Topic: How To Invest

What is Pat’s commentary for the week of June 18, 2024

Article Excerpt

Gen Digital is the rebranded name for NortonLifeLock (formerly Symantec—more on that below), one of our long-time tech stock favourites. The company changed its name to Gen Digital following its 2022 acquisition of European cybersecurity firm Avast plc for $8.1 billion. Growth by acquisition adds risk—especially with a purchase as big as Avast. As well, Gen Digital needs to keep paying down the debt it took on to buy Avast. But its growth prospects, including those for Avast’s product offerings, should let the company successfully shore up its balance sheet as it continues to expand in the booming cybersecurity market. Gen Digital’s shares took a big jump in early May 2024, after it reported stronger results in the latest quarter and boosted its stock-buyback authorization. As well, the company has attracted further investor interest with its artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. We think the stock has even more room to move up. I asked our Successful Investor research department to draw up this Inner…