Verisign (VRSN) Q3 2026 Earnings Call: Record Domain Registrations and Higher Guidance
Source Tradingkey
Key Takeaways
- Verisign generated Q3 2026 revenue of $443 million, up 5.7% year over year. Operating income rose 4.2% to $296 million, while diluted EPS increased to $2.35 from $2.27.
- The combined .com and .net domain base reached 182.5 million names, up 6.1% year over year and 3.4 million from the prior quarter. New registrations hit a record 13.1 million.
- Management raised and narrowed its 2026 domain name base growth guidance to 6.5%-7.0%. Full-year revenue is now expected at $1.755 billion-$1.760 billion.
- The expected Q3 renewal rate declined to 74.3% from 75.4% a year earlier, mainly because first-time renewals represent a larger share of the domain base.
- Verisign plans to start the .web Sunrise period in mid-December, followed by a limited registration period in mid-January and general availability potentially in early April 2027.
- The company expects to finalize pricing for Verisign Informed by year-end, with production service delivery planned for the first half of 2027.
Key Financial Data
| Metric | Q3 2026 | Comparison | Commentary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $443 million | Up 5.7% YoY | Supported by continued growth in the core domain business |
| Operating expenses | $147 million | $135 million in Q3 2025; $138 million in Q2 2026 | Included a $7.5 million pretax operating loss related to assets held for sale |
| Operating income | $296 million | Up 4.2% YoY; flat sequentially | Increased by $12 million year over year |
| Net income | $213 million | $213 million in Q3 2025; $217 million in Q2 2026 | The asset-related loss reduced current-period EPS by $0.06 |
| Diluted EPS | $2.35 | $2.27 in Q3 2025; $2.38 in Q2 2026 | Up year over year |
| Operating cash flow | $268 million | $308 million in Q3 2025 | Lower due mainly to higher cash taxes and payments to employees and vendors |
| Free cash flow | $261 million | $303 million in Q3 2025 | Partly offset by higher customer cash collections |
| Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities | $476 million | At September 30, 2026 | Management described liquidity as stable |
Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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