Western Digital Surges 65% YTD Ranks 215th in Trading Volume as Analysts Target $87-$90 on AI-Driven Cloud Demand

On August 7, 2025, Western Digital (WDC) closed at $74.44, rising 0.89% with a trading volume of $510 million, ranking 215th in market activity. The stock has outperformed the S&P 500 year-to-date, with a 65.47% return compared to the benchmark’s 7.79%. Analysts have raised price targets, including Mizuho to $87 and Wedbush to $90, citing strong fiscal Q4 results marked by 30% year-over-year revenue growth to $2.61 billion and EPS of $1.66. Institutional investors, including US Bancorp DE and Allworth Financial, adjusted holdings, while the company announced a $2 billion share buyback program and a 0.40% dividend yield. Cloud demand and AI-driven storage needs are highlighted as key growth drivers.

Recent institutional activity includes US Bancorp DE reducing its stake by 6.2% to 70,189 shares, valued at $2.84 million, and Allworth Financial increasing its position by 34.1%. The CEO’s recent sale of 11,379 shares and insider transactions totaling $657,454 in the last 90 days reflect mixed signals. Meanwhile, the company’s debt reduction and 11.7% buyback capacity underscore confidence in its valuation. Analysts emphasize the role of AI and cloud infrastructure in sustaining demand, with Western Digital’s high-capacity drive shipments reaching record levels. The stock’s beta of 1.58 indicates higher volatility relative to the market.

The strategy of purchasing the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding them for one day delivered a 166.71% return from 2022 to the present, outperforming the benchmark’s 29.18% by 137.53%. This highlights the efficacy of liquidity-focused strategies in volatile markets, where high-volume stocks like WDC benefit from concentrated investor activity and macroeconomic shifts. Consistent performance across varying market conditions underscores liquidity’s role in short-term gains, particularly for companies with strong earnings momentum and strategic buybacks.