Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) vs Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | FTNT | 14.2% revenue growth vs GEN's 3.6% |
| Value | GEN | Lower P/E (8.9x vs 26.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | FTNT | 27.3% net margin vs GEN's 12.8% |
| Stability / Safety | GEN | Beta 0.96 vs FTNT's 1.23 |
| Dividends | GEN | 2.2% yield; FTNT pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | GEN | -15.6% vs FTNT's -26.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | FTNT | 17.8% ROA vs GEN's 3.8% |
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.
Fortinet is a cybersecurity company that provides integrated network security solutions through hardware appliances, software, and cloud services. It generates revenue primarily from selling security hardware like firewalls (~60% of product revenue) and software subscriptions/services (~40% of total revenue) including support, cloud security, and software-as-a-service offerings. The company's key advantage is its Security Fabric architecture—a unified platform approach that integrates various security functions across networks, endpoints, and clouds, creating switching costs and operational efficiencies for customers.
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
FTNT leads in 2 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). GEN leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
FTNT and GEN operate at a comparable scale, with $6.8B and $4.7B in trailing revenue. FTNT is the more profitable business, keeping 27.3% 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. | FTNTFortinet, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.7B | $6.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.2B | $2.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $603M | $1.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.5B | $2.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +77.7% | +80.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +36.9% | +30.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.8% | +27.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +32.1% | +32.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +25.8% | +14.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +19.2% | 0.0% |
Valuation Metrics
At 21.9x trailing earnings, GEN trades at a 33% valuation discount to FTNT's 32.5x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), FTNT offers better value at 0.98x vs GEN's 8.01x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | FTNTFortinet, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $13.9B | $58.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $21.2B | $57.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 21.91x | 32.52x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.86x | 26.56x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 8.01x | 0.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.47x | 25.64x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.54x | 8.64x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.21x | 47.77x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 11.55x | 26.40x |
Profitability & Efficiency
FTNT delivers a 149.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $150 in annual profit, vs $26 for GEN. FTNT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.81x 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 FTNT's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | FTNTFortinet, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +25.9% | +149.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.8% | +17.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.4% | — |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.5% | +37.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 3.66x | 0.81x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $7.3B | -$1.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.0B | $2.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $8.3B | $996M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.97x | 112.99x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in FTNT five years ago would be worth $22,808 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,752 for GEN. Over the past 12 months, GEN leads with a -15.6% total return vs FTNT's -26.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors FTNT at 10.0% vs GEN's 7.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | FTNTFortinet, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -12.9% | +1.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -15.6% | -26.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +23.4% | +33.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +27.5% | +128.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +122.0% | +1291.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.3% | +10.0% |
Risk & Volatility
GEN is the less volatile stock with a 0.96 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than FTNT's 1.23 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | FTNTFortinet, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.96x | 1.23x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $32.22 | $110.67 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $21.33 | $70.12 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +70.0% | +71.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 42.3 | 47.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.7M | 5.6M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GEN as "Buy" and FTNT as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 40.3% upside for GEN (target: $32) vs 8.5% for FTNT (target: $86). GEN is the only dividend payer here at 2.22% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | FTNTFortinet, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $31.67 | $85.71 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 21 | 67 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.2% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.50 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.0% | +3.9% |
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% |
| Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) | 100 | 369.16 | +269.2% |
Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) returned +128% over 5 years vs Gen Digital Inc. (GEN)'s +28%. A $10,000 investment in FTNT 5 years ago would be worth $22,808 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) | $3.6B | $3.9B | +9.3% |
| Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) | $1.3B | $6.8B | +433.1% |
Gen Digital Inc.'s revenue grew from $3.6B (2016) to $3.9B (2025) — a 1.0% CAGR. Fortinet, Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.3B (2016) to $6.8B (2025) — a 20.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) | 69.1% | 16.3% | -76.4% |
| Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) | 2.5% | 27.3% | +979.6% |
Gen Digital Inc.'s net margin went from 69% (2016) to 16% (2025). Fortinet, Inc.'s net margin went from 3% (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% |
| Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) | 242.8 | 32.7 | -86.5% |
Gen Digital Inc. has traded in a 11x–29x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~22x. Fortinet, Inc. has traded in a 33x–243x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~33x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) | 3.71 | 1.03 | -72.2% |
| Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) | 0.04 | 2.43 | +6650.0% |
Gen Digital Inc.'s EPS grew from $3.71 (2016) to $1.03 (2025) — a -13% CAGR. Fortinet, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.04 (2016) to $2.43 (2025) — a 60% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Gen Digital Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2025 (+72% vs 2021). Fortinet, Inc. generated $2B FCF in 2025 (+85% vs 2021).
GEN vs FTNT: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GEN or FTNT 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 FTNT?
On trailing P/E, Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) is the cheapest at 21.9x versus Fortinet, Inc. at 32.5x. 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: Fortinet, Inc. wins at 0.80x versus Gen Digital Inc.'s 3.24x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — GEN or FTNT?
Over the past 5 years, Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) delivered a total return of +128.1%, compared to +27.5% for Gen Digital Inc. (GEN). A $10,000 investment in FTNT five years ago would be worth approximately $23K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FTNT returned +1291% 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 FTNT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.96β versus Fortinet, Inc.'s 1.23β — meaning FTNT is approximately 27% more volatile than GEN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 81% versus 4% for Gen Digital Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — GEN or FTNT?
Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) is the more profitable company, earning 27.3% net margin versus 16.3% for Gen Digital Inc. — meaning it keeps 27.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GEN leads at 40.9% versus 30.6% for FTNT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FTNT leads at 80.8%, 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 FTNT 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, Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.80x versus Gen Digital Inc.'s 3.24x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) trades at 8.9x forward P/E versus 26.6x for Fortinet, Inc. — 17.7x 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 FTNT?
In this comparison, GEN (2.2% yield) pays a dividend. FTNT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is GEN or FTNT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.23), +1291% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FTNT: +1291%, 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 FTNT?
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 FTNT 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.