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NET vs. VRSN: Cloudflare vs. VeriSign Stock Comparison

How do Cloudflare (NET) 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

Cloudflare (NET) 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 Cloudflare (NET) and VeriSign (VRSN)
Profile ItemNETVRSN
NameCloudflare, Inc. Class A Common StockVeriSign, 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 Capitalization96.32 billion USD27.69 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateSeptember 13, 2019January 30, 1998
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NET
VRSN
GSPC
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Cloudflare (NET) 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 Cloudflare (NET) and VeriSign (VRSN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cloudflare (NET) and VeriSign (VRSN)
MetricNETVRSN
Total Return (1Y)27.13%28.37%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)68.21%15.25%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)7.66%5.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NET
VRSN
GSPC
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Cloudflare (NET) 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 Cloudflare (NET) and VeriSign (VRSN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Cloudflare (NET) has an aggressive beta of 1.34, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while VeriSign (VRSN) is defensive at 0.67 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Cloudflare (NET) and VeriSign (VRSN)
MetricNETVRSN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)67.16%28.25%
Beta (5Y)1.340.67
Max Drawdown (5Y)-82.58%-38.85%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.45M869.64K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NET 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 Cloudflare (NET) and VeriSign (VRSN)
MetricNETVRSN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.340.85
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.481.24

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

VeriSign (VRSN) has no ROE value reported for this period; Cloudflare (NET) reports a negative figure of -17.00%, which needs context because negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity.

NET

Software & Services industry group

-17.00%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
NET
-17.00%
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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Cloudflare (NET) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): VRSN does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; NET is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Cloudflare (NET) reports a negative net margin of -8.75%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile VeriSign (VRSN) reports 49.07%, ranking against industry peers normally.

NET

Software & Services industry group

-8.75%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
NET
-8.75%
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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Cloudflare (NET) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Cloudflare (NET) reports a negative operating margin of -7.27%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile VeriSign (VRSN) reports 68.62%, ranking against industry peers normally.

NET

Software & Services industry group

-7.27%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
NET
-7.27%
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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Cloudflare (NET) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cloudflare (NET) and VeriSign (VRSN)
MetricNETVRSN
ROE (TTM)-17.00%--
ROA (TTM)-2.00%54.90%
Net Margin (TTM)-8.75%49.07%
Operating Margin (TTM)-7.27%68.62%
Gross Margin (TTM)71.90%88.57%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Cloudflare (NET) at 29.85% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while VeriSign (VRSN) at 6.37% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in revenue momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: VeriSign (VRSN) reports EPS growth of 10.13%, ranked against its industry; Cloudflare (NET) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cloudflare (NET) and VeriSign (VRSN)
MetricNETVRSN
Revenue Growth (YoY)29.85%6.37%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)30.51%5.15%
EPS Growth (YoY)--10.13%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--12.18%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Cloudflare (NET) at 3.80 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while VeriSign (VRSN) at 0.42 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

NET

Software & Services industry group

3.80

Max
5.11
NET
3.80
Q3
2.77
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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Cloudflare (NET) 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: Cloudflare (NET) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 3.21 against its industry range, while VeriSign (VRSN) reports no figure this period.

NET

Software & Services industry group

3.21

NET
3.21
Max
2.52
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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Cloudflare (NET) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): VRSN does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; NET is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Cloudflare (NET) and VeriSign (VRSN)
MetricNETVRSN
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.800.42
Debt / Equity (MRQ)3.21--
Net Debt / EBITDA--1.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Cloudflare (NET) 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.

NET

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

NET
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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Cloudflare (NET) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Cloudflare (NET) 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.

NET

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

NET
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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Cloudflare (NET) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cloudflare (NET) and VeriSign (VRSN)
MetricNETVRSN
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%1.03%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%34.45%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: VeriSign (VRSN) trades at 33.23 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Cloudflare (NET) has no P/E ratio this period.

NET

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
NET
--

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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Cloudflare (NET) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): NET does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; VRSN is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: VeriSign (VRSN) at 15.99 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Cloudflare (NET) at 35.24 prices even higher, above its industry range.

NET

Software & Services industry group

35.24

NET
35.24
Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
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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Cloudflare (NET) 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 Cloudflare (NET) reports 65.73, ranking against industry peers normally.

NET

Software & Services industry group

65.73

NET
65.73
Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
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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Cloudflare (NET) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cloudflare (NET) and VeriSign (VRSN)
MetricNETVRSN
P/E Ratio (TTM)--33.23
P/S Ratio (TTM)35.2415.99
P/B Ratio (MRQ)65.73-12.13
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.83%2.89%