Is This Under-the-Radar High-Yield AI Stock a Buy Now?

Core Viewpoint - Shutterstock is positioned as a high-income opportunity within the growing AI sector, despite recent stock price declines and challenges in its older content segment [3][4][14]. Financial Performance - The company has a market capitalization of approximately $718.8 million, with 35.5 million shares outstanding, and offers an annual dividend of $1.29 per share, resulting in a yield of 6.37% [1]. - The stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 6.87x, significantly lower than the sector average of 15.01x, indicating that investors are discounting future earnings [2]. - In Q3 2025, revenue increased to $260.1 million from $250.6 million, while net income decreased to $13.4 million from $17.6 million, and diluted EPS fell from 0.50 to 0.37 due to higher costs [6]. - Adjusted net income declined from $46.4 million to $36.4 million, and adjusted EPS fell from 1.31 to 0.99, indicating margin compression [7]. AI Integration and Growth Strategy - Shutterstock is enhancing its offerings by integrating AI tools and services, allowing customers to create content more efficiently [3][8]. - The company is transitioning from being a data supplier to a partner in model design, training, and evaluation, providing tailored content and insights [8]. - The global AI market is projected to grow from nearly $260 billion in 2025 to over $1.2 trillion by 2030, highlighting the potential for Shutterstock's growth in this sector [5]. Analyst Perspectives - Analysts project a growth rate of 14.94% for the full year 2025, with expected earnings of $3 per share, up from $2.61 in 2024 [11]. - Consensus among analysts is neutral, with a "Hold" rating and an average price target of $27.57, suggesting about 30% upside from the current price [12]. Conclusion - Despite trading at a steep discount and facing challenges, Shutterstock is seen as a misunderstood income play in a growing AI environment, with potential for gradual returns driven by its high dividend yield and ongoing investments in AI [13][14].