Western Digital detailed a new storage roadmap focused on AI demands at its 2026 Innovation Day. The company's 40TB ePMR hard drive is now in customer qualification. WD plans to scale HAMR technology to 100TB by 2029.
WD introduced new technologies to boost hard drive performance. These include a "High-Bandwidth Drive" design and a "Dual Pivot" actuator system. These systems aim to double I/O performance. The innovations aim to make HDDs more competitive for AI workloads.
Analyst sentiment was positive following the event. Mizuho and Rosenblatt Securities both raised their price targets to $340. Both firms maintained buy ratings. The announcements follow the company's recent authorization of an additional $4 billion for its share repurchase program.