VRSN vs. IBM
VRSN (VeriSign, Inc.) and IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) are both stocks. Both are in the Technology sector — VRSN in Software - Infrastructure, IBM in Information Technology Services. Over the past 10 years, VRSN returned 12.83%/yr vs 11.09%/yr for IBM. At a 0.36 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
VRSN vs. IBM - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VRSN achieves a 15.94% return, which is significantly higher than IBM's -6.89% return. Over the past 10 years, VRSN has outperformed IBM with an annualized return of 12.83%, while IBM has yielded a comparatively lower 11.09% 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%
IBM
- 1D
- -0.95%
- 1M
- 26.84%
- YTD
- -6.89%
- 6M
- -10.81%
- 1Y
- -0.65%
- 3Y*
- 29.65%
- 5Y*
- 18.01%
- 10Y*
- 11.09%
VRSN vs. IBM - 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% |
IBM International Business Machines Corporation | -6.89% | 38.23% | 39.27% | 21.85% | 10.64% | 16.65% | -1.16% | 23.58% | -22.56% | -3.99% |
Correlation
The correlation between VRSN and IBM is 0.30, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.29 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.32 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.33 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 30, 1998 | 0.36 |
Fundamentals
VRSN:
$25.69B
IBM:
$259.20B
VRSN:
$9.04
IBM:
$11.32
VRSN:
30.95
IBM:
24.05
VRSN:
4.54
IBM:
0.29
VRSN:
15.46
IBM:
3.75
VRSN:
$1.68B
IBM:
$68.91B
VRSN:
$1.49B
IBM:
$40.64B
VRSN:
$1.18B
IBM:
$15.71B
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Return for Risk
VRSN vs. IBM — Risk / Return Rank
VRSN
IBM
VRSN vs. IBM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VeriSign, Inc. (VRSN) and International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). 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 | IBM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.04 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.04 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.03 | 1.04 | -0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.02 | -0.02 | +0.04 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.04 | -0.05 | +0.08 |
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Drawdowns
VRSN vs. IBM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VRSN drawdown since its inception was -98.37%, which is greater than IBM's maximum drawdown of -69.40%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VRSN and IBM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VRSN | IBM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -98.37% | -69.40% | -28.97% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -30.21% | -30.96% | +0.75% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -30.21% | -30.96% | +0.75% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -38.85% | -30.96% | -7.89% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -38.85% | -40.59% | +1.74% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.71% | -17.31% | +7.60% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -56.97% | -20.12% | -36.85% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 15.19% | 14.38% | +0.81% |
Volatility
VRSN vs. IBM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for VeriSign, Inc. (VRSN) is 9.36%, while International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) has a volatility of 21.43%. This indicates that VRSN experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IBM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VRSN | IBM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.36% | 21.43% | -12.07% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.91% | 34.62% | -13.71% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.93% | 39.45% | -11.52% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 25.14% | 27.16% | -2.02% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 26.25% | 26.59% | -0.34% |
Dividends
VRSN vs. IBM - Dividend Comparison
VRSN's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.13%, less than IBM's 2.47% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBM International Business Machines Corporation | 2.47% | 2.27% | 3.03% | 4.05% | 4.68% | 4.74% | 5.17% | 4.80% | 5.46% | 3.85% | 3.31% | 3.63% |
VRSN VeriSign, Inc. | 1.13% | 0.95% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Financials
VRSN vs. IBM - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between VeriSign, Inc. and International Business Machines Corporation. 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. IBM - 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%.
IBM - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, International Business Machines Corporation reported a gross profit of 8.95B and revenue of 15.92B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 56.2%.
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%.
IBM - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, International Business Machines Corporation reported an operating income of 1.22B and revenue of 15.92B, resulting in an operating margin of 7.6%.
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%.
IBM - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, International Business Machines Corporation reported a net income of 1.22B and revenue of 15.92B, resulting in a net margin of 7.6%.
Frequently Asked Questions
VRSN and IBM have a correlation of 0.30, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IBM has higher volatility (21.43%) compared to VRSN (9.36%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VRSN dropped -98.37% vs IBM's -69.40%.
VRSN currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.02 vs -0.02), 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.
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