Gen Digital raises annual forecast on strong cybersecurity demand 07-Aug 04:20

Gen Digital (GEN.O) raised full-year revenue and profit forecast on Thursday, signaling robust demand for its ​family of cybersecurity products in the face of ‌growing AI-powered online threats.

The digital security company has been capitalizing on a heightened threat environment, where generative AI tools are ​making it easier for criminals to create sophisticated ​phishing emails, scams and identity theft attacks.

Here are ⁠a few details on the quarter:

- Consumer anxiety surrounding AI-enabled ​fraud has become the primary catalyst for new customer acquisitions, ​CEO Vincent Pilette told Reuters.
- Gen is seeing membership grow for its flagship Norton 360, which is its comprehensive digital safety and ​anti-malware suite of products, Pilette said.
- Looking ahead to fiscal ​2027, Pilette pointed to monetization of financial wellness adoption as the ‌key ⁠marker of success.
- Gen expects "$100 million incremental revenue coming from financial wellness adoption" over the next 18 months.
- The company expects fiscal 2027 revenue in the range of $5.38 billion ​to $5.48 billion, compared ​with its ⁠prior forecast of $5.33 billion to $5.43 billion.
- It sees adjusted earnings per share between $2.87 and $2.97, compared ​with a prior range of $2.85 to $2.95.
- Gen reported ​revenue of $1.34 ⁠billion for the quarter ended July 3, compared with analysts' average estimate of $1.31 billion, according to data compiled by ⁠LSEG.
- On ​an adjusted basis, Gen Digital ​earned 71 cents per share, ahead of the estimate of 69 cents.