GEN vs. PANW: Gen Digital vs. Palo Alto Networks Stock Comparison
How do Gen Digital (GEN) and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) 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 Palo Alto Networks (PANW) are both classified in the Systems Software sub-industry within the broader Software industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | GEN | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Gen Digital Inc. | Palo Alto Networks, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Software & Services | Software & Services |
| GICS Industry | Software | Software |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Systems Software | Systems Software |
| Market Capitalization | 17.67 billion USD | 256.86 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 23, 1989 | July 20, 2012 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | GEN | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 18.20% | 53.99% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 18.57% | 39.16% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 5.70% | 30.80% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | GEN | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 43.30% | 51.34% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.23 | 1.00 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -48.41% | -36.01% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 8.39M | 6.03M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | GEN | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.32 | 0.97 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.50 | 1.49 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Gen Digital (GEN) at 46.40% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 1.74% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for GEN.
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%
PANW
Software & Services industry group
1.74%
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- Median
- 6.59%
- PANW
- 1.74%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- Min
- -50.52%
Net Margin (TTM)
Gen Digital (GEN) at 23.07% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 2.67%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
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%
PANW
Software & Services industry group
2.67%
- Max
- 41.17%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- Median
- 4.63%
- PANW
- 2.67%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- Min
- -33.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Gen Digital (GEN) at 37.40% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 5.40%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
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%
PANW
Software & Services industry group
5.40%
- Max
- 46.89%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- Median
- 8.73%
- PANW
- 5.40%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | GEN | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 46.40% | 1.74% |
| ROA (TTM) | 8.94% | 1.40% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 23.07% | 2.67% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 37.40% | 5.40% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 77.41% | 70.38% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Gen Digital (GEN) at 27.06% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 24.50% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for GEN.
EPS Growth
Gen Digital (GEN) at 52.43% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at -75.00% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | GEN | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 27.06% | 24.50% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 14.66% | 18.54% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 52.43% | -75.00% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -10.09% | -14.50% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Gen Digital (GEN) at 0.37 and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 0.87 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
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
PANW
Software & Services industry group
0.87
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- PANW
- 0.87
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 0.09 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
PANW
Software & Services industry group
0.09
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- Median
- 0.40
- PANW
- 0.09
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | GEN | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.37 | 0.87 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 2.96 | 0.09 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.02 | -0.32 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Palo Alto Networks (PANW) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Gen Digital (GEN) reports a yield of 1.63%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
PANW
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- PANW
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Palo Alto Networks (PANW) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Gen Digital (GEN) reports a payout of 25.38%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
PANW
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- PANW
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | GEN | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.63% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 25.38% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Gen Digital (GEN) at 15.12 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 784.60 trades above its peer range — a wide earnings-valuation gap relative to industry peers.
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
PANW
Software & Services industry group
784.60
- PANW
- 784.60
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Gen Digital (GEN) at 3.38 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 22.37 clears its benchmark range — PANW looks notably rich on 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
PANW
Software & Services industry group
22.37
- PANW
- 22.37
- Max
- 17.91
- Q3
- 8.78
- Median
- 4.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Gen Digital (GEN) at 6.45 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) at 9.30 carries an above-peer premium to book — PANW is pricier on assets.
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
PANW
Software & Services industry group
9.30
- Max
- 16.63
- PANW
- 9.30
- Q3
- 8.50
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | GEN | PANW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 15.12 | 784.60 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.38 | 22.37 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.45 | 9.30 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 10.25% | 1.65% |