Gen Digital stock holds firm after Q1 beat and raised guidance
Published on 08/22/2026 at 12:52 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Gen Digital Inc. (US3687361044) traded at $28.18 on August 21, 2026, after a Q1 FY27 report that delivered $1.34 billion in revenue and $0.71 in earnings per share. The quarter also came in ahead of the $0.69 consensus estimate, keeping the stock in the middle of its 52-week range of $17.78 to $31.88.
Q1 FY27 set the tone
The latest quarter showed 6.3% year-over-year revenue growth, while net margin reached 20.73% and return on equity was 55.93%. The same report set FY27 EPS guidance at $2.87 to $2.97, which gives investors a current reference point for the rest of the fiscal year.
MarketBeat's coverage of a new position taken by B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG also pointed to a broader institutional backdrop, with the fund buying 186,155 shares valued at $4.633 million. The same report put the company's market capitalization at $17.32 billion and the consensus price target at $31.67.
Analysts stay constructive
The analyst mix remains tilted toward hold, even as target prices have moved higher. The same coverage cited a recent Royal Bank of Canada move from $27 to $30, a Barclays move from $27 to $32, and a Wells Fargo move from $22 to $28.
That leaves a clear gap between the last close of $28.18 and the average target of $31.67. The stock has also outpaced its 50-day average of $26.49, while still trading below the 200-day average of $23.57 reported in the same market snapshot.
Consumer security still drives the model
Gen Digital's portfolio spans Norton, Avast, LifeLock, Avira, AVG, ReputationDefender, and CCleaner, with consumer cybersecurity and identity protection still at the center of the business. That mix matters because the company derived revenue growth from a base that is already profitable, with trailing revenue of $5.08 billion and levered free cash flow of $1.55 billion.
Shares and valuation
At $28.18 on August 21, 2026, Gen Digital was trading at a forward P/E of 9.43 and a trailing P/E of 16.11. The stock closed below its 1-year high of $31.88 but well above its 1-year low of $17.78, leaving valuation and earnings delivery as the main variables for the next leg.
More on Gen Digital stock
Gen Digital Inc. builds consumer cyber safety and identity protection products under brands such as Norton and Avast. That product mix helps explain why the company can pair double-digit profitability with a large installed base.
Gen Digital stock at a glance
Company: Gen Digital Inc. ISIN: US3687361044. Ticker: GEN. Exchange: NASDAQ. Price: $28.18 as of August 21, 2026. Market cap: $16.865 billion as of August 21, 2026. Sector / Industry: Technology / Software - Infrastructure. Index membership: Nasdaq-100.
