Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ:WDC)

The share price of the company has exhibited notable fluctuations over the observed periods. Initially, there was a steady increase from approximately $13.53 in late 2005 to a peak exceeding $100 by mid-2014. Subsequently, a decline is visible, with the share price dropping to around $40.42 by mid-2023. This suggests periods of growth interrupted by phases of contraction or market correction.

Operating profit per share (OPPS) shows considerable volatility. Beginning at $0.91 in 2005, it generally increased with notable peaks, such as $12.41 in 2018, before sharply decreasing to a negative value of -$3.99 in 2023. This indicates uneven profitability trends, with some strong earning years followed by significant downturns impacting returns per share.

The price-to-operating profit ratio (P/OP) similarly reflects this variability. During early periods, the ratio declined from about 14.88 to 3.68, implying improving operating profit relative to share price. However, the ratio also surged to extreme highs, notably reaching 179.17 in 2019, coinciding with a very low operating profit per share that year. This suggests that the share price was not fully aligned with operational earnings at certain points, indicating potential overvaluation. Toward the last recorded dates, the ratio shows a reduction but remains erratic, suggesting ongoing inconsistency between share price valuation and operating profit performance.

Overall, the data depicts a company experiencing significant fluctuations in market valuation and operational profitability over the 18-year span. Peaks in share price and operating profit per share do not always correspond, highlighting periods where market sentiment may have diverged from financial performance. The negative operating profit in the latest period signifies recent operational challenges, which is mirrored by a moderate share price decline and a fluctuating P/OP ratio.