Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) vs Groupon, Inc. (GRPN) 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 GRPN's -4.3% |
| Value | SSTK | Lower P/E (9.0x vs 16.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | SSTK | 4.6% net margin vs GRPN's -28.5% |
| Stability / Safety | GRPN | Beta 1.10 vs SSTK's 1.38 |
| Dividends | SSTK | 7.6% yield; 5-year raise streak; GRPN pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | GRPN | +13.5% vs SSTK's -15.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SSTK | 3.4% ROA vs GRPN's -23.3%, ROIC 13.1% vs 8.1% |
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.
Groupon operates an online marketplace that connects consumers with local merchants offering deals and discounts. It makes money primarily by taking a commission — typically 30-50% — on each deal sold through its platform, with additional revenue from direct sales of first-party inventory. The company's key advantage is its established network of millions of users and thousands of local merchants, creating a two-sided marketplace that's difficult for new entrants 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
SSTK leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Financial Metrics and Valuation Metrics. 2 categories are tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
SSTK is the larger business by revenue, generating $990M annually — 2.0x GRPN's $496M. SSTK is the more profitable business, keeping 4.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to GRPN's -28.5%. On growth, GRPN holds the edge at +7.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SSTKShutterstock, Inc. | GRPNGroupon, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $990M | $496M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $130M | $41M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $45M | -$142M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $123M | $60M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +58.9% | +90.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.9% | +4.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.6% | -28.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +12.4% | +12.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -12.0% | +7.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.8% | -10.4% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, SSTK's 3.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GRPN's 16.8x.
| Metric | SSTKShutterstock, Inc. | GRPNGroupon, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $690M | $644M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $645M | $668M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 13.44x | -8.36x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.95x | 16.68x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 3.21x | 16.84x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.70x | 1.31x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.05x | 12.04x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.57x | 16.12x |
Profitability & Efficiency
SSTK delivers a 7.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $8 in annual profit, vs $-160 for GRPN. SSTK carries lower financial leverage with a 0.23x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to GRPN's 6.16x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SSTK scores 8/9 vs GRPN's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SSTKShutterstock, Inc. | GRPNGroupon, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.8% | -159.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.4% | -23.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +13.1% | +8.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +15.6% | +3.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.23x | 6.16x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$44M | $24M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $178M | $229M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $134M | $253M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.94x | -6.09x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in SSTK five years ago would be worth $2,488 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,194 for GRPN. Over the past 12 months, GRPN leads with a +13.5% total return vs SSTK's -15.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GRPN at 18.9% vs SSTK's -35.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SSTKShutterstock, Inc. | GRPNGroupon, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -10.1% | -27.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -15.7% | +13.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -72.9% | +68.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -75.1% | -78.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -25.8% | -86.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -35.3% | +18.9% |
Risk & Volatility
GRPN is the less volatile stock with a 1.10 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. SSTK currently trades 56.9% from its 52-week high vs GRPN's 29.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SSTKShutterstock, Inc. | GRPNGroupon, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.38x | 1.10x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $29.50 | $43.08 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $14.35 | $9.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +56.9% | +29.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 46.7 | 42.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 202K | 848K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SSTK as "Hold" and GRPN as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 298.8% upside for SSTK (target: $67) vs 100.1% for GRPN (target: $25). SSTK is the only dividend payer here at 7.64% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | SSTKShutterstock, Inc. | GRPNGroupon, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $67.00 | $25.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 18 | 46 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +7.6% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 5 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.28 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) | 100 | 51.6 | -48.4% |
| Groupon, Inc. (GRPN) | 100 | 55.42 | -44.6% |
Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) returned -75% over 5 years vs Groupon, Inc. (GRPN)'s -78%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) | $494M | $990M | +100.3% |
| Groupon, Inc. (GRPN) | $3.1B | $493M | -84.3% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) | 6.6% | 4.6% | -30.4% |
| Groupon, Inc. (GRPN) | -6.2% | -12.0% | -93.6% |
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% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) | 0.91 | 1.25 | +37.4% |
| Groupon, Inc. (GRPN) | -6.75 | -1.51 | +77.6% |
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). Groupon, Inc. generated $40M FCF in 2024 (+123% vs 2021).
SSTK vs GRPN: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SSTK or GRPN a better buy right now?
Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) offers the better valuation at 13.4x trailing P/E (9.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) a "Hold" — based on 18 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 GRPN?
On forward P/E, Shutterstock, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9.0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SSTK or GRPN?
Over the past 5 years, Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) delivered a total return of -75.1%, compared to -78.1% for Groupon, Inc. (GRPN). 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 GRPN's -86.8%. 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 GRPN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Groupon, Inc. (GRPN) is the lower-risk stock at 1.10β versus Shutterstock, Inc.'s 1.38β — meaning SSTK is approximately 26% more volatile than GRPN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 23% versus 6% for Groupon, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — SSTK or GRPN?
Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) is the more profitable company, earning 4.6% net margin versus -12.0% for Groupon, Inc. — meaning it keeps 4.6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SSTK leads at 11.1% versus 1.8% for GRPN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GRPN leads at 90.2%, 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 GRPN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) trades at 9.0x forward P/E versus 16.7x for Groupon, Inc. — 7.7x 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 GRPN?
In this comparison, SSTK (7.6% yield) pays a dividend. GRPN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is SSTK or GRPN 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). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SSTK: -25.8%, GRPN: -86.8%), 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 GRPN?
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. In terms of investment character: SSTK is a small-cap deep-value stock; GRPN is a small-cap quality compounder stock. SSTK pays a dividend while GRPN 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.
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- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Gross Margin > 35%
- Dividend Yield > 3.0%
- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Revenue Growth > 5%
- Gross Margin > 54%