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GEN vs. U: Gen Digital vs. Unity Software Stock Comparison

How do Gen Digital (GEN) and Unity Software (U) 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 Unity Software (U) both belong to the Software industry, though GEN is classified under Systems Software while U falls under Application Software.

Gen Digital (GEN) has more than two decades of public-market history since June 23, 1989, whereas Unity Software (U) listed on September 18, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Gen Digital (GEN) and Unity Software (U)
Profile ItemGENU
NameGen Digital Inc.Unity Software Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustrySystems SoftwareApplication Software
Market Capitalization17.67 billion USD22.85 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJune 23, 1989September 18, 2020
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GEN
U
GSPC
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Unity Software (U), 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 Unity Software (U). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Unity Software (U)
MetricGENU
Total Return (1Y)18.20%30.56%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.57%27.46%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)5.70%-21.16%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GEN
U
GSPC
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Unity Software (U), 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 Unity Software (U). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Unity Software (U)
MetricGENU
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)43.30%71.11%
Beta (5Y)1.231.97
Max Drawdown (5Y)-48.41%-93.07%
Avg. Volume (3M)8.39M10.92M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GEN and U 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 Unity Software (U)
MetricGENU
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.320.37
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.500.51

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Unity Software (U) reports a negative ROE of -9.66%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Gen Digital (GEN) reports 46.40%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

U

Software & Services industry group

-9.66%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
U
-9.66%
Min
-50.52%
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Unity Software (U): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Unity Software (U) reports a negative net margin of -15.60%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Gen Digital (GEN) reports 23.07%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

U

Software & Services industry group

-15.60%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
U
-15.60%
Min
-33.17%
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Unity Software (U): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Gen Digital (GEN) at 37.40% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Unity Software (U) at 16.95%, 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%

U

Software & Services industry group

16.95%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
U
16.95%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Unity Software (U): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Unity Software (U)
MetricGENU
ROE (TTM)46.40%-9.66%
ROA (TTM)8.94%-0.45%
Net Margin (TTM)23.07%-15.60%
Operating Margin (TTM)37.40%16.95%
Gross Margin (TTM)77.41%78.49%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Gen Digital (GEN) at 27.06% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Unity Software (U) at 2.01% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in revenue momentum.

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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Unity Software (U): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Gen Digital (GEN) reports EPS growth of 52.43%, ranked against its industry; Unity Software (U) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Unity Software (U): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Unity Software (U)
MetricGENU
Revenue Growth (YoY)27.06%2.01%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)14.66%9.96%
EPS Growth (YoY)52.43%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-10.09%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Unity Software (U) at 2.17 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

U

Software & Services industry group

2.17

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
U
2.17
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Unity Software (U): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Unity Software (U) at 0.66 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

U

Software & Services industry group

0.66

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
U
0.66
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Unity Software (U): 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 Unity Software (U)
MetricGENU
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.372.17
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.960.66
Net Debt / EBITDA3.02-0.86

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Unity Software (U) 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%

U

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Unity Software (U) 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%

U

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Unity Software (U)
MetricGENU
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.63%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)25.38%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Gen Digital (GEN) trades at 15.12 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Unity Software (U) has no P/E ratio this period.

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

U

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
U
--
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Unity Software (U): U does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; GEN is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Gen Digital (GEN) at 3.38 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Unity Software (U) at 10.48 sits in the pricier quartile — U 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

U

Software & Services industry group

10.48

Max
17.91
U
10.48
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Unity Software (U): 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 Unity Software (U) at 7.03 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

U

Software & Services industry group

7.03

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
U
7.03
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Unity Software (U): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Unity Software (U)
MetricGENU
P/E Ratio (TTM)15.12--
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.3810.48
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.457.03
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.25%2.76%