Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) vs NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) 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 | NVDA | 65.5% revenue growth vs GEN's 3.6% |
| Value | GEN | Lower P/E (8.9x vs 21.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | NVDA | 55.6% net margin vs GEN's 12.8% |
| Stability / Safety | GEN | Beta 0.96 vs NVDA's 1.73 |
| Dividends | GEN | 2.2% yield, vs NVDA's 0.0% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NVDA | +41.9% vs GEN's -15.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NVDA | 58.1% ROA vs GEN's 3.8%, ROIC 81.8% 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.
NVIDIA designs and sells graphics processing units (GPUs) and accelerated computing platforms that power artificial intelligence, gaming, and professional visualization applications. The company generates revenue primarily through its Data Center segment — which includes AI chips and systems — accounting for over 70% of sales, supplemented by its Gaming GPU business and professional visualization offerings. NVIDIA's competitive moat stems from its CUDA software ecosystem — which locks developers into its hardware architecture — and its years of architectural leadership in parallel processing for AI workloads.
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
NVDA leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). GEN leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
NVDA is the larger business by revenue, generating $215.9B annually — 45.7x GEN's $4.7B. NVDA is the more profitable business, keeping 55.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to GEN's 12.8%. On growth, NVDA holds the edge at +73.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | NVDANVIDIA Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.7B | $215.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.2B | $133.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $603M | $120.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.5B | $96.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +77.7% | +71.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +36.9% | +60.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.8% | +55.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +32.1% | +44.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +25.8% | +73.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +19.2% | +97.8% |
Valuation Metrics
At 21.9x trailing earnings, GEN trades at a 39% valuation discount to NVDA's 36.2x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), NVDA offers better value at 0.38x vs GEN's 8.01x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | NVDANVIDIA Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $13.9B | $4.31T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $21.2B | $4.31T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 21.91x | 36.16x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.86x | 21.88x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 8.01x | 0.38x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.47x | 32.33x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.54x | 19.94x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.21x | 27.52x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 11.55x | 44.54x |
Profitability & Efficiency
NVDA delivers a 76.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $76 in annual profit, vs $26 for GEN. NVDA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.07x 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 NVDA's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | NVDANVIDIA Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +25.9% | +76.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.8% | +58.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.4% | +81.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.5% | +97.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 3.66x | 0.07x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $7.3B | $807M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.0B | $10.6B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $8.3B | $11.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.97x | 545.03x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in NVDA five years ago would be worth $128,116 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,752 for GEN. Over the past 12 months, NVDA leads with a +41.9% total return vs GEN's -15.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NVDA at 96.9% vs GEN's 7.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | NVDANVIDIA Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -12.9% | -6.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -15.6% | +41.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +23.4% | +663.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +27.5% | +1181.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +122.0% | +22525.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.3% | +96.9% |
Risk & Volatility
GEN is the less volatile stock with a 0.96 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NVDA's 1.73 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NVDA currently trades 83.5% 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. | NVDANVIDIA Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.96x | 1.73x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $32.22 | $212.19 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $21.33 | $86.62 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +70.0% | +83.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 42.3 | 47.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.7M | 136.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GEN as "Buy" and NVDA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 52.9% upside for NVDA (target: $271) vs 40.3% for GEN (target: $32). GEN is the only dividend payer here at 2.22% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | GENGen Digital Inc. | NVDANVIDIA Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $31.67 | $271.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 21 | 79 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.2% | +0.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.50 | $0.04 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.0% | +0.9% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) | 100 | 125.01 | +25.0% |
| NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) | 100 | 2,749.78 | +2649.8% |
NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) returned +1.2K% over 5 years vs Gen Digital Inc. (GEN)'s +28%. A $10,000 investment in NVDA 5 years ago would be worth $128,116 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) | $4.0B | $3.9B | -2.1% |
| NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) | $6.9B | $215.9B | +3025.0% |
NVIDIA Corporation's revenue grew from $6.9B (2017) to $215.9B (2026) — a 46.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) | -2.6% | 16.3% | +719.5% |
| NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) | 24.1% | 55.6% | +130.6% |
NVIDIA Corporation's net margin went from 24% (2017) to 56% (2026).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) | 10.9 | 26.4 | +142.2% |
| NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) | 75.6 | 36.2 | -52.1% |
Gen Digital Inc. has traded in a 11x–29x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~22x. NVIDIA Corporation has traded in a 28x–291x P/E range over 10 years; current trailing P/E is ~36x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) | -0.17 | 1.03 | +705.9% |
| NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) | 0.06 | 4.9 | +7556.3% |
NVIDIA Corporation's EPS grew from $0.06 (2017) to $4.90 (2026) — a 62% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Gen Digital Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2025 (+72% vs 2021). NVIDIA Corporation generated $97B FCF in 2026 (+1960% vs 2021).
GEN vs NVDA: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GEN or NVDA 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 NVDA?
On trailing P/E, Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) is the cheapest at 21.9x versus NVIDIA Corporation at 36.2x. 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: NVIDIA Corporation wins at 0.23x 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 NVDA?
Over the past 5 years, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) delivered a total return of +1181%, compared to +27.5% for Gen Digital Inc. (GEN). A $10,000 investment in NVDA five years ago would be worth approximately $128K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NVDA returned +225.3% 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 NVDA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.96β versus NVIDIA Corporation's 1.73β — meaning NVDA is approximately 79% more volatile than GEN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 4% for Gen Digital Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — GEN or NVDA?
NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the more profitable company, earning 55.6% net margin versus 16.3% for Gen Digital Inc. — meaning it keeps 55.6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NVDA leads at 60.4% versus 40.9% for GEN. 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 NVDA 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, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.23x 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 21.9x for NVIDIA Corporation — 13.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NVDA: 52.9% to $271.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — GEN or NVDA?
In this comparison, GEN (2.2% yield) pays a dividend. NVDA does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is GEN or NVDA 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). NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) carries a higher beta of 1.73 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (GEN: +122.0%, NVDA: +225.3%), 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 NVDA?
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 NVDA 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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