Verisign’s flagship domain .Com has returned to growth in Q1 2025, thanks to aggressive discounting strategies offered to registrars, which significantly reduced retail prices and spurred a wave of new registrations.
The company ended the quarter with 169.8 million .Com and .Net domains under management, an increase of 777,000 names compared to the end of 2024. This marks the first time in nearly two years that Verisign has reported quarterly growth in domain name registrations.
While the company did not provide a detailed breakdown, historical data suggests that .Com grew by approximately 800,000 names, while .Net declined by around 100,000 during the same period.
The growth is largely attributed to Verisign’s promotional programs, which enabled some registrars to offer .Com domains for less than half the standard wholesale price of $10.26. “It’s still early, but we do see signs of registrars shifting towards customer acquisition, and we also see more registrar engagement with our marketing programs,” said CEO Jim Bidzos during an earnings call with analysts.
In 2024, registrars were largely focused on upselling to existing customers rather than driving new sign-ups — a trend that had contributed to the decline in domain registrations. The current quarter suggests a strategic shift.
Bidzos also noted that sales were up across Verisign’s three major geographic markets: North America, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific. This is a notable improvement from previous quarters, where North America and China had been weak spots.
Reflecting the improved outlook, Verisign has raised its full-year guidance for domain growth. The new range is between a 0.7% decrease and a 0.9% increase, a significant shift from February’s projection of -2.3% to -0.3%. This is the first time in several quarters that growth forecasts have included a positive upper bound.
Still, there’s caution in the air. Both Bidzos and analysts cited the broader “macro” environment — shorthand for global economic uncertainty, particularly stemming from U.S. President Donald Trump’s unpredictable trade and tariff decisions, which continue to rattle global markets.
Financially, Verisign reported $199 million in net income for the quarter, up from $194 million a year earlier. Revenue rose 4.7% to $402 million, while operating income climbed from $259 million to $271 million.
In addition to ongoing stock buybacks, Verisign has now started issuing quarterly cash dividends, with shareholders receiving $0.77 per share this quarter.
Read more at domainincite
News Source:domainincite，This article does not represent our position.
