PLTR vs. VRSN: Palantir vs. VeriSign Stock Comparison
How do Palantir (PLTR) 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
Palantir (PLTR) and VeriSign (VRSN) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but PLTR is classified in Software while VRSN is classified in IT Services.
VeriSign (VRSN) has more than two decades of public-market history since January 30, 1998, whereas Palantir (PLTR) listed on September 30, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | PLTR | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Palantir Technologies Inc. Class A Common Stock | 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 | Application Software | Internet Services & Infrastructure |
| Market Capitalization | 386.44 billion USD | 27.69 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | September 30, 2020 | January 30, 1998 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | PLTR | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -4.94% | 28.37% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 109.97% | 15.25% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 47.47% | 5.98% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Palantir (PLTR) has an aggressive beta of 1.63, 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.
Palantir (PLTR) is heavily traded at around 27.20M 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.
| Metric | PLTR | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 60.50% | 28.25% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.63 | 0.67 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -75.26% | -38.85% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 27.20M | 869.64K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | PLTR | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.15 | 0.85 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.24 | 1.24 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Palantir (PLTR) earns 40.91% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; VeriSign (VRSN) has no ROE this period.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
40.91%
- Max
- 53.85%
- PLTR
- 40.91%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- 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
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Palantir (PLTR) at 50.34% and VeriSign (VRSN) at 49.07% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
50.34%
- PLTR
- 50.34%
- Max
- 41.17%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
VeriSign (VRSN) at 68.62% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Palantir (PLTR) at 46.89% also operates in the top quartile.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
46.89%
- PLTR
- 46.89%
- Max
- 46.89%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | PLTR | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 40.91% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 19.31% | 54.90% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 50.34% | 49.07% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 46.89% | 68.62% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 84.74% | 88.57% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Palantir (PLTR) at 56.18% delivers above-range revenue growth, while VeriSign (VRSN) at 6.37% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in revenue momentum.
EPS Growth
Palantir (PLTR) at 231.06% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than VeriSign (VRSN) at 10.13%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | PLTR | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 56.18% | 6.37% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 32.92% | 5.15% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 231.06% | 10.13% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 12.18% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Palantir (PLTR) at 7.10 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.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
7.10
- PLTR
- 7.10
- Max
- 5.11
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Palantir (PLTR) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02 against its industry range, while VeriSign (VRSN) reports no figure this period.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
0.02
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- PLTR
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
VRSN
Software & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
- VRSN
- --
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | PLTR | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 7.10 | 0.42 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.02 | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -3.08 | 1.09 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Palantir (PLTR) 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.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- PLTR
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Palantir (PLTR) 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.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- PLTR
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | PLTR | 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 Palantir (PLTR) at 112.94 sits in the richer quartile — PLTR needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
112.94
- PLTR
- 112.94
- Max
- 112.94
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: VeriSign (VRSN) at 15.99 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Palantir (PLTR) at 53.02 prices even higher, above its industry range.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
53.02
- PLTR
- 53.02
- 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
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 Palantir (PLTR) reports 34.41, ranking against industry peers normally.
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
34.41
- PLTR
- 34.41
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PLTR | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 112.94 | 33.23 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 53.02 | 15.99 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 34.41 | -12.13 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 0.69% | 2.89% |