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): October 28, 2020
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||||
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) | |||||||||||||
(408 ) 717-6000
(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 class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | |||||||||
(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 October 28, 2020 , Western Digital Corporation announced financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended October 2, 2020. 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 October 28, 2020 announcing financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended October 2, 2020.
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: October 28, 2020
Exhibit 99.1
Western Digital Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2021 Financial Results
News Summary
•First quarter revenue was $3.9 billion, down 3% year-over-year (YoY). Client Devices increased 20%, Data Center Devices and Solutions revenue declined 26%, and Client Solutions declined 5% YoY.
•First quarter GAAP earnings per share (EPS) was ($0.20) and non-GAAP EPS was $0.65. Both GAAP and non-GAAP EPS include $28 million in costs related to COVID-19 in the first quarter.
•Generated operating cash flow of $363 million and free cash flow of $196 million in the first quarter.
•Expecting fiscal second quarter 2021 revenue to be in the range of $3.75 billion to $3.95 billion with non-GAAP EPS in the range of $0.40 to $0.60. Non-GAAP EPS outlook includes costs related to COVID-19.
SAN JOSE, Calif., — October 28, 2020 — Western Digital Corp. (Nasdaq: WDC) today reported fiscal first quarter 2021 financial results.
“I am pleased with our results, as we continued to focus our execution on the massive market opportunity for data storage technology that stems from the ongoing expansion of cloud infrastructure connected to intelligent endpoints and powered by high performance networks,” said David Goeckeler, Western Digital CEO. “While we are still managing through macro uncertainty, during the quarter we benefitted from strength particularly in the retail sector, driven by favorable macro and market dynamics, as well as the brand recognition of our products. Our diversified storage portfolio strategy implemented through our recently announced organizational structure will enable us to accelerate growth, improve our focus, and drive sustainable, long-term shareholder value.”
Western Digital Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2021 Financial Results
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Q1 2021 Financial Highlights
| GAAP | Non-GAAP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Q1 2021 | Q1 2020 | vs. Q1 2020 | Q1 2021 | Q1 2020 | vs. Q1 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue ($M) | $3,922 | $4,040 | down 3% | $3,922 | $4,040 | down 3% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Margin | 23.0% | 18.8% | up 4.2 ppt | 26.3% | 24.8% | up 1.5 ppt | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Expenses ($M) | $834 | $887 | down 6% | $708 | $767 | down 8% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Income (Loss) ($M) | $70 | ($129) | * | $323 | $235 | up 37% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) ($M) | ($60) | ($276) | * | $196 | $101 | up 94% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Earnings Per Share | ($0.20) | ($0.93) | * | $0.65 | $0.34 | up 91% | ||||||||||||||||||||
*not a meaningful figure
Note: The company's fiscal first quarter of 2021 was a 13-week fiscal quarter, compared to a 14-week fiscal quarter a year ago.
Western Digital Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2021 Financial Results
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Key End Market Summary
| Revenue ($M) | Q1 2021 | Q1 2020 | vs. Q1 2020 | |||||||||||
| Client Devices | $1,946 | $1,616 | up 20% | |||||||||||
| Data Center Devices & Solutions | $1,129 | $1,532 | down 26% | |||||||||||
| Client Solutions | $847 | $892 | down 5% | |||||||||||
| Total Revenue | $3,922 | $4,040 | down 3% | |||||||||||
Note: The company's fiscal first quarter of 2021 was a 13-week fiscal quarter, compared to a 14-week fiscal quarter a year ago.
In the fiscal first quarter of 2021, Western Digital’s revenue decreased 3% year-over-year to $3.9 billion. The decrease is largely attributable to the uncertainty associated with the global economic contraction and geopolitical headwinds, which resulted in shifts in customer buying patterns impacting Data Center Devices & Solutions and Client Solutions.
In Client Devices, Western Digital’s industry leading client SSD solutions for notebook and desktops benefitted from the acceleration of work from home and remote learning trends. Gaming experienced significant growth as upcoming game consoles transition from hard drive-based storage solutions to flash, powering a more real-time, immersive gaming experience. In addition, mobile revenue more than doubled, driven by recent 5G phone launches and a broadening of end customers within China.
In Data Center Devices & Solutions, both Capacity Enterprise hard drive and Enterprise SSD (eSSD) demand were negatively impacted by shifts in customer ordering patterns. Important product transitions in hard drive and flash-based storage solutions also impacted demand trends as customers are still ramping up on these newer products.
In Client Solutions, Western Digital continued to recover as many brick and mortar customers reopened from COVID-19-related lock downs during the period. In addition, demand related to work from home and distance learning benefitted both hard drive and flash-based solutions.
Western Digital Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2021 Financial Results
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Business Outlook for Fiscal Second Quarter of 2021
| Three Months Ending January 1, 2021 | |||||||||||
GAAP(1) | Non-GAAP(1) | ||||||||||
| Revenue ($B) | $3.75 - $3.95 | $3.75 - $3.95 | |||||||||
| Gross margin | 21% - 23% | 24% - 26% | |||||||||
| Operating expenses ($M) | $790 - $810 | $680 - $700 | |||||||||
| Interest and other expense, net ($M) | $80 - $85 | $70 - $75 | |||||||||
| Tax rate | N/A | 21% - 25% (2) | |||||||||
| Diluted earnings per share | N/A | $0.40 - $0.60 | |||||||||
| Diluted shares outstanding (in millions) | ~ 306 | ~ 306 | |||||||||
(1) Non-GAAP gross margin guidance excludes amortization of acquired intangible assets and stock-based compensation expense, totaling approximately $110 million to $130 million. The company’s non-GAAP operating expenses guidance excludes amortization of acquired intangible assets; stock-based compensation expense; and employee termination, asset impairment and other charges, totaling approximately $100 million to $120 million. The company's non-GAAP interest and other expense guidance excludes approximately $10 million of convertible debt activity. In the aggregate, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share guidance excludes these items totaling $220 million to $260 million. The timing and amount of these charges excluded from non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP interest and other expense, net 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 interest and other expense, non-GAAP tax rate and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures (gross margin, operating expenses, interest and other expense, tax rate and diluted earnings per share, respectively) are not available without unreasonable effort.
(2) The non-GAAP tax rates provided are based on a percentage of non-GAAP pre-tax income.
Western Digital Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2021 Financial Results
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Investor Communications
The investment community conference call to discuss these results and the company’s business outlook for the fiscal second quarter of 2021 will be broadcast live online today at 1:30 p.m. Pacific/4:30 p.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, a leader in data infrastructure, creates environments for data to thrive. The company is driving the innovation needed to help customers capture, preserve, access, analyze, and transform an ever-increasing diversity of data. Everywhere data lives, from advanced data centers to mobile sensors to personal devices, the company's industry-leading solutions deliver the possibilities of data. Western Digital data-centric solutions are comprised of the Western Digital®, G-Technology™, SanDisk® and WD® brands. Financial and investor information is available on the company's Investor Relations website at investor.wdc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements concerning the company’s preliminary financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended October 2, 2020; the company’s business outlook for the fiscal second quarter of 2021; expectations regarding the impact of COVID-19; demand trends and market conditions; expansion of the cloud infrastructure; benefits of the company's organizational structure; the company's brand recognition and product portfolio; and expected future financial 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 first quarter ended October 2, 2020 included in this press release represent the most current information available to management. The company’s actual results when disclosed in its Form 10-Q 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 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; 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 in manufacturing or other supply chain disruptions; hiring and retention of key employees; our high level of debt and
Western Digital Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2021 Financial Results
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other financial obligations; changes to our relationships with key customers; disruptions in operations from cyberattacks 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 28, 2020, 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 these forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events.
###
Western Digital, the Western Digital logo, G-Technology, 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)
| October 2, 2020 | July 3, 2020 | ||||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 2,995 | $ | 3,048 | |||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 2,097 | 2,379 | |||||||||
| Inventories | 3,355 | 3,070 | |||||||||
| Other current assets | 558 | 551 | |||||||||
| Total current assets | 9,005 | 9,048 | |||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 2,897 | 2,854 | |||||||||
| Notes receivable and investments in Flash Ventures | 1,746 | 1,875 | |||||||||
| Goodwill | 10,069 | 10,067 | |||||||||
| Other intangible assets, net | 758 | 941 | |||||||||
| Other non-current assets | 927 | 877 | |||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 25,402 | $ | 25,662 | |||||||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 1,949 | $ | 1,945 | |||||||
| Accounts payable to related parties | 404 | 407 | |||||||||
| Accrued expenses | 1,293 | 1,296 | |||||||||
| Accrued compensation | 497 | 472 | |||||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt | 286 | 286 | |||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 4,429 | 4,406 | |||||||||
| Long-term debt | 9,086 | 9,289 | |||||||||
| Other liabilities | 2,311 | 2,416 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities | 15,826 | 16,111 | |||||||||
| Total shareholders’ equity | 9,576 | 9,551 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 25,402 | $ | 25,662 | |||||||
WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION
PRELIMINARY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in millions, except per share amounts; unaudited; on a US GAAP basis)
| Three Months Ended | |||||||||||
| October 2, 2020 | October 4, 2019 | ||||||||||
| Revenue, net | $ | 3,922 | $ | 4,040 | |||||||
| Cost of revenue | 3,018 | 3,282 | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 904 | 758 | |||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||
| Research and development | 555 | 574 | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 256 | 305 | |||||||||
| Employee termination, asset impairment and other charges | 23 | 8 | |||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 834 | 887 | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | 70 | (129) | |||||||||
| Interest and other expense, net | (73) | (108) | |||||||||
| Loss before taxes | (3) | (237) | |||||||||
| Income tax expense | 57 | 39 | |||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (60) | $ | (276) | |||||||
| Loss per common share | |||||||||||
| Basic | $ | (0.20) | $ | (0.93) | |||||||
| Diluted | $ | (0.20) | $ | (0.93) | |||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding: | |||||||||||
| Basic | 303 | 296 | |||||||||
| Diluted | 303 | 296 | |||||||||
WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION
PRELIMINARY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions; unaudited; on a US GAAP basis)
| Three Months Ended | |||||||||||
| October 2, 2020 | October 4, 2019 | ||||||||||
| Operating Activities | |||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (60) | $ | (276) | |||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operations: | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 374 | 406 | |||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 76 | 77 | |||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 11 | (27) | |||||||||
| Loss on disposal of assets | 1 | 2 | |||||||||
| Write-off of issuance costs and amortization of debt discounts | 10 | 10 | |||||||||
| Other non-cash operating activities, net | (6) | (21) | |||||||||
| Changes in: | |||||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 282 | (243) | |||||||||
| Inventories | (285) | (5) | |||||||||
| Accounts payable | 99 | 155 | |||||||||
| Accounts payable to related parties | (3) | 176 | |||||||||
| Accrued expenses | (23) | 100 | |||||||||
| Accrued compensation | 26 | 75 | |||||||||
| Other assets and liabilities, net | (139) | (176) | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 363 | 253 | |||||||||
| Investing Activities | |||||||||||
| Purchases of property, plant and equipment, net | (330) | (145) | |||||||||
| Acquisitions, net of cash acquired | — | (22) | |||||||||
| Activity related to Flash Ventures, net | 163 | 186 | |||||||||
| Strategic Investments and Other, net | 1 | 15 | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | (166) | 34 | |||||||||
| Financing Activities | |||||||||||
| Employee stock plans, net | (40) | (26) | |||||||||
| Dividends paid to shareholders | — | (147) | |||||||||
| Repayment of debt | (213) | (319) | |||||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (253) | (492) | |||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | 3 | (2) | |||||||||
| Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | (53) | (207) | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 3,048 | 3,455 | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 2,995 | $ | 3,248 | |||||||
WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION
PRELIMINARY RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(in millions; unaudited)
| Three Months Ended | |||||||||||
| October 2, 2020 | October 4, 2019 | ||||||||||
| GAAP cost of revenue | $ | 3,018 | $ | 3,282 | |||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | (145) | (164) | |||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | (12) | (12) | |||||||||
| Charges related to a power outage incident and related recovery | 30 | (68) | |||||||||
| Non-GAAP cost of revenue | $ | 2,891 | $ | 3,038 | |||||||
| GAAP gross profit | $ | 904 | $ | 758 | |||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 145 | 164 | |||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 12 | 12 | |||||||||
| Charges related to a power outage incident and related recovery | (30) | 68 | |||||||||
| Non-GAAP gross profit | $ | 1,031 | $ | 1,002 | |||||||
| GAAP operating expenses | $ | 834 | $ | 887 | |||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | (39) | (41) | |||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | (64) | (65) | |||||||||
| Employee termination, asset impairment and other charges | (23) | (8) | |||||||||
| Charges related to acquisitions and dispositions | — | (5) | |||||||||
| Charges related to cost saving initiatives | — | (1) | |||||||||
| Non-GAAP operating expenses | $ | 708 | $ | 767 | |||||||
| GAAP operating income (loss) | $ | 70 | $ | (129) | |||||||
| Cost of revenue adjustments | 127 | 244 | |||||||||
| Operating expense adjustments | 126 | 120 | |||||||||
| Non-GAAP operating income | $ | 323 | $ | 235 | |||||||
| GAAP interest and other expense, net | $ | (73) | $ | (108) | |||||||
| Convertible debt activity | 7 | 7 | |||||||||
| Other | (2) | 2 | |||||||||
| Non-GAAP interest and other expense, net | $ | (68) | $ | (99) | |||||||
| GAAP income tax expense | $ | 57 | $ | 39 | |||||||
| Income tax adjustments | 2 | (4) | |||||||||
| Non-GAAP income tax expense | $ | 59 | $ | 35 | |||||||
WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION
PRELIMINARY RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(in millions, except per share amounts; unaudited)
| Three Months Ended | |||||||||||
| October 2, 2020 | October 4, 2019 | ||||||||||
| GAAP net loss | $ | (60) | $ | (276) | |||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 184 | 205 | |||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 76 | 77 | |||||||||
| Employee termination, asset impairment and other charges | 23 | 8 | |||||||||
| Charges related to acquisitions and dispositions | — | 5 | |||||||||
| Charges related to cost saving initiatives | — | 1 | |||||||||
| Charges related to a power outage incident and related recovery | (30) | 68 | |||||||||
| Convertible debt activity | 7 | 7 | |||||||||
| Other | (2) | 2 | |||||||||
| Income tax adjustments | (2) | 4 | |||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income | $ | 196 | $ | 101 | |||||||
| Diluted income (loss) per common share | |||||||||||
| GAAP | $ | (0.20) | $ | (0.93) | |||||||
| Non-GAAP | $ | 0.65 | $ | 0.34 | |||||||
| Diluted weighted average shares outstanding: | |||||||||||
| GAAP | 303 | 296 | |||||||||
| Non-GAAP | 303 | 300 | |||||||||
| Cash flows | |||||||||||
| Cash flow provided by operating activities | $ | 363 | $ | 253 | |||||||
| Purchase of property, plant and equipment, net | (330) | (145) | |||||||||
| Activity related to flash ventures, net | 163 | 186 | |||||||||
| Free cash flow | $ | 196 | $ | 294 | |||||||
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 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 the amortization of acquired intangible assets, stock-based compensation expense, employee termination, asset impairment and other charges, charges related to acquisitions and dispositions, charges related to cost saving initiatives, charges related to a power outage incident and related recovery, convertible debt activity, 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:
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.
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.
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. These charges (including any reversals of charges recorded in prior periods) are inconsistent in amount and frequency, and the company believes they are not indicative of the underlying performance of its business.
Charges related to acquisitions and dispositions. In connection with the company's business combinations or dispositions, the company incurs expenses which it would not have otherwise incurred as part of its business operations. These expenses include third-party professional service and legal fees, third-party integration services, severance costs, non-cash adjustments to the fair value of acquired inventory, contract termination costs, and retention bonuses. The company may also experience other accounting impacts in connection with these transactions. These charges and impacts are related to acquisitions and dispositions, are inconsistent in amount and frequency, and the company believes they are not indicative of the underlying performance of its business.
Charges related to cost saving initiatives. In connection with the transformation of the company's business, the company incurred charges related to cost saving initiatives which do not qualify for special accounting treatment as exit or disposal activities. These charges, which the company believes are not indicative of the underlying performance of its business, primarily relate to costs associated with rationalizing the company's channel partners or vendors, transforming the company's information systems infrastructure, integrating the company's product roadmap, and accelerated depreciation of assets.
Charges related to a power outage incident and related recovery. 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. In September 2020, the company received a partial recovery of these losses from insurance carriers. These charges and recoveries are inconsistent in amount and frequency, and the company believes these charges or recoveries are not part of the ongoing production operation of its business.
Convertible debt activity. 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. These adjustments are excluded because they are infrequent and the company believes that they are not indicative of the underlying performance of its business.
Additionally, free cash flow is defined as cash flows provided by operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment, net of proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment, 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.
___________________
Contacts:
| Investor Contact: | Media Contact: | |||||||
Western Digital Corp. | Sard Verbinnen & Co | |||||||
T. Peter Andrew | John Christiansen | |||||||
| 949.672.9655 | David Isaacs | |||||||
| peter.andrew@wdc.com | Leah Polito | |||||||
| investor@wdc.com | WesternDigital-SVC@sardverb.com | |||||||