GETY vs SSP

For growth investors, Getty Images Holdings, Inc.

(GETY) is the stronger pick with 4. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -14. 3% for The E. W. Scripps Company (SSP). Analysts rate Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (GETY) a "Hold" — based on 8 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.

Over the past 5 years, The E.

W. Scripps Company (SSP) delivered a total return of -77. 0%, compared to -92. 0% for Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (GETY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SSP returned -65. 9% 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), The E.

W. Scripps Company (SSP) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 50β versus Getty Images Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 99β — meaning GETY is approximately 33% more volatile than SSP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The E. W. Scripps Company (SSP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 120% for Getty Images Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Getty Images Holdings, Inc.

(GETY) is pulling ahead at 4. 5% versus -14. 3% for The E. W. Scripps Company (SSP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The E. W. Scripps Company grew EPS -285. 1% year-over-year, compared to -624. 7% for Getty Images Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GETY leads at 1. 9% 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.

The E.

W. Scripps Company (SSP) is the more profitable company, earning -7. 6% net margin versus -21. 0% for Getty Images Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps -7. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SSP leads at 8. 6% versus 8. 6% for GETY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GETY leads at 73. 4%, 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, The E.

W. Scripps Company (SSP) trades at 19. 7x forward P/E versus 570. 0x for Getty Images Holdings, Inc. — 550. 3x 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, The E.

W. Scripps Company (SSP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. 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 (SSP: -65. 9%, 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.

Both stocks operate in the Communication Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

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.