing facilities in Yokkaichi and Kitakami, Japan, which are operated through the company's joint business ventures with Kioxia Corporation (collectively, "Flash Ventures"). The contamination resulted in scrapped inventory and rework costs, decontamination and other costs needed to restore the facilities to normal capacity, and under absorption of overhead costs, which are expensed as incurred. These charges are inconsistent in amount and frequency, and the company believes these charges are not part of the ongoing production operation of its business.




Stock-based compensation expense. Because of the variety of equity awards used by companies, the varying methodologies for determining stock-based compensation expense, the subjective assumptions involved in those determinations, and the volatility in valuations that can be driven by market conditions outside the company's control, the company believes excluding stock-based compensation expense enhances the ability of management and investors to understand and assess the underlying performance of its business over time and compare it against the company's peers, a majority of whom also exclude stock-based compensation expense from their Non-GAAP results.

Amortization of acquired intangible assets. The company incurs expenses from the amortization of acquired intangible assets over their economic lives. Such charges are significantly impacted by the timing and magnitude of the company's acquisitions and any related impairment charges.

Recoveries from a power outage incident. In June 2019, an unexpected power outage incident occurred at the flash-based memory manufacturing facilities operated through the company's joint venture with Kioxia Corporation in Yokkaichi, Japan. The power outage incident resulted in costs associated with the repair of damaged tools and the write-off of damaged inventory and unabsorbed manufacturing overhead costs which are expensed as incurred. During fiscal years 2021 and 2022, the company received recoveries of these losses from other parties. The recoveries are inconsistent in amount and frequency, and the company believes they are not part of the ongoing production operation of its business.

Employee termination, asset impairment and other charges. From time-to-time, in order to realign the company's operations with anticipated market demand or to achieve cost synergies from the integration of acquisitions, the company may terminate employees and/or restructure its operations. From time-to-time, the company may also incur charges from the impairment of intangible assets and other long-lived assets. In addition, the company may record credits related to gains upon sale of property due to restructuring or reversals of charges recorded in prior periods. These charges or credits are inconsistent in amount and frequency, and the company believes they are not indicative of the underlying performance of its business.

Non-cash economic interest. The company excludes non-cash economic interest expense associated with its convertible notes. These charges do not reflect the company's operating results, and the company believes they are not indicative of the underlying performance of its business.

Other adjustments. From time-to-time, the company incurs charges or gains that the company believes are not a part of the ongoing operation of its business. The resulting expense or benefit is inconsistent in amount and frequency.




Income tax adjustments. Income tax adjustments include the difference between income taxes based on a forecasted annual Non-GAAP tax rate and a forecasted annual GAAP tax rate as a result of the timing of certain Non-GAAP pre-tax adjustments. The income tax adjustments also include adjustments to estimates related to the current status of the rules and regulations governing the transition to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the re-measurement of certain unrecognized tax benefits primarily related to tax positions taken in prior quarters, including interest. These adjustments are excluded because the company believes that they are not indicative of the underlying performance of its ongoing business.

Additionally, free cash flow is defined as cash flows provided by operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment, net, and the activity related to Flash Ventures, net. The company considers free cash flow generated in any period to be a useful indicator of cash that is available for strategic opportunities including, among others, investing in the company's business, making strategic acquisitions, repaying debt and strengthening the balance sheet.




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Contacts:
Western Digital Corp.

Investor Contact:Media Contact:
T. Peter Andrew
Robin Schultz
949.672.9655
408.573.5043
peter.andrew@wdc.comrobin.schultz@wdc.com
investor@wdc.com