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Gen Digital Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 2 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up 25 percent to $1,220 million: GAAP revenue was $1,220 million, up 25%, against $974 million a year earlier. GAAP operating income was $438 million, up 9%, and GAAP diluted EPS was $0.21, down 17%. Source
  • Non-GAAP diluted EPS rose 15 percent: Non-GAAP bookings were $1,222 million, up 27%. Non-GAAP operating income was $623 million, up 10%, and non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.62, against $0.54 a year earlier. Source
  • Trust-Based Solutions revenue more than doubled: Trust-Based Solutions revenue was $406 million against $185 million a year earlier. The segment covers identity, reputation and financial wellness products. Source
  • Paid customer definition was revised: Paid customers now include active users and subscribers at period end, plus product users with a revenue-generating transaction in the relevant active period. The prior release used trailing twelve months. Source
  • GAAP operating margin fell to 35.9%: GAAP operating margin was 35.9% against 41.3%. Non-GAAP operating margin was 51.1% against 58.2%. Source
  • Quarterly operating cash flow fell: Operating cash flow was $116 million in the quarter against $158 million a year earlier. Source
  • Instacash Advances sale loss of $55 million: Loss on sale of Instacash Advances was $55 million in the quarter and $91 million in the six months. Instacash Advances held for sale, net, was $(44) million in the quarter. Source

“Our record results demonstrate the strength and resilience of our business, underpinned by a high-value subscription model now expanding into faster-growing adjacencies in secure financial wellness,”

Vincent Pilette, CEO of Gen

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue (non-GAAP) SourceFiscal year 2026$4.92 billion to $4.97 billionRaised from $4.8 billion to $4.9 billion
Diluted EPS (non-GAAP) SourceFiscal year 2026$2.51 to $2.56Raised from $2.49 to $2.56
Revenue (non-GAAP) SourceThird quarter of fiscal 2026$1.22 billion to $1.24 billionNew
Diluted EPS (non-GAAP) SourceThird quarter of fiscal 2026$0.62 to $0.64New
Quarterly cash dividend SourceQuarter paid December 10, 2025$0.125 per common shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: FY26 non-GAAP revenue guidance raised to $4.92 billion to $4.97 billion from $4.8 billion to $4.9 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: FY26 non-GAAP EPS guidance low end raised to $2.51 from $2.49; high end unchanged at $2.56. Source
  • New guidance: Non-GAAP guidance for Q3 FY26 given for revenue of $1.22 billion to $1.24 billion and EPS of $0.62 to $0.64. Source
  • New: Paid customer definition revised. Previous release used trailing twelve months; current release counts active users and subscribers at period end plus product users with a revenue-generating transaction in the relevant active period. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue up 25 percent to $1,220 million: GAAP revenue was $1,220 million, up 25%, against $974 million a year earlier. GAAP operating income was $438 million, up 9%, and GAAP diluted EPS was $0.21, down 17%. Source
  • Non-GAAP diluted EPS rose 15 percent: Non-GAAP bookings were $1,222 million, up 27%. Non-GAAP operating income was $623 million, up 10%, and non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.62, against $0.54 a year earlier. Source
  • Net income fell to $134 million: Net income was $134 million against $161 million. Income tax expense was $99 million against $97 million, and other income (expense), net was $(59) million against $5 million. Source
  • Year-to-date operating cash flow rose: Year-to-date operating cash flow was $525 million, up 24%. Year-to-date free cash flow was $512 million, up 22%, as reported on a non-GAAP basis. Source

Segments and revenue channels

  • Trust-Based Solutions revenue more than doubled: Trust-Based Solutions revenue was $406 million against $185 million a year earlier. The segment covers identity, reputation and financial wellness products. Source
  • Cyber Safety Platform revenue rose 3 percent: Cyber Safety Platform revenue was $814 million against $789 million. The segment covers security and privacy products and comprehensive suites. Source
  • Partner revenue nearly doubled: Partner revenue was $210 million against $112 million, covering retailers, telcos, publishers and other partners. Direct revenue was $1,010 million against $862 million. Source

“We are building the first AI-powered platform with a trust layer that unites security, privacy, identity, and financial wellness into a market advantage that no one else holds at scale.”

Vincent Pilette, CEO of Gen

Products and customers

  • Paid customers were 77 at period end: Total paid customers were 77 as of October 3, 2025, against 67 a year earlier. The prior-quarter release reported 76.2 as of July 4, 2025. Source
  • Paid customer definition was revised: Paid customers now include active users and subscribers at period end, plus product users with a revenue-generating transaction in the relevant active period. The prior release used trailing twelve months. Source
  • Consumer brands reach nearly 500 million users: The company said its consumer brands, including Norton, Avast, LifeLock and MoneyLion, serve nearly 500 million users in more than 150 countries. Source

Costs and operating margin

  • Sales and marketing spend rose 61 percent: Sales and marketing expense was $297 million against $184 million. Research and development was $100 million against $83 million, and general and administrative was $60 million against $64 million. Source
  • Cost of revenues rose with revenue: Cost of revenues was $266 million against $194 million. Gross profit was $954 million against $780 million. Source
  • GAAP operating margin fell to 35.9%: GAAP operating margin was 35.9% against 41.3%. Non-GAAP operating margin was 51.1% against 58.2%. Source
  • Amortization and stock compensation rose: Amortization of intangible assets in operating expenses was $55 million against $44 million. Non-GAAP reconciliation shows amortization of $121 million against $102 million, and stock-based compensation of $55 million against $33 million. Source
  • Interest expense held near $146 million: Interest expense was $146 million against $149 million. Other income (expense), net was $(59) million against $5 million. Source

“As we accelerate innovation and deepen our leadership in secure financial wellness, we’re amplifying our growth potential and driving lasting shareholder value.”

Natalie Derse, CFO of Gen

Demand and bookings

  • Bookings defined as future revenue orders: Management defines bookings as customer orders expected to generate net revenues in the future, and presents the metric as reflecting customer demand. Source
  • Contract liabilities declined: Contract liabilities were $1,768 million against $1,846 million at March 28, 2025. Long-term contract liabilities were $94 million against $77 million. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Quarterly operating cash flow fell: Operating cash flow was $116 million in the quarter against $158 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cash balance fell from year-end: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash was $701 million at October 3, 2025, against $1,006 million at March 28, 2025. Source
  • Acquisition payments of $876 million: Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired, were $876 million in the six months, with none in the quarter. Source
  • Instacash Advances sale loss of $55 million: Loss on sale of Instacash Advances was $55 million in the quarter and $91 million in the six months. Instacash Advances held for sale, net, was $(44) million in the quarter. Source
  • Equity investment fair value change of $69 million: Change in fair value and impairment of non-marketable equity investments was $69 million in the quarter. The company excludes this item from its non-GAAP results. Source

Capital returns and dividends

  • Dividends paid $77 million: Dividends and dividend equivalents paid were $77 million in the quarter, the same as a year earlier, and $159 million for the six months. Source
  • Tax payments on vested stock rose: Tax payments related to vesting of stock units were $47 million for the six months, against $25 million a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted share count edged higher: Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding were 624 million in the quarter, against 622 million a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 November 2025

  • Quarterly dividend payable December 10: The Board-approved $0.125 quarterly dividend is to be paid on December 10, 2025, to holders of record on November 17, 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total paid customers Source77 as of October 3, 2025; 67 as of September 27, 2024

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said EPS growth has been at or above its 12 to 15% target for eight straight quarters. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.