Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) vs Apple Inc. (AAPL) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AAPL | 6.4% revenue growth vs GEN's 3.6% |
| Value | GEN | Lower P/E (8.9x vs 31.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs GEN's 12.8% |
| Stability / Safety | GEN | Beta 0.96 vs AAPL's 1.28 |
| Dividends | GEN | 2.2% yield, vs AAPL's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AAPL | +9.7% vs GEN's -15.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs GEN's 3.8%, ROIC 64.5% vs 12.4% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Gen Digital is a consumer cybersecurity company that provides antivirus, identity theft protection, and online privacy solutions through brands like Norton and LifeLock. It generates revenue primarily from subscription services — with consumer cybersecurity subscriptions accounting for over 90% of sales — while also offering some direct-to-consumer hardware products. The company benefits from strong brand recognition in consumer security, cross-selling opportunities across its portfolio, and network effects as its threat intelligence improves with more users.
Apple is a technology giant that designs and sells premium consumer electronics — most famously the iPhone — along with related software and services. It generates revenue primarily from hardware sales (roughly 80% of total) and a fast-growing services segment (around 20%) that includes the App Store, subscriptions, and licensing. Its key competitive advantage is a powerful ecosystem that locks users into its hardware, software, and services through seamless integration and high switching costs.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
GEN leads in 2 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). AAPL leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 92.2x GEN's $4.7B. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to GEN's 12.8%. On growth, GEN holds the edge at +25.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.7B | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.2B | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $603M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.5B | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +77.7% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +36.9% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.8% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +32.1% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +25.8% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +19.2% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 21.9x trailing earnings, GEN trades at a 38% valuation discount to AAPL's 35.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), AAPL offers better value at 1.98x vs GEN's 8.01x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $13.9B | $3.88T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $21.2B | $3.97T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 21.91x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.86x | 31.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 8.01x | 1.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.47x | 27.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.54x | 9.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.21x | 53.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 11.55x | 39.33x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $26 for GEN. AAPL carries lower financial leverage with a 1.67x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to GEN's 3.66x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GEN scores 8/9 vs AAPL's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +25.9% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.8% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.4% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.5% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 3.66x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $7.3B | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.0B | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $8.3B | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.97x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $21,049 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,752 for GEN. Over the past 12 months, AAPL leads with a +9.7% total return vs GEN's -15.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AAPL at 21.9% vs GEN's 7.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -12.9% | -2.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -15.6% | +9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +23.4% | +81.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +27.5% | +110.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +122.0% | +1027.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.3% | +21.9% |
Risk & Volatility
GEN is the less volatile stock with a 0.96 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AAPL's 1.28 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AAPL currently trades 91.5% from its 52-week high vs GEN's 70.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.96x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $32.22 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $21.33 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +70.0% | +91.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 42.3 | 57.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.7M | 40.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GEN as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 40.3% upside for GEN (target: $32) vs 14.7% for AAPL (target: $303). For income investors, GEN offers the higher dividend yield at 2.22% vs AAPL's 0.39%.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $31.67 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 21 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.2% | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.50 | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.0% | +2.3% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) | 100 | 119.37 | +19.4% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.46 | +261.5% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +110% over 5 years vs Gen Digital Inc. (GEN)'s +28%. A $10,000 investment in AAPL 5 years ago would be worth $21,049 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) | $3.6B | $3.9B | +9.3% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
Gen Digital Inc.'s revenue grew from $3.6B (2016) to $3.9B (2025) — a 1.0% CAGR. Apple Inc.'s revenue grew from $215.6B (2016) to $416.2B (2025) — a 7.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) | 69.1% | 16.3% | -76.4% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
Gen Digital Inc.'s net margin went from 69% (2016) to 16% (2025). Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) | 10.9 | 26.4 | +142.2% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Gen Digital Inc. has traded in a 11x–29x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~22x. Apple Inc. has traded in a 13x–41x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~35x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) | 3.71 | 1.03 | -72.2% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
Gen Digital Inc.'s EPS grew from $3.71 (2016) to $1.03 (2025) — a -13% CAGR. Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Gen Digital Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2025 (+72% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
GEN vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GEN or AAPL a better buy right now?
Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) offers the better valuation at 21.9x trailing P/E (8.9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) a "Buy" — based on 21 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — GEN or AAPL?
On trailing P/E, Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) is the cheapest at 21.9x versus Apple Inc. at 35.4x. On forward P/E, Gen Digital Inc. is actually cheaper at 8.9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Apple Inc. wins at 1.74x versus Gen Digital Inc.'s 3.24x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — GEN or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +110.5%, compared to +27.5% for Gen Digital Inc. (GEN). A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth approximately $21K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAPL returned +1027% versus GEN's +122.0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — GEN or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.96β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 33% more volatile than GEN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Apple Inc. (AAPL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 167% versus 4% for Gen Digital Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — GEN or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 16.3% for Gen Digital Inc. — meaning it keeps 26.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GEN leads at 40.9% versus 32.0% for AAPL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GEN leads at 80.3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is GEN or AAPL more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential. By this metric, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1.74x versus Gen Digital Inc.'s 3.24x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) trades at 8.9x forward P/E versus 31.1x for Apple Inc. — 22.3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GEN: 40.3% to $31.67.
07Which pays a better dividend — GEN or AAPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) offers the highest yield at 2.2%, versus 0.4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL).
08Is GEN or AAPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.96), 2.2% yield, +122.0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GEN: +122.0%, AAPL: +1027%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between GEN and AAPL?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. GEN pays a dividend while AAPL does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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