VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN), a global provider of domain name registry services and internet infrastructure, today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2022.

VeriSign, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("Verisign") reported revenue of $347 million for the first quarter of 2022, up 7.2 percent from the same quarter in 2021. Verisign reported net income of $158 million and diluted earnings per share (diluted "EPS") of $1.43 for the first quarter of 2022, compared to net income of $150 million and diluted EPS of $1.33 for the same quarter of 2021. The operating margin was 64.8 percent for the first quarter of 2022 compared to 65.0 percent for the same quarter of 2021.

"As global reliance on online services continues to increase, so does the importance of delivering uninterrupted and accurate DNS resolution. Our focus remains on operating, protecting, and enhancing our critical internet infrastructure, and I thank all our employees who continuously execute our complex mission," said Jim Bidzos, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Financial Highlights

Verisign ended the first quarter of 2022 with cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $1.21 billion, an increase of $4 million from year-end 2021.
Cash flow from operations was $207 million for the first quarter of 2022, compared to $198 million for the same quarter of 2021.
Deferred revenues as of March 31, 2022 totaled $1.18 billion, an increase of $28 million from year-end 2021.
During the first quarter of 2022, Verisign repurchased 0.9 million shares of its common stock for an aggregate cost of $196 million. As of March 31, 2022, there was $893 million remaining for future share repurchases under the share repurchase program which has no expiration date.

Business Highlights

Verisign ended the first quarter of 2022 with 174.7 million .com and .net domain name registrations in the domain name base, a 4.0 percent increase from the end of the first quarter of 2021, and a net increase of 1.23 million during the first quarter of 2022.
During the first quarter of 2022, Verisign processed 10.2 million new domain name registrations for .com and .net, as compared to 11.6 million for the same quarter of 2021.
The final .com and .net renewal rate for the fourth quarter of 2021 was 74.8 percent compared to 73.5 percent for the same quarter of 2020. Renewal rates are not fully measurable until 45 days after the end of the quarter.

Today's Conference Call

Verisign will host a live conference call today at 4:30 p.m. (EDT) to review the first quarter 2022 results. The call will be accessible by direct dial at (888) 676-VRSN (U.S.) or (786) 789-4776 (international), conference ID: Verisign. A listen-only live web cast of the conference call and accompanying slide presentation will also be available at https://investor.verisign.com. An audio archive of the call will be available at https://investor.verisign.com/events.cfm. This news release and the financial information discussed on today's conference call are available at https://investor.verisign.com.

About Verisign

Verisign, a global provider of domain name registry services and internet infrastructure, enables internet navigation for many of the world's most recognized domain names. Verisign enables the security, stability, and resiliency of key internet infrastructure and services, including providing root zone maintainer services, operating two of the 13 global internet root servers, and providing registration services and authoritative resolution for the .com and .net top-level domains, which support the majority of global e-commerce. To learn more about what it means to be Powered by Verisign, please visit verisign.com.

VRSNF

Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, attempted security breaches, cyber-attacks, and DDoS attacks against our systems and services; the introduction of undetected or unknown defects in our systems; vulnerabilities in the global routing system; system interruptions or system failures; damage to our data centers; risks arising from our operation of root servers and our performance of the Root Zone Maintainer functions; any loss or modification of our right to operate the .com and .net gTLDs; changes or challenges to the pricing provisions of the .com Registry Agreement; new or existing governmental laws and regulations in the U.S. or other applicable foreign jurisdictions; economic, legal and political risks associated with our international operations; the impact of unfavorable tax rules and regulations; risks from the adoption of ICANN's consensus and temporary policies, technical standards and other processes; the uncertainty of the impact of changes to the multi-stakeholder model of internet governance; the outcome of claims, lawsuits, audits or investigations; the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; our ability to compete in the highly competitive business environment in which we operate; changes in internet practices and behavior and the adoption of substitute technologies, or the negative impact of wholesale price increases; our ability to expand our services into developing and emerging economies; our ability to maintain strong relationships with registrars and their resellers; our ability to attract, retain and motivate our highly skilled employees; and our ability to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights. More information about potential factors that could affect our business and financial results is included in our filings with the SEC, including in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2021, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Verisign undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this announcement.

©2022 VeriSign, Inc. All rights reserved. VERISIGN, the VERISIGN logo, and other trademarks, service marks, and designs are registered or unregistered trademarks of VeriSign, Inc. and its subsidiaries in the United States and in foreign countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.


VERISIGN, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In millions, except par value) (Unaudited)

	March 31, 2022			December 31, 2021
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	758.5		$	223.5
Marketable securities		451.1			982.3
Other current assets		58.1			62.9
Total current assets		1,267.7			1,268.7
Property and equipment, net		244.9			251.2
Goodwill		52.5			52.5
Deferred tax assets		230.8			230.7
Deposits to acquire intangible assets		145.0			145.0
Other long-term assets		32.3			35.7
Total long-term assets		705.5			715.1
Total assets	$	1,973.2		$	1,983.8
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	211.1		$	226.6
Deferred revenues		877.4			847.4
Total current liabilities		1,088.5			1,074.0
Long-term deferred revenues		304.2			306.0
Senior notes		1,786.3			1,785.7
Long-term tax and other liabilities		79.3			78.6
Total long-term liabilities		2,169.8			2,170.3
Total liabilities		3,258.3			3,244.3
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' deficit:
Preferred stock—par value $.001 per share; Authorized shares: 5.0; Issued and outstanding shares: none		—			—
Common stock and additional paid-in capital—par value $.001 per share; Authorized shares: 1,000.0; Issued shares: 354.4 at March 31, 2022 and 354.2 at December 31, 2021; Outstanding shares: 109.8 at March 31, 2022 and 110.5 at December 31, 2021		13,438.2			13,620.1
Accumulated deficit		(14,720.3	)		(14,877.8	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(3.0	)		(2.8	)
Total stockholders' deficit		(1,285.1	)		(1,260.5	)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	$	1,973.2		$	1,983.8


VERISIGN, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (In millions, except per share data) (Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2022			2021
Revenues	$	346.9		$	323.6
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues		50.7			47.0
Research and development		22.9			20.3
Selling, general and administrative		48.5			45.9
Total costs and expenses		122.1			113.2
Operating income		224.8			210.4
Interest expense		(18.8	)		(22.5	)
Non-operating income, net		0.3			0.4
Income before income taxes		206.3			188.3
Income tax expense		(48.8	)		(37.9	)
Net income		157.5			150.4
Other comprehensive loss		(0.2	)		—
Comprehensive income	$	157.3		$	150.4

Earnings per share:
Basic	$	1.43		$	1.33
Diluted	$	1.43		$	1.33
Shares used to compute earnings per share
Basic		110.2			113.1
Diluted		110.3			113.3


VERISIGN, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In millions) (Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2022			2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	157.5		$	150.4
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of property and equipment		11.9			11.6
Stock-based compensation expense		14.2			13.0
Other, net		0.6			1.1
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Other assets		8.3			(6.9	)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(14.9	)		(7.6	)
Deferred revenues		28.3			36.2
Net deferred income taxes and other long-term tax liabilities		1.2			0.5
Net cash provided by operating activities		207.1			198.3
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from maturities and sales of marketable securities		696.0			793.8
Purchases of marketable securities		(164.9	)		(962.3	)
Purchases of property and equipment		(6.6	)		(6.7	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		524.5			(175.2	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchases of common stock		(204.6	)		(185.4	)
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan		8.2			8.1
Net cash used in financing activities		(196.4	)		(177.3	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		(0.1	)		(0.2	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		535.1			(154.4	)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period		228.8			410.6
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	$	763.9		$	256.2
Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
Cash paid for interest	$	13.1		$	13.2
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received	$	2.2		$	17.3

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Verisign Reports First Quarter 2022 Results