STX vs WDC Stock Comparison
WDC currently leads STX in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 43 vs 21. The clearest difference is quality.
What is the main difference between STX and WDC?
WDC leads the current stock comparison as Western Digital Corporation, with the clearest separation coming from quality and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
Seagate Technology Holdings plc vs Western Digital Corporation
WDC leads
WDC leads by 22 AIQ points, primarily on Quality and Value, and the lead has widened from 14 points over 30 sessions.
Stable: 5 of 6 evidence groups support WDC, its lead is widening, and its current signal state is conflicted.
Seagate Technology Holdings plc
Western Digital Corporation
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors WDC over STX, 43 versus 21 as of Oct 21, 2026. WDC's advantage is driven primarily by stronger quality and value. WDC also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 5 of 6 covered evidence groups favor WDC today, and the comparison is rated Stable on stability: the leader is throwing conflicting signals. WDC lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 14 to 22 points over 30 sessions.
Compare Seagate Technology Holdings plc and Western Digital Corporation across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested
Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.
Compare STX and WDC against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Quality27 vs 90WDC +63
- Value25 vs 32WDC +7
- Risk Resilience25 vs 29WDC +4
- Momentum8 vs 9Even
5 of 6 evidence groups favor WDC. WDC’s edge is concentrated in quality and value.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-10-20, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-19.
No factor moved materially.
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 5 active signals are unchanged.
Largest factor move: Momentum +1, not enough on its own to move the overall score.
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 3 active signals are unchanged.
WDC's lead was unchanged in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — STX and WDC both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
WDC (Western Digital Corporation): the stronger current systematic profile, led by quality and value.
STX (Seagate Technology Holdings plc): the counter-case, on technicals.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
WDCWDC on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
STXSTX on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
WDCWDC on the peer-relative Value factor, by 7 points.
Momentum
EvenThe two are level on Momentum.
Lower downside
WDCWDC on Risk Resilience, by 4 points.
Analyst upside
WDCWDC on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.
| Measure | STX | WDC | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +38.9% | +51.9% | WDC has more room |
| Target dispersion | +101.7% | +117.4% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Buy | Buy | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 13 | 12 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Dividend growth
| Dividend metric | STX | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| 5Y dividend CAGR | 2.05% | -20.13% |
| 2020 regular DPS | $2.620 | $1.000 |
| 2025 regular DPS | $2.900 | $0.325 |
| Years increased | 4 | — |
| No cut in window | Yes | — |
| Cohort rank | #328 | not ranked |
STX grew its split-adjusted regular dividend faster over 2020–2025 — 2.05% a year against WDC's -20.13%.
Yield and payout ratio shown elsewhere on this page are current values, not part of the study window.
Split-adjusted regular dividends per share, 2020–2025, excluding special dividends. Research as of Sep 19, 2026.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
5 of 6 covered evidence groups favor WDC. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | WDC | 21 vs 43 |
| Fundamentals | WDCon balance | revenue growth 16.6% vs 12.3%; TTM ROE 3.5% vs 118.6%; gross margin 45.6% vs 48.9%; operating margin 33.6% vs 34.9% — WDC takes 3 of 4 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | WDC | Value 25 vs 32 |
| Technicals | STX | Price vs 50-day -16.6% vs -13.8%; vs 200-day -0.5% vs -11.6% |
| Risk Resilience | WDC | Risk Resilience 25 vs 29 |
| Analyst expectations | WDC | Target upside 38.9% vs 51.9% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of STX and WDC and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion rests on a wide gap and broad agreement. It is unlikely to turn on a single session.
- The AIQ gap is wide at 22 points. (supports the conclusion holding)
- 5 of 6 covered evidence groups point the same way. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader's advantage has been widening. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The lead has been steady session to session. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- Analyst targets on the leader are widely dispersed. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on WDC.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Jun 21 – Oct 20WDC lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 14 to 22 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- WDC +22
- 21 vs 43
- 7 sessions ago
- WDC +20
- 23 vs 43
- 30 sessions ago
- WDC +14
- 40 vs 54
- 90 sessions ago
- WDC +16
- 43 vs 59
The lead has not changed hands in this window.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
2 bullish / 2 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
Only STX
- Keltner Channel Breakdown — bearish, volatility, short horizon
- RSI Oversold - Potential Bounce — bullish, momentum, short horizon
1 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
No signal that the other name lacks.
Both carry 3 more signals that do not separate them: Golden Cross Active, ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode, MACD Bearish Crossover.
WDC leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +3.22%, AIQ 0 points).
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +3.89%, AIQ 0 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1STX closes the Quality gap — currently 63 points behind, the largest single contributor to WDC's edge.
- 2STX's Keltner Channel Breakdown resolves — a bearish volatility rule currently active against it.
- 3WDC's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
WDC leads on balance| Metric | STX | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 16.6% | 12.3% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | 72.5% | -0.3% |
| Gross margin | 45.6% | 48.9% |
| Operating margin | 33.6% | 34.9% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 3.5% | 118.6% |
| Debt to equity | 1.78 | 0.12 |
Performance
STX leads 4 of 6 windows| Metric | STX | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | -9.6% | -4.3% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -25.6% | -21.6% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | -24.5% | -34.6% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 22.1% | -5.1% |
| Year to date | 145.2% | 111.5% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 200.1% | 191.1% |
Technicals
STX has the stronger structure| Metric | STX | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 23.3 | 30.5 |
| ADX (14) | 26 | 28.4 |
| Price vs 50-day | -16.6% | -13.8% |
| Price vs 200-day | -0.5% | -11.6% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 64.7% | 67.4% |
Risk
WDC is the more resilient| Metric | STX | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 2.38 | 3.03 |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.77 | 1.67 |
| Sortino ratio | 3.05 | 2.76 |
| Max drawdown | -41.6% | -55.5% |
| Current drawdown | -38.3% | -51.2% |
| Annualized volatility | 76.3% | 81% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -7.4% | -8% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, STX or WDC?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, WDC is the stronger of the two as of Oct 21, 2026, scoring 43 against STX's 21. The edge comes from quality and value. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is STX or WDC the better buy right now?
WDC carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 21, 2026, and the comparison is rated Stable — 5 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Stable rating means the gap is wide and the evidence is broad, so the conclusion is unlikely to turn on a single session.
Why does the AIQ Score favor WDC over STX?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. WDC leads Quality by 63 points; WDC leads Value by 7 points; WDC leads Risk Resilience by 4 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, STX or WDC?
Analyst price targets imply +38.9% upside for STX and +51.9% for WDC, so the Street currently favors WDC. The model and the Street agree here, which is a broader base of evidence than either alone. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, STX or WDC?
WDC is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. WDC on the peer-relative Value factor, by 7 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, STX or WDC?
STX on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, STX or WDC?
The two are level on Momentum. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, STX or WDC?
WDC is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. WDC on Risk Resilience, by 4 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is STX more profitable than WDC?
WDC leads on the comparable margin measures — gross margin 45.6% vs 48.9%; operating margin 33.6% vs 34.9%; ttm roe 3.5% vs 118.6%.
Is WDC's lead over STX getting stronger or weaker?
WDC lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 14 to 22 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-21 and 2026-10-20. The lead has not changed hands in that window.
What would change the STX vs WDC verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: STX closes the Quality gap — currently 63 points behind, the largest single contributor to WDC's edge; STX's Keltner Channel Breakdown resolves — a bearish volatility rule currently active against it; WDC's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once; a regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about STX and WDC?
STX: 2 bullish / 2 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. WDC: 1 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on STX is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On WDC it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare STX and WDC with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.