QQQ vs VRSN Stock Comparison
VRSN currently leads QQQ in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 53 vs 48. The clearest difference is momentum, while QQQ has the stronger quality profile.
What is the main difference between QQQ 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
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs VeriSign, Inc.
VRSN leads
VRSN leads by 5 AIQ points, primarily on Momentum, and the lead has widened from 1 points over 30 sessions.
Fragile: 2 of 4 evidence groups support VRSN, its lead is widening, and its signal state is cleanly positive.
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
VeriSign, Inc.
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors VRSN over QQQ, 53 versus 48 as of Nov 7, 2026. VRSN's advantage is driven primarily by stronger momentum, while QQQ holds the stronger quality profile. VRSN also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 2 of 4 covered evidence groups favor VRSN today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 5 points. VRSN lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 1 to 5 points over 30 sessions.
Compare Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 and VeriSign, Inc. across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested
Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.
Compare QQQ 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.
- Momentum16 vs 64VRSN +48
- Quality82 vs 60QQQ +22
- Risk Resilience55 vs 47QQQ +8
- Value36 vs 39Even
2 of 4 evidence groups favor VRSN. VRSN’s edge is concentrated in momentum; QQQ keeps a meaningful quality edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-11-06, compared against the prior scored session 2026-11-05.
Largest factor move: Value +2
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 3 active signals are unchanged.
Largest factor move: Momentum -8
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 4 active signals are unchanged.
VRSN's lead narrowed by 3 AIQ points in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — QQQ and VRSN both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
VRSN (VeriSign, Inc.): the stronger current systematic profile, led by momentum.
QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1): the counter-case, on quality, risk resilience — but at materially higher volatility, 32% against 18.9%.
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
EvenGrowth figures are not covered for both names.
Value
EvenThe two are level on Value.
Momentum
VRSNVRSN on the Momentum factor, by 48 points.
Lower downside
QQQQQQ on Risk Resilience, by 8 points.
Analyst upside
EvenAnalyst targets are level or not covered for both names.
AIQ vs Wall Street
Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.
| Measure | QQQ | VRSN | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | — | +14.2% | Level |
| Target dispersion | — | +15.9% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | — | Hold | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | — | 2 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
2 of 4 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 | 48 vs 53 |
| Fundamentals | Not covered | Not covered |
| Valuation | Even | Value 36 vs 39 |
| Technicals | VRSN | Price vs 50-day -9% vs 3.5%; vs 200-day -3.2% vs 13% |
| Risk Resilience | QQQ | Risk Resilience 55 vs 47 |
| Analyst expectations | Not covered | Not covered |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of QQQ and VRSN and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is narrow at 5 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- Only 2 of 4 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader's advantage has been widening. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader's signal state is cleanly positive. (supports the conclusion holding)
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
120 daily snapshots · Jul 8 – Nov 6VRSN lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 1 to 5 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- VRSN +5
- 48 vs 53
- 7 sessions ago
- VRSN +3
- 51 vs 54
- 30 sessions ago
- VRSN +1
- 57 vs 58
- 90 sessions ago
- QQQ +2
- 59 vs 57
The lead changed hands 6 times in this window, most recently on Oct 30 when VRSN moved ahead of QQQ.
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.
1 bullish / 2 bearish, conflicted
Only QQQ
- Keltner Channel Breakdown — bearish, volatility, short horizon
- MACD Bearish Crossover — bearish, momentum, short horizon
4 bullish / 0 bearish
Only VRSN
- EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish — bullish, trend, medium horizon
- Uptrend Structure Active — bullish, trend, long horizon
- MACD Bullish Crossover — bullish, momentum, short horizon
Both carry 1 more signal that do not separate them: Golden Cross Active.
QQQ is conflicted, so the timing case there is weaker than the score alone suggests.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +1.4%, AIQ +1 points).
Price and the AIQ Score both moved down over the latest session (price -1.09%, AIQ -2 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.
- 1QQQ closes the Momentum gap — currently 48 points behind, the largest single contributor to VRSN's edge.
- 2QQQ's Keltner Channel Breakdown resolves — a bearish volatility rule currently active against it.
- 3VRSN's Golden Cross Active breaks down — it is the strongest rule currently supporting the verdict.
- 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
Split| Metric | QQQ | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | 1.9% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | — | -0.8% |
| Gross margin | — | 88.6% |
| Operating margin | — | 67.6% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | — | -38.2% |
| Debt to equity | — | -0.78 |
Performance
VRSN leads 6 of 6 windows| Metric | QQQ | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | -5% | 0.5% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -10% | 1.6% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | -9% | 5.2% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | -6.1% | 7.1% |
| Year to date | 6.8% | 27.1% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 5.3% | 26.5% |
Technicals
VRSN has the stronger structure| Metric | QQQ | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 30.5 | 52.4 |
| ADX (14) | 33.1 | 13.7 |
| Price vs 50-day | -9% | 3.5% |
| Price vs 200-day | -3.2% | 13% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 32% | 18.9% |
Risk
QQQ is the more resilient| Metric | QQQ | VRSN |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 1.45 | 0.07 |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.25 | 0.9 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.34 | 1.24 |
| Max drawdown | -14.8% | -20.3% |
| Current drawdown | -13.6% | -2.9% |
| Annualized volatility | 21.2% | 28.3% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -2% | -3% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, QQQ or VRSN?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, VRSN is the stronger of the two as of Nov 7, 2026, scoring 53 against QQQ's 48. The edge comes from momentum. QQQ is not without a case — it holds the better quality 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 QQQ or VRSN the better buy right now?
VRSN carries the stronger systematic profile as of Nov 7, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 2 of 4 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the AIQ gap is narrow at 5 points. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor VRSN over QQQ?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. VRSN leads Momentum by 48 points; QQQ leads Quality by 22 points; QQQ leads Risk Resilience by 8 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, QQQ or VRSN?
Analyst price targets imply not covered upside for QQQ and +14.2% for VRSN. The model and the Street agree here, which is a broader base of evidence than either alone. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, QQQ or VRSN?
Neither name separates on the peer-relative Value factor. The two are level on Value. 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, QQQ or VRSN?
Growth figures are not covered for both names. 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, QQQ or VRSN?
VRSN on the Momentum factor, by 48 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, QQQ or VRSN?
QQQ is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. QQQ on Risk Resilience, by 8 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 QQQ more profitable than VRSN?
Margin data is not comparable for both names in the current snapshot.
Is VRSN's lead over QQQ getting stronger or weaker?
VRSN lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 1 to 5 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-07-08 and 2026-11-06. The lead has changed hands 6 times in that window, most recently on 2026-10-30, when VRSN moved ahead of QQQ.
What would change the QQQ vs VRSN verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: QQQ closes the Momentum gap — currently 48 points behind, the largest single contributor to VRSN's edge; QQQ's Keltner Channel Breakdown resolves — a bearish volatility rule currently active against it; VRSN's Golden Cross Active breaks down — it is the strongest rule currently supporting the verdict; 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 QQQ and VRSN?
QQQ: 1 bullish / 2 bearish, conflicted. VRSN: 4 bullish / 0 bearish. 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 QQQ is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On VRSN it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
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.