Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (GETY) vs Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | GOOG | 15.1% revenue growth vs GETY's 2.5% |
| Value | GETY | Lower P/E (7.1x vs 27.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | GOOG | 32.8% net margin vs GETY's -9.6% |
| Stability / Safety | GOOG | Beta 0.98 vs GETY's 1.54, lower leverage |
| Dividends | GOOG | 0.3% yield; 2-year raise streak; GETY pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | GOOG | +81.3% vs GETY's -63.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | GOOG | 22.2% ROA vs GETY's -3.5%, ROIC 24.7% vs 6.9% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Getty Images is a global visual content marketplace that licenses stock photos, videos, and music to businesses and creators. It generates revenue primarily through subscription plans and direct licensing fees — with its premium Getty Images brand serving enterprise clients and iStock targeting smaller businesses. The company's competitive advantage lies in its massive proprietary archive of over 160,000 events and its established brand recognition in the professional photography market.
Alphabet is a technology conglomerate best known for its Google search engine and digital ecosystem. It generates over 80% of its revenue from digital advertising—primarily through Google Search, YouTube, and its ad network—with the remainder coming from Google Cloud services and other ventures. Its dominant competitive advantage lies in its massive user data network, which creates powerful network effects and makes its advertising targeting capabilities nearly impossible for competitors to replicate at scale.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
GOOG leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). GETY leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
GOOG is the larger business by revenue, generating $402.9B annually — 425.8x GETY's $946M. GOOG is the more profitable business, keeping 32.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to GETY's -9.6%. On growth, GOOG holds the edge at +18.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | GETYGetty Images Hold… | GOOGAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $946M | $402.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $208M | $150.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$91M | $132.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $23M | $73.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +73.0% | +59.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.2% | +32.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -9.6% | +32.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.4% | +18.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.2% | +18.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.1% | +31.2% |
Valuation Metrics
At 8.2x trailing earnings, GETY trades at a 72% valuation discount to GOOG's 28.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, GETY's 6.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GOOG's 11.5x.
| Metric | GETYGetty Images Hold… | GOOGAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $321M | $1.69T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.6B | $1.73T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 8.16x | 28.81x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.14x | 27.24x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.97x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.42x | 11.52x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.34x | 4.20x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.45x | 9.17x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.27x | 23.08x |
Profitability & Efficiency
GOOG delivers a 31.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $32 in annual profit, vs $-13 for GETY. GOOG carries lower financial leverage with a 0.17x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to GETY's 1.89x.
| Metric | GETYGetty Images Hold… | GOOGAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -13.3% | +31.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -3.5% | +22.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.9% | +24.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.4% | +30.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.89x | 0.17x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.2B | $41.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $121M | $30.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.4B | $72.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.75x | 903.26x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in GOOG five years ago would be worth $30,060 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $739 for GETY. Over the past 12 months, GOOG leads with a +81.3% total return vs GETY's -63.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GOOG at 51.3% vs GETY's -50.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | GETYGetty Images Hold… | GOOGAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -40.6% | -1.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -63.6% | +81.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -87.9% | +246.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -92.6% | +200.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -92.3% | +796.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -50.5% | +51.3% |
Risk & Volatility
GOOG is the less volatile stock with a 0.98 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than GETY's 1.54 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. GOOG currently trades 88.9% from its 52-week high vs GETY's 24.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | GETYGetty Images Hold… | GOOGAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.54x | 0.98x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $3.21 | $350.15 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.67 | $142.66 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +24.2% | +88.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 32.0 | 40.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.3M | 17.8M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GETY as "Hold" and GOOG as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 744.5% upside for GETY (target: $7) vs 14.6% for GOOG (target: $357). GOOG is the only dividend payer here at 0.26% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | GETYGetty Images Hold… | GOOGAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $6.57 | $356.91 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 79 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.82 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.7% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Sep 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getty Images Holdin… (GETY) | 100 | 13.07 | -86.9% |
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) | 100 | 462.95 | +363.0% |
Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) returned +201% over 5 years vs Getty Images Holdin… (GETY)'s -93%. A $10,000 investment in GOOG 5 years ago would be worth $30,060 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getty Images Holdin… (GETY) | $815M | $939M | +15.2% |
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) | $90.3B | $403.0B | +346.4% |
Alphabet Inc.'s revenue grew from $90.3B (2016) to $403.0B (2025) — a 18.1% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getty Images Holdin… (GETY) | -4.6% | 4.2% | +192.3% |
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) | 21.6% | 32.8% | +52.0% |
Alphabet Inc.'s net margin went from 22% (2016) to 33% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getty Images Holdin… (GETY) | 70.7 | 22.7 | -67.9% |
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) | 58.1 | 29 | -50.1% |
Getty Images Holdings, Inc. has traded in a 23x–112x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~8x. Alphabet Inc. has traded in a 20x–58x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~29x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getty Images Holdin… (GETY) | -0.32 | 0.1 | +129.8% |
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) | 1.39 | 10.81 | +677.7% |
Alphabet Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.39 (2016) to $10.81 (2025) — a 26% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Getty Images Holdings, Inc. generated $61M FCF in 2024 (-56% vs 2021). Alphabet Inc. generated $73B FCF in 2025 (+9% vs 2021).
GETY vs GOOG: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GETY or GOOG a better buy right now?
Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (GETY) offers the better valuation at 8.2x trailing P/E (7.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) a "Buy" — based on 79 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.
02Which has the better valuation — GETY or GOOG?
On trailing P/E, Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (GETY) is the cheapest at 8.2x versus Alphabet Inc. at 28.8x. On forward P/E, Getty Images Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7.1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — GETY or GOOG?
Over the past 5 years, Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) delivered a total return of +200.6%, compared to -92.6% for Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (GETY). A $10,000 investment in GOOG five years ago would be worth approximately $30K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GOOG returned +796.7% versus GETY's -92.3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — GETY or GOOG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) is the lower-risk stock at 0.98β versus Getty Images Holdings, Inc.'s 1.54β — meaning GETY is approximately 57% more volatile than GOOG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 189% for Getty Images Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — GETY or GOOG?
Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) is the more profitable company, earning 32.8% net margin versus 4.2% for Getty Images Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 32.8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GOOG leads at 32.1% versus 19.2% for GETY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GETY leads at 73.1%, 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.
06Is GETY or GOOG more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (GETY) trades at 7.1x forward P/E versus 27.2x for Alphabet Inc. — 20.1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GETY: 744.5% to $6.57.
07Which pays a better dividend — GETY or GOOG?
In this comparison, GOOG (0.3% yield) pays a dividend. GETY does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is GETY or GOOG better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.98), +796.7% 10Y return). Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (GETY) carries a higher beta of 1.54 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (GOOG: +796.7%, GETY: -92.3%), 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.
09What are the main differences between GETY and GOOG?
These companies operate in different sectors (GETY (Communication Services) and GOOG (Technology)), 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 deep-value stock; GOOG is a mega-cap quality compounder 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.
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