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Western Digital and Seagate Surge as AI Infrastructure Demand Fuels Record Gains

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Shares of data storage leaders Western Digital and Seagate have skyrocketed this year, outpacing the broader market as global demand for AI-driven infrastructure fuels unprecedented growth in hard drive sales. Both companies’ stocks have surged over 200% in 2025, reaching record highs amid a worldwide scramble to expand data storage capacity for artificial intelligence applications.

Western Digital shares rose more than 11% on Friday after the company forecast second-quarter earnings above Wall Street estimates. Analysts at J.P. Morgan noted that Western Digital has secured purchase orders from five of its largest customers through 2026, signaling strong confidence in sustained AI-related demand.

Seagate, a close rival, also projected revenue and profit above expectations earlier this week, pushing its stock up more than 22%. Both companies are now among the top three performers in the S&P 500 this year, trailing only Robinhood.

Smaller competitor Sandisk, spun off from Western Digital in February, has seen its shares soar fivefold since its debut and was up another 3.6% on Friday ahead of its upcoming earnings report.

The S&P 1500 tech hardware, storage, and peripherals sector—which includes all three companies—has climbed more than 12% this year, hitting an all-time high. As major tech firms like Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon ramp up capital spending on chips and data centers, analysts expect global AI infrastructure investments to reach up to $4 trillion by 2030.

Apple Hit with UK Class Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Data Storage Mismanagement

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Apple is facing a class action lawsuit in the UK, filed by the consumer group Which? Ltd., accusing the tech giant of breaching competition laws through its alleged monopoly on data storage services. The lawsuit claims that Apple has made it difficult for consumers to use alternatives to its iCloud service for storing personal data, such as photos and videos. This legal challenge could potentially result in significant financial repercussions for Apple if the court finds that its actions stifle competition and harm consumers.

The lawsuit was filed at London’s Competition Appeal Tribunal, where lawyers from Willkie Farr & Gallagher argue that Apple’s dominant position in the data storage market has resulted in unfair practices. The complaint highlights that Apple has intentionally restricted access to alternative storage services, making it harder for users to choose other options without facing obstacles. The case specifically focuses on iCloud, the company’s cloud storage solution, which is deeply integrated into Apple’s ecosystem, giving it a competitive edge over third-party providers.

This legal battle forms part of a growing trend in the UK, where the opt-out class-action system has been used by consumer groups to challenge the market dominance of major global companies, particularly in the tech industry. The claim suggests that Apple’s actions may have led to inflated pricing and limited choice for consumers, who are effectively locked into using Apple’s service for data storage. This kind of class action lawsuit has become an increasingly popular method for holding large corporations accountable for practices perceived as anti-competitive.

Though none of the recent class-action cases have gone to full trial yet, the potential outcome of this case could have wide-reaching consequences. If successful, the lawsuit could result in Apple being forced to alter its business practices, potentially allowing more freedom for consumers to use alternative data storage solutions without undue restrictions. The financial cost to Apple could also be substantial, with billions of pounds in damages potentially being awarded to affected consumers.