Robert Oliver's questions to VeriSign, Inc (VRSN) leadership • Q4 2024
Question
Robert Oliver of Robert W. Baird & Co. inquired about the outlook for domain name base growth, the impact of the macro environment, and the effectiveness of new marketing programs. He also asked about the implications of leadership changes at the NTIA and ICANN and the status of ongoing discussions with regulators.
Answer
Jim Bidzos, Executive Chairman, President and CEO, stated that while the domain name base is expected to decrease slightly in 2025, the trend is improving due to a reduced decline from China, adoption of new marketing programs, and a cyclical shift by registrars back to customer acquisition. Executive Vice President and CFO George Kilguss added that marketing programs are being refined based on registrar feedback for a broader 2025 rollout. Bidzos also addressed regulatory questions, expressing confidence in continued stable relationships with ICANN and the NTIA under new leadership, and clarified that Verisign is not government-funded and its wholesale pricing has lagged inflation.