Why Getty Images Stock Was Soaring This Week

Over the past few days, it hasn't been hard to imagine reaping gains on photography services provider Getty Images (NYSE: GETY). After all, the company's stock was a hot item on the market, thanks to a well-received deal to merge with a peer. According to data compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence, as of late Thursday afternoon, the shares were up by more than 13% week to date.

Merger overwhelmingly approved

On Tuesday, photo-sharing site operator Shutterstock announced its shareholders had approved -- by a large majority -- their company's pending merger with Getty Images. The vote was roughly 82% in favor of the move.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More »

Image source: Getty Images.

In its press release, Shutterstock wrote that "The combined company will be well-positioned to meet the ever-changing needs of customers through combined investment in content creation, event coverage, and product and technology innovation."

The cash-and-stock deal was originally agreed at the start of this year, and although it's been described as a "merger of equals," the Getty Images name will be retained for the combined entity. Also, current Getty Images stockholders will hold nearly 55% of the new business, according to rough calculations.

Not that many investors in either company seem to mind -- Shutterstock's equity also popped on news of that shareholder vote.

Insider divestments

Subsequent to the Shutterstock poll, several insiders in both companies sold off some equity holdings as if to validate the merger and its price. Among these individuals was Getty Images's senior vice president of e-commerce, Daine Weston, who unloaded some of his company's class A common stock, and Shutterstock director Deirdre Bagley, with a sale of 9,700 restricted stock units.

Should you invest $1,000 in Getty Images right now?

Before you buy stock in Getty Images, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Getty Images wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $657,871!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $875,479!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 998% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 174% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025

Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Shutterstock. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.