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Gen Digital Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up 26% in the quarter: GAAP revenue was $1,240 million, up 26% from $986 million. Nine-month GAAP revenue was $3,717 million against $2,925 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP diluted EPS up 14%: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.64 against $0.56, up 14%. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.31, up 22%, and net income was $192 million against $159 million. Source
  • Trust-Based Solutions revenue more than doubled: Trust-Based Solutions revenue was $421 million against $187 million a year earlier. Cyber Safety Platform revenue was $819 million against $799 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin lower year on year: Non-GAAP operating margin was 50.7% against 58.5%. GAAP operating margin was 34.9% against 37.9%. Source
  • Bookings up 27% in quarter: Total bookings were $1,319 million against $1,035 million. Bookings are customer orders expected to generate net revenues in the future. Source
  • Free cash flow up 42% year to date: Nine-month non-GAAP free cash flow was $1,047 million against $736 million. Nine-month operating cash flow was $1,066 million. Source
  • Acquisitions cost $876 million: Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired, were $876 million in the nine months. Goodwill rose to $10,847 million from $10,237 million at March 28, 2025. Source

“Our Q3 results confirm that Gen’s platform strategy is resonating”

Vincent Pilette, CEO of Gen

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue (non-GAAP) SourceFourth quarter of fiscal 2026$1.24 billion to $1.26 billionNew
Diluted EPS (non-GAAP) SourceFourth quarter of fiscal 2026$0.64 to $0.66New
Revenue (non-GAAP) SourceFiscal year 2026$4.955 billion to $4.975 billionRaised from $4.920 billion to $4.970 billion
Diluted EPS (non-GAAP) SourceFiscal year 2026$2.54 to $2.56Raised from $2.51 to $2.56

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: FY26 non-GAAP revenue range raised to $4.955 billion to $4.975 billion from $4.920 billion to $4.970 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: FY26 non-GAAP diluted EPS range raised to $2.54 to $2.56 from $2.51 to $2.56. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter FY26 revenue and EPS ranges given, following the Q3 FY26 ranges in the prior release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue up 26% in the quarter: GAAP revenue was $1,240 million, up 26% from $986 million. Nine-month GAAP revenue was $3,717 million against $2,925 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP diluted EPS up 14%: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.64 against $0.56, up 14%. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.31, up 22%, and net income was $192 million against $159 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating income up 9%: Non-GAAP operating income was $629 million, up 9% from $577 million. GAAP operating income was $433 million, up 16% from $374 million. Source

Segments and revenue channels

  • Trust-Based Solutions revenue more than doubled: Trust-Based Solutions revenue was $421 million against $187 million a year earlier. Cyber Safety Platform revenue was $819 million against $799 million. Source
  • Direct and partner revenue both higher: Direct revenues were $1,025 million against $871 million. Partner revenues, including retailers, telcos and marketplaces, were $215 million against $115 million. Source
  • Segment revenue up from second quarter: Compared with the second quarter, Trust-Based Solutions revenue was $406 million and Cyber Safety Platform revenue was $814 million.

“The strength of our financial model continues to generate substantial free cash flow enabling us to invest in growth and innovation while deploying nearly $700 million of capital to shareholders during the quarter”

Natalie Derse, CFO of Gen

Products and customers

  • Paid customers up to 78: Total paid customers were 78 as of January 2, 2026, against 67 as of December 27, 2024. Source
  • Brands reach nearly 500 million users: Gen describes its consumer brands, including Norton, Avast, LifeLock and MoneyLion, as reaching nearly 500 million users in more than 150 countries. Source
  • How paid customers are counted: Paid customers are active users with an active paid subscription or at least one revenue-generating transaction in the relevant period. Free-trial users are excluded. Source

Costs and margins

  • Sales and marketing spending rose sharply: GAAP sales and marketing expense was $307 million against $182 million a year earlier. Nine-month expense was $901 million against $549 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin lower year on year: Non-GAAP operating margin was 50.7% against 58.5%. GAAP operating margin was 34.9% against 37.9%. Source
  • Gross profit rose with revenue: GAAP gross profit was $972 million against $793 million, with cost of revenues of $268 million against $193 million. Source
  • Stock comp and amortization higher: Stock-based compensation excluded from non-GAAP results was $52 million against $33 million. Amortization of intangible assets was $122 million against $99 million. Source
  • Restructuring costs rose: Restructuring and other costs were $11 million against $2 million. Nine-month restructuring and other costs were $25 million against $4 million. Source

“As AI transforms digital life and the threat landscape, consumers need protection and guidance they can trust”

Vincent Pilette, CEO of Gen

Demand and the order book

  • Bookings up 27% in quarter: Total bookings were $1,319 million against $1,035 million. Bookings are customer orders expected to generate net revenues in the future. Source
  • Contract liabilities slightly below March: Contract liabilities were $1,822 million at January 2, 2026, against $1,846 million at March 28, 2025. Other current liabilities were $427 million against $515 million. Source
  • Long-term contract liabilities higher: Long-term contract liabilities were $84 million at January 2, 2026, against $77 million at March 28, 2025. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Free cash flow up 42% year to date: Nine-month non-GAAP free cash flow was $1,047 million against $736 million. Nine-month operating cash flow was $1,066 million. Source
  • Quarterly operating cash flow higher: Operating cash flow was $541 million in the quarter against $326 million a year earlier. Source
  • Buybacks and dividends in the quarter: Repurchases of common stock were $300 million in the quarter and $434 million for nine months. Dividends paid were $77 million in the quarter. Source
  • Debt repaid and new debt issued: Debt repayments were $300 million in the quarter and $660 million for nine months. Net proceeds from debt issuance were $741 million after $9 million of issuance costs. Source
  • Cash balance lower than March: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash was $619 million at January 2, 2026, against $1,006 million at March 28, 2025. Source

Strategy, investment and divestitures

  • Acquisitions cost $876 million: Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired, were $876 million in the nine months. Goodwill rose to $10,847 million from $10,237 million at March 28, 2025. Source
  • Intangible assets slightly lower: Intangible assets, net, were $2,212 million at January 2, 2026, against $2,267 million at March 28, 2025. Source
  • Instacash Advances sold at a loss: The company recorded a loss on sale of Instacash Advances of $55 million in the quarter and $146 million for nine months. Source
  • Nonfinancial asset sales and gains: Proceeds from sale of nonfinancial assets were $40 million in the quarter. A gain of $15 million on sale of nonfinancial assets was also recorded. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 February 2026

  • Quarterly dividend payable March 11: Board approved a $0.125 per share quarterly dividend, payable March 11, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on February 16, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total paid customers Source78 as of January 2, 2026, against 67 as of December 27, 2024

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Litigation costs of $10 million were excluded from non-GAAP results in the quarter. The company said it may periodically incur litigation settlement and legal contingency charges. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior-quarter release referred to eight straight quarters of EPS growth at or above a 12% to 15% target. The current documents do not restate the target or its status.

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.