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AKAM vs. VRSN: Akamai vs. VeriSign Stock Comparison

How do Akamai (AKAM) and VeriSign (VRSN) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Akamai (AKAM) and VeriSign (VRSN) are both classified in the Internet Services & Infrastructure sub-industry within the broader IT Services industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Akamai (AKAM) and VeriSign (VRSN)
Profile ItemAKAMVRSN
NameAkamai Technologies, Inc.VeriSign, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustryIT ServicesIT Services
GICS Sub-IndustryInternet Services & InfrastructureInternet Services & Infrastructure
Market Capitalization11.94 billion USD27.69 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateOctober 29, 1999January 30, 1998
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AKAM
VRSN
GSPC
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. VeriSign (VRSN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Akamai (AKAM) and VeriSign (VRSN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Akamai (AKAM) and VeriSign (VRSN). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and VeriSign (VRSN)
MetricAKAMVRSN
Total Return (1Y)-2.77%28.37%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-9.48%15.25%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.72%5.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AKAM
VRSN
GSPC
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. VeriSign (VRSN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Akamai (AKAM) and VeriSign (VRSN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and VeriSign (VRSN)
MetricAKAMVRSN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)62.11%28.25%
Beta (5Y)0.690.67
Max Drawdown (5Y)-51.69%-38.85%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.75M869.64K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AKAM and VRSN are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and VeriSign (VRSN)
MetricAKAMVRSN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.110.85
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.171.24

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Akamai (AKAM) earns 7.85% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; VeriSign (VRSN) has no ROE this period.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

7.85%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
AKAM
7.85%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%

VRSN

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
VRSN
--
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): VRSN does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; AKAM is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

VeriSign (VRSN) at 49.07% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Akamai (AKAM) at 8.84% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

8.84%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
AKAM
8.84%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%

VRSN

Software & Services industry group

49.07%

VRSN
49.07%
Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

VeriSign (VRSN) at 68.62% turns sales into operating profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Akamai (AKAM) at 9.88% operates around its industry’s norm.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

9.88%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
AKAM
9.88%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%

VRSN

Software & Services industry group

68.62%

VRSN
68.62%
Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and VeriSign (VRSN)
MetricAKAMVRSN
ROE (TTM)7.85%--
ROA (TTM)2.18%54.90%
Net Margin (TTM)8.84%49.07%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.88%68.62%
Gross Margin (TTM)56.39%88.57%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Akamai (AKAM) at 5.44% and VeriSign (VRSN) at 6.37% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.

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Akamai (AKAM) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Akamai (AKAM) at -6.12% and VeriSign (VRSN) at 10.13% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Akamai (AKAM) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and VeriSign (VRSN)
MetricAKAMVRSN
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.44%6.37%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.18%5.15%
EPS Growth (YoY)-6.12%10.13%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.98%12.18%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Akamai (AKAM) at 2.13 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while VeriSign (VRSN) at 0.42 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for VRSN.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

2.13

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
AKAM
2.13
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03

VRSN

Software & Services industry group

0.42

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
VRSN
0.42
Min
0.03
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Akamai (AKAM) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.84 against its industry range, while VeriSign (VRSN) reports no figure this period.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

1.84

Max
2.52
AKAM
1.84
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00

VRSN

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
VRSN
--
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): VRSN does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; AKAM is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and VeriSign (VRSN)
MetricAKAMVRSN
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.130.42
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.84--
Net Debt / EBITDA5.781.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Akamai (AKAM) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile VeriSign (VRSN) reports a yield of 1.03%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

AKAM
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

VRSN

Software & Services industry group

1.03%

VRSN
1.03%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Akamai (AKAM) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile VeriSign (VRSN) reports a payout of 34.45%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

AKAM
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

VRSN

Software & Services industry group

34.45%

VRSN
34.45%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and VeriSign (VRSN)
MetricAKAMVRSN
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%1.03%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%34.45%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Akamai (AKAM) at 32.33 and VeriSign (VRSN) at 33.23 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

32.33

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
AKAM
32.33
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69

VRSN

Software & Services industry group

33.23

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
VRSN
33.23
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Akamai (AKAM) at 2.72 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while VeriSign (VRSN) at 15.99 sits in the pricier quartile — VRSN costs more per dollar of sales.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

2.72

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
AKAM
2.72
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02

VRSN

Software & Services industry group

15.99

Max
17.91
VRSN
15.99
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

VeriSign (VRSN) reports a negative P/B ratio of -12.13, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Akamai (AKAM) reports 2.32, ranking against industry peers normally.

AKAM

Software & Services industry group

2.32

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
AKAM
2.32
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90

VRSN

Software & Services industry group

-12.13

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
VRSN
-12.13
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Akamai (AKAM) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Akamai (AKAM) and VeriSign (VRSN)
MetricAKAMVRSN
P/E Ratio (TTM)32.3333.23
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.7215.99
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.32-12.13
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.51%2.89%