wdc-20220127
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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): January 27, 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 January 27, 2022, Western Digital Corporation announced financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended December 31, 2021. 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 January 27, 2022 announcing financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended December 31, 2021.

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: January 27, 2022







Document

Exhibit 99.1
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Western Digital Reports Fiscal Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results

News Summary
Second quarter revenue was $4.83 billion, up 23% year-over-year (YoY). Cloud revenue increased by 89%, Client revenue declined by 1%, and Consumer revenue remained flat YoY.
Second quarter GAAP earnings per share (EPS) was $1.79 and non-GAAP EPS was $2.30. Non-GAAP EPS included $70 million in COVID-related expenses.
Generated operating cash flow of $666 million and free cash flow of $407 million.
Completed debt refinancing transaction and reduced gross debt balance to $7.40 billion.
Expect fiscal third quarter 2022 revenue to be in the range of $4.45 billion to $4.65 billion with non-GAAP EPS in the range of $1.50 to $1.80.

SAN JOSE, Calif., — January 27, 2022 — Western Digital Corp. (Nasdaq: WDC) today reported fiscal second quarter 2022 financial results.

“I’m proud of the Western Digital team for delivering another quarter of strong results that exceeded guidance, even in the midst of ongoing supply chain disruptions and COVID-related challenges,” said David Goeckeler, Western Digital CEO. “While we continue to experience strong demand across our end markets, these challenges continue to present a headwind to near-term results. We’ve executed well in building a solid foundation for future profitable growth driven by innovative products within our flash and hard drive businesses. As these transitory headwinds subside, we expect to emerge in a stronger position to drive better through-cycle results, creating value for our shareholders, employees and customers."




















Western Digital Reports Fiscal Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results
Page 2

Q2 2022 Financial Highlights
GAAPNon-GAAP
Q2 2022Q1 2022Q/QQ2 2022Q1 2022Q/Q
Revenue ($M)$4,833$5,051down 4%$4,833$5,051down 4%
Gross Margin32.8%33.0%down 0.2 ppt33.6%33.9%down 0.3 ppt
Operating Expenses ($M)$856$887down 3%$741$761down 3%
Operating Income ($M)$727$778down 7%$882$952down 7%
Net Income ($M)$564$610down 8%$724$787down 8%
Earnings Per Share$1.79$1.93down 7%$2.30$2.49down 8%

GAAPNon-GAAP
Q2 2022Q2 2021Y/YQ2 2022Q2 2021Y/Y
Revenue ($M)$4,833$3,943up 23%$4,833$3,943up 23%
Gross Margin32.8%24.3%up 8.5 ppt33.6%26.4%up 7.2 ppt
Operating Expenses ($M)$856$802up 7%$741$696up 6%
Operating Income ($M)$727$158up 360%$882$343up 157%
Net Income ($M)$564$62up 810%$724$212up 242%
Earnings Per Share$1.79$0.20up 795%$2.30$0.69up 233%

The company generated $666 million in cash flow from operations, made a total debt repayment of $2.21 billion, issued $1.00 billion in notes and ended the quarter with $2.53 billion of total cash and cash equivalents. During the quarter, the company fully repaid the remaining balance of its Term-Loan B-4 in an amount of $943 million, and repaid $1.27 billion on its Term-Loan A-1. In addition, the company closed a public offering of $1.00 billion aggregate principal amount in senior unsecured notes, bringing total gross debt outstanding to $7.40 billion at the end of the fiscal second quarter.

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



Western Digital Reports Fiscal Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results
Page 3

New End Market Summary
Revenue ($M)Q2 2022Q1 2022Q/QQ2 2021Y/Y
Cloud$1,920$2,225down 14%$1,014up 89%
Client$1,854$1,853-$1,869down 1%
Consumer$1,059$973up 9%$1,060-
Total Revenue$4,833$5,051down 4%$3,943up 23%

Cloud represented 40% of total revenue. Supply chain disruptions impacted cloud hard drive deployments at certain customers, which led to a sequential decline in exabyte shipments in the fiscal second quarter. However, healthy overall demand for capacity enterprise drives, along with Western Digital’s leadership position at the 18 terabyte capacity point, drove a greater than 50% year-over-year increase in exabyte shipments.

Client accounted for 38% of total revenue. The continued ramp of 5G phones helped offset declines in both client SSD and client hard drive revenue. Within mobile, shipments of BiCS5 products into leading 5G smartphones increased over 60% sequentially and 50% year-over-year, led by strong content growth.

Consumer represented 22% of total revenue. With a strong holiday season, retail flash led the sequential growth in Consumer. The WD_BLACK premium SSD product line, optimized for the best gaming experience, continues to gain momentum, with revenue increasing approximately 50% sequentially and doubling in calendar year 2021.











Western Digital Reports Fiscal Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results
Page 4

Business Outlook for Fiscal Third Quarter of 2022
Three Months Ending
April 1, 2022
GAAP(1)
Non-GAAP(1)
Revenue ($B)$4.45 - $4.65$4.45 - $4.65
Gross margin30.0% - 32.0%30.0% - 32.0%
Operating expenses ($M)$860 - $880$750 - $770
Interest and other expense, net ($M)~$80~$70
Tax rateN/A
     ~11%(2)
Diluted earnings per shareN/A$1.50 - $1.80
Diluted shares outstanding (in millions)~318~318
(1) Non-GAAP gross margin guidance excludes amortization of acquired intangible assets and stock-based compensation expense, totaling approximately $10 million to $20 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 $120 million to $150 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 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.





Western Digital Reports Fiscal Second Quarter 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 third quarter of 2022 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 creates environments for data to thrive. As a leader in data infrastructure, the company is driving the innovation needed to help customers capture, preserve, access, and transform an ever-increasing diversity of data. Everywhere data lives, from advanced data centers to mobile sensors to personal devices, our 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 federal securities laws, including statements regarding expectations for the company’s business outlook for the fiscal third quarter of 2022; effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; supply chain conditions and constraints; our market position and future financial performance; demand trends and market conditions; and expectations regarding our product portfolio and momentum. 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 second quarter ended December 31, 2021 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 substantial level of debt and other financial obligations; changes to our relationships with key customers; disruptions in operations from cyberattacks or other



Western Digital Reports Fiscal Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results
Page 6

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, 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)
December 31,
2021
July 2,
2021
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents$2,531 $3,370 
Accounts receivable, net2,743 2,257 
Inventories3,647 3,616 
Other current assets614 514 
Total current assets9,535 9,757 
Property, plant and equipment, net3,367 3,188 
Notes receivable and investments in Flash Ventures1,553 1,586 
Goodwill10,065 10,066 
Other intangible assets, net300 442 
Other non-current assets1,205 1,093 
Total assets$26,025 $26,132 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable$2,022 $1,934 
Accounts payable to related parties389 398 
Accrued expenses1,700 1,653 
Accrued compensation567 634 
Current portion of long-term debt251 251 
Total current liabilities4,929 4,870 
Long-term debt7,057 8,474 
Other liabilities2,021 2,067 
Total liabilities14,007 15,411 
Total shareholders’ equity12,018 10,721 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity$26,025 $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 EndedSix Months Ended
December 31,
2021
January 1,
2021
December 31,
2021
January 1,
2021
Revenue, net$4,833 $3,943 $9,884 $7,865 
Cost of revenue3,250 2,983 6,636 6,001 
Gross profit1,583 960 3,248 1,864 
Operating expenses:
Research and development575 535 1,153 1,090 
Selling, general and administrative279 265 570 521 
Employee termination, asset impairment and other charges20 25 
Total operating expenses856 802 1,743 1,636 
Operating income727 158 1,505 228 
Interest and other expense, net(81)(73)(155)(146)
Income before taxes646 85 1,350 82 
Income tax expense 82 23 176 80 
Net income$564 $62 $1,174 $
Income per common share
Basic$1.81 $0.20 $3.77 $0.01 
Diluted$1.79 $0.20 $3.73 $0.01 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic312 305 311 304 
Diluted315 307 315 305 




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

Three Months EndedSix Months Ended
December 31,
2021
January 1,
2021
December 31,
2021
January 1,
2021
Operating Activities
Net income$564 $62 $1,174 $
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization242 336 492 710 
Stock-based compensation87 80 163 156 
Deferred income taxes11 (16)38 (5)
Loss on disposal of assets— 
Amortization of debt issuance costs and discounts11 10 21 20 
Other non-cash operating activities, net25 (12)13 (18)
Changes in:
Accounts receivable, net(298)264 (486)546 
Inventories(103)(220)(30)(505)
Accounts payable137 (29)96 70 
Accounts payable to related parties11 (10)(9)(13)
Accrued expenses83 101 47 78 
Accrued compensation25 (66)51 
Other assets and liabilities, net(106)(166)(267)(305)
Net cash provided by operating activities666 425 1,187 788 
Investing Activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment, net(294)(207)(539)(537)
Activity related to Flash Ventures, net35 (69)(17)94 
Strategic Investments and Other, net(13)
Net cash used in investing activities(257)(270)(569)(436)
Financing Activities
Employee stock plans, net56 60 (20)20 
Repayment of debt(2,212)(248)(2,425)(461)
Proceeds from debt998 — 998 — 
Debt issuance costs(9)— (9)— 
Other— (9)— (9)
Net cash used in financing activities(1,167)(197)(1,456)(450)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash(1)(1)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents(759)(39)(839)(92)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period3,290 2,995 3,370 3,048 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period$2,531 $2,956 $2,531 $2,956 



WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION
Supplemental Operating Segment Results
(in millions; except percentages; unaudited)
Three Months EndedSix Months Ended
December 31,
2021
January 1,
2021
December 31,
2021
January 1,
2021
Net revenue:
HDD$2,213 $1,909 $4,774 $3,753 
Flash2,620 2,034 5,110 4,112 
Total net revenue$4,833 $3,943 $9,884 $7,865 
Gross profit:
HDD$677 $488 $1,469 $971 
Flash946 551 1,867 1,099 
Total gross profit for segments$1,623 $1,039 $3,336 $2,070 
Unallocated corporate items:
Amortization of acquired intangible assets(26)(109)(65)(254)
Stock-based compensation expense(14)(15)(23)(27)
Charges related to a power outage incident and related recovery— 45 — 75 
Total unallocated corporate items(40)(79)(88)(206)
Consolidated gross profit$1,583 $960 $3,248 $1,864 
Gross margin:
HDD30.6 %25.6 %30.8 %25.9 %
Flash36.1 %27.1 %36.5 %26.7 %
Total gross margin for segments33.6 %26.4 %33.8 %26.3 %
Consolidated gross margin32.8 %24.3 %32.9 %23.7 %

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: hard disk drives (“HDD”) and flash-based products (“Flash”). 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: HDD and Flash. 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 EndedSix Months Ended
 December 31,
2021
October 1,
2021
January 1,
2021
December 31,
2021
January 1,
2021
GAAP cost of revenue$3,250 $3,386 $2,983 $6,636 $6,001 
Amortization of acquired intangible assets(26)(39)(109)(65)(254)
Stock-based compensation expense(14)(9)(15)(23)(27)
Charges related to a power outage incident and related recovery— — 45 — 75 
Non-GAAP cost of revenue$3,210 $3,338 $2,904 $6,548 $5,795 
GAAP gross profit$1,583 $1,665 $960 $3,248 $1,864 
Amortization of acquired intangible assets26 39 109 65 254 
Stock-based compensation expense14 15 23 27 
Charges related to a power outage incident and related recovery— — (45)— (75)
Non-GAAP gross profit$1,623 $1,713 $1,039 $3,336 $2,070 
GAAP operating expenses$856 $887 $802 $1,743 $1,636 
Amortization of acquired intangible assets(38)(39)(39)(77)(78)
Stock-based compensation expense(73)(67)(65)(140)(129)
Employee termination, asset impairment and other charges(2)(18)(2)(20)(25)
Other(2)(2)— (4)— 
Non-GAAP operating expenses$741 $761 $696 $1,502 $1,404 
GAAP operating income$727 $778 $158 $1,505 $228 
Cost of revenue adjustments40 48 79 88 206 
Operating expense adjustments115 126 106 241 232 
Non-GAAP operating income$882 $952 $343 $1,834 $666 
GAAP interest and other expense, net$(81)$(74)$(73)$(155)$(146)
Convertible debt activity15 14 
Other(1)(2)(4)
Non-GAAP interest and other expense, net$(68)$(68)$(68)$(136)$(136)
GAAP income tax expense$82 $94 $23 $176 $80 
Income tax adjustments40 11 42 
Non-GAAP income tax expense$90 $97 $63 $187 $122 



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

Three Months EndedSix Months Ended
 December 31,
2021
October 1,
2021
January 1,
2021
December 31,
2021
January 1,
2021
GAAP net income$564 $610 $62 $1,174 $
Amortization of acquired intangible assets64 78 148 142 332 
Stock-based compensation expense87 76 80 163 156 
Employee termination, asset impairment and other charges18 20 25 
Charges related to a power outage incident and related recovery— — (45)— (75)
Convertible debt activity15 14 
Other(2)(4)
Income tax adjustments(8)(3)(40)(11)(42)
Non-GAAP net income$724 $787 $212 $1,511 $408 
Diluted income per common share
GAAP$1.79 $1.93 $0.20 $3.73 $0.01 
Non-GAAP$2.30 $2.49 $0.69 $4.80 $1.34 
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding:
GAAP315 316 307 315 305 
Non-GAAP315 316 307 315 305 
Cash flows
Cash flow provided by operating activities$666 $521 $425 $1,187 $788 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment, net(294)(245)(207)(539)(537)
Activity related to flash ventures, net35 (52)(69)(17)94 
Free cash flow$407 $224 $149 $631 $345 




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, the amortization of acquired intangible assets, stock-based compensation expense, employee termination, asset impairment and other charges, 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. 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.

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. During fiscal year 2021, the company received recoveries of these losses from its 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 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 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:
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