MSCI vs VRSN Stock Comparison
Compare MSCI and VRSN across AIQ Score, fundamentals, valuation, momentum, risk, analyst expectations and current market evidence.
What is the main difference between MSCI and VRSN?
VRSN leads the current stock comparison as VeriSign, Inc., with the clearest separation coming from momentum and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
MSCI Inc. vs VeriSign, Inc.
VRSN leads
VRSN leads by 14 AIQ points, primarily on Momentum and Value, and the lead has widened from 2 points over 30 sessions. Wall Street currently favors MSCI on target upside.
Competitive: 4 of 6 evidence groups support VRSN, its lead is widening, and its current signal state is conflicted.
MSCI Inc.
VeriSign, Inc.
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors VRSN over MSCI, 54 versus 40 as of Sep 11, 2026. VRSN's advantage is driven primarily by stronger momentum and value, while MSCI holds the stronger risk resilience profile. VRSN also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average, though analyst target upside currently favors MSCI. 4 of 6 covered evidence groups favor VRSN today, and the comparison is rated Competitive on stability: the leader is throwing conflicting signals. VRSN lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 2 to 14 points over 30 sessions.
Compare MSCI Inc. and VeriSign, Inc. across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Price-return comparison using available daily close history.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000
Based on available close-price history. Distribution reinvestment is not added unless already reflected in the source series.
Compare MSCI and VRSN against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Momentum28 vs 70VRSN +42
- Value24 vs 40VRSN +16
- Risk Resilience53 vs 46MSCI +7
- Quality60 vs 60Even
4 of 6 evidence groups favor VRSN. VRSN’s edge is concentrated in momentum and value; MSCI keeps a meaningful risk resilience edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-09-10, compared against the prior scored session 2026-09-09.
Largest factor move: Momentum -7
New signals
- BB Lower Band Breach — bullish, volatility, short horizon
Largest factor move: Momentum -1
No new signals fired.
VRSN's lead widened by 2 AIQ points in the latest snapshot.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — MSCI and VRSN both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
VRSN (VeriSign, Inc.): the stronger current systematic profile, led by momentum and value.
MSCI (MSCI Inc.): the counter-case, on risk resilience, analyst expectations.
The AIQ Score and Wall Street therefore point in different directions on this pair.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
VRSNVRSN on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
VRSNVRSN on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
VRSNVRSN on the peer-relative Value factor, by 16 points.
Momentum
VRSNVRSN on the Momentum factor, by 42 points.
Lower downside
MSCIMSCI on Risk Resilience, by 7 points.
Analyst upside
MSCIMSCI on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
The model and the Street disagree here: AIQ favors VRSN, analyst targets favor MSCI. That disagreement is the most useful thing on this page.
| Measure | MSCI | VRSN | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +27.1% | +16.2% | MSCI has more room |
| Target dispersion | +20.6% | +9.1% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Buy | Hold | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 7 | 2 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
The two are measuring different things. The AIQ Score reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; analyst targets price forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something already priced in — it is worth resolving before acting on either.
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
4 of 6 covered evidence groups favor VRSN. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | VRSN | 40 vs 54 |
| Fundamentals | VRSNon balance | revenue growth 1.9% vs 1.3%; EPS growth -15.2% vs 1.7%; TTM ROE -54.1% vs -39.2%; gross margin 83% vs 88.5%; operating margin 55.7% vs 67.9% — VRSN takes 4 of 5 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | VRSN | Value 24 vs 40 |
| Technicals | VRSN | Price vs 50-day -4.1% vs 4.2%; vs 200-day -4.4% vs 10.1% |
| Risk Resilience | MSCI | Risk Resilience 53 vs 46 |
| Analyst expectations | MSCI | Target upside 27.1% vs 16.2% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of MSCI and VRSN and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The two are close enough that your objective, not the score, should decide.
- The AIQ gap is wide at 14 points. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader's advantage has been widening. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on VRSN.
How the comparison changed
119 daily snapshots · May 4 – Sep 10VRSN lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 2 to 14 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- VRSN +14
- 40 vs 54
- 7 sessions ago
- VRSN +8
- 49 vs 57
- 30 sessions ago
- VRSN +2
- 42 vs 44
- 90 sessions ago
- MSCI +2
- 50 vs 48
The lead changed hands 4 times in this window, most recently on Jul 16 when MSCI moved ahead of VRSN.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
2 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (0.90%)
- BB Lower Band Breach — bullish, volatility, short horizon
- MACD Bearish Crossover — bearish, momentum, short horizon
3 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (7.12%)
- EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish — bullish, trend, medium horizon
- Uptrend Structure Active — bullish, trend, long horizon
VRSN leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Price is up while the AIQ Score moved down 2 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price +1.28%, AIQ -2 points).
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +1.34%, AIQ 0 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1MSCI closes the Momentum gap — currently 42 points behind, the largest single contributor to VRSN's edge.
- 2MSCI's MACD Bearish Crossover resolves — a bearish momentum rule currently active against it.
- 3VRSN's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 3 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
VRSN leads on balance| Metric | MSCI | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 1.9% | 1.3% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | -15.2% | 1.7% |
| Gross margin | 83% | 88.5% |
| Operating margin | 55.7% | 67.9% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | -54.1% | -39.2% |
| Debt to equity | -2.43 | -1.04 |
Performance
VRSN leads 6 of 6 windows| Metric | MSCI | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | -2.3% | -0.4% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -2.7% | 2.1% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | -10% | 0.3% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 0.1% | 22.5% |
| Year to date | -4.6% | 18.9% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | -4.5% | 2.1% |
Technicals
VRSN has the stronger structure| Metric | MSCI | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 37.5 | 62.3 |
| ADX (14) | 12.5 | 14.1 |
| Price vs 50-day | -4.1% | 4.2% |
| Price vs 200-day | -4.4% | 10.1% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 26% | 28% |
Risk
MSCI is the more resilient| Metric | MSCI | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 0.4 | -0.01 |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.1 | 0.05 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.13 | 0.06 |
| Max drawdown | -18.1% | -26.9% |
| Current drawdown | -14.9% | -6.8% |
| Annualized volatility | 30.7% | 29% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -2.6% | -3.2% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, MSCI or VRSN?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, VRSN is the stronger of the two as of Sep 11, 2026, scoring 54 against MSCI's 40. The edge comes from momentum and value. MSCI is not without a case — it holds the better risk resilience profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is MSCI or VRSN the better buy right now?
VRSN carries the stronger systematic profile as of Sep 11, 2026, and the comparison is rated Competitive — 4 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Competitive rating means the two are close enough that your objective, not the score, should decide.
Why does the AIQ Score favor VRSN over MSCI?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. VRSN leads Momentum by 42 points; VRSN leads Value by 16 points; MSCI leads Risk Resilience by 7 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, MSCI or VRSN?
Analyst price targets imply +27.1% upside for MSCI and +16.2% for VRSN, so the Street currently favors MSCI. That points the opposite way to the AIQ Score, which favors VRSN. The two are measuring different things: the model reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; the Street is pricing forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something the analysts have already priced — it is the single most useful row on this page to investigate. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, MSCI or VRSN?
VRSN is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. VRSN on the peer-relative Value factor, by 16 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, MSCI or VRSN?
VRSN on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, MSCI or VRSN?
VRSN on the Momentum factor, by 42 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, MSCI or VRSN?
MSCI is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. MSCI on Risk Resilience, by 7 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is MSCI more profitable than VRSN?
VRSN leads on the comparable margin measures — gross margin 83% vs 88.5%; operating margin 55.7% vs 67.9%; ttm roe -54.1% vs -39.2%.
Is VRSN's lead over MSCI getting stronger or weaker?
VRSN lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 2 to 14 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 119 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-05-04 and 2026-09-10. The lead has changed hands 4 times in that window, most recently on 2026-07-16, when MSCI moved ahead of VRSN.
What would change the MSCI vs VRSN verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: MSCI closes the Momentum gap — currently 42 points behind, the largest single contributor to VRSN's edge; MSCI's MACD Bearish Crossover resolves — a bearish momentum rule currently active against it; VRSN's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 3 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once; a regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about MSCI and VRSN?
MSCI: 2 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted. VRSN: 3 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on MSCI is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On VRSN it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare MSCI and VRSN with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.