Shutterstock Reports Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Subscribers fell to 890,000 from 1,060,000, while average revenue per customer over the last twelve months rose to $289 from $279.

Rhea-AI Summary

Shutterstock (NYSE: SSTK) reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of $173.9 million, down from the same quarter a year earlier. Revenue fell 33%, with Content down 19% and Data, Distribution, and Services down 76%. Net loss was $197.8 million, or $5.35 per diluted share, versus net income of $13.4 million, or $0.37 per diluted share. The loss included a $195.6 million non-cash, after-tax goodwill impairment charge.

Adjusted EBITDA, an adjusted earnings measure, fell 47% to $41.8 million. Product Development and SG&A expenses fell 30% to $96 million. The company said it remains on target for $60 million in annualized operating expense reductions. Cash ended September at $110.5 million, down $22.7 million from June. Scott Grossman became interim CFO immediately; Rik Powell left the CFO role immediately and will leave the company November 13, 2026.

5 points · 0 major

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2 major · 22 points

Hollow bars mark forward-looking points. How the balance works

Positive

• Moderate pointProduct Development and SG&A expenses fell 30% year over year to $96 million.
• Moderate point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Operating expense reductions remain on target for $60 million annualized, the company said.
• Moderate pointRevolving credit facility repayments totaled $30.0 million in the third quarter. 19% of market cap
• Minor pointThird-quarter operating activities generated $18.3 million in net cash.
• Minor pointAverage revenue per customer over the last twelve months rose to $289 from $279.

Negative

• Major pointThird-quarter revenue fell 33% year over year to $173.9 million.
• Major pointNon-cash goodwill impairment totaled $203.3 million before tax, or $195.6 million after tax. 1.3× market cap
• Moderate pointAdjusted net income fell to $16.7 million from $36.4 million in third-quarter 2025.
• Moderate pointAdjusted EBITDA fell 47% to $41.8 million year over year.
• Moderate pointCash and cash equivalents fell $22.7 million to $110.5 million between June and September 2026.
• Moderate pointAdjusted free cash flow fell $62.7 million year over year to $12.5 million.
• Moderate pointSubscribers declined to 890,000 from 1,060,000 at the end of third-quarter 2025.
• Moderate pointThird-quarter paid downloads fell to 90.9 million from 111.7 million a year earlier.

14 minor points

• Minor pointContent revenue fell 19% to $158.1 million year over year, primarily reflecting weaker new customer acquisition.
• Minor pointData, Distribution, and Services revenue fell 76% to $15.8 million year over year.
• Minor pointThird-quarter net loss was $197.8 million, versus net income of $13.4 million a year earlier.
• Minor pointDiluted loss per share was $5.35, versus earnings of $0.37 in third-quarter 2025.
• Minor pointAdjusted diluted earnings per share fell to $0.45 from $0.99 in third-quarter 2025.
• Minor pointAdjusted EBITDA margin fell to 24.0% from 30.5% in third-quarter 2025.
• Minor pointThird-quarter subscriber revenue fell to $95.1 million from $107.2 million a year earlier.
• Minor pointNine-month subscriber revenue fell to $298.7 million from $325.0 million in 2025.
• Minor pointNine-month paid downloads fell to 293.7 million from 345.2 million in 2025.
• Minor pointWorkforce optimization expenses totaled $4.3 million in the third quarter.
• Minor pointStrategic advisory and other fees totaled $2.6 million in the third quarter.
• Minor pointProposed-merger costs totaled $0.5 million in the third quarter.
• Minor pointUnrealized losses on the Meitu investment totaled $0.4 million in the third quarter.
• Minor pointDeferred revenue declined by $8.6 million, weighing on third-quarter operating cash flow.

News Explained

Shutterstock says it recorded the third-quarter goodwill impairment after identifying a triggering event resulting from the impact of the dividend suspension announced July 22, 2026, linking the charge to that stated suspension impact.

Key Figures

Revenue: $173.9M, down 33% year over year Net loss: $197.8M Goodwill impairment: $195.6M non-cash, after-tax charge +5 more

Revenue

$173.9M, down 33% year over year

Q3 2026; compared with $260.1M in Q3 2025

Net loss

$197.8M

Q3 2026; compared with net income of $13.4M in Q3 2025

Goodwill impairment

$195.6M non-cash, after-tax charge

Included in Q3 2026 net loss

Adjusted EBITDA

$41.8M

Q3 2026; compared with $79.4M in Q3 2025

Adjusted net income

$16.7M

Q3 2026; compared with $36.4M in Q3 2025

Cash and cash equivalents

$110.5M

At September 30, 2026; compared with $133.2M at June 30, 2026

Product Development and SG&A expense reduction

30% year over year to $96M

Q3 2026; company reported $39M in quarterly savings

Annualized operating expense reductions

$60M

Management said it was on target to deliver the commitment made in its Q2 earnings announcement

Previous Earnings Reports

3 past events · Latest: Aug 04

Same Type 3 events

1. Aug 04

   Q2 earnings results

   24h Move

   +3.6%

   Revenue declined and a goodwill impairment drove a net loss; the company also reiterated its annualized cost-reduction target.

2. Apr 28

   Q1 earnings results

   24h Move

   -2.0%

   The company reported a quarterly net loss amid Content weakness and timing impacts in Data licensing.

3. Nov 05

   Q3 earnings results

   24h Move

   +5.5%

   Revenue and adjusted EBITDA rose year over year, although Content revenue declined.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

sg&a, goodwill impairment, non-gaap financial measures

3 terms

sg&a financial

"reduced third-quarter Product Development and SG&A expenses by 30%"

SG&A stands for Selling, General, and Administrative expenses. It includes the costs a company spends on selling products, running the business day-to-day, and managing staff, like advertising, rent, and salaries. These expenses matter because they affect how much profit a company can make from its sales.

goodwill impairment financial

"Net loss includes a $195.6 million non-cash, after-tax goodwill impairment charge."

Goodwill impairment occurs when a company’s valued reputation or brand strength, known as goodwill, is found to be worth less than previously recorded on its financial statements. This usually happens when the company's performance declines or market conditions change, signaling that the expected benefits from acquisitions or brand value are no longer as strong. It matters to investors because it can indicate that a company's assets are less valuable than initially thought, potentially affecting its overall financial health.

non-gaap financial measures financial

"referred to as non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted EBITDA"

Non-GAAP financial measures are numbers companies use to show their financial performance that exclude certain expenses or income. They help investors see how the company might perform without one-time costs or other unusual items, giving a different perspective from official reports. However, since they can be adjusted, they don’t always tell the full story and should be looked at alongside standard financial figures.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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NEW YORK, Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Shutterstock, Inc. (NYSE: SSTK) (the "Company"), a family of brands delivering scalable creative and GenAI solutions to help customers fuel great work, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026.

Commenting on the Company's performance, Jon Oringer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Shutterstock, said, "During the third quarter, we maintained a strong focus on operational discipline and cost management while navigating continued headwinds in our core Content segment and deal timing volatility in Data Licensing.

"We reduced third-quarter Product Development and SG&A expenses by 30% year-over-year to $96 million, representing $39 million in quarterly savings, while reducing total headcount by 16% year-to-date. Importantly, we are on target to deliver the $60 million in annualized run-rate operating expense reductions we committed to in our second-quarter earnings announcement. These actions strengthen our financial position and provide greater flexibility as we focus on the opportunities ahead.

"AI is fundamentally changing how creative content is produced and consumed, creating new opportunities for Shutterstock to build on its content library, data capabilities, and relationships across the creative ecosystem. With Hichame Assi as President and COO, we're bringing greater focus to operational performance and execution while continuing to invest in opportunities that we believe will build on our strategic assets and deliver greater value to customers and contributors. Together, we're focused on positioning Shutterstock for long-term growth".

Chief Financial Officer Transition

Shutterstock also announced that Rik Powell will depart from his role effective immediately and from the Company effective November 13, 2026. Scott Grossman, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Finance, will assume the role of Interim Chief Financial Officer effective immediately.

"I want to thank Rik for his leadership and contributions to Shutterstock, including stepping into the interim CEO role earlier this year," said Mr. Oringer. "We appreciate his commitment to the Company and wish him all the best."

Third Quarter 2026 highlights as compared to Third Quarter 2025:

     Financial Highlights

• Revenues were $173.9 million compared to $260.1 million.
• Net loss was $197.8 million compared to net income of $13.4 million.
  • Net loss includes a $195.6 million non-cash, after-tax goodwill impairment charge.
• Net loss per diluted common share was $5.35 compared to net income per diluted common share of $0.37.
• Adjusted net income was $16.7 million compared to $36.4 million.
• Adjusted net income per diluted common share was $0.45 compared to $0.99.
• Adjusted EBITDA was $41.8 million compared to $79.4 million.

THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

Revenue

Third quarter revenue of $173.9 million decreased by $86.2 million or 33% as compared to the third quarter of 2025.

Revenue from our Content product offering decreased by $36.4 million, or 19%, as compared to the third quarter of 2025, to $158.1 million. The reduction in our Content revenue was driven primarily by weakness in new customer acquisition. Content revenue represented 91% of our total revenue in the third quarter of 2026.

Revenue generated from our Data, Distribution, and Services product offering decreased by $49.8 million, or 76%, as compared to the third quarter of 2025, to $15.8 million, and represented 9% of third quarter revenue in 2026. Revenue recognition in our data offering may vary from quarter-to-quarter based on the delivery timing of metadata licensed assets.

Net (loss) / income and net (loss) / income per diluted common share

Net income decreased by $211.1 million to a net loss of $197.8 million in the third quarter of 2026, compared to net income of $13.4 million for the third quarter of 2025. Net loss per diluted common share was $5.35, as compared to net income per diluted common share of $0.37 for the same period in 2025. In the third quarter of 2026, the Company recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $203.3 million after identifying a triggering event resulting from the impact of the dividend suspension announced on July 22, 2026. Additionally, the Company had further declines in revenue, with operating costs not declining at a similar rate, as well as $0.4 million of unrealized losses related to our investment in Meitu, Inc, $0.5 million of costs related to the proposed merger, $2.6 million of strategic advisory and other fees, and $4.3 million of workforce optimizations expenses.

Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted common share

Adjusted net income of $16.7 million in the third quarter of 2026 decreased by $19.7 million, compared to adjusted net income of $36.4 million for the third quarter of 2025, primarily due to the decline in revenue.

Adjusted net income per diluted common share was $0.45, compared to $0.99 for the third quarter of 2025.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA of $41.8 million for the third quarter of 2026 decreased by $37.6 million, or 47%, as compared to the third quarter of 2025, primarily due to the decline in revenue.

Net loss margin of 113.7% for the third quarter of 2026 decreased by 118.8%, as compared to net income margin of 5.1% in the third quarter of 2025. The adjusted EBITDA margin of 24.0% for the third quarter of 2026 decreased by 6.5%, as compared to 30.5% in the third quarter of 2025.

THIRD QUARTER LIQUIDITY

Our cash and cash equivalents decreased by $22.7 million to $110.5 million at September 30, 2026, as compared with $133.2 million as June 30, 2026. This was driven by $18.3 million of net cash from operating activities, offset by $29.8 million of net cash used in financing activities and $9.8 million of net cash used in investing activities.

Net cash from operating activities of $18.3 million was driven by cash generation from our business operations and changes in the timing of cash collections from our customers and payments pertaining to operating expenses offset by $5.0 million in contributor royalty payments, an $8.6 million reduction in deferred revenue and $4.3 million of payments related to the proposed merger.

Cash used in investing activities for the three months ended September 30, 2026 consisted of $9.8 million related to capital expenditures, $0.3 million of content acquisition, partially offset by $0.1 million related to the receipt of the Giphy Retention Compensation, as reimbursed by the Giphy seller.

Cash used in financing activities for the three months ended September 30, 2026 consisted primarily of $30.0 million of repayments on our revolving credit facility. 

Adjusted free cash flow was $12.5 million for the third quarter of 2026, an decrease of $62.7 million from the third quarter of 2025.

KEY OPERATING METRICS

		Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2026		2025	2026		20255
Subscribers (end of period)(1)		890,000		1,060,000	890,000		1,060,000
Subscriber revenue (in millions)(2)		$           95.1		$         107.2	$         298.7		$         325.0
Average revenue per customer (last twelve months)(3)		$            289		$            279	$            289		$            279
Paid downloads (in millions)(4)		90.9		111.7	293.7		345.2

________________________________________

Subscribers, Subscriber Revenue and Average Revenue Per Customer from acquisitions are included in these metrics beginning twelve months after the closing of the respective business combination. Accordingly, the metrics include Subscribers, Subscriber revenue, and Average revenue per customer from Backgrid beginning February 2025. 2025 metrics include the counts and revenues from Envato, which was acquired in July 2024.

(1) Subscribers is defined as those customers who purchase one or more of our monthly recurring products for a continuous period of at least three months, measured as of the end of the reporting period.

(2) Subscriber revenue is defined as the revenue generated from subscribers during the period.

(3) Average revenue per customer is calculated by dividing total revenue for the last twelve-month period by customers. Customers is defined as total active, paying customers that contributed to total revenue over the last twelve-month period.

(4) Paid downloads is the number of downloads that our customers make in a given period of our content. Paid downloads exclude content related to our Studios business, downloads of content that are offered to customers for no charge, including our free trials and metadata delivered through our data deal offering.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

To supplement Shutterstock's consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP, Shutterstock's management considers certain financial measures that are not prepared in accordance with GAAP, collectively referred to as non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share, revenue growth (including by product offering) on a constant currency basis (expressed as a percentage), and adjusted free cash flow.

Shutterstock defines adjusted EBITDA as net income adjusted for depreciation and amortization, non-cash equity-based compensation, Giphy Retention Compensation Expense - non-recurring, foreign currency transaction gains and losses, severance costs associated with strategic workforce optimizations, goodwill impairment, unrealized losses / gains on investments, legal contingencies, strategic advisory fees, interest income and expense, income taxes and merger related costs; adjusted EBITDA margin as the ratio of adjusted EBITDA to revenue; adjusted net income as net income adjusted for the impact of non-cash equity-based compensation, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, strategic advisory fees, Giphy Retention Compensation Expense - non-recurring, severance costs associated with strategic workforce optimizations (reported in Other), unrealized losses / gains on investments (reported in Other), goodwill impairment,  impairment loss on long-term investment, legal contingencies, merger related costs and the estimated tax impact of such adjustments; adjusted net income per diluted common share as adjusted net income divided by weighted average diluted shares; revenue growth (including by product offering) on a constant currency basis (expressed as a percentage) as the increase in current period revenues over prior period revenues, utilizing fixed exchange rates for translating foreign currency revenues for all periods presented in the comparison; and adjusted free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities, adjusted for capital expenditures, content acquisition, cash received related to Giphy Retention Compensation in connection with the acquisition of Giphy, cash paid for the settlement of the FTC investigation, and cash paid for costs related to the proposed merger.

The expense associated with the Giphy Retention Compensation related to (i) the one-time employment inducement bonuses and (ii) the vesting of the cash value of unvested Meta equity awards held by the employees prior to closing, which are reflected in operating expenses (together, the "Giphy Retention Compensation Expense - non-recurring"), are required payments in accordance with the terms of the acquisition. Meta's sale of Giphy was directed by the United Kingdom Competition and Markets Authority (the "CMA") and accordingly, the terms of the acquisition were subject to CMA preapproval. Management considers the operating expense associated with these required payments to be unusual and non-recurring in nature. The Giphy Retention Compensation Expense - non-recurring is not considered an ongoing expense necessary to operate the Company's business. Therefore, such expenses have been included in the below adjustments for calculating adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted common share.

These non-GAAP financial measures have not been calculated in accordance with GAAP and should be considered only in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results. Shutterstock cautions investors that non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any standardized methodology prescribed by GAAP and are not necessarily comparable to similarly-titled measures presented by other companies.

Shutterstock's management believes that adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted common share, revenue growth (including by product offering) on a constant currency basis (expressed as a percentage) and adjusted free cash flow are useful to investors because these measures enable investors to analyze Shutterstock's operating results on the same basis as that used by management. Additionally, management believes that adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted common share provide useful information to investors about the performance of the Company's overall business because such measures eliminate the effects of unusual or other infrequent charges that are not directly attributable to Shutterstock's underlying operating performance; and revenue growth (including by product offering) on a constant currency basis (expressed as a percentage) provides useful information to investors by eliminating the effect of foreign currency fluctuations that are not directly attributable to Shutterstock's operating performance. Management also believes that providing these non-GAAP financial measures enhances the comparability for investors in assessing Shutterstock's financial reporting. Shutterstock's management believes that adjusted free cash flow is useful for investors because it provides them with an important perspective on the cash available for strategic measures, after making necessary capital investments in internal-use software and website development costs to support the Company's ongoing business operations, and provides them with the same measures that management uses as the basis for making resource allocation decisions.

Shutterstock's management also uses the non-GAAP financial measures adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted common share, revenue growth (including by product offering) on a constant currency basis (expressed as a percentage), and adjusted free cash flow, in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, as an integral part of managing the business and to, among other things: (i) monitor and evaluate the performance of Shutterstock's business operations, financial performance and overall liquidity; (ii) facilitate management's internal comparisons of the historical operating performance of its business operations; (iii) facilitate management's external comparisons of the results of its overall business to the historical operating performance of other companies that may have different capital structures and debt levels; (iv) review and assess the operating performance of Shutterstock's management team and, together with other operational objectives, as a measure in evaluating employee compensation; (v) analyze and evaluate financial and strategic planning decisions regarding future operating investments; and (vi) plan for and prepare future annual operating budgets and determine appropriate levels of operating investments.

Reconciliations of the differences between each of our non-GAAP financial measures (adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted common share, revenue growth (including by product offering) on a constant currency basis (expressed as a percentage), adjusted free cash flow, and each measure's most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, are presented under the headings "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Information to GAAP" and "Supplemental Financial Data" immediately following the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

ABOUT SHUTTERSTOCK

Shutterstock is in the business of turning ideas into impact. Powered by a global network of millions of creators and our cutting-edge technology, we provide businesses, creatives and brand leaders with the essential, universal ingredients to make their work more effective. Shutterstock offers access to one of the world's largest and most diverse collections of high-quality licensable assets, specialized training datasets, evaluation tools, and end-to-end strategic partnerships for the full model training lifecycle, as well as advertising and distribution solutions, exclusive editorial content, and full-service studio production—delivering unparalleled resources to fuel great work.                                

Discover our impact at www.shutterstock.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, X, Facebook and YouTube.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The statements in this press release, and any related oral statements, include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, financings or otherwise, based on current beliefs and involve numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made or as of the dates indicated in the statements and should not be relied upon as predictions of future events, as there can be no assurance that the events or circumstances reflected in these statements will be achieved or will occur or the timing thereof. Forward-looking statements can often, but not always, be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology including "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "could," "might," "seeks," "intends," "plans," "pro forma," "estimates," "anticipates," "designed," or the negative of these words and phrases, other variations of these words and phrases or comparable terminology, but not all forward-looking statements include such identifying words. Forward-looking statements are based upon current plans, estimates and expectations that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary. The forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things, statements regarding industry prospects, future business, future results of operations or financial condition, future dividends, future stock performance, our ability to consummate acquisitions and integrate the businesses we have acquired or may acquire into our existing operations, new or planned features, products or services, management strategies, our ability to offer premier Data Licensing and AI Services, and our competitive position. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include, among others, the risks discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in Shutterstock's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the SEC. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward looking statements. While the list of factors presented here is considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward looking statements. Shutterstock does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

Shutterstock, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations (In thousands, except for per share data) (unaudited)
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2026		2025		2026		2025
Revenue		$       173,898		$       260,094		$       594,869		$       769,704
Operating expenses:
Cost of revenue		83,713		102,558		272,288		309,440
Sales and marketing		43,941		59,358		140,295		169,794
Product development		14,228		22,374		51,207		62,993
General and administrative		27,741		43,313		139,256		150,054
Goodwill impairment		203,323		—		377,061		—
Total operating expenses		372,946		227,603		980,107		692,281
(Loss) / income from operations		(199,048)		32,491		(385,238)		77,423
Interest expense		(3,567)		(4,226)		(11,160)		(12,748)
Other (expense) / income, net		2,097		3,138		(14,426)		30,277
(Loss) / income before income taxes		(200,518)		31,403		(410,824)		94,952
(Benefit) / provision for income taxes		(2,766)		18,016		(9,565)		33,437
Net (loss) / income		$      (197,752)		$        13,387		$      (401,259)		$        61,515
(Losses) / earnings per share:
Basic		$            (5.35)		$            0.38		$          (11.02)		$            1.75
Diluted		$            (5.35)		$            0.37		$          (11.02)		$            1.71
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic		36,978		35,484		36,413		35,213
Diluted		36,978		36,642		36,413		35,979

 

Shutterstock, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands, except par value amount) (unaudited)
		September 30, 2026		December 31, 2025
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$          110,472		$          178,244
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $4,073 and $3,431		100,498		112,626
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		45,852		47,769
Total current assets		256,822		338,639
Property and equipment, net		61,213		62,553
Right-of-use assets		6,564		9,770
Intangible assets, net		180,931		215,673
Goodwill		196,877		574,614
Deferred tax assets, net		79,393		61,289
Other assets		71,723		93,398
Total assets		$          853,523		$        1,355,936
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$            13,477		$             13,898
Accrued expenses		102,559		129,952
Contributor royalties payable		94,041		94,163
Deferred revenue		189,737		212,984
Debt		128,113		158,110
Other current liabilities		15,242		19,295
Total current liabilities		543,169		628,402
Deferred tax liability, net		636		1,134
Long-term debt		114,416		116,639
Lease liabilities		11,123		17,247
Other non-current liabilities		12,645		11,476
Total liabilities		681,989		774,898
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 200,000 shares authorized; 42,598 and 41,049 shares issued and 37,077 and 35,528 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively		424		410
Treasury stock, at cost; 5,521 shares as of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025		(269,804)		(269,804)
Additional paid-in capital		543,095		520,018
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(10,091)		(4,754)
Retained earnings		(92,090)		335,168
Total stockholders' equity		171,534		581,038
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$          853,523		$        1,355,936

 

Shutterstock, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In thousands, except par value amount) (unaudited)
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2026		2025		2026		2025
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net (loss) / income		$      (197,752)		$         13,387		$     (401,259)		$         61,515
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) / income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		21,786		22,877		66,906		68,159
Deferred taxes		(2,858)		24,494		(18,599)		17,696
Non-cash equity-based compensation		7,840		12,962		33,748		46,471
Goodwill impairment		203,323		—		377,061		—
Loss on impairment of long-term investment		—		—		—		5,000
Bad debt expense		356		60		675		1,020
Unrealized loss / (gain) on investments, net		(360)		(2,840)		17,908		(34,128)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		1,170		26,245		10,871		(29,429)
Prepaid expenses and other current and non-current assets		468		(12,643)		2,060		10,114
Accounts payable and other current and non-current liabilities		(2,069)		(3,810)		(31,455)		(18,397)
Contributor royalties payable		(5,020)		12,329		64		22,109
Deferred revenue		(8,634)		(14,671)		(21,738)		(19,657)
Net cash provided by operating activities		$         18,250		$         78,390		$        36,242		$       130,473
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures		(9,804)		(10,422)		(31,514)		(32,542)
Cash received related to Giphy Retention Compensation		102		373		579		1,234
Acquisition of content		(326)		(1,149)		(627)		(6,127)
Security deposit (payment) / receipt		238		(41)		487		(3)
Net cash used in investing activities		$          (9,790)		$       (11,239)		$       (31,075)		$       (37,438)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash paid to settle employee taxes related to RSU vesting		197		(4,092)		(10,651)		(9,104)
Payment of cash dividends		—		(11,699)		(25,999)		(34,823)
Repayment of credit facility		(30,000)		(781)		(31,595)		(2,344)
Net cash used in financing activities		$        (29,803)		$       (16,572)		$       (68,245)		$       (46,271)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash		(1,393)		(1,453)		(4,694)		7,521
Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents		(22,736)		49,126		(67,772)		54,285
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		133,208		116,410		178,244		111,251
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$       110,472		$       165,536		$       110,472		$       165,536
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Information:
Cash paid for income taxes		$              607		$           1,707		$          8,285		$         16,396
Cash paid for interest		3,539		4,005		10,827		12,470

 

Shutterstock, Inc. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Information to GAAP (In thousands, except per share information) (unaudited)
Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share, revenue growth (including by product offering) on a constant currency basis (expressed as a percentage), and adjusted free cash flow are not financial measures prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Such non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as alternatives to any other measures of performance determined in accordance with GAAP. Investors are cautioned that non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any standardized methodology prescribed by GAAP and are not necessarily comparable to similarly-titled measures presented by other companies.
The following is a reconciliation of net income to adjusted net income for each of the periods indicated (in thousands, except per share data):
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2026		2025		2026		2025
Net (loss) / income		(197,752)		13,387		(401,259)		61,515
Add / (less) Non-GAAP adjustments:
Non-cash equity-based compensation		7,824		12,962		33,748		46,471
Tax effect of non-cash equity-based compensation (1)		(1,842)		(3,046)		(7,930)		(10,921)
Acquisition-related amortization expense (2)		9,286		9,630		28,449		28,908
Tax effect of acquisition-related amortization expense (1)		(2,182)		(2,263)		(6,686)		(6,794)
Unrealized loss / (gain) on investment		(360)		(2,840)		17,908		(34,129)
Impairment loss on long-term investment		—		—		—		5,000
Strategic advisory fees and other		2,560		—		2,560		—
Tax effect of Strategic advisory fees and other(1)		(553)		—		(553)		—
Goodwill impairment		203,323		—		377,061		—
Tax effect of goodwill impairment(1)		(7,725)		—		(18,096)		—
Workforce optimization - severance		4,272		3,801		13,300		4,102
Tax effect of workforce optimization - severance(1)		(961)		(855)		(2,996)		(923)
Giphy retention compensation expense - non-recurring		—		215		649		1,219
Tax effect of Giphy retention compensation expense - non- recurring(1)		—		(51)		(153)		(287)
Proposed merger related costs		494		7,083		7,029		27,654
Tax effect of proposed merger related costs(1)		(111)		(1,594)		(1,581)		(6,223)
Legal contingency		600		—		33,600		—
Tax effect of legal contingency(1)		(135)		—		(7,560)		—
Adjusted net income		$           16,738		$             36,429		$          67,490		$        115,592
Net (loss) / income per diluted common share		$              (5.35)		$                 0.37		$           (11.02)		$              1.71
Adjusted net income per diluted common share		$               0.45		$                 0.99		$              1.85		$              3.21
Weighted average diluted shares		36,978		36,642		36,413		35,979
________________________________________
(1)   Statutory tax rates are used to calculate the tax effect of the adjustments.
(2)   Of these amounts, $8.6 million and $8.9 million are included in cost of revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2026 and 2025,         respectively. The remainder of acquisition-related amortization expense is included in general and administrative expense in the Statement         of Operations.
The following is a reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDA for each of the periods indicated (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2026		2025		2026		2025
Net (loss) / income		$        (197,752)		$             13,387		$       (401,259)		$          61,515
Add / (less) Non-GAAP adjustments:
Interest expense		3,567		4,226		11,160		12,748
Interest income		(123)		(869)		(1,404)		(2,881)
(Benefit) / provision for income taxes		(2,766)		18,016		(9,565)		33,437
Depreciation and amortization		21,786		22,877		66,906		68,159
EBITDA		$        (175,288)		$             57,637		$       (334,162)		$        172,978
Non-cash equity-based compensation		7,824		12,962		33,748		46,471
Giphy retention compensation expense - non-recurring		—		215		649		1,219
Proposed merger related costs		494		7,083		7,029		27,654
Foreign currency loss / (gain)		(1,614)		571		(2,078)		1,733
Unrealized loss / (gain) on investment		(360)		(2,840)		17,908		(34,129)
Legal contingencies		600		—		33,600		—
Workforce optimization - severance		4,272		3,801		13,300		4,102
Goodwill impairment		203,323		—		377,061		—
Strategic advisory fees and other		2,560		—		2,560		5,000
Adjusted EBITDA		41,811		79,429		149,615		225,028
Revenue		$         173,898		$           260,094		$        594,869		$        769,704
Net (loss) /  income margin		(113.7) %		5.1 %		(67.5) %		8.0 %
Adjusted EBITDA margin		24.0 %		30.5 %		25.2 %		29.2 %
The following is a schedule of Revenue Growth / (Decline) (including by product offering) on a Constant Currency Basis ($'s in thousands):
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2026		2025		2026		2025
Reported revenue (in thousands)		$         173,898		$           260,094		$        594,869		$        769,704
Revenue (decline) /growth		(33) %		4 %		(23) %		12 %
Revenue (decline) / growth on a constant currency basis		(33) %		3 %		(23) %		12 %
Content reported revenue (in thousands)		$         158,075		$           194,426		$        501,864		$        597,110
Content revenue (decline) / growth		(19) %		(5) %		(16) %		9 %
Content revenue (decline) / growth on a constant currency basis		(18) %		(5) %		(16) %		9 %
Data, Distribution, and Services reported revenue (in thousands)		$           15,823		$             65,668		$          93,005		$        172,594
Data, Distribution, and Services revenue (decline) / growth		(76) %		40 %		(46) %		26 %
Data, Distribution, and Services revenue (decline) / growth on a constant currency basis		(76) %		40 %		(46) %		26 %
The following is a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to adjusted free cash flow for each of the periods indicated (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2026		2025		2026		2025
Cash flow information:
Net cash provided by operating activities		$           18,250		$             78,390		$          36,242		$        130,473
Net cash used in investing activities		$            (9,790)		$            (11,239)		$         (31,075)		$         (37,438)
Net cash used in financing activities		$          (29,803)		$            (16,572)		$         (68,245)		$         (46,271)
Adjusted free cash flow:
Net cash provided by operating activities		$           18,250		$             78,390		$          36,242		$        130,473
Capital expenditures		(9,804)		(10,422)		(31,514)		(32,542)
Content acquisitions		(326)		(1,149)		(627)		(6,127)
Cash received related to Giphy Retention Compensation		102		373		579		1,234
Legal contingency settlement		—		—		35,000		—
Proposed merger related costs		4,281		8,032		14,431		23,068
Adjusted Free Cash Flow		$           12,503		$             75,224		$          54,111		$        116,106
The following is a schedule of Revenues by Product Offering (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2026		2025		2026		2025
Content		$         158,075		$           194,426		$        501,864		$        597,110
Data, Distribution, and Services		$           15,823		$             65,668		$          93,005		$        172,594
Total revenue		$         173,898		$           260,094		$        594,869		$        769,704

 

Shutterstock, Inc. Supplemental Financial Data (unaudited)
Historical Operating Metrics
		Three Months Ended
		9/30/26		6/30/26		3/31/26		12/31/25		9/30/25		6/30/25		3/31/25		12/31/24
Subscribers (end of period, in thousands) (1)		890		951		993		1,032		1,060		1,073		1,079		459
Subscriber revenue (in millions) (2)		$   95.1		$   99.8		$  103.8		$  104.7		$   107.2		$  108.0		$  109.9		$   75.7
Average revenue per customer (last twelve months) (3)		$    289		$    292		$     284		$     281		$      279		$     266		$     244		$    450
Paid downloads (in millions) (4)		90.9		98.7		104.1		107.9		111.7		112.6		120.9		33.0
Subscribers, Subscriber Revenue and Average Revenue Per Customer from acquisitions are included in these metrics beginning twelve months after the closing of the respective business combination. Accordingly, the metrics include Subscribers, Subscriber revenue, and Average revenue per customer from  Backgrid beginning February 2025. 2025 metrics include the counts and revenues from Envato, which was acquired in July 22, 2024.
(1) Subscribers is defined as those customers who purchase one or more of our monthly recurring products for a continuous period of at least three months, measured as of the end of the reporting period.
(2) Subscriber revenue is defined as the revenue generated from subscribers during the period.
(3) Average revenue per customer is calculated by dividing total revenue for the last twelve-month period by customers. Customers is defined as total active, paying customers that contributed to total revenue over the last twelve-month period.
(4) Paid downloads is the number of downloads that our customers make in a given period of our content. Paid downloads exclude content related to our Studios business, downloads of content that are offered to customers for no charge, including our free trials and metadata delivered through our data deal offering.
Equity-Based Compensation by expense category
		Three Months Ended
($ in thousands)		9/30/26		6/30/26		3/31/26		12/31/25		9/30/25		6/30/25		3/31/25		12/31/24
Cost of revenue		$     319		$      270		$      183		$      558		$      528		$      532		$      396		$      505
Sales and marketing		2,683		2,652		2,112		2,287		2,098		2,559		2,255		2,627
Product development		2,820		3,242		3,078		3,218		3,370		3,529		2,912		2,722
General and administrative		2,002		6,398		7,999		8,542		6,966		9,005		12,321		9,256
Total non-cash equity-based compensation		$  7,824		$ 12,562		$ 13,372		$ 14,605		$ 12,962		$ 15,625		$ 17,884		$ 15,110
Depreciation and Amortization by expense category
		Three Months Ended
($ in thousands)		9/30/26		6/30/26		3/31/26		12/31/25		9/30/25		6/30/25		3/31/25		12/31/24
Cost of revenue		$ 20,100		$ 20,732		$ 20,898		$ 21,010		$ 21,028		$ 20,804		$ 20,742		$ 21,191
General and administrative		1,686		1,684		1,806		1,725		1,849		1,807		1,929		2,096
Total depreciation and amortization		$ 21,786		$ 22,416		$ 22,704		$ 22,735		$ 22,877		$ 22,611		$ 22,671		$ 23,287

 

 

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SOURCE Shutterstock, Inc.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What were Shutterstock's third-quarter 2026 revenue and earnings?

Shutterstock reported $173.9 million in revenue and a $197.8 million net loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2026. Revenue declined 33% year over year. Diluted loss per share was $5.35, compared with diluted earnings per share of $0.37 a year earlier.

Why did Shutterstock record a goodwill impairment in third-quarter 2026?

Shutterstock identified the impact of its dividend suspension announced July 22, 2026 as the triggering event for a $203.3 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge. The charge was $195.6 million after tax.

Why can Shutterstock's data revenue fluctuate between quarters?

Revenue recognition in Shutterstock's data offering can vary with the delivery timing of metadata licensed assets. That timing can shift recognized revenue between quarters.

How much has Shutterstock reduced its workforce in 2026?

Shutterstock reduced total headcount by 16% year to date. The company said it remains on target to deliver $60 million in annualized operating expense reductions committed to in its second-quarter earnings announcement.