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Best Buffett Stock to Buy Right Now: Sirius XM vs. VeriSign
The Motley Fool· 2025-05-18 07:30
Core Insights - Warren Buffett announced his retirement as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, having sold many winning stocks in 2024, solidifying his status as a legendary investor [1] - Berkshire Hathaway also made strategic additions to its portfolio, notably increasing holdings in Sirius XM and VeriSign, both of which possess strong economic moats and recurring revenue streams [2] Company Analysis: VeriSign - VeriSign operates as the official registry for .com and .net internet addresses, maintaining a monopoly that requires all .com and .net IP addresses to pay subscription fees [3] - Despite a slight decline in the total number of .com and .net domain names, VeriSign's revenue grew by 4.7% last quarter due to contractually allowed price increases [5] - The company signed a new six-year contract with ICANN and NTIA, allowing it to maintain its monopoly and raise .com prices by up to 7% in the last four years of the contract [6] - With the potential for domain name growth and price increases, VeriSign is positioned to grow at a rate higher than GDP over the coming years [7] - VeriSign has increased its 2025 guidance and initiated its first-ever dividend, resulting in a stock price increase of 33.3% for 2025 [17] Company Analysis: Sirius XM - Sirius XM is the only satellite radio company, primarily serving automotive customers, but faces challenges from streaming services [4] - The company has experienced subscriber and revenue declines since Q4 2022, with a 1.7% decline in subscribers and a 4.3% revenue decline last quarter [8][9] - Sirius XM is focusing on its core in-vehicle audience and enhancing its premium offerings while implementing a price increase [11][12] - The company is also introducing a low-priced, ad-supported tier to attract lower-income customers, similar to strategies used by Netflix [13] - Despite recent declines, Sirius XM has reiterated its 2025 targets for revenue and free cash flow, indicating potential stabilization [15] Valuation Comparison - There is a significant valuation gap between the two companies, with VeriSign trading at 31 times this year's earnings estimates and a forward dividend yield of 1.1%, while Sirius XM trades at just 7.6 times this year's earnings estimates with a dividend yield of 5% [19] - Sirius XM's higher debt load of approximately $10.5 billion, or 3.8 times adjusted EBITDA, presents a risk, especially given its revenue declines [20] Investment Considerations - The choice between investing in Sirius XM or VeriSign depends on risk appetite and belief in Sirius XM's turnaround strategy [21] - Sirius XM presents potential upside due to its low valuation and improving conditions, while VeriSign's current valuation reflects its strong performance [22] - However, Sirius XM carries higher risk due to uncertainties surrounding its turnaround efforts [23]
Where Will VeriSign Stock Be in 3 Years?
The Motley Fool· 2025-05-11 08:55
Core Insights - VeriSign operates the authoritative domain name registries for .com and .net, and its business model is considered stable and evergreen [2][3] - The company has seen a 66% increase in stock price over the past three years, outperforming the S&P 500's 37% rise [1] - Analysts project revenue and EPS growth rates of 5% and 10% respectively from 2024 to 2027, with potential stock price fluctuations based on valuation metrics [11][12] Business Model - VeriSign sells domain names to registrars like GoDaddy, which then sell them to end-users, ensuring a steady revenue stream as long as domain registrations and renewals continue [3] - The company has maintained a renewal rate in the low 70s, with recent data showing an increase to 74% [6] Market Performance - From 2021 to 2024, VeriSign's revenue and EPS grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5%, while the company repurchased 13% of its shares [8] - The stock has become a safe haven during economic uncertainty, as businesses continue to register and renew domains despite macroeconomic challenges [9] Future Outlook - Analysts expect revenue and EPS growth to continue, with stock price projections ranging from a potential increase of 34% to a decline of 18% based on different valuation scenarios [11][12] - The company renewed its .com agreements with the U.S. government for six more years, providing some insulation from antitrust pressures [7] Investment Sentiment - Berkshire Hathaway has increased its stake in VeriSign, indicating positive insider sentiment, as insiders bought nearly 11 times more shares than they sold in the past year [10]
Tariff-Resilient Tech Stocks: CyberArk & Verisign's Durable Edge
MarketBeat· 2025-04-25 12:30
Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the impact of tariffs on financial markets and highlights two stocks, CyberArk Software and Verisign, that are well-positioned to withstand tariff-related uncertainties [1][2][3]. Group 1: CyberArk Software - CyberArk Software is identified as a strong player in the cybersecurity sector, which is likely to be one of the last areas where businesses cut spending during economic uncertainty [4][5]. - The company primarily secures data through software solutions, reducing its direct tariff risk compared to hardware-dependent firms [6]. - CyberArk specializes in Privileged Access Management (PAM), protecting users with access to sensitive information, making it resilient to business uncertainties [7][8]. - Dan Ives from Wedbush Securities notes that CyberArk is expected to outperform other tech stocks amid tariff concerns [9]. Group 2: Verisign - Verisign is a monopolistic tech firm that dominates the generic top-level domain (gTLD) market, particularly with ".com" and ".net" domains [10][11]. - The company operates under exclusive agreements with ICANN, ensuring its strong market position as businesses must pay Verisign to operate websites with these suffixes [11]. - Verisign's services are not directly affected by tariffs since it sells services rather than physical goods, and companies are unlikely to stop paying for domain registrations due to tariffs [12][13]. - The company has shown consistent revenue growth since 2008, with a net income margin of around 48%, and is backed by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, which owns approximately 14% of its shares [14].