Compare Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) vs Zillow Group, Inc. Class C (Z) Stock

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.

On trailing P/E, Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) is the cheapest at 13.4x versus Zillow Group, Inc. Class C at 495.8x. On forward P/E, Shutterstock, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9.0x.

Over the past 5 years, Zillow Group, Inc. Class C (Z) delivered a total return of -73.3%, compared to -75.1% for Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK). A $10,000 investment in Z five years ago would be worth approximately $3K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: Z returned +106.6% 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.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Zillow Group, Inc. Class C (Z) is the lower-risk stock at 1.12β versus Shutterstock, Inc.'s 1.38β — meaning SSTK is approximately 24% more volatile than Z relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Zillow Group, Inc. Class C (Z) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 23% for Shutterstock, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) is the more profitable company, earning 4.6% net margin versus 0.9% for Zillow Group, Inc. Class C — 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 -1.3% for Z. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — Z leads at 74.1%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) trades at 9.0x forward P/E versus 20.4x for Zillow Group, Inc. Class C — 11.4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SSTK: 298.8% to $67.00.

In this comparison, SSTK (7.6% yield) pays a dividend. Z does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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%, Z: +106.6%), 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. In terms of investment character: SSTK is a small-cap deep-value stock; Z is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. SSTK pays a dividend while Z 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.