Gen Raises Guidance After Revenue Grows 12%; Altria Lifts Annual Earnings Outlook
Key Facts
Gen Digital reported a 12% year-over-year increase in revenue to $1.369 billion in the second quarter of its fiscal 2027, ended October 2, 2026, while adjusted diluted earnings per share rose 19% to $0.74. The company said bookings reached $1.347 billion, up 10%, marking a sixth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth. Altria, in turn, reported net revenue of $6.132 billion in the third quarter of 2026, up 1.0%, and adjusted earnings per share of $1.52, up 4.8%. Altria’s earnings exceeded analysts’ estimate of $1.51 per share, while revenue was $6.13 billion versus consensus of $5.31 billion, according to Investing.com, citing Reuters. Both companies raised their guidance, but available closing data do not support a narrative that both stocks rose: Gen shares ended the October 28 session at $24.35, versus $24.25 in the previous session, while Altria closed at $72.99 after $73.49.
Gen linked its results to demand for cybersecurity products and said its customer base reached a record, with strong product engagement and customer retention. The CEO said the company had reached “the highest number of customers in its history,” citing product engagement and customer retention, as well as its focus on growth in a world with increasing use of AI agents. Bookings growth for a sixth consecutive quarter reinforces the picture of continued commercial demand, while revenue grew faster than bookings in the reported quarter. The company said adjusted earnings per share rose to $0.74, an annual increase of 19%, compared with revenue growth of 12%. However, the stock’s movement after the results differs from the closing price recorded on October 28; Reuters reported a gain of about 7% in extended trading after the announcement, while the stock closed the session at $24.35, versus $24.25 on October 27.
Gen provided guidance for the third quarter of fiscal 2027, projecting revenue of between $1.365 billion and $1.390 billion and adjusted earnings per share of between $0.73 and $0.75. Those ranges put projected revenue for the next quarter around the second-quarter revenue level of $1.369 billion, while the earnings-per-share range is around the latest quarterly reading of $0.74. For fiscal 2027, the company said it raised its outlook, but specific full-year figures are not included in the available facts here. The next-quarter guidance supports the growth trajectory the company reported, alongside bookings growth of 10% and a sixth consecutive annual increase. Bookings remain a parallel indicator to revenue in assessing the quarter’s results, while management linked the company’s outlook to the expanding use of AI agents.
At Altria, revenue after excise taxes—the revenue measure the company reported after excluding those taxes—increased 3.6% to $5.441 billion in the third quarter. The company said the quarter’s improved results were primarily tied to higher adjusted operating company income and earnings from its investment in ABI. In the smokeable products segment, higher net sales helped support performance; adjusted operating company income rose 3.9% to $3.1 billion. These figures provide an operating explanation for the growth in adjusted earnings, which reached $1.52 per share, up 4.8% year over year. The CEO said the company increased adjusted earnings per share 4.8% in the quarter and also pointed to the expansion of on! PLUS products and the addition of Blueberry Mint and Mango Pineapple flavors.
Altria raised its 2026 adjusted diluted earnings-per-share guidance to a range of $5.66 to $5.74, equivalent to expected growth of between 4.5% and 6.0% against a 2025 base of $5.42. The board also authorized a $1 billion expansion of the share repurchase program, extending it through December 31, 2027. The two steps combine a higher stated annual earnings range with additional capacity for the existing share repurchase program. But the stock’s October 28 close of $72.99 was below its previous close of $73.49, according to EL7 data. Investing.com also reported that the stock fell 0.68% on the day the earnings report was published and cited a closing price of $72.99 on October 29; these figures do not establish that the stock rose because of the results or that interest from institutional and individual investors increased.
Looking ahead, Helix said it plans to expand the on! PLUS lineup in the fourth quarter of 2026 by adding Watermelon Mint at select retail locations, in three nicotine strengths: 6, 9 and 12 milligrams. Altria was scheduled to hold a webcast of its third-quarter earnings conference for investors and the media on October 29, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time. The conference comes the day after the close recorded in EL7 data and on the day of the earnings report in which Investing.com noted a 0.68% decline in the stock. For Gen, the announced guidance includes revenue and earnings-per-share ranges for the third quarter of its fiscal year, while the results are framed by growth in revenue, bookings and its customer base. The fourth-quarter timing and Altria conference remain the nearest specified milestones in the companies’ announcements.