Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) vs CyberArk Software Ltd. (CYBR) 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 | CYBR | 36.0% revenue growth vs GEN's 3.6% |
| Value | GEN | Lower P/E (8.9x vs 81.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | GEN | 12.8% net margin vs CYBR's -10.8% |
| Stability / Safety | GEN | Beta 0.96 vs CYBR's 1.05 |
| Dividends | GEN | 2.2% yield; CYBR pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CYBR | +12.4% vs GEN's -15.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | GEN | 3.8% ROA vs CYBR's -3.0%, ROIC 12.4% vs -3.2% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
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.
CyberArk is a cybersecurity company specializing in privileged access management — protecting organizations' most critical accounts and credentials from cyberattacks. It generates revenue primarily through software license sales and subscription services — including SaaS offerings — with maintenance and professional services contributing additional recurring income. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep specialization in the privileged access security niche, where it has established market leadership and a comprehensive platform that's difficult for competitors to replicate.
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 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). CYBR leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
GEN is the larger business by revenue, generating $4.7B annually — 3.5x CYBR's $1.4B. GEN is the more profitable business, keeping 12.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CYBR's -10.8%. On growth, GEN holds the edge at +25.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | CYBRCyberArk Software… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.7B | $1.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.2B | $23M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $603M | -$147M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.5B | $259M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +77.7% | +74.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +36.9% | -7.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.8% | -10.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +32.1% | +19.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +25.8% | +18.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +19.2% | +83.2% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, GEN's 10.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CYBR's 908.2x.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | CYBRCyberArk Software… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $13.9B | $20.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $21.2B | $21.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 21.91x | -139.54x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.86x | 81.87x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 8.01x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.47x | 908.21x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.54x | 15.16x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.21x | 8.54x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 11.55x | 79.60x |
Profitability & Efficiency
GEN delivers a 25.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $26 in annual profit, vs $-6 for CYBR. CYBR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.51x 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 CYBR's 3/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | CYBRCyberArk Software… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +25.9% | -6.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.8% | -3.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.4% | -3.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.5% | -3.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 3.66x | 0.51x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $7.3B | $599M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.0B | $623M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $8.3B | $1.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.97x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CYBR five years ago would be worth $26,916 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,752 for GEN. Over the past 12 months, CYBR leads with a +12.4% total return vs GEN's -15.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CYBR at 41.3% vs GEN's 7.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | CYBRCyberArk Software… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -12.9% | -6.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -15.6% | +12.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +23.4% | +182.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +27.5% | +169.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +122.0% | +991.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.3% | +41.3% |
Risk & Volatility
GEN is the less volatile stock with a 0.96 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CYBR's 1.05 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CYBR currently trades 77.7% 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. | CYBRCyberArk Software… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.96x | 1.05x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $32.22 | $526.19 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $21.33 | $288.63 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +70.0% | +77.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 42.3 | 38.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.7M | 810K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GEN as "Buy" and CYBR as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 40.3% upside for GEN (target: $32) vs 14.0% for CYBR (target: $466). GEN is the only dividend payer here at 2.22% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | CYBRCyberArk Software… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $31.67 | $466.17 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 21 | 49 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.2% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.50 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.0% | +0.0% |
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% |
| CyberArk Software L… (CYBR) | 100 | 399.88 | +299.9% |
CyberArk Software L… (CYBR) returned +169% over 5 years vs Gen Digital Inc. (GEN)'s +28%. A $10,000 investment in CYBR 5 years ago would be worth $26,916 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) | $3.6B | $3.9B | +9.3% |
| CyberArk Software L… (CYBR) | $217M | $1.4B | +528.4% |
Gen Digital Inc.'s revenue grew from $3.6B (2016) to $3.9B (2025) — a 1.0% CAGR. CyberArk Software Ltd.'s revenue grew from $217M (2016) to $1.4B (2025) — a 22.7% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) | 69.1% | 16.3% | -76.4% |
| CyberArk Software L… (CYBR) | 13.0% | -10.8% | -183.1% |
Gen Digital Inc.'s net margin went from 69% (2016) to 16% (2025). CyberArk Software Ltd.'s net margin went from 13% (2016) to -11% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) | 10.9 | 26.4 | +142.2% |
| CyberArk Software L… (CYBR) | 94.1 | 72 | -23.5% |
Gen Digital Inc. has traded in a 11x–29x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~22x. CyberArk Software Ltd. has traded in a 58x–94x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~-140x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) | 3.71 | 1.03 | -72.2% |
| CyberArk Software L… (CYBR) | 0.78 | -2.93 | -475.6% |
Gen Digital Inc.'s EPS grew from $3.71 (2016) to $1.03 (2025) — a -13% CAGR. CyberArk Software Ltd.'s EPS grew from $0.78 (2016) to $-2.93 (2025) — a NaN% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Gen Digital Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2025 (+72% vs 2021). CyberArk Software Ltd. generated $259M FCF in 2025 (+294% vs 2021).
GEN vs CYBR: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GEN or CYBR 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 CYBR?
On forward P/E, Gen Digital Inc. is actually cheaper at 8.9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — GEN or CYBR?
Over the past 5 years, CyberArk Software Ltd. (CYBR) delivered a total return of +169.2%, compared to +27.5% for Gen Digital Inc. (GEN). A $10,000 investment in CYBR five years ago would be worth approximately $27K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CYBR returned +991.1% 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 CYBR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.96β versus CyberArk Software Ltd.'s 1.05β — meaning CYBR is approximately 9% more volatile than GEN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CyberArk Software Ltd. (CYBR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 51% versus 4% for Gen Digital Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — GEN or CYBR?
Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) is the more profitable company, earning 16.3% net margin versus -10.8% for CyberArk Software Ltd. — meaning it keeps 16.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GEN leads at 40.9% versus -7.7% for CYBR. 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 CYBR more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) trades at 8.9x forward P/E versus 81.9x for CyberArk Software Ltd. — 73.0x 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 CYBR?
In this comparison, GEN (2.2% yield) pays a dividend. CYBR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is GEN or CYBR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, CyberArk Software Ltd. (CYBR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.05), +991.1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CYBR: +991.1%, GEN: +122.0%), 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 CYBR?
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 CYBR 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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