NetApp and F5 Enhance Collaboration to Bolster AI Data and PQC Security
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 11 2025
0mins
Should l Buy WDC?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Collaboration between NetApp and F5: NetApp and F5 have expanded their partnership to provide high-performance AI data solutions, enhancing secure data delivery and protecting against quantum computing threats through advanced encryption and traffic management technologies.
Financial Outlook: For the third quarter, NetApp anticipates revenues between $1.615-$1.765 billion, with non-GAAP gross margins projected at 72.3-73.3% and non-GAAP EPS expected to be between $2.01 and $2.11.
Strategic Partnerships: NetApp has strengthened its alliances with Red Hat, Cisco, and Google Cloud to modernize IT infrastructure and accelerate cloud transformation, enhancing support for AI workloads and improving operational efficiency.
AI Market Trends: The article discusses the potential for significant wealth creation in the AI sector, highlighting the transition to a new wave of AI companies as the initial surge in AI stock prices begins to stabilize.
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Analyst Views on WDC
Wall Street analysts forecast WDC stock price to fall
19 Analyst Rating
15 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 284.100
Low
135.00
Averages
189.74
High
250.00
Current: 284.100
Low
135.00
Averages
189.74
High
250.00
About WDC
Western Digital Corporation is a developer, manufacturer and provider of data storage devices and solutions. It delivers hard disk drives (HDD) solutions for everyone from students, gamers, and home offices to enterprises and public clouds. The Company manufactures, markets, and sells data storage devices and solutions in the United States and in foreign countries through its sales personnel, dealers, distributors, retailers, and subsidiaries. Its portfolio of technology and products addresses multiple end markets: Cloud, Client, and Consumer. Cloud is comprised primarily of products for public or private cloud environments and end customers. Through the Client end market, it provides its original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and channel customers a range of hard drive solutions across personal computer, mobile, gaming, automotive, virtual reality headsets, at-home entertainment, and industrial spaces. The Consumer end market offers a range of retail and other end-user products.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Intensified Market Competition: The rapid advancement of AI technology raises questions about the value of enterprise software, leading investors to adopt a pessimistic view on the future of traditional software companies, especially in labor-intensive areas that may face workforce reductions due to AI adoption.
- Investor Confidence Shaken: Despite significant advancements by companies like Anthropic and OpenAI in the AI space, market confidence in traditional software companies is waning, resulting in poor stock performance over the past six months and raising concerns about future profitability.
See More
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- Sandisk's Performance Surge: Since splitting from Western Digital, Sandisk's stock has skyrocketed 1,440%, with data center revenue increasing 64% sequentially and 61% year-over-year in Q2 2026, showcasing robust demand and profitability in the NAND flash memory market.
- ServiceNow's Market Opportunity: Despite a 50% decline in stock price over the past year, ServiceNow's dominant position in workflow software and partnerships with AI companies present growth opportunities, with a current P/E ratio of 29 indicating room for expansion.
- Tech Stock Overall Rebound: As investors refocus on undervalued tech stocks, the S&P 500 has had a lukewarm start, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a record high of 50,000, reflecting a recovering market confidence in technology stocks.
See More
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- Ciena Demand Surge: As companies build new data centers, demand for Ciena's networking components is accelerating, with expectations for its data center business to double sales by 2025, and its addressable market projected to grow from $600 billion to $1 trillion by 2028, highlighting its critical role in AI infrastructure.
- Sandisk Performance Boom: Sandisk's stock has skyrocketed 1,440% since splitting from Western Digital, with data center revenue up 64% sequentially and 61% year-over-year in Q2 2026, reflecting strong demand for NAND flash memory, particularly in AI hyperscalers.
- ServiceNow Market Opportunity: Despite a 50% drop in stock price over the past year, ServiceNow's dominant position in workflow software and partnerships with AI companies suggest it is undervalued at current prices, with significant growth potential anticipated in 2026.
- Investor Attention: While Ciena is viewed as a high-growth tech stock, it was not included in Motley Fool's current list of top investment picks, indicating that investors should exercise caution and stay informed about market trends.
See More
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- Conference Participation: Western Digital Corporation will participate in the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference on March 3, 2026, with management presenting at 7:45 a.m. PT, which is expected to attract investor interest.
- Live Webcast: The management presentation will be available via live webcast on WD's Investor Relations website, allowing global investors to access the latest company updates in real-time, thereby enhancing transparency and investor confidence.
- Company Background: With over 55 years in the storage infrastructure sector, Western Digital is committed to providing reliable storage solutions for the AI-driven data economy, showcasing its leadership position in the industry.
- Partnerships: The company has established partnerships with leading hyperscalers and enterprises globally, offering innovative storage platforms that further solidify its competitive advantage in the market.
See More
SanDisk's Recent Dip May Present a Buying Opportunity
- Market Pullback Analysis: SanDisk's stock has pulled back 14% from its February highs, yet it trades at a forward P/E of 15 times, indicating that its valuation remains attractive and may present a buying opportunity for investors.
- Industry Cycle Shift: As a leading producer of NAND storage devices, SanDisk is at the beginning of what appears to be a long-lasting supercycle, driven by surging demand for high-performance solid-state drives from AI data centers, suggesting a positive market outlook.
- Price Surge Drivers: With a NAND shortage, SanDisk's revenue jumped 61% last quarter, while gross margins expanded from 32.3% to 50.9%, significantly enhancing profitability and laying a solid foundation for future growth.
- Cautious Investment Advice: Despite SanDisk's strong market performance, the Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team did not include it in their current list of top investment stocks, prompting investors to carefully assess its investment value.
See More
Wall Street Rattled by Cisco's Cautious Outlook
- Cisco's Stock Plunge: Despite beating earnings and revenue expectations, Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) saw its shares drop over 11%, marking the worst single-day decline since May 2022, as investors expressed concerns over profit durability.
- Tech Sector Decline: The iShares Tech-Expanded Software Sector ETF (NYSE:IGV) fell 3.7%, revisiting lows from last week, indicating heightened sensitivity to AI disruption risks following Cisco's outlook.
- Small Caps Underperform: The Nasdaq 100 dropped 1.7%, while both the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.2%, with the Russell 2000 small-cap index sliding 2.4%, reflecting a cautious market sentiment.
- Increased Volatility: The VIX surged 16%, as investors rotated into defensive sectors, with utilities and consumer staples outperforming, highlighting a risk-off tone in the market.
See More
