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Getty Images Holdings (GETY)
NYSE:GETY
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Getty Images Holdings (GETY) AI Stock Analysis

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GETY

Getty Images Holdings

(NYSE:GETY)

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Neutral 54 (OpenAI - 5.2)
,
Neutral 54 (OpenAI - 5.2)
,
Neutral 54 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:54Neutral
Price Target:
$0.78
▲(1.97% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:03/17/26
The score is driven primarily by mixed financial performance: strong gross margins and improved leverage are offset by a 2025 loss and ongoing earnings volatility. Earnings-call takeaways add modest support from strong operating results, but are held back by weak free cash flow, high debt/interest expense, and softer near-term (reported) guidance. Valuation is a relative positive with a low P/E, while technicals are near-neutral due to missing indicator data.
Positive Factors
High gross margins
Sustained gross margins near 72–73% indicate durable pricing power and an efficient content licensing cost structure. That high gross profitability gives Getty structural ability to absorb SG&A, invest in product and content, and maintain profitability even if revenue growth slows.
Material deleveraging
Meaningful reduction in total debt and a fall to ~1.3x debt/equity materially improves financial flexibility. Lower leverage reduces refinancing and interest-rate vulnerability, enabling more predictable interest costs and greater capacity to fund strategic investments or absorb merger-related expenses.
Large multiyear licensing wins
Multiyear licensing deals provide recurring, contractually backed revenue and improve visibility. The Q4 deals that generated ~$40M of recognized revenue demonstrate the firm's ability to win sizable long-term customers, supporting durable topline predictability and downstream revenue streams.
Negative Factors
Earnings volatility
A swing to a sizable 2025 net loss highlights persistent profitability volatility despite strong gross margins. Variable operating results and negative ROE weaken shareholder returns, complicate capital allocation, and make multi-quarter planning and sustained investment programs more uncertain.
Free cash flow compression
A collapse in free cash flow from $60.9M to $5.7M reflects higher cash interest, merger/refinancing outflows, and one-offs, reducing liquidity cushion. Lower FCF constrains reinvestment, debt paydown, and strategic flexibility, increasing sensitivity to further margin or revenue shocks.
UK merger regulatory risk
An ongoing CMA Phase 2 review and consultation on remedies creates material execution risk for the Shutterstock merger. Potential remedies, delays, or adverse outcomes could reduce expected synergies, raise costs, and prolong strategic uncertainty for multiple months, impacting long-term plans.

Getty Images Holdings (GETY) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Getty Images Holdings Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionGetty Images Holdings, Inc. operates as a visual content creator and marketplace in the United States and internationally. It maintains privately-owned photographic archives covering approximately 160,000 news, sport, and entertainment events, as well as variety of subjects, including lifestyle, business, science, health and beauty, sports, transportation, and travel under the Getty Images, iStock, and Unsplash brands. The company also provides music licensing, and digital asset management and distribution services; and sells wall décor products. It serves largest enterprises, smallest businesses, and individual creators. The company was founded in 1995 and is based in Seattle, Washington.
How the Company Makes MoneyGetty Images makes money primarily by licensing visual content to customers for use in marketing, advertising, publishing, and digital media. Key revenue streams include: - Creative content licensing: Fees paid by customers to license commercial (non-editorial) photos, illustrations, and videos for advertising and marketing uses. Licensing may be sold via subscription plans (prepaid access/quotas over a period) and on-demand purchases (single-asset or pack-style transactions), depending on product. - Editorial content licensing: Fees for licensing imagery and video tied to news, sports, and entertainment for editorial use by publishers and broadcasters, typically priced based on usage terms such as distribution, duration, and placement. - Footage and video licensing: Licensing of video clips (both creative and editorial), including higher-value footage used in commercials and productions. - Contributor content and marketplace economics: A substantial portion of the library is supplied by third-party photographers/videographers (contributors). Getty Images earns revenue from customer license fees and pays contributors royalties according to contractual terms; the company’s gross profit depends on pricing, sales mix, and royalty rates. - Enterprise and platform solutions: Revenue from services and tools that support business customers (e.g., brand/asset management workflows, custom content solutions, and licensing programs designed for large organizations). Specific product names/terms beyond this high-level category are null. Significant factors contributing to earnings: - Brand portfolio and distribution: The Getty Images and iStock brands target different customer segments and price points (premium vs. value-oriented), supporting diversified demand. - Content library scale and exclusivity: A large catalog (including archival and event coverage) can support repeat licensing and premium pricing where content is differentiated. - Partnerships and integrations: Distribution partnerships and platform integrations that embed Getty content into customer workflows can drive volume and recurring licensing. Specific named partnerships are null.

Getty Images Holdings Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Mar 16, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
Next Earnings Date:May 07, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The call highlights a strong operating quarter and record full‑year revenue with notable margin expansion, large multiyear licensing wins, product progress, and growth in several subscription and editorial areas. However, material weaknesses remain in cash flow and balance sheet metrics (significantly lower free cash flow, elevated interest expense, and $2.01B of debt with 4.0x leverage), a meaningful decline in active annual subscribers tied to the termination of a free‑trial program, continued agency weakness (notably in APAC), and near‑term guidance pressured by the timing of large deal revenue recognition and regulatory uncertainty around the merger. Overall the positive operating and profitability achievements are largely offset by balance sheet and cash‑flow concerns and near‑term guidance headwinds tied to timing, resulting in a balanced view.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Full-Year Revenue
FY2025 revenue of $981.3M, a company record, up 4.5% year‑over‑year (3.8% currency‑neutral).
Strong Q4 Top-Line Growth
Q4 2025 revenue of $282.3M, up 14.1% year‑over‑year (12.7% currency‑neutral).
Robust Profitability and Margins
Adjusted EBITDA of $320.9M for FY2025 (up 6.9% reported; 5.8% cc) with a margin of 32.7%. Q4 adjusted EBITDA of $104.1M, up 29.1% (27.2% cc) with a 36.9% margin.
High Adjusted EBITDA Less CapEx Growth
Q4 adjusted EBITDA less CapEx of $91.1M, up 39.1% (38.3% cc); Q4 adjusted EBITDA less CapEx margin 32.3% vs 26.5% prior‑year.
Large Multiyear Licensing Deals
Two significant multiyear licensing agreements recognized ~$40M of revenue in Q4 (total deal value ~ $65M). Cash impact: ~$15M in 2025, ~$20M in 2026, remainder spread over term; these deals add recurring downstream revenue.
Subscription and Product Growth
Unsplash Plus grew >30% to over 50,000 subscribers; custom content grew >20%. Excluding the Q4 accelerated deals, annual subscription revenue mix was 56.6% (up from 54.9% prior year). Premium Access up 4.1% in Q4 (5.3% cc).
Positive Geographic & Editorial Performance
Americas revenue up 20.8% in Q4 (cc), EMEA up 6.1% (Q4 cc). Editorial revenue Q4 $109.4M, up 21.4% (19.9% cc); assignments up 20.1% (18.3% cc).
Operational & Products Momentum
Showcased workflows at Milano Cortina Olympics (captured and distributed >6,000,000 images). Continued product investment: natural language search being extended from creative to editorial with promising tests.
Cost Discipline
SG&A rate decreased to 39.5% of revenue in Q4 (from 42.7%) and adjusted SG&A to 37.9% of revenue (from 40.9%), reflecting leverage on stronger revenue.
Negative Updates
Agency Business Weakness
Agency revenue remained challenged; creative agency declined 16% in Q4 and contributed to APAC weakness.
Decline in Active Annual Subscribers
Active annual subscribers fell to 278,000 (Q4 LTM) from 314,000 prior year, a decline of ~11.5%, primarily due to discontinuation of the free trial acquisition program in June 2025.
Subscription Retention Step‑Back
Annual subscription revenue retention rate declined to 89.9% from 92.9% year‑over‑year (a ~3.0 percentage point decline), driven by fewer one‑off event spends and mix impact from smaller ecommerce subscriptions.
Free Cash Flow Compression
FY2025 free cash flow dropped to $5.7M from $60.9M in 2024. Q4 free cash flow was $7.7M vs $24.6M prior‑year, reflecting higher cash interest and merger/refinancing cash outflows.
Higher Interest Expense and Elevated Debt
Q4 cash interest expense was $45.1M (up $22.4M year‑over‑year). Total debt outstanding $2.01B and net leverage ~4.0x. Estimated cash interest for 2026 is ~$188M.
Balance Sheet & Liquidity Impact
Cash balance of $90.2M at year‑end, down $31.0M YoY; merger‑related costs of ~$45.7M and refinancing fees of ~$36.4M contributed to the decline. Undrawn revolver of $150M leaves total liquidity ~$240.2M.
2026 Guidance Impacted by Revenue Timing
2026 revenue guidance $948M–$988M (-3.4% to +0.6% YoY) and adjusted EBITDA guidance $279M–$295M (down 12.9% to 8.1%), primarily due to accelerated Q4 2025 revenue recognition from the large deals creating tough comps.
Regulatory Uncertainty Around Merger
Transaction cleared in all jurisdictions except the UK; the CMA extended review timeline (decision expected June), creating timing uncertainty and prompting proposed remedies.
Regional Headwinds in APAC
APAC revenue down 13% in Q4, driven primarily by agency challenges.
Company Guidance
Getty Images' 2026 guidance calls for revenue of $948.0M–$988.0M (a change of -3.4% to +0.6% year‑over‑year; currency‑neutral -4.5% to +0.5%) and adjusted EBITDA of $279.0M–$295.0M (a decline of 12.9% to 8.1% year‑over‑year; currency‑neutral -13.9% to -9.1%), using FX assumptions of EUR 1.17 and GBP 1.34 (implying an $11.2M revenue tailwind in 2026, about $7.5M in Q1, and roughly a $3.6M adjusted EBITDA tailwind in 2026, about $2.2M in Q1). Management says the anticipated decline is entirely due to timing (Q4 2025 included $40.0M of accelerated revenue from two large multiyear licensing deals); excluding that $40.0M, 2026 revenue would be +0.7% to +4.9% YoY (or -0.5% to +3.7% currency‑neutral) and adjusted EBITDA would be -2.4% to +2.9% YoY (or -3.6% to +1.7% currency‑neutral). The outlook includes approximately $5.6M of one‑off SG&A for SOX acceleration, excludes other merger‑related costs, and notes that broader macro risks remain.

Getty Images Holdings Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Financials are mixed: consistently strong gross margins (~72–73%) and improved leverage from sharply reduced debt support the score, but earnings volatility is a major drag (swing to a sizable 2025 net loss and negative ROE). Cash generation has been positive with a 2025 rebound in operating/free cash flow, though coverage versus obligations weakened and earnings-to-cash quality diverged.
Income Statement
44
Neutral
Revenue has been relatively stable with modest growth (2025 annual revenue up ~3.7% after low growth in 2024 and a slight decline in 2023). Gross margins are consistently strong (~72–73%), suggesting solid pricing power and cost structure. However, profitability is volatile: net income swung from a profit in 2023–2024 to a sizable loss in 2025 (about -21% net margin), and operating profitability also softened materially versus 2024. Overall, strong gross profitability is outweighed by inconsistent bottom-line performance.
Balance Sheet
52
Neutral
Leverage has improved meaningfully: total debt declined sharply in 2025 and debt relative to equity improved to ~1.3x from ~2.0–2.7x in 2022–2024 (and much higher in 2020–2021). Equity has also grown versus earlier years, supporting a healthier capital structure. The main concern is returns to shareholders: return on equity turned sharply negative in 2025 following modestly positive results in 2023–2024, indicating earnings volatility remains a key risk despite the deleveraging progress.
Cash Flow
61
Positive
The business remains cash-generative: 2025 produced positive operating cash flow (~$65M) and free cash flow at a similar level, with a very strong year-over-year free cash flow rebound. Cash flow has also been consistently positive across the period shown. Offsetting this, cash generation relative to obligations appears weaker in 2025 versus prior years (coverage fell versus 2021–2024), and the sharp 2025 net loss highlights a widening gap between earnings and cash flow quality in the current year.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue981.29M939.29M916.55M926.24M918.69M
Gross Profit719.98M686.22M666.31M671.25M670.54M
EBITDA83.92M279.66M178.42M176.93M358.75M
Net Income-206.12M39.53M19.34M-77.55M117.07M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets3.24B2.56B2.60B2.47B2.58B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments90.18M121.17M142.31M97.91M186.30M
Total Debt720.03M1.35B1.45B1.49B1.76B
Total Liabilities2.64B1.85B1.92B1.88B2.88B
Stockholders Equity552.54M670.20M633.23M545.08M338.61M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow65.19M60.87M75.72M103.83M139.57M
Operating Cash Flow65.19M118.32M132.72M163.12M188.89M
Investing Cash Flow-59.52M-72.49M-57.00M-61.29M-136.93M
Financing Cash Flow576.17M-56.22M-45.35M-184.35M-19.27M

Getty Images Holdings Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price0.76
Price Trends
50DMA
1.05
Negative
100DMA
1.31
Negative
200DMA
1.59
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.07
Negative
RSI
47.74
Neutral
STOCH
30.61
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For GETY, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 0.76 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 0.78, below the 50-day MA of 1.05, and below the 200-day MA of 1.59, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.07 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 47.74 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 30.61 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for GETY.

Getty Images Holdings Risk Analysis

Getty Images Holdings disclosed 59 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Getty Images Holdings reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Getty Images Holdings Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
74
Outperform
$573.95M9.8354.21%57.83%293.63%
65
Neutral
$600.38M14.827.88%7.14%13.06%66.19%
64
Neutral
$405.14M34.175.27%12.68%133.00%
60
Neutral
$48.67B4.58-11.27%4.14%2.83%-41.78%
55
Neutral
$623.67M28.43-477.82%64.86%-112.92%
54
Neutral
$355.73M-1.53-34.48%3.10%-264.21%
51
Neutral
$589.34M-14.97-12.56%6.65%50.32%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
GETY
Getty Images Holdings
0.85
-1.41
-62.35%
SSTK
Shutterstock
16.89
-1.09
-6.07%
EVER
EverQuote
15.93
-10.53
-39.80%
FVRR
Fiverr International
10.99
-14.23
-56.42%
MAX
MediaAlpha
9.67
0.18
1.90%
NXDR
Nextdoor Holdings
1.52
-0.13
-7.88%

Getty Images Holdings Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyM&A TransactionsRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Getty Images Gains Key U.S. Merger Clearance Milestone
Positive
Feb 23, 2026

On February 23, 2026, Getty Images and Shutterstock announced that the U.S. Department of Justice had concluded its review of their proposed merger of equals and allowed the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period to expire without conditions. The unconditional clearance marks a key regulatory milestone that strengthens the deal’s prospects and supports the companies’ plans to combine resources to bolster their financial footing and service offering.

The firms expect the merger to generate substantial cost and investment synergies across SG&A and capital expenditures once completed, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape in the visual content and creative services market. However, the transaction still faces regulatory scrutiny in the U.K., where the Competition and Markets Authority is conducting a Phase 2 review and is due to issue its final decision by April 19, leaving investors and other stakeholders focused on the remaining approval risk.

The most recent analyst rating on (GETY) stock is a Hold with a $0.85 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Getty Images Holdings stock, see the GETY Stock Forecast page.

M&A TransactionsRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Getty Images addresses UK review of Shutterstock merger
Neutral
Feb 19, 2026

On February 19, 2026, Getty Images issued a statement responding to the UK Competition and Markets Authority’s interim report on its proposed merger with Shutterstock Inc. The company welcomed the regulator’s provisional view that the deal is unlikely to harm competition in the global stock content market, underscoring regulatory support for consolidation in that segment.

However, Getty Images said it was disappointed with the CMA’s provisional finding that the merger could substantially lessen competition in the UK editorial market and argued that this assessment does not reflect local market dynamics or customer alternatives. The company said it would continue to engage with the CMA within the regulator’s timetable and noted that it is also cooperating with the U.S. Department of Justice as that agency’s review of the merger proceeds.

The most recent analyst rating on (GETY) stock is a Hold with a $1.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Getty Images Holdings stock, see the GETY Stock Forecast page.

Financial DisclosuresLegal Proceedings
Getty Images Appeals Court Ruling Upholds Warrant Damages
Negative
Jan 16, 2026

On October 27, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York entered judgment against Getty Images Holdings in litigation brought by Alta Partners and CRCM Institutional Master Fund over the treatment of certain public warrants, awarding approximately $36.9 million in damages to Alta and $51.0 million to CRCM, plus pre-judgment interest, while ruling in Getty Images’ favor on other claims involving additional warrants Alta bought later in the market. On January 15, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the lower court’s decision in all respects, leaving the damages award intact; Getty Images had already recorded a litigation loss in 2023 and set up a reserve covering the full amount of the judgment and related interest, limiting additional financial impact but underscoring ongoing legal and financial scrutiny around its warrant-related obligations.

The most recent analyst rating on (GETY) stock is a Hold with a $1.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Getty Images Holdings stock, see the GETY Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Mar 17, 2026