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VeriSign earnings quality score

How much of the reported profit is backed by cash, and how many markers of managed earnings the filings show

Score79 / 100 · grade B · rank 72 of 1027

VeriSign (VRSN) scores 79 of 100 for earnings quality, grade B: rank 72 of 1027 companies and 13 of 203 in technology. It loses the most points on discretionary accruals of -34.0% of assets (modified Jones), larger than most, Montier C-score 3 of 5 checks failed. It earns full or near-full marks for adjusted earnings 3% below GAAP, profit steadier than cash flow (smoothness 0.63), accruals of -19.4% of assets, lower than 96% of companies (profit backed by cash).

What earned and lost points

ComponentWhat the filings showPointsOf
Accrualsaccruals of -19.4% of assets, lower than 96% of companies (profit backed by cash)1920
Beneish M-scoreBeneish M-score -3.09: clean (below −2.22)1515
Dechow F-scoreDechow F-score 0.26 (normal)1515
Montier C-scoreMontier C-score 3 of 5 checks failed615
Discretionary accrualsdiscretionary accruals of -34.0% of assets (modified Jones), larger than most010
Piotroski F-scorePiotroski F-score 9 of 91010
Non-GAAP gapadjusted earnings 3% below GAAP910
Earnings smoothnessprofit steadier than cash flow (smoothness 0.63)45
VRSN: share of the available points, by componentVRSN: share of the available points, by componentAccruals96%Beneish M-score100%Dechow F-score100%Montier C-score40%Piotroski F-score100%Non-GAAP gap91%Earnings smoothness86%

How the score is built

Eight published measures, each scored against the whole universe or on its own scale and weighted: accruals 20, discretionary accruals 10, Beneish M 15, Dechow F 15, Montier C 15, Piotroski F 10, the non-GAAP gap 10, smoothness 5. A measure that cannot be computed (Beneish for a bank, say) drops out and the rest is rescaled, so every company is scored on what applies to it.

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Computed from the companies’ own XBRL filings (latest fiscal year) by published formulas; a statistical screen, not an audit or an accusation. A low score means the reported profit shows more of the markers of managed or low-quality earnings than its peers. Not investment advice.