GETY vs CSGP

For growth investors, CoStar Group, Inc.

(CSGP) is the stronger pick with 18. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 5% for Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (GETY). CoStar Group, Inc. (CSGP) offers the better valuation at 2052. 4x trailing P/E (25. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CoStar Group, Inc. (CSGP) a "Buy" — based on 25 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On forward P/E, CoStar Group, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 25. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, CoStar Group, Inc.

(CSGP) delivered a total return of -58. 5%, compared to -92. 0% for Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (GETY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CSGP returned +74. 0% versus GETY's -92. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CoStar Group, Inc.

(CSGP) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 80β versus Getty Images Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 99β — meaning GETY is approximately 150% more volatile than CSGP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CoStar Group, Inc. (CSGP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 14% versus 120% for Getty Images Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CoStar Group, Inc.

(CSGP) is pulling ahead at 18. 7% versus 4. 5% for Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (GETY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CoStar Group, Inc. grew EPS -95. 1% year-over-year, compared to -624. 7% for Getty Images Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CSGP leads at 14. 2% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

CoStar Group, Inc.

(CSGP) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 2% net margin versus -21. 0% for Getty Images Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 0. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GETY leads at 8. 6% versus -2. 2% for CSGP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CSGP leads at 75. 2%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, CoStar Group, Inc.

(CSGP) trades at 25. 2x forward P/E versus 570. 0x for Getty Images Holdings, Inc. — 544. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GETY: 723. 3% to $6. 57.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, CoStar Group, Inc.

(CSGP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 80)). Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (GETY) carries a higher beta of 1. 99 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CSGP: +74. 0%, GETY: -92. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (GETY (Communication Services) and CSGP (Real Estate)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: GETY is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CSGP is a mid-cap high-growth stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.