NOW vs. VRSN: ServiceNow vs. VeriSign Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do ServiceNow (NOW) 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

ServiceNow (NOW) and VeriSign (VRSN) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but NOW is classified in Software while VRSN is classified in IT Services.

Company profile comparison for ServiceNow (NOW) and VeriSign (VRSN)
Profile Item	NOW	VRSN
Name	ServiceNow Inc.	VeriSign, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Information Technology	Information Technology
GICS Industry Group	Software & Services	Software & Services
GICS Industry	Software	IT Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Systems Software	Internet Services & Infrastructure
Market Capitalization	105.84 billion USD	27.69 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	June 29, 2012	January 30, 1998
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NOW

VRSN

GSPC

ServiceNow (NOW) 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 ServiceNow (NOW) and VeriSign (VRSN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and VeriSign (VRSN)
Metric	NOW	VRSN
Total Return (1Y)	-39.72%	28.37%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-5.71%	15.25%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-5.55%	5.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NOW

VRSN

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

ServiceNow (NOW) is heavily traded at around 15.74M shares per day, whereas VeriSign (VRSN) sees a more moderate 869.64K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.

Risk profile metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and VeriSign (VRSN)
Metric	NOW	VRSN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	64.49%	28.25%
Beta (5Y)	0.98	0.67
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-64.54%	-38.85%
Avg. Volume (3M)	15.74M	869.64K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

NOW 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 ServiceNow (NOW) and VeriSign (VRSN)
Metric	NOW	VRSN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.68	0.85
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.89	1.24

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: ServiceNow (NOW) earns 11.85% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; VeriSign (VRSN) has no ROE this period.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

11.85%

Max: 53.85%
Q3: 17.90%
NOW: 11.85%
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: --

ServiceNow (NOW) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): VRSN does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; NOW 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 ServiceNow (NOW) at 9.36% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

9.36%

Max: 41.17%
Q3: 15.28%
NOW: 9.36%
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%

ServiceNow (NOW) 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 ServiceNow (NOW) at 17.39% operates around its industry’s norm.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

17.39%

Max: 46.89%
Q3: 17.64%
NOW: 17.39%
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%

ServiceNow (NOW) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and VeriSign (VRSN)
Metric	NOW	VRSN
ROE (TTM)	11.85%	--
ROA (TTM)	4.59%	54.90%
Net Margin (TTM)	9.36%	49.07%
Operating Margin (TTM)	17.39%	68.62%
Gross Margin (TTM)	73.08%	88.57%

Growth

Revenue Growth

ServiceNow (NOW) at 20.88% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while VeriSign (VRSN) at 6.37% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Both ServiceNow (NOW) at 22.08% 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.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and VeriSign (VRSN)
Metric	NOW	VRSN
Revenue Growth (YoY)	20.88%	6.37%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	22.38%	5.15%
EPS Growth (YoY)	22.08%	10.13%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	73.46%	12.18%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both ServiceNow (NOW) at 0.72 and VeriSign (VRSN) at 0.42 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

0.72

Max: 5.11
Q3: 2.77
Median: 1.67
Q1: 1.01
NOW: 0.72
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

ServiceNow (NOW) 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: ServiceNow (NOW) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64 against its industry range, while VeriSign (VRSN) reports no figure this period.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

0.64

Max: 2.52
Q3: 1.13
NOW: 0.64
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: --

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

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and VeriSign (VRSN)
Metric	NOW	VRSN
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.72	0.42
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.64	--
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.18	1.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

ServiceNow (NOW) 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.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

NOW: 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%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

ServiceNow (NOW) 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.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

NOW: 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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and VeriSign (VRSN)
Metric	NOW	VRSN
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	1.03%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	34.45%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

VeriSign (VRSN) at 33.23 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while ServiceNow (NOW) at 73.36 sits in the richer quartile — NOW needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

73.36

Max: 112.94
NOW: 73.36
Q3: 60.32
Median: 32.91
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

ServiceNow (NOW) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

ServiceNow (NOW) at 6.86 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.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

6.86

Max: 17.91
Q3: 8.78
NOW: 6.86
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

ServiceNow (NOW) 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 ServiceNow (NOW) reports 8.08, ranking against industry peers normally.

NOW

Software & Services industry group

8.08

Max: 16.63
Q3: 8.50
NOW: 8.08
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

ServiceNow (NOW) vs. VeriSign (VRSN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for ServiceNow (NOW) and VeriSign (VRSN)
Metric	NOW	VRSN
P/E Ratio (TTM)	73.36	33.23
P/S Ratio (TTM)	6.86	15.99
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	8.08	-12.13
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	5.44%	2.89%