SSTK vs CSGP vs ADBE vs Z

For growth investors, CoStar Group, Inc.

(CSGP) is the stronger pick with 18. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 8% for Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK). Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) offers the better valuation at 13. 6x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CoStar Group, Inc. (CSGP) a "Buy" — based on 25 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 CoStar Group, Inc. at 2107. 2x. On forward P/E, Adobe Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Adobe Inc.

(ADBE) delivered a total return of -47. 5%, compared to -73. 5% for Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ADBE returned +171. 1% 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), Adobe Inc.

(ADBE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 74β versus Shutterstock, Inc. 's 1. 48β — meaning SSTK is approximately 100% more volatile than ADBE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Zillow Group, Inc. Class C (Z) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 11% versus 57% for Adobe Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CoStar Group, Inc.

(CSGP) is pulling ahead at 18. 7% versus 5. 8% for Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Zillow Group, Inc. Class C grew EPS 118. 9% year-over-year, compared to -95. 1% for CoStar Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CSGP leads at 14. 2% 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.

Adobe Inc.

(ADBE) is the more profitable company, earning 30. 0% net margin versus 0. 2% for CoStar Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 30. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ADBE leads at 36. 6% versus -2. 2% for CSGP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ADBE leads at 88. 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, Adobe Inc.

(ADBE) trades at 10. 9x forward P/E versus 25. 8x for CoStar Group, Inc. — 14. 9x 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) pays a dividend. CSGP, ADBE, Z do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Adobe Inc.

(ADBE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 74), +171. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ADBE: +171. 1%, Z: +64. 9%), 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 (SSTK (Communication Services) and CSGP (Real Estate) and ADBE (Technology) and Z (Communication Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: SSTK is a small-cap deep-value stock; CSGP is a mid-cap high-growth stock; ADBE is a mid-cap deep-value stock; Z is a mid-cap high-growth stock. SSTK pays a dividend while CSGP, ADBE, Z 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.