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GEN vs. MSFT: Gen Digital vs. Microsoft Stock Comparison

How do Gen Digital (GEN) and Microsoft (MSFT) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Gen Digital (GEN) and Microsoft (MSFT) are both classified in the Systems Software sub-industry within the broader Software industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Gen Digital (GEN) and Microsoft (MSFT)
Profile ItemGENMSFT
NameGen Digital Inc.Microsoft Corporation Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustrySystems SoftwareSystems Software
Market Capitalization17.67 billion USD3,940.41 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJune 23, 1989March 13, 1986
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GEN
MSFT
GSPC
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Microsoft (MSFT), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Gen Digital (GEN) and Microsoft (MSFT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Gen Digital (GEN) and Microsoft (MSFT). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricGENMSFT
Total Return (1Y)18.20%10.30%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.57%15.53%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)5.70%11.01%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GEN
MSFT
GSPC
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Microsoft (MSFT), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Gen Digital (GEN) and Microsoft (MSFT). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricGENMSFT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)43.30%33.91%
Beta (5Y)1.231.03
Max Drawdown (5Y)-48.41%-37.15%
Avg. Volume (3M)8.39M22.95M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GEN and MSFT are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricGENMSFT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.320.18
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.500.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Gen Digital (GEN) at 46.40% and Microsoft (MSFT) at 34.22% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

GEN

Software & Services industry group

46.40%

Max
53.85%
GEN
46.40%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

34.22%

Max
53.85%
MSFT
34.22%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Gen Digital (GEN) at 23.07% and Microsoft (MSFT) at 41.17% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

GEN

Software & Services industry group

23.07%

Max
41.17%
GEN
23.07%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

41.17%

MSFT
41.17%
Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Microsoft (MSFT) at 49.76% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Gen Digital (GEN) at 37.40% also operates in the top quartile.

GEN

Software & Services industry group

37.40%

Max
46.89%
GEN
37.40%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

49.76%

MSFT
49.76%
Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricGENMSFT
ROE (TTM)46.40%34.22%
ROA (TTM)8.94%14.41%
Net Margin (TTM)23.07%41.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)37.40%49.76%
Gross Margin (TTM)77.41%67.66%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Gen Digital (GEN) at 27.06% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Microsoft (MSFT) at 17.79% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for GEN.

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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Gen Digital (GEN) at 52.43% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Microsoft (MSFT) at 31.60% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for GEN.

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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricGENMSFT
Revenue Growth (YoY)27.06%17.79%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)14.66%16.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)52.43%31.60%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-10.09%22.86%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Microsoft (MSFT) at 1.23 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Gen Digital (GEN) at 0.37 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for GEN.

GEN

Software & Services industry group

0.37

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
GEN
0.37
Min
0.03

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

1.23

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
MSFT
1.23
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Microsoft (MSFT) at 0.28 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Gen Digital (GEN) at 2.96 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

GEN

Software & Services industry group

2.96

GEN
2.96
Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

0.28

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
MSFT
0.28
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricGENMSFT
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.371.23
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.960.28
Net Debt / EBITDA3.020.34

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Gen Digital (GEN) at 1.63% and Microsoft (MSFT) at 0.69% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

GEN

Software & Services industry group

1.63%

GEN
1.63%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

0.69%

MSFT
0.69%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Gen Digital (GEN) at 25.38% and Microsoft (MSFT) at 19.00% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

GEN

Software & Services industry group

25.38%

GEN
25.38%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

19.00%

MSFT
19.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricGENMSFT
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.63%0.69%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)25.38%19.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Gen Digital (GEN) at 15.12 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Microsoft (MSFT) at 27.69 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for GEN, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

GEN

Software & Services industry group

15.12

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
GEN
15.12
Min
6.69

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

27.69

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
MSFT
27.69
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Gen Digital (GEN) at 3.38 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Microsoft (MSFT) at 11.37 sits in the pricier quartile — MSFT costs more per dollar of sales.

GEN

Software & Services industry group

3.38

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
GEN
3.38
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

11.37

Max
17.91
MSFT
11.37
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Gen Digital (GEN) at 6.45 and Microsoft (MSFT) at 8.38 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

GEN

Software & Services industry group

6.45

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
GEN
6.45
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90

MSFT

Software & Services industry group

8.38

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
MSFT
8.38
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Microsoft (MSFT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Microsoft (MSFT)
MetricGENMSFT
P/E Ratio (TTM)15.1227.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.3811.37
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.458.38
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.25%0.08%