Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (GETY) vs Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SSTK | 5.8% revenue growth vs GETY's 2.5% |
| Value | GETY | Lower P/E (7.1x vs 9.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | SSTK | 4.6% net margin vs GETY's -9.6% |
| Stability / Safety | SSTK | Beta 1.38 vs GETY's 1.54, lower leverage |
| Dividends | SSTK | 7.6% yield; 5-year raise streak; GETY pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | SSTK | -15.7% vs GETY's -63.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SSTK | 3.4% ROA vs GETY's -3.5%, ROIC 13.1% 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.
Shutterstock operates a global marketplace for stock photography, video footage, and music content used by businesses and creators. It generates revenue primarily through subscription plans — where customers pay monthly or annual fees for content downloads — and through on-demand purchases from its extensive digital library. The company's key advantage is its massive, curated content library of over 400 million images and 30 million video clips, which creates network effects as more contributors attract more customers.
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
SSTK leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). GETY leads in 2 (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
SSTK and GETY operate at a comparable scale, with $990M and $946M in trailing revenue. SSTK is the more profitable business, keeping 4.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to GETY's -9.6%. On growth, GETY holds the edge at -0.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | GETYGetty Images Hold… | SSTKShutterstock, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $946M | $990M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $208M | $130M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$91M | $45M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $23M | $123M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +73.0% | +58.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.2% | +7.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -9.6% | +4.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.4% | +12.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.2% | -12.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.1% | -9.8% |
Valuation Metrics
At 8.2x trailing earnings, GETY trades at a 39% valuation discount to SSTK's 13.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SSTK's 3.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GETY's 6.4x.
| Metric | GETYGetty Images Hold… | SSTKShutterstock, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $321M | $690M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.6B | $645M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 8.16x | 13.44x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.14x | 8.95x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.42x | 3.21x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.34x | 0.70x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.45x | 1.05x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.27x | 5.57x |
Profitability & Efficiency
SSTK delivers a 7.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $8 in annual profit, vs $-13 for GETY. SSTK carries lower financial leverage with a 0.23x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to GETY's 1.89x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SSTK scores 8/9 vs GETY's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | GETYGetty Images Hold… | SSTKShutterstock, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -13.3% | +7.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -3.5% | +3.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.9% | +13.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.4% | +15.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.89x | 0.23x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.2B | -$44M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $121M | $178M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.4B | $134M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.75x | 5.94x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in SSTK five years ago would be worth $2,488 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $739 for GETY. Over the past 12 months, SSTK leads with a -15.7% total return vs GETY's -63.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SSTK at -35.3% vs GETY's -50.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | GETYGetty Images Hold… | SSTKShutterstock, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -40.6% | -10.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -63.6% | -15.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -87.9% | -72.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -92.6% | -75.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -92.3% | -25.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -50.5% | -35.3% |
Risk & Volatility
SSTK is the less volatile stock with a 1.38 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. SSTK currently trades 56.9% 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… | SSTKShutterstock, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.54x | 1.38x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $3.21 | $29.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.67 | $14.35 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +24.2% | +56.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 32.0 | 46.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.3M | 202K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GETY as "Hold" and SSTK as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 744.5% upside for GETY (target: $7) vs 298.8% for SSTK (target: $67). SSTK is the only dividend payer here at 7.64% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | GETYGetty Images Hold… | SSTKShutterstock, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $6.57 | $67.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 18 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +7.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.28 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Sep 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getty Images Holdin… (GETY) | 100 | 13.07 | -86.9% |
| Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) | 100 | 37.64 | -62.4% |
Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) returned -75% over 5 years vs Getty Images Holdin… (GETY)'s -93%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getty Images Holdin… (GETY) | $815M | $939M | +15.2% |
| Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) | $494M | $990M | +100.3% |
Shutterstock, Inc.'s revenue grew from $494M (2016) to $990M (2025) — a 8.0% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getty Images Holdin… (GETY) | -4.6% | 4.2% | +192.3% |
| Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) | 6.6% | 4.6% | -30.4% |
Shutterstock, Inc.'s net margin went from 7% (2016) to 5% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getty Images Holdin… (GETY) | 70.7 | 22.7 | -67.9% |
| Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) | 91.6 | 15.3 | -83.3% |
Getty Images Holdings, Inc. has traded in a 23x–112x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~8x. Shutterstock, Inc. has traded in a 15x–92x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~13x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getty Images Holdin… (GETY) | -0.32 | 0.1 | +129.8% |
| Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) | 0.91 | 1.25 | +37.4% |
Shutterstock, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.91 (2016) to $1.25 (2025) — a 4% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Getty Images Holdings, Inc. generated $61M FCF in 2024 (-56% vs 2021). Shutterstock, Inc. generated $124M FCF in 2025 (-31% vs 2021).
GETY vs SSTK: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GETY or SSTK 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 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.
02Which has the better valuation — GETY or SSTK?
On trailing P/E, Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (GETY) is the cheapest at 8.2x versus Shutterstock, Inc. at 13.4x. On forward P/E, Getty Images Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7.1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — GETY or SSTK?
Over the past 5 years, Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) delivered a total return of -75.1%, compared to -92.6% for Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (GETY). A $10,000 investment in SSTK five years ago would be worth approximately $2K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SSTK returned -25.8% 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 SSTK?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) is the lower-risk stock at 1.38β versus Getty Images Holdings, Inc.'s 1.54β — meaning GETY is approximately 11% more volatile than SSTK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 23% versus 189% for Getty Images Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — GETY or SSTK?
Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) is the more profitable company, earning 4.6% net margin versus 4.2% for Getty Images Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 4.6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GETY leads at 19.2% versus 11.1% for SSTK. 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 SSTK more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (GETY) trades at 7.1x forward P/E versus 9.0x for Shutterstock, Inc. — 1.8x 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 SSTK?
In this comparison, SSTK (7.6% yield) pays a dividend. GETY does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is GETY or SSTK better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (7.6% yield). 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 (SSTK: -25.8%, 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 SSTK?
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. SSTK pays a dividend while GETY does 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.
- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Gross Margin > 35%
- Dividend Yield > 3.0%