Gen Z Faces a Challenging Job Market with AI, Layoffs, and High Experience Requirements

Gen Z faces a challenging job market, with AI tools making it easier for companies to downsize and entry-level positions requiring multiple years of experience. Many workplaces are laying off people en masse, leaving Gen Z workers at the bottom of the hiring pool. Despite the difficulties, Gen Z workers are finding ways to stand out and increase their chances of getting hired.

Vanguard Group Inc. has significantly bolstered its holdings in Gen Digital Inc. (NASDAQ: GEN), a cybersecurity solutions provider. According to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Vanguard increased its stake by 3.7%, acquiring an additional 2,513,464 shares. This move has raised Vanguard's ownership to approximately 11.31% of Gen Digital, valued at $1.85 billion [1].

Institutional investors collectively hold 81.38% of Gen Digital's stock, with several hedge funds increasing their positions during the fourth quarter. Notable increases include Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH, QSM Asset Management Ltd, Brighton Jones LLC, Wellington Management Group LLP, and Kera Capital Partners Inc. [1].

Gen Digital reported a quarterly earnings of $0.64 per share, surpassing analysts' expectations and indicating a 30.3% revenue increase year-over-year. The company's earnings per share (EPS) beat analysts' consensus estimates of $0.60 by $0.04, with a return on equity (ROE) of 59.28% and a net margin of 14.12% [1].

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on Gen Digital's stock. Royal Bank of Canada, Evercore ISI, Wells Fargo & Company, B. Riley, and Morgan Stanley have issued ratings and target prices, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $35.33 [1].

Shares of Gen Digital opened at $30.45 on Friday, with a market capitalization of $18.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.39, and a beta of 1.00. The company's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.08%, with a quarterly dividend of $0.125 per share, paid on Wednesday, September 10th [1].

References:
[1] https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/filing-vanguard-group-inc-acquires-2513464-shares-of-gen-digital-inc-nasdaqgen-2025-08-10/