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VRSN vs. ZS: VeriSign vs. Zscaler Stock Comparison

How do VeriSign (VRSN) and Zscaler (ZS) 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

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

Company profile comparison for VeriSign (VRSN) and Zscaler (ZS)
Profile ItemVRSNZS
NameVeriSign, Inc.Zscaler Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustryIT ServicesSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryInternet Services & InfrastructureSystems Software
Market Capitalization27.69 billion USD32.23 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJanuary 30, 1998March 16, 2018
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

VRSN
ZS
GSPC
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VeriSign (VRSN) vs. Zscaler (ZS), 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 VeriSign (VRSN) and Zscaler (ZS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for VeriSign (VRSN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricVRSNZS
Total Return (1Y)28.37%-37.61%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)15.25%5.36%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)5.98%-10.75%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

VRSN
ZS
GSPC
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VeriSign (VRSN) vs. Zscaler (ZS), 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 VeriSign (VRSN) and Zscaler (ZS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for VeriSign (VRSN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricVRSNZS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)28.25%68.66%
Beta (5Y)0.670.88
Max Drawdown (5Y)-38.85%-76.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)869.64K2.92M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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VRSN and ZS 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 VeriSign (VRSN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricVRSNZS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.85-0.61
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.24-0.79

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

VeriSign (VRSN) has no ROE value reported for this period; Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative figure of -2.87%, which needs context because negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity.

VRSN

Software & Services industry group

--

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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

-2.87%

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
ZS
-2.87%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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VeriSign (VRSN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): VRSN does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; ZS is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative net margin of -1.89%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile VeriSign (VRSN) reports 49.07%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

-1.89%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
ZS
-1.89%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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VeriSign (VRSN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) reports a negative operating margin of -1.01%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile VeriSign (VRSN) reports 68.62%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

-1.01%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
ZS
-1.01%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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VeriSign (VRSN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for VeriSign (VRSN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricVRSNZS
ROE (TTM)---2.87%
ROA (TTM)54.90%-1.03%
Net Margin (TTM)49.07%-1.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)68.62%-1.01%
Gross Margin (TTM)88.57%76.87%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Zscaler (ZS) at 25.42% 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.

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VeriSign (VRSN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): 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; Zscaler (ZS) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for VeriSign (VRSN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricVRSNZS
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.37%25.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.15%27.51%
EPS Growth (YoY)10.13%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)12.18%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Zscaler (ZS) at 1.70 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.

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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

1.70

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
ZS
1.70
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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VeriSign (VRSN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): 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: Zscaler (ZS) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72 against its industry range, while VeriSign (VRSN) reports no figure this period.

VRSN

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
VRSN
--

ZS

Software & Services industry group

0.72

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
ZS
0.72
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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VeriSign (VRSN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): VRSN does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; ZS is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for VeriSign (VRSN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricVRSNZS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.421.70
Debt / Equity (MRQ)--0.72
Net Debt / EBITDA1.09-36.63

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) 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.

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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Zscaler (ZS) 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.

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%

ZS

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for VeriSign (VRSN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricVRSNZS
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.03%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)34.45%0.00%

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 Zscaler (ZS) has no P/E ratio this period.

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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
ZS
--
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VeriSign (VRSN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): ZS 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 VeriSign (VRSN) at 15.99 and Zscaler (ZS) at 9.61 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

9.61

Max
17.91
ZS
9.61
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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VeriSign (VRSN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): 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 Zscaler (ZS) reports 12.40, ranking against industry peers normally.

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

ZS

Software & Services industry group

12.40

Max
16.63
ZS
12.40
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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VeriSign (VRSN) vs. Zscaler (ZS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for VeriSign (VRSN) and Zscaler (ZS)
MetricVRSNZS
P/E Ratio (TTM)33.23--
P/S Ratio (TTM)15.999.61
P/B Ratio (MRQ)-12.1312.40
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.89%3.34%