(Reuters) – Seagate Technology forecast first-quarter revenue above Wall Street estimates on Tuesday, driven by increased demand for memory chips from personal computing and data center clients, sending its shares up 6.8% in extended trading.
The Dublin, Ireland-based computer hard drive maker has benefited from a recovery in the memory devices market, after it took a hit last year when PC makers cut back on chip orders amid soft sales.
The development of AI-powered PCs and hopes of an economic upturn are likely to stimulate data-storage solution businesses.
“In fiscal 2025, we are remaining focused on driving profitability and maintaining supply discipline while continuing to execute our mass capacity product roadmap…,” said CEO Dave Mosley.
The market for PCs is expected to rebound from a lull in orders following the pandemic-driven buying spree, as evident by a 3% rise in global shipments of personal computers in the second quarter of 2024, according to International Data Corp.
PC shipments reached 64.9 million units in the three months ended June, marking a second straight quarter of growth after two years of decline, sparking optimism around investments in data centers that use Seagate’s memory chips.
Seagate expects revenue for the first-quarter to be $2.10 billion, plus or minus $150 million, compared with LSEG estimates of $2.07 billion.
It forecast first-quarter adjusted profit of $1.40 per share, with a margin of 20 cents either way, compared with estimates of $1.16.
The company reported revenue of $1.89 billion for the fourth quarter ended June 28, compared with analysts’ average estimate of $1.87 billion.
The data-storage firm posted adjusted earnings of $1.05 per share in the fourth quarter.
(Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi)
