ASTS vs. VRSN: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ASTS and VRSN, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
VRSN’s market capitalization of 26.89 billion USD is significantly greater than ASTS’s 15.96 billion USD, highlighting its more substantial market valuation.
ASTS’s beta of 2.02 points to significantly higher volatility compared to VRSN (beta: 0.77), suggesting ASTS has greater potential for both gains and losses relative to market movements.
| Symbol | ASTS | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | AST SpaceMobile, Inc. | VeriSign, Inc. |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | Communication Equipment | Software - Infrastructure |
| CEO | Abel Avellan | D. James Bidzos |
| Price | 45.6 USD | 286.32 USD |
| Market Cap | 15.96 billion USD | 26.89 billion USD |
| Beta | 2.02 | 0.77 |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| IPO Date | November 1, 2019 | January 30, 1998 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ASTS and VRSN by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
ASTS
-76.72%
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 30.07%
- Q3
- 8.07%
- Median
- 1.84%
- Q1
- -11.93%
- Min
- -31.65%
ASTS has a negative Return on Equity of -76.72%. This indicates the company is generating a loss for its shareholders, which can be a result of unprofitability or negative shareholder equity and is often a sign of financial distress.
VRSN
-50.93%
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 80.61%
- Q3
- 29.97%
- Median
- 2.84%
- Q1
- -8.35%
- Min
- -56.26%
VRSN has a negative Return on Equity of -50.93%. This indicates the company is generating a loss for its shareholders, which can be a result of unprofitability or negative shareholder equity and is often a sign of financial distress.
Return on Invested Capital
ASTS
-19.41%
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 11.59%
- Q3
- 6.61%
- Median
- 2.97%
- Q1
- -2.58%
- Min
- -13.18%
ASTS has a negative Return on Invested Capital of -19.41%. This indicates that its operations are failing to generate a profit on the total capital invested, signaling significant inefficiency or value destruction.
VRSN
495.47%
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 39.31%
- Q3
- 11.97%
- Median
- 1.67%
- Q1
- -7.10%
- Min
- -34.29%
VRSN’s Return on Invested Capital of 495.47% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Software - Infrastructure industry. This demonstrates an outstanding ability to deploy capital efficiently and create significant value.
Net Profit Margin
ASTS
-7,033.20%
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 23.65%
- Q3
- 9.21%
- Median
- 2.46%
- Q1
- -8.56%
- Min
- -29.87%
ASTS has a negative Net Profit Margin of -7,033.20%, indicating the company is operating at a net loss as its expenses exceeded its revenues.
VRSN
50.20%
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 46.46%
- Q3
- 14.65%
- Median
- 2.66%
- Q1
- -7.70%
- Min
- -35.45%
VRSN’s Net Profit Margin of 50.20% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Software - Infrastructure industry. This demonstrates outstanding operational efficiency and a strong competitive advantage in converting revenue into profit.
Operating Profit Margin
ASTS
-5,397.45%
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 30.72%
- Q3
- 11.64%
- Median
- 5.79%
- Q1
- -2.28%
- Min
- -18.20%
ASTS has a negative Operating Profit Margin of -5,397.45%. This signifies the company is unprofitable at the operational level, as its core business expenses exceed its revenue.
VRSN
67.95%
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 48.51%
- Q3
- 16.56%
- Median
- 4.48%
- Q1
- -6.43%
- Min
- -40.18%
VRSN’s Operating Profit Margin of 67.95% is exceptionally high, placing it well above the typical range for the Software - Infrastructure industry. This demonstrates outstanding efficiency in managing its core operations, which can be a result of strong pricing power or superior cost control.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | ASTS | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | -76.72% | -50.93% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | -23.81% | 54.63% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | -19.41% | 495.47% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | -7033.20% | 50.20% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | -5397.45% | 67.95% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | -486.80% | 87.83% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
ASTS
10.62
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 3.40
- Q3
- 2.59
- Median
- 1.62
- Q1
- 1.32
- Min
- 0.86
ASTS’s Current Ratio of 10.62 is exceptionally high, placing it well outside the typical range for the Communication Equipment industry. This indicates a very strong liquidity position, though such a high ratio may also suggest that the company is not using its assets efficiently to generate profits.
VRSN
0.56
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 3.80
- Q3
- 2.25
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.23
VRSN’s Current Ratio of 0.56 falls into the lower quartile for the Software - Infrastructure industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
ASTS
0.02
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 1.82
- Q3
- 1.00
- Median
- 0.53
- Q1
- 0.20
- Min
- 0.02
Falling into the lower quartile for the Communication Equipment industry, ASTS’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.02 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
VRSN
-1.28
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 2.56
- Q3
- 1.12
- Median
- 0.33
- Q1
- 0.05
- Min
- 0.00
VRSN has a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of -1.28, which indicates negative shareholder equity where liabilities exceed assets. This is a critical sign of financial distress.
Interest Coverage Ratio
ASTS
-52.83
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 16.12
- Q3
- 9.22
- Median
- 2.52
- Q1
- -0.75
- Min
- -12.07
ASTS has a negative Interest Coverage Ratio of -52.83. This indicates that its earnings were insufficient to cover even its operational costs, let alone its interest payments, signaling significant financial distress.
VRSN
13.94
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 32.21
- Q3
- 5.24
- Median
- 0.95
- Q1
- -17.99
- Min
- -50.82
VRSN’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 13.94 is in the upper quartile for the Software - Infrastructure industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ASTS | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 10.62 | 0.56 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 10.62 | 0.56 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.02 | -1.28 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.01 | 1.24 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | 1.82 | 1.07 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | -52.83 | 13.94 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for ASTS and VRSN. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
ASTS
0.00%
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 4.72%
- Q3
- 0.38%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ASTS currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
VRSN
0.27%
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 4.07%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 0.27%, VRSN offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Software - Infrastructure industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
Dividend Payout Ratio
ASTS
0.00%
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 91.96%
- Q3
- 26.44%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ASTS has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
VRSN
0.00%
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 48.68%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
VRSN has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ASTS | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.27% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
ASTS
-31.32
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 44.37
- Q3
- 41.98
- Median
- 30.61
- Q1
- 23.44
- Min
- 2.14
ASTS has a negative P/E Ratio of -31.32. This occurs when a company has negative earnings (a net loss), making the ratio unsuitable for valuation analysis.
VRSN
34.25
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 107.77
- Q3
- 54.40
- Median
- 28.10
- Q1
- 18.03
- Min
- 5.32
VRSN’s P/E Ratio of 34.25 is within the middle range for the Software - Infrastructure industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
ASTS
15.35
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 15.97
- Q3
- 6.99
- Median
- 2.78
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.05
The Forward PEG Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric in the Communication Equipment industry.
VRSN
-0.34
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 8.12
- Q3
- 3.94
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 0.94
- Min
- 0.01
VRSN has a negative Forward PEG Ratio of -0.34. This typically results from negative earnings or forecasts of declining future earnings, making the ratio not meaningful for valuation.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
ASTS
5,043.28
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 6.38
- Q3
- 3.88
- Median
- 2.17
- Q1
- 1.15
- Min
- 0.37
With a P/S Ratio of 5,043.28, ASTS trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Communication Equipment industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
VRSN
17.07
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 18.25
- Q3
- 9.05
- Median
- 4.77
- Q1
- 2.30
- Min
- 0.11
VRSN’s P/S Ratio of 17.07 is in the upper echelon for the Software - Infrastructure industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
Price-to-Book Ratio
ASTS
13.32
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 14.42
- Q3
- 7.01
- Median
- 3.09
- Q1
- 1.38
- Min
- 0.41
ASTS’s P/B Ratio of 13.32 is in the upper tier for the Communication Equipment industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
VRSN
-19.29
Software - Infrastructure Industry
- Max
- 19.94
- Q3
- 10.91
- Median
- 6.33
- Q1
- 2.95
- Min
- 0.51
The P/B Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric for the Software - Infrastructure industry.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ASTS | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | -31.32 | 34.25 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 15.35 | -0.34 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 5043.28 | 17.07 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 13.32 | -19.29 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | -64.66 | 29.66 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | -47.80 | 24.67 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 4858.60 | 17.84 |