CMPR vs SSTK vs QUAD vs SHOP vs ETSY

For growth investors, Shopify Inc.

(SHOP) is the stronger pick with 30. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 4% for Quad/Graphics, Inc. (QUAD). Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) offers the better valuation at 13. 6x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Quad/Graphics, Inc. (QUAD) a "Buy" — based on 7 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 trailing P/E, Shutterstock, Inc.

(SSTK) is the cheapest at 13. 6x versus Cimpress plc at 158. 6x. On forward P/E, Quad/Graphics, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Quad/Graphics, Inc.

(QUAD) delivered a total return of +158. 1%, compared to -73. 5% for Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SHOP returned +41. 2% versus SSTK's -34. 5%. 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), Quad/Graphics, Inc.

(QUAD) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 03β versus Shopify Inc. 's 2. 64β — meaning SHOP is approximately 156% more volatile than QUAD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Shopify Inc. (SHOP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 3% for Quad/Graphics, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Shopify Inc.

(SHOP) is pulling ahead at 30. 1% versus -9. 4% for Quad/Graphics, Inc. (QUAD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Quad/Graphics, Inc. grew EPS 150. 5% year-over-year, compared to -91. 0% for Cimpress plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, SHOP leads at 27. 3% 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.

Shopify Inc.

(SHOP) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 7% net margin versus 0. 4% for Cimpress plc — meaning it keeps 10. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ETSY leads at 12. 8% versus 4. 9% for QUAD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ETSY leads at 71. 6%, 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, Quad/Graphics, Inc.

(QUAD) trades at 6. 3x forward P/E versus 60. 9x for Shopify Inc. — 54. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SSTK: 294. 5% to $67. 00.

In this comparison, SSTK (7.

6% yield), QUAD (3. 8% yield) pay a dividend. CMPR, SHOP, ETSY do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Quad/Graphics, Inc.

(QUAD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 03), 3. 8% yield). Shopify Inc. (SHOP) carries a higher beta of 2. 64 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (QUAD: -23. 3%, SHOP: +41. 2%), 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 (CMPR (Communication Services) and SSTK (Communication Services) and QUAD (Industrials) and SHOP (Technology) and ETSY (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CMPR is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SSTK is a small-cap deep-value stock; QUAD is a small-cap deep-value stock; SHOP is a mid-cap high-growth stock; ETSY is a small-cap quality compounder stock. SSTK, QUAD pay a dividend while CMPR, SHOP, ETSY do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.