1 analysts' median target is $355[FMP target], stock is $288, +23.2% upside potential. After Q1 +1.7% EPS beat[FMP earnings], the stock moved -2.8%.
B- = MoonshotScore 64[9-pillar formula] + Council 2/6[6-lens rule]. Form 4: 0 transactions[FMP Form 4].
Q4 consensus: revenue $433.0M[FMP est], EPS $2.37[FMP est]. 1 consecutive quarters of beat[FMP earnings].
Q1 EPS +1.7% beat[FMP] but the stock -2.8% D+1[FMP D+1]. John Calys promised $7.2M CapEx + a sequential decline in Q4 during the Q1 earnings call[John Calys capex transcript].
Watchlist
Domain Name Base Growth Guidance
domain_name_base_growth_guidance
VeriSign is increasing and narrowing its guidance for domain name base growth to be between 3.1% and 4.3% for 2026.
"With the trends we've observed thus far in 2026 and our expectations for the next 3 quarters, we are increasing and narrowing our guidance for domain name base growth to be between 3.1% and 4.3% for 2026."
- Jim Bidzos, Executive Chairman, President and CEO - Q1 FY26 Earnings Call - April 23, 2026
Free Cash Flow Return
free_cash_flow_return
After seeing to the needs of our operations, we returned over 100% of our free cash flow to the investing public in the last 12 months for a total of $1.13 billion through share repurchases and dividends.
"After seeing to the needs of our operations, we returned over 100% of our free cash flow to the investing public in the last 12 months for a total of $1.13 billion through share repurchases and dividends."
- Jim Bidzos, Executive Chairman, President and CEO - Q1 FY26 Earnings Call - April 23, 2026
Com Price Increase
com_price_increase
VeriSign has given notice of a price increase of $0.71 to the annual wholesale price for .com domain names, which raises the wholesale price from $10.26 to $10.97 effective November 1, 2026.
"As announced in today's earnings release, we have given notice of a price increase of $0.71 to the annual wholesale price for .com domain names, which raises the wholesale price from $10.26 to $10.97 effective November 1, 2026."
- Jim Bidzos, Executive Chairman, President and CEO - Q1 FY26 Earnings Call - April 23, 2026
Quarterly Dividend
quarterly_dividend
VeriSign's Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.81 per share of VeriSign's outstanding common stock to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 19, 2026, payable on May 27, 2026.
"As announced in today's earnings release, VeriSign's Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.81 per share of VeriSign's outstanding common stock to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 19, 2026, payable on May 27, 2026."
- Jim Bidzos, Executive Chairman, President and CEO - Q1 FY26 Earnings Call - April 23, 2026
Share Repurchase Program
share_repurchase_program
Also at quarter end, there was $863 million remaining available under our current share repurchase program, which has no expiration.
"Also at quarter end, there was $863 million remaining available under our current share repurchase program, which has no expiration."
- Jim Bidzos, Executive Chairman, President and CEO - Q1 FY26 Earnings Call - April 23, 2026
Stock Expert AI - Methodology
9-pillar methodology. Gross Margin and Operating Leverage strong. Revenue Growth weak.
How is it calculated? ->6 investor frameworks. 2 bullish (Ray Dalio, Ken Griffin), 0 bearish (none), 4 neutral (Jim Simons, Klarman, Buffett, Munger).
How is it calculated? ->Quality business, trading at fair value.
How is it calculated? ->Past Performance
Q1 (April 23, 2026): EPS $2.34 vs $2.30 est[FMP], +1.7% beat. D+1 movement: -2.8%[FMP D+1]. Decline despite beat - market reacted to guidance, not numbers.
Q1: EPS $2.34 vs $2.30 beat[FMP], stock -2.8% D+1[FMP].
No RPO/backlog concentration disclosed in Q1 earnings call.
Q1 CapEx $7.2M[FMP cashflow]. Q1 op margin 68.5%[FMP op margin] - this level in Q4 is sensitive to CapEx revision risk.
Not advice - a structural framework for earnings night. Decision discipline is yours.
Market Outlook
You read it in 5 minutes. When the numbers come out on Thursday evening - you know what you're looking at.
Data arrives at night. The framework is ready now.
Data arrives on Thursday evening. The framework is ready on this page: Q4 EPS threshold $2.37[FMP], CapEx threshold "below $7.2M"[John Calys]. Two anchors, three scenarios.
Comparison Stock Expert AI Pro $24/month ($240/year), 77% cheaper than the total of three earnings-tracking tools ($1,059/year -> $240/year).
Seeking Alpha $299/yr - analyst opinions + earnings coverage TipRanks $360/yr - Smart Score (1-10) + analyst consensus + insider trades Trendspider $400/yr - AI pattern detection + automated TA + multi-timeframe alerts
Prices as of April 2026. Sources: seekingalpha.com/subscriptions - tipranks.com/pricing - trendspider.com/pricing
Stock Expert AI Pro: $24/month ($240/year). Council 7-lens analysis + MoonshotScore 9-pillar + Insider tracker + Technical levels - all in one platform, for every stock.
Educational tool, not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Calendar
DATA GAP: Events not in the FMP /stable/calendar feed - Investor day, analyst day, product launches, regulatory dates. These require company IR page scraping or manual calendar entry.
This VRSN (VRSN) earnings preview covers the analyst consensus, key catalysts, and what to watch on the earnings call.
Consensus EPS, revenue guidance, segment growth rates, and the tone of management commentary — the full breakdown with sources is on this page.