Toast (TOST) vs VeriSign (VRSN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
VeriSign (VRSN) has outperformed Toast (TOST) over the past year, gaining 11.2% versus a loss of 16.8%. Over five years, VRSN leads with a +38.8% price change compared with -45.7% for TOST. VeriSign is the larger company by market cap ($27.22 billion vs $17.76 billion), about 1.5 times the size, while Toast is growing revenue faster (+24.1% vs +6.4%).
On valuation, Toast trades at a lower forward P/E (17.7x vs 27.2x for VeriSign). VeriSign pays a dividend yielding 1.05%, while Toast does not currently pay one. VeriSign converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 49.8% versus 5.6%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | TOST | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $30.72 | $301.12 |
| Market cap | $17.76B | $27.22B |
| 1-day change | +0.62% | +1.12% |
| YTD return | -14.02% | +22.57% |
| 1-year return | -16.81% | +11.17% |
| 5-year return | -45.69% | +38.85% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 38.89 | 32.69 |
| Forward P/E | 17.70 | 27.22 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.79 | $9.21 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.05% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $3.16 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $6.15B | $1.66B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +24.05% | +6.37% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $342.00M | $825.70M |
| Gross margin | 25.89% | 88.15% |
| Operating margin | 4.75% | 67.67% |
| Net margin | 5.56% | 49.84% |
| 52-week high | $39.73 | $312.48 |
| 52-week low | $22.26 | $208.86 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -22.67% | -3.64% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +26.69% | +7.73% |
| Average volume | 9.11M | 803.85K |
| Shares outstanding | 514.00M | 90.40M |
| Employees | 6,500 | 926 |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | EDP Services | EDP Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- VRSN has outperformed TOST by 28.0 percentage points over the past year.
- VeriSign offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.05% vs 0.00%).
- VeriSign is more profitable, keeping 49.8 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 5.6 cents for Toast.
- Toast grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+24.05% vs +6.37%).
About Toast
TOST stock →Toast, Inc. operates a cloud-based digital technology platform for the restaurant industry in the United States, Ireland, India, and internationally.
Technology · EDP Services · 6,500 employees
About VeriSign
VRSN stock →VeriSign, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides internet infrastructure and domain name registry services that enables internet navigation for various recognized domain names worldwide. The company provides root zone maintainer services, operating two of thirteen internet root servers; and offering registration services and authoritative resolution for the .com and .net domains, which supports global e-commerce.
Technology · EDP Services · 926 employees
TOST vs VRSN FAQ
Which is bigger, Toast or VeriSign?
VeriSign (VRSN) is larger, with a market capitalization of $27.22B compared with $17.76B for Toast (TOST).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, TOST or VRSN?
VRSN returned +11.17% over the past 12 months, compared with -16.81% for TOST (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, TOST or VRSN?
VRSN has the lower trailing P/E at 32.7, versus 38.9 for TOST. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Toast or VeriSign?
VeriSign pays a dividend yielding 1.05%, while Toast does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Toast and VeriSign in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the EDP Services industry within the Technology sector.