Key Highlights

● First-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue was US$1.336 billion, up 6%, or 11% on a comparable basis.

● Free cash flow was US$430 million on operating cash flow of US$434 million.

● Gen raised its fiscal 2027 revenue outlook to US$5.375 billion to US$5.475 billion.

● Press reports say Gen made a preliminary takeover approach for GoDaddy.

The reported approach

The most notable recent development at Gen Digital Inc. (NASDAQ:GEN), formerly NortonLifeLock and Symantec, is not a company announcement. In late September 2026 press reports said Gen had made a preliminary takeover approach for GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE:GDDY). Neither company commented, the reports gave no confirmed terms or timeline, and Gen's chief executive told analysts he could not comment on rumours. Coverage describes the talks as early, with no certainty of a deal.

Both companies are based in Tempe, Arizona.

Latest reported results

Gen's most recent results, for the first quarter of fiscal 2027 ended 3 July 2026, were released on 6 August. GAAP revenue was US$1.336 billion, up 6%, or up 11% on a non-GAAP comparable basis. Bookings were US$1.284 billion, up 11% on the same basis.

GAAP diluted earnings per share were US$0.36, up 65%, and non-GAAP earnings per share were US$0.71, up 19%. Operating cash flow was US$434 million and free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, was US$430 million.

Balance sheet and capital returns

Total debt was about US$8.16 billion at quarter end, down from about US$8.20 billion a quarter earlier after US$45 million of repayments. Gen repurchased US$100 million of stock in the quarter and declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.125 per share, paid on 9 September to holders of record on 17 August.

Those figures matter for the GoDaddy story. A large acquisition would compete for the cash that currently funds debt reduction, buybacks and dividends.

Raised fiscal 2027 outlook

Management raised its fiscal 2027 outlook to revenue of US$5.375 billion to US$5.475 billion, from US$5.325 billion to US$5.425 billion, and non-GAAP earnings per share of US$2.87 to US$2.97, from US$2.85 to US$2.95. For the second quarter it guided revenue of US$1.325 billion to US$1.350 billion and non-GAAP earnings per share of US$0.71 to US$0.73.

Gen said the second quarter was tracking to the higher end of its guidance.

Second-quarter report and the GoDaddy question

Gen has said it will report second-quarter fiscal 2027 results on 28 October 2026. That release is the next dated opportunity for management to address capital allocation. The company also announced a board change on 9 October, the appointment of Talbott Roche.

The business faces competition in consumer cyber safety markets and carries balance-sheet leverage, so the 28 October report will show whether the quarter landed at the higher end of the US$1.325 billion to US$1.350 billion revenue range.