Gen Digital Inc. (NASDAQ:GEN) Given Consensus Rating of "Hold" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Consensus "Hold": Nine analysts give Gen Digital a consensus Hold rating (6 holds, 2 buys, 1 strong buy) with an average 12‑month price target of $32.71.
• Recent results beat estimates—$0.64 EPS vs. $0.63 expected and $1.24B revenue (+25.8% YoY)—and management guided FY2026 EPS to $2.54–2.56 while analysts on average expect about $2.05.
• Shares trade near $18.71 (1‑year low $18.20 / high $32.22) with a $11.33B market cap, high leverage (debt/equity 3.50), a ~2.7% dividend yield, and roughly 81% institutional ownership.

Shares of Gen Digital Inc. (NASDAQ:GEN - Get Free Report) have been assigned an average recommendation of "Hold" from the nine ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $32.7143.

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Wall Street Zen raised Gen Digital from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Sunday. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "hold (c+)" rating on shares of Gen Digital in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Barclays decreased their price target on Gen Digital from $33.00 to $32.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on Gen Digital in a report on Tuesday, March 3rd. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $22.00 price target for the company. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of Gen Digital from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Gen Digital

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Gen Digital during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. True Wealth Design LLC raised its position in shares of Gen Digital by 92.0% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 1,104 shares of the company's stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 529 shares during the period. Spire Wealth Management raised its position in shares of Gen Digital by 1,183.3% in the 3rd quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 1,078 shares of the company's stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 994 shares during the period. Clearstead Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Gen Digital by 48.6% in the third quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 1,223 shares of the company's stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. Finally, TD Private Client Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in Gen Digital by 65.8% in the fourth quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 1,539 shares of the company's stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 611 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.38% of the company's stock.

Gen Digital Stock Performance

NASDAQ:GEN opened at $18.71 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.50, a current ratio of 0.47 and a quick ratio of 0.47. The firm has a market cap of $11.33 billion, a PE ratio of 19.29, a P/E/G ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.15. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $22.28 and a 200-day simple moving average of $25.38. Gen Digital has a 1-year low of $18.20 and a 1-year high of $32.22.

Gen Digital (NASDAQ:GEN - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported $0.64 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.63 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $1.24 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.23 billion. Gen Digital had a net margin of 12.76% and a return on equity of 56.76%. Gen Digital's revenue for the quarter was up 25.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.56 EPS. Gen Digital has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 0.640-0.660 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 2.540-2.560 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Gen Digital will post 2.05 EPS for the current year.

Gen Digital Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 11th. Investors of record on Monday, February 16th were given a dividend of $0.125 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 13th. This represents a $0.50 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.7%. Gen Digital's dividend payout ratio is 51.55%.

About Gen Digital

Gen Digital NASDAQ: GEN is a global cybersecurity company specializing in consumer- and small-business-focused security, privacy, and identity protection solutions. The company offers a suite of products designed to safeguard devices, networks, and personal information against malware, ransomware, phishing attacks and other digital threats. With a focus on user-friendly interfaces and cross-platform compatibility, Gen Digital develops antivirus software, VPN services, parental controls, password management tools, and comprehensive identity-theft monitoring services.

Gen Digital traces its origins to the consumer software division of Symantec Corporation, which was spun off in late 2019 under the NortonLifeLock name.

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