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GEN vs. ZS: Gen Digital vs. Zscaler Stock Comparison

How do Gen Digital (GEN) and Zscaler (ZS) 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 Zscaler (ZS) 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 Zscaler (ZS)
Profile ItemGENZS
NameGen Digital Inc.Zscaler Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustrySystems SoftwareSystems Software
Market Capitalization17.67 billion USD32.23 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJune 23, 1989March 16, 2018
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GEN
ZS
GSPC
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Zscaler (ZS), 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 Zscaler (ZS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricGENZS
Total Return (1Y)18.20%-37.61%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.57%5.36%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)5.70%-10.75%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricGENZS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)43.30%68.66%
Beta (5Y)1.230.88
Max Drawdown (5Y)-48.41%-76.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)8.39M2.92M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GEN and ZS 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 Zscaler (ZS)
MetricGENZS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.32-0.61
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.50-0.79

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative ROE of -2.87%; 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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

-2.87%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
ZS
-2.87%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative net margin of -1.89%, 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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

-1.89%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
ZS
-1.89%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative operating margin of -1.01%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Gen Digital (GEN) reports 37.40%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

-1.01%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
ZS
-1.01%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricGENZS
ROE (TTM)46.40%-2.87%
ROA (TTM)8.94%-1.03%
Net Margin (TTM)23.07%-1.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)37.40%-1.01%
Gross Margin (TTM)77.41%76.87%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Gen Digital (GEN) at 27.06% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Zscaler (ZS) at 25.42% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for GEN.

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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): 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; Zscaler (ZS) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricGENZS
Revenue Growth (YoY)27.06%25.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)14.66%27.51%
EPS Growth (YoY)52.43%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-10.09%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Zscaler (ZS) at 1.70 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

1.70

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
ZS
1.70
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Zscaler (ZS) at 0.72 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

0.72

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
ZS
0.72
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): 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 Zscaler (ZS)
MetricGENZS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.371.70
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.960.72
Net Debt / EBITDA3.02-36.63

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) 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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

ZS
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. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) 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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

ZS
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. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricGENZS
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 Zscaler (ZS) 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
ZS
--
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): ZS 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 Zscaler (ZS) at 9.61 sits in the pricier quartile — ZS 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

9.61

Max
17.91
ZS
9.61
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Gen Digital (GEN) at 6.45 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Zscaler (ZS) at 12.40 carries an above-peer premium to book — ZS 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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

12.40

Max
16.63
ZS
12.40
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Gen Digital (GEN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Gen Digital (GEN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricGENZS
P/E Ratio (TTM)15.12--
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.389.61
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.4512.40
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.25%3.34%