Gen Digital CEO outlines acquisition filters, says FY2027 outlook tracking high end

Gen Digital CEO Vincent Pilette used a LinkedIn post furnished in a Monday 8-K to spell out how the company weighs acquisitions—and to restate a raised fiscal 2027 outlook that he said is tracking the high end of guidance. Shares were around $20.47 midday Tuesday, down about 1.8% on the session and down roughly 21% year to date.

The Exhibit 99.1 post opens with the question “Is Gen buying GoDaddy?” and says Pilette “can’t comment on rumors” but can describe Gen’s deal framework. Gen considers an acquisition “only when it makes Gen stronger and creates long-term value for shareholders,” the filing states.

Pilette listed five tests applied “no matter the size of a potential acquisition”: strategic fit, price, real efficiencies, accretion, and whether a deal beats buying back Gen’s own stock while keeping a strong balance sheet. That discipline guided the Avast and MoneyLion deals, he wrote. Avast “added hundreds of millions of active users and accelerated our monetization capabilities,” and MoneyLion “is on track to deliver more than 30% return on invested capital in its second year,” according to the exhibit.

On guidance, the post says Gen “recently raised our fiscal 2027 outlook to 9%-11% revenue growth and mid-to high-teens non-GAAP EPS growth,” and that “our quarter ending October 2 and our full year outlook are both tracking to the higher end of our guidance.” A footnote says the outlook is subject to risks and Gen undertakes no obligation to update it except as required by law.

Pilette also said six years ago Gen generated $2 billion in revenue and less than $1 of EPS, versus more than $5 billion in revenue and nearly $3 of EPS today, and that Gen will keep building through innovation, partnerships, and carefully selected acquisitions that meet its standards.

By the numbers

• Raised FY2027 outlook: 9%–11% revenue growth; mid- to high-teens non-GAAP EPS growth
• Quarter ending Oct. 2 and full-year outlook “tracking to the higher end” of guidance
• MoneyLion: on track for more than 30% ROIC in year two, per the CEO post
• GEN ~$20.47 midday Tuesday (~−1.8% day; ~−21% YTD)

Sources

1. Gen Digital Inc. Form 8-K (Item 7.01), accepted Sept. 28, 2026, accession 0000849399-26-000071
2. Gen Digital Inc. Form 8-K Exhibit 99.1 (LinkedIn post by Vincent Pilette)

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