VRSN vs. MO
VRSN (VeriSign, Inc.) and MO (Altria Group, Inc.) are both stocks. VRSN operates in Software - Infrastructure (Technology), while MO operates in Tobacco (Consumer Defensive). Over the past 10 years, VRSN returned 12.83%/yr vs 7.93%/yr for MO. At a 0.15 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
VRSN vs. MO - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VRSN achieves a 15.94% return, which is significantly lower than MO's 26.86% return. Over the past 10 years, VRSN has outperformed MO with an annualized return of 12.83%, while MO has yielded a comparatively lower 7.93% 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%
MO
- 1D
- 0.74%
- 1M
- 0.56%
- YTD
- 26.86%
- 6M
- 26.78%
- 1Y
- 28.51%
- 3Y*
- 25.73%
- 5Y*
- 16.36%
- 10Y*
- 7.93%
VRSN vs. MO - 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% |
MO Altria Group, Inc. | 26.86% | 18.17% | 40.76% | -3.70% | 4.37% | 24.18% | -10.21% | 7.87% | -27.14% | 9.45% |
Correlation
The correlation between VRSN and MO is 0.04, 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 | 0.04 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.15 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.16 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.15 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 30, 1998 | 0.15 |
The correlation between VRSN and MO shifts across timeframes, from 0.04 (1 year) to 0.16 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
VRSN:
$25.69B
MO:
$120.36B
VRSN:
$9.04
MO:
$4.79
VRSN:
30.95
MO:
15.00
VRSN:
4.54
MO:
0.32
VRSN:
15.46
MO:
5.54
VRSN:
$1.68B
MO:
$21.82B
VRSN:
$1.49B
MO:
$14.80B
VRSN:
$1.18B
MO:
$11.70B
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Return for Risk
VRSN vs. MO — Risk / Return Rank
VRSN
MO
VRSN vs. MO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for VeriSign, Inc. (VRSN) and Altria Group, Inc. (MO). 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 | MO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.25 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.55 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.03 | 1.24 | -0.21 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.02 | 1.75 | -1.73 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.04 | 4.39 | -4.36 |
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Drawdowns
VRSN vs. MO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VRSN drawdown since its inception was -98.37%, which is greater than MO's maximum drawdown of -65.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VRSN and MO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VRSN | MO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -98.37% | -65.43% | -32.94% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -30.21% | -16.40% | -13.81% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -30.21% | -16.40% | -13.81% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -38.85% | -25.83% | -13.02% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -38.85% | -53.69% | +14.84% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.71% | -3.50% | -6.21% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -56.97% | -11.92% | -45.05% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 15.19% | 6.50% | +8.69% |
Volatility
VRSN vs. MO - Volatility Comparison
VeriSign, Inc. (VRSN) has a higher volatility of 9.36% compared to Altria Group, Inc. (MO) at 6.71%. This indicates that VRSN's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VRSN | MO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.36% | 6.71% | +2.65% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.91% | 17.60% | +3.31% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.93% | 22.59% | +5.34% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 25.14% | 20.68% | +4.46% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 26.25% | 22.97% | +3.28% |
Dividends
VRSN vs. MO - Dividend Comparison
VRSN's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.13%, less than MO's 5.84% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MO Altria Group, Inc. | 5.84% | 7.21% | 7.65% | 9.52% | 8.05% | 7.43% | 8.29% | 6.57% | 6.07% | 3.56% | 3.48% | 3.73% |
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. MO - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between VeriSign, Inc. and Altria Group, Inc.. 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. MO - 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%.
MO - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Altria Group, Inc. reported a gross profit of 3.51B and revenue of 5.43B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 64.6%.
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%.
MO - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Altria Group, Inc. reported an operating income of 2.96B and revenue of 5.43B, resulting in an operating margin of 54.5%.
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%.
MO - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Altria Group, Inc. reported a net income of 2.18B and revenue of 5.43B, resulting in a net margin of 40.2%.
Frequently Asked Questions
VRSN and MO have a correlation of 0.04, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VRSN has higher volatility (9.36%) compared to MO (6.71%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VRSN dropped -98.37% vs MO's -65.43%.
MO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.27 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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