Western Digital revenue rises 55 percent to $4.38bn and the storage maker guides to about $5.1bn next quarter

Western Digital expects another big step up. The San Jose storage maker guided to fiscal second-quarter revenue of $5.1bn, plus or minus $100m, and non-GAAP earnings of $5.80 a share, plus or minus 20 cents, in results filed with the SEC after the close on Thursday. That revenue would be 66 to 72 percent above a year earlier, by the company's own reckoning.

For the quarter ended October 2, revenue rose 55 percent to $4.38bn from $2.82bn. Non-GAAP gross margin widened to 58.1 percent from 43.9 percent, and non-GAAP earnings came to $4.64 a share against $1.78. On a GAAP basis the company earned $4.63 a share, against $3.07.

Chief financial officer Kris Sennesael credited growth in exabytes shipped and better pricing. Operating cash flow was $1.6bn and free cash flow $1.38bn.