SSTK vs. QUAL
SSTK (Shutterstock, Inc.) is a stock, while QUAL (iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF) is Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index. Over the past 10 years, SSTK returned -8.35%/yr vs 14.47%/yr for QUAL. At a 0.44 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
SSTK vs. QUAL - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SSTK achieves a -20.75% return, which is significantly lower than QUAL's 7.67% return. Over the past 10 years, SSTK has underperformed QUAL with an annualized return of -8.35%, while QUAL has yielded a comparatively higher 14.47% annualized return.
SSTK
- 1D
- -8.15%
- 1M
- -8.61%
- YTD
- -20.75%
- 6M
- -18.18%
- 1Y
- -14.67%
- 3Y*
- -28.89%
- 5Y*
- -29.45%
- 10Y*
- -8.35%
QUAL
- 1D
- -1.31%
- 1M
- -0.46%
- YTD
- 7.67%
- 6M
- 6.84%
- 1Y
- 21.07%
- 3Y*
- 18.53%
- 5Y*
- 11.52%
- 10Y*
- 14.47%
SSTK vs. QUAL - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SSTK Shutterstock, Inc. | -20.75% | -32.71% | -35.06% | -6.41% | -51.70% | 55.94% | 69.71% | 19.08% | -11.27% | -9.45% |
QUAL iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF | 7.67% | 12.65% | 22.29% | 30.88% | -20.50% | 26.94% | 17.04% | 33.89% | -5.70% | 22.26% |
Correlation
The correlation between SSTK and QUAL is 0.42, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.42 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.41 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.49 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.46 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 18, 2013 | 0.44 |
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Return for Risk
SSTK vs. QUAL — Risk / Return Rank
SSTK
QUAL
SSTK vs. QUAL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) and iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| SSTK | QUAL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.02 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.53 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.99 | 1.31 | -0.31 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.31 | 2.34 | -2.65 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.57 | 10.65 | -11.21 |
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Drawdowns
SSTK vs. QUAL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SSTK drawdown since its inception was -87.64%, which is greater than QUAL's maximum drawdown of -34.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SSTK and QUAL.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SSTK | QUAL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -87.64% | -34.06% | -53.58% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -47.81% | -9.03% | -38.78% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -73.45% | -18.00% | -55.45% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -87.64% | -28.23% | -59.41% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -87.64% | -34.06% | -53.58% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -86.20% | -2.82% | -83.38% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -48.16% | -4.09% | -44.07% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 25.95% | 1.98% | +23.97% |
Volatility
SSTK vs. QUAL - Volatility Comparison
Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK) has a higher volatility of 24.72% compared to iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) at 4.09%. This indicates that SSTK's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than QUAL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SSTK | QUAL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 24.72% | 4.09% | +20.63% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 38.68% | 9.63% | +29.05% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 53.57% | 12.14% | +41.43% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 48.41% | 17.39% | +31.02% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 45.47% | 18.10% | +27.37% |
Dividends
SSTK vs. QUAL - Dividend Comparison
SSTK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 9.56%, more than QUAL's 0.89% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
QUAL iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF | 0.89% | 0.94% | 1.02% | 1.23% | 1.59% | 1.20% | 1.39% | 1.60% | 2.00% | 1.76% | 1.96% | 1.63% |
SSTK Shutterstock, Inc. | 9.56% | 6.91% | 3.95% | 2.24% | 1.82% | 0.76% | 0.95% | 0.00% | 8.33% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SSTK and QUAL have a correlation of 0.42, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SSTK has higher volatility (24.72%) compared to QUAL (4.09%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SSTK dropped -87.64% vs QUAL's -34.06%.
QUAL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.75 vs -0.27), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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