Seagate Technology — Fiscal Q1 2027 Earnings Summary
Financial Performance:
- Revenue was $4.233 billion, a significant increase from $2.629 billion in the prior year period.
- GAAP gross margin was 57.3% compared to 39.4% in the prior year; non-GAAP gross margin was 57.8% compared to 40.1%.
- GAAP operating margin was 48.8% versus 26.4% in the prior year; non-GAAP operating margin was 50.7% versus 29.0%.
- GAAP net income was $1.761 billion compared to $549 million in the prior year; non-GAAP net income was $1.781 billion compared to $583 million.
- GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) were $7.59 versus $2.43 in the prior year; non-GAAP diluted EPS were $7.68 versus $2.61.
- Cash flow from operations was $1.7 billion; free cash flow was $1.5 billion.
- Gross debt was lowered to $2.4 billion after retiring $1.2 billion in principal debt during the quarter; subsequent to quarter-end, an additional $750 million was retired, bringing gross debt to $1.6 billion.
- Cash and cash equivalents totaled $1.3 billion at quarter-end.
- There were 230 million ordinary shares issued and outstanding at the end of the quarter.
Guidance and Future Outlook:
- Fiscal Q2 2027 revenue guidance is $4.8 billion, plus or minus $100 million.
- Fiscal Q2 2027 non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance is $9.20, plus or minus $0.20.
- Non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance excludes estimated share-based compensation expenses of $0.30 per share.
- Management expects a multi-year growth phase driven by compounding data creation, retention, and reuse.
- The company aims to deliver profitable growth, strong cash generation, and increased shareholder returns over the long term.
Business Segments and Product Lines:
- The company's HAMR-based technology roadmap is positioned to address growing exabyte demand through areal density gains.
- Seagate maintains supply discipline while leveraging a value-based pricing strategy.
- The company serves hyperscale cloud providers, enterprises, and consumers with mass-capacity data storage solutions.
Market and Competitive Landscape:
- Management views the demand environment as strengthening, with long-term customer demand visibility reinforcing the growth outlook.
- The company believes its strengthened balance sheet and technology roadmap position it to compete effectively in the mass-capacity storage market.
Risks and Challenges:
- Forward-looking statements are subject to risks including logistical, macroeconomic, and trade policy uncertainties, such as tariffs and trade restrictions.
- Risks include uncertainty regarding the ability to make timely quarterly payments under the settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security.
- Potential impacts from evolving global trade policy, market demand fluctuations, and technology shifts are noted.
- Actual results may differ materially due to factors such as debt transaction gains/losses, strategic investment losses, and income tax adjustments.
Management Commentary and Tone:
- Dave Mosley, Chair and CEO, stated the company delivered "another quarter of record profitability and our highest ever free cash flow."
- Management expressed confidence that Seagate can deliver profitable growth and strong cash generation over the long term.
- The tone emphasized the earnings power of the business amid a strengthening demand environment and the effectiveness of the value-based pricing strategy.
Other Key Points:
- The company returned $568 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the quarter.
- The Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.76 per share, an increase of approximately 3% from the prior quarter's $0.74; payable on January 7, 2027.
- Seagate retired $1.2 billion of debt during the fiscal first quarter.
- Subsequent to the quarter-end, Seagate retired an additional $750 million of principal debt.
- Management will hold a public webcast on October 28, 2026, at 2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET.
- Company
- SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS PLC
- Sector
- Technology
- Industry
- Computer Hardware