VRSN vs. BABA
VRSN (VeriSign, Inc.) and BABA (Alibaba Group Holding Limited) are both stocks. VRSN operates in Software - Infrastructure (Technology), while BABA operates in Internet Retail (Consumer Cyclical). Over the past 10 years, VRSN returned 12.83%/yr vs 4.42%/yr for BABA. At a 0.28 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
VRSN vs. BABA - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VRSN achieves a 15.94% return, which is significantly higher than BABA's -22.32% return. Over the past 10 years, VRSN has outperformed BABA with an annualized return of 12.83%, while BABA has yielded a comparatively lower 4.42% annualized return.
VRSN
- 1D
- 0.11%
- 1M
- -4.91%
- YTD
- 15.94%
- 6M
- 16.40%
- 1Y
- 0.55%
- 3Y*
- 8.34%
- 5Y*
- 5.15%
- 10Y*
- 12.83%
BABA
- 1D
- 0.12%
- 1M
- -21.91%
- YTD
- -22.32%
- 6M
- -26.87%
- 1Y
- -2.37%
- 3Y*
- 11.06%
- 5Y*
- -10.74%
- 10Y*
- 4.42%
VRSN vs. BABA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VRSN VeriSign, Inc. | 15.94% | 18.41% | 0.49% | 0.25% | -19.06% | 17.29% | 12.31% | 29.93% | 29.58% | 50.44% |
BABA Alibaba Group Holding Limited | -22.32% | 75.80% | 11.77% | -10.83% | -25.84% | -48.96% | 9.73% | 54.74% | -20.51% | 96.37% |
Correlation
The correlation between VRSN and BABA is 0.02, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.02 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.10 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.16 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.27 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 19, 2014 | 0.28 |
Over the past year, the correlation between VRSN and BABA has dropped to 0.02 - well below their long-term average of 0.28, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
Fundamentals
VRSN:
$25.69B
BABA:
$272.45B
VRSN:
$9.04
BABA:
CN¥33.90
VRSN:
30.95
BABA:
22.55
VRSN:
4.54
BABA:
1.01
VRSN:
15.46
BABA:
2.26
VRSN:
$1.68B
BABA:
CN¥811.51B
VRSN:
$1.49B
BABA:
CN¥332.88B
VRSN:
$1.18B
BABA:
CN¥112.44B
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
VRSN vs. BABA — Risk / Return Rank
VRSN
BABA
VRSN vs. BABA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VeriSign, Inc. (VRSN) and Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| VRSN | BABA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.07 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.04 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.03 | 1.03 | 0.00 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.02 | -0.06 | +0.08 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.04 | -0.12 | +0.16 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
VRSN vs. BABA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VRSN drawdown since its inception was -98.37%, which is greater than BABA's maximum drawdown of -80.09%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VRSN and BABA.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| VRSN | BABA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -98.37% | -80.09% | -18.28% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -30.21% | -39.94% | +9.73% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -30.21% | -39.94% | +9.73% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -38.85% | -72.48% | +33.63% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -38.85% | -80.09% | +41.24% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.71% | -62.20% | +52.49% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -56.97% | -37.56% | -19.41% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 15.19% | 19.58% | -4.39% |
Volatility
VRSN vs. BABA - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for VeriSign, Inc. (VRSN) is 9.36%, while Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) has a volatility of 10.07%. This indicates that VRSN experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BABA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| VRSN | BABA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.36% | 10.07% | -0.71% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.91% | 29.24% | -8.33% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.93% | 43.83% | -15.90% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 25.14% | 51.40% | -26.26% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 26.25% | 43.40% | -17.15% |
Dividends
VRSN vs. BABA - Dividend Comparison
VRSN's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.13%, more than BABA's 0.93% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
BABA Alibaba Group Holding Limited | 0.93% | 1.36% | 1.96% | 1.29% |
VRSN VeriSign, Inc. | 1.13% | 0.95% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Financials
VRSN vs. BABA - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between VeriSign, Inc. and Alibaba Group Holding Limited. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
VRSN vs. BABA - Profitability Comparison
VRSN - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, VeriSign, Inc. reported a gross profit of 379.70M and revenue of 428.90M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 88.5%.
BABA - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Alibaba Group Holding Limited reported a gross profit of 11.75B and revenue of 35.15B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 33.4%.
VRSN - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, VeriSign, Inc. reported an operating income of 293.60M and revenue of 428.90M, resulting in an operating margin of 68.5%.
BABA - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Alibaba Group Holding Limited reported an operating income of -135.47M and revenue of 35.15B, resulting in an operating margin of -0.4%.
VRSN - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, VeriSign, Inc. reported a net income of 214.50M and revenue of 428.90M, resulting in a net margin of 50.0%.
BABA - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Alibaba Group Holding Limited reported a net income of 3.69B and revenue of 35.15B, resulting in a net margin of 10.5%.
Frequently Asked Questions
VRSN and BABA have a correlation of 0.02, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BABA has higher volatility (10.07%) compared to VRSN (9.36%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VRSN dropped -98.37% vs BABA's -80.09%.
VRSN currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.02 vs -0.05), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
Find the right allocation for VRSN and BABA
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer