Western Digital expands buyback by $4 billion as AI drives chip demand

Data storage maker Western Digital said its board has approved an additional $4 billion for share repurchases, citing strong demand for memory chips used in artificial intelligence servers. The announcement pushed shares up about 5% in premarket trading, extending a rally that has already lifted the stock sharply over the past year.

The company said the new authorization adds to an existing buyback program, under which roughly $484 million remained available as of earlier this week. Western Digital shares have surged on expectations that AI-driven data center investment will continue to boost demand for storage products, including hard drives and flash memory.

A global shortage of memory chips has intensified competition for supply, particularly from AI developers and consumer electronics makers. Limited manufacturing capacity and longer lead times have driven prices higher, benefiting suppliers positioned to serve the fast-growing AI server market.

Western Digital recently forecast fiscal third-quarter revenue and profit above Wall Street expectations, pointing to strong sales of storage solutions for AI workloads. Management said the buyback expansion reflects confidence in cash generation and long-term demand trends tied to artificial intelligence infrastructure.