Coherent (COHR) vs Western Digital (WDC)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Western Digital (WDC) has outperformed Coherent (COHR) over the past year, gaining 224.6% versus a gain of 159.1%. Over five years, WDC leads with a +839.1% price change compared with +425.3% for COHR. Western Digital is the larger company by market cap ($145.99 billion vs $60.55 billion), about 2.4 times the size.
On valuation, Western Digital trades at a lower forward P/E (12.2x vs 22.0x for Coherent). Western Digital pays a dividend yielding 0.13%, while Coherent does not currently pay one. Western Digital converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 72.9% versus 11.3%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | COHR | WDC |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $309.22 | $390.01 |
| Market cap | $60.55B | $145.99B |
| 1-day change | +2.27% | -0.84% |
| YTD return | +63.81% | +128.31% |
| 1-year return | +159.15% | +224.57% |
| 5-year return | +425.28% | +839.09% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 75.05 | 14.49 |
| Forward P/E | 22.02 | 12.17 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.12 | $26.92 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.13% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.50 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $7.12B | $12.92B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +22.51% | +35.70% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $805.00M | $9.42B |
| Gross margin | 37.50% | 48.85% |
| Operating margin | — | 34.47% |
| Net margin | 11.31% | 72.95% |
| 52-week high | $440.00 | $799.87 |
| 52-week low | $108.19 | $112.52 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -29.72% | -51.24% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +33.41% | +72.69% |
| Average volume | 6.44M | 7.69M |
| Shares outstanding | 195.83M | 374.32M |
| Employees | 51,478 | 40,000 |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | Electronic Components | Electronic Components |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Western Digital is about 2.4 times larger than Coherent by market value ($145.99B vs $60.55B).
- WDC has outperformed COHR by 65.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Coherent trades at a higher earnings multiple (75.1x vs 14.5x trailing P/E).
- Western Digital is more profitable, keeping 72.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 11.3 cents for Coherent.
- Western Digital grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+35.70% vs +22.51%).
About Coherent
COHR stock →Coherent Corp. develops, manufactures, and markets lasers, transceivers, other optical and optoelectronic devices, modules, and systems worldwide.
Technology · Electronic Components · 51,478 employees
About Western Digital
WDC stock →Western Digital Corporation engages in the development, manufacture, and sale of data storage devices and solutions based on hard disk drive (HDD) technology in the United States, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company offers internal HDDs, data center drives, data center platforms, external drives, portable drives, NAS for home and office, and accessories.
Technology · Electronic Components · 40,000 employees
COHR vs WDC FAQ
Which is bigger, Coherent or Western Digital?
Western Digital (WDC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $145.99B compared with $60.55B for Coherent (COHR).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, COHR or WDC?
WDC returned +224.57% over the past 12 months, compared with +159.15% for COHR (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, COHR or WDC?
WDC has the lower trailing P/E at 14.5, versus 75.1 for COHR. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Coherent or Western Digital?
Western Digital pays a dividend yielding 0.13%, while Coherent does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Coherent and Western Digital in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Electronic Components industry within the Technology sector.