Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) vs Autohome Inc. (ATHM) 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 | SSTK | 5.8% revenue growth vs ATHM's -2.0% |
| Value | SSTK | Lower P/E (9.0x vs 11.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | ATHM | 23.6% net margin vs SSTK's 4.6% |
| Stability / Safety | ATHM | Beta 0.64 vs SSTK's 1.38, lower leverage |
| Dividends | SSTK | 7.6% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs ATHM's 9.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SSTK | -15.7% vs ATHM's -27.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ATHM | 5.6% ROA vs SSTK's 3.4%, ROIC 3.4% vs 13.1% |
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
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.
Autohome operates China's leading online automotive content and transaction platform, connecting car buyers with automakers and dealers. It generates revenue primarily through media services — automaker advertising and regional marketing campaigns — and leads generation services — dealer subscriptions and advertising — with additional income from its Autohome Mall transaction platform and commissions on auto-financing and insurance products. The company's moat lies in its dominant market position as China's most visited automotive website, creating a powerful network effect where more consumers attract more dealers and automakers, which in turn draws more consumers.
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
ATHM leads in 2 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Risk & Volatility). SSTK leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 3 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
ATHM is the larger business by revenue, generating $6.8B annually — 6.8x SSTK's $990M. ATHM is the more profitable business, keeping 23.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SSTK's 4.6%. On growth, ATHM holds the edge at -0.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SSTKShutterstock, Inc. | ATHMAutohome Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $990M | $6.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $130M | $906M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $45M | $1.6B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $123M | $0 |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +58.9% | +72.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.9% | +12.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.6% | +23.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +12.4% | +17.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -12.0% | -0.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.8% | -119.9% |
Valuation Metrics
At 9.9x trailing earnings, ATHM trades at a 26% valuation discount to SSTK's 13.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SSTK's 3.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ATHM's 49.3x.
| Metric | SSTKShutterstock, Inc. | ATHMAutohome Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $690M | $9.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $645M | $9.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 13.44x | 9.89x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.95x | 11.49x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 3.21x | 49.25x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.70x | 8.96x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.05x | 0.64x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.57x | 51.14x |
Profitability & Efficiency
SSTK delivers a 7.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $8 in annual profit, vs $6 for ATHM. ATHM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SSTK's 0.23x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SSTK scores 8/9 vs ATHM's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SSTKShutterstock, Inc. | ATHMAutohome Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.8% | +6.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.4% | +5.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +13.1% | +3.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +15.6% | +3.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.23x | 0.00x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$44M | -$1.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $178M | $1.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $134M | $97M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 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 $2,138 for ATHM. Over the past 12 months, SSTK leads with a -15.7% total return vs ATHM's -27.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ATHM at -7.2% vs SSTK's -35.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SSTKShutterstock, Inc. | ATHMAutohome Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -10.1% | -15.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -15.7% | -27.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -72.9% | -20.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -75.1% | -78.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -25.8% | +11.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -35.3% | -7.2% |
Risk & Volatility
ATHM is the less volatile stock with a 0.64 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SSTK's 1.38 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ATHM currently trades 60.9% from its 52-week high vs SSTK's 56.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SSTKShutterstock, Inc. | ATHMAutohome Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.38x | 0.64x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $29.50 | $31.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $14.35 | $19.08 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +56.9% | +60.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 46.7 | 30.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 202K | 368K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SSTK as "Hold" and ATHM as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 298.8% upside for SSTK (target: $67) vs 127.7% for ATHM (target: $44). For income investors, ATHM offers the higher dividend yield at 9.25% vs SSTK's 7.64%.
| Metric | SSTKShutterstock, Inc. | ATHMAutohome Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $67.00 | $43.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 18 | 22 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +7.6% | +9.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 5 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.28 | $12.17 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.4% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) | 100 | 51.6 | -48.4% |
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | 100 | 26.7 | -73.3% |
Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) returned -75% over 5 years vs Autohome Inc. (ATHM)'s -79%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) | $494M | $990M | +100.3% |
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | $6.0B | $7.0B | +18.1% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) | 6.6% | 4.6% | -30.4% |
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | 20.6% | 25.5% | +23.6% |
Shutterstock, Inc.'s net margin went from 7% (2016) to 5% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) | 91.6 | 15.3 | -83.3% |
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | 3.8 | 1.9 | -50.0% |
Shutterstock, Inc. has traded in a 15x–92x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~13x. Autohome Inc. has traded in a 0x–4x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~10x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) | 0.91 | 1.25 | +37.4% |
| Autohome Inc. (ATHM) | 10.58 | 13.31 | +25.8% |
Shutterstock, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.91 (2016) to $1.25 (2025) — a 4% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Shutterstock, Inc. generated $124M FCF in 2025 (-31% vs 2021). Autohome Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2024 (-63% vs 2021).
SSTK vs ATHM: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SSTK or ATHM a better buy right now?
Autohome Inc. (ATHM) offers the better valuation at 9.9x trailing P/E (11.5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Autohome Inc. (ATHM) a "Buy" — based on 22 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 — SSTK or ATHM?
On trailing P/E, Autohome Inc. (ATHM) is the cheapest at 9.9x versus Shutterstock, Inc. at 13.4x. On forward P/E, Shutterstock, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9.0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SSTK or ATHM?
Over the past 5 years, Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) delivered a total return of -75.1%, compared to -78.6% for Autohome Inc. (ATHM). 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: ATHM returned +11.4% versus SSTK's -25.8%. 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 — SSTK or ATHM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Autohome Inc. (ATHM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.64β versus Shutterstock, Inc.'s 1.38β — meaning SSTK is approximately 118% more volatile than ATHM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Autohome Inc. (ATHM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 23% for Shutterstock, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — SSTK or ATHM?
Autohome Inc. (ATHM) is the more profitable company, earning 25.5% net margin versus 4.6% for Shutterstock, Inc. — meaning it keeps 25.5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ATHM leads at 14.3% versus 11.1% for SSTK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ATHM leads at 78.9%, 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 SSTK or ATHM more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) trades at 9.0x forward P/E versus 11.5x for Autohome Inc. — 2.5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SSTK: 298.8% to $67.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — SSTK or ATHM?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Autohome Inc. (ATHM) offers the highest yield at 9.3%, versus 7.6% for Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK).
08Is SSTK or ATHM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Autohome Inc. (ATHM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.64), 9.3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ATHM: +11.4%, SSTK: -25.8%), 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 SSTK and ATHM?
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.
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- Net Margin > 14%
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