Two ETF issuers are joining the trend of bringing politics to the trading floor.Bitwise and GraniteShares are seeking regulatory approval to launch ETFs linked directly to the outcomes of upcoming U.S. elections, marking another step in the expansion of prediction market-style investing. • DraftKings stock is showing upward movement. Why are DKNG shares climbing?Bitwise, through its PredictionShares lineup, has filed for six ETFs proposed for listing on NYSE Arca. According to its prospectus, the funds aim ...

NEW YORK, Feb. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GETY) (“Getty Images”) and Shutterstock, Inc. (NYSE: SSTK) announced today that the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has concluded its review of the companies’ proposed merger of equals and the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act has expired, without conditions. “We are very pleased with the DOJ’s decision in recognizing the merits of this transaction,” said Craig Peters, CEO, Getty Images. “With to ...

Group 1 - The UK competition regulator has identified concerns regarding competition in the supply of editorial content as part of its investigation into the proposed merger between Getty Images and Shutterstock [1] - The merger is being closely scrutinized due to potential implications for market competition in the UK [1]

Group 1 - Shutterstock expresses satisfaction with the UK Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) provisional decision regarding the merger with Getty Images, indicating no expected competition issues in the global stock content market [1] - The company disagrees with the CMA's finding that the merger may lead to a 'substantial lessening of competition' in the UK Editorial market, arguing that the analysis does not accurately reflect the UK market dynamics and customer alternatives [1] - Shutterstock plans to engage constructively with the CMA and will respond to the interim report according to the CMA's timeline, while also cooperating with the U.S. Department of Justice in its review [1] Group 2 - Shutterstock is positioned as a provider of scalable creative and GenAI solutions, leveraging a global network of creators and advanced technology to enhance business effectiveness [1] - The company boasts one of the largest and most diverse collections of high-quality licensable assets, data, AI solutions, and full-service studio production capabilities [1]

Group 1: Market Developments - World Liberty Financial (WLFI) surged 17% following remarks from Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon and NYSE President Lynn Martin at the inaugural World Liberty Forum, indicating Wall Street's growing acceptance of tokenization [1] - Solomon emphasized the importance of tokenization in shaping market evolution, stating that large-scale technology platforms will play a central role [3] - The NYSE is developing tokenization technology and feels a responsibility to engage in this area as blockchain-based finance gains traction [5] Group 2: Regulatory Environment - Solomon noted that Goldman's limited involvement in crypto is due to prohibitive regulations, which have recently begun to loosen, suggesting a potential reevaluation of their stance on digital assets [3] - He criticized overregulation, claiming it has extracted capital from the financial system and negatively impacted market efficiency over the past five years [4] - CFTC Chairman Michael Selig expressed a desire to collaborate with both incumbents and new entrants in developing new financial tools, indicating a shift in regulatory attitudes [7] Group 3: Technical Analysis of WLFI - WLFI's price broke through key moving averages, challenging the 200 EMA at $0.12743 after consolidating in the $0.095-$0.117 range [7] - The price action is characterized as bullish, with immediate resistance identified at $0.127-$0.130, and potential targets of $0.14 and $0.15-$0.17 if the resistance is breached [8] - Support levels have shifted to $0.113-$0.117, with the rally remaining intact as long as WLFI holds above $0.113 on pullbacks [8]

Core Viewpoint - Shutterstock reported quarterly earnings of $0.67 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.05 per share, and matching earnings from the previous year [1][2] Financial Performance - The earnings surprise was -36.19%, with the company previously expected to post earnings of $1.47 per share but only achieving $0.99, resulting in a surprise of -32.65% [2] - Revenues for the quarter were $220.22 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12.82%, and down from $250.31 million year-over-year [3] Stock Performance - Shutterstock shares have declined approximately 9.6% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has only decreased by 0.1% [4] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating expectations of outperforming the market in the near future [7] Future Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $1.12 on revenues of $251.77 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $3.96 on revenues of $1.01 billion [8] - The Internet - Content industry is ranked in the top 20% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook for stocks within this sector [9]

Revenue Projections - Total revenue for 2025 is projected to be $989.9 million, an increase of 5.8% from $935.3 million in 2024[17] - Content revenues are expected to reach $786.7 million in 2025, up from $760.0 million in 2024, representing a growth of 3.5%[17] - Data, Distribution, and Services revenues are anticipated to grow to $203.3 million in 2025, a significant increase of 16.0% from $175.3 million in 2024[17] Customer and Market Insights - Over 3.5 million customers in more than 150 countries licensed content, with 51% of revenue coming from North America, 27% from Europe, and 22% from the rest of the world in 2025[33] - The company has seen increased demand for access to its metadata for machine learning and generative AI model training, indicating a growing market for its Data, Distribution, and Services offerings[26] - The company has seen increased demand for monthly subscription products, which provide a fixed number of content licenses for a set period, enhancing creative freedom for users[36] Merger and Acquisition Activities - The merger agreement with Getty Images is set to provide cash consideration of $9.50 per share and 9.17 shares of Getty Images common stock for each share of Shutterstock common stock[20] - The merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, with the closing expected to result in Shutterstock's common stock being delisted from the NYSE[19] - The company is currently pursuing a merger with Getty Images, which presents risks such as potential delays in regulatory approvals and the possibility of incurring significant costs related to the merger[82] Competition and Market Risks - The company faces significant competition from various platforms, including Getty Images, AdobeStock, and AI tools like Midjourney and Dall-E, which may affect market share[72] - The company operates in a highly competitive industry with low barriers to entry, facing competition from both established companies and emerging technologies[98] - The company faces significant competition that may lead to variability in operating results and adversely affect financial condition due to competitors having greater resources[102] Financial and Operational Challenges - The company has incurred debt which may negatively impact its financing options and liquidity position[83] - The company’s operating results may fluctuate due to discretionary customer expenditures, which are influenced by economic conditions and industry-specific factors[74] - The company may need to raise additional funds for future acquisitions, which could lead to dilution of existing stockholders[130] Technology and Innovation - The company continues to invest in product development and cloud-based hosting infrastructure to improve customer experience and operational efficiency[32] - Investments in technology are critical for delivering user experiences and supporting scalable platforms, with ongoing improvements planned[51] - The company’s ability to innovate and develop new products is critical for maintaining competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving industry[82] Regulatory and Compliance Issues - The company is subject to evolving U.S. and foreign laws regarding privacy and data protection, including the GDPR, which imposes stringent operational requirements and significant penalties for non-compliance[63] - The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) became effective in January 2020, with the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) extending its provisions in January 2023, impacting data collection practices[63] - The company is currently under investigation by the FTC regarding its disclosure and subscription enrollment practices, which could lead to significant monetary costs or penalties[189] Employee and Contributor Relations - The company has implemented a Total Rewards program to support employee growth and well-being, including competitive pay and benefits[71] - The company operates a contributor website in 23 languages, allowing contributors to create accounts, submit content, and receive feedback[38] - Contributors earn royalties based on a tiered earnings rate schedule tied to annual licensing volume, incentivizing high-quality submissions[42] Cybersecurity and Data Protection - The company faces risks related to cybersecurity incidents, which could expose it to liability and damage its reputation[83] - Cybersecurity incidents or failures to comply with data protection regulations could harm the company's reputation and lead to significant costs[164] - The evolving nature of cybersecurity threats necessitates ongoing investment in protective measures, with potential costs impacting financial performance[174] International Operations and Foreign Exchange - Approximately 59%, 55%, and 54% of the company's revenue for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively, was derived from customers located outside the United States[181] - The company faces significant foreign exchange risk, with operations in multiple currencies including the euro, British pound, Australian dollar, and Japanese yen, affecting reported financial results[184] - A decline in the value of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar will reduce reported revenues, while an increase will have the opposite effect, impacting financial comparability across periods[185] Taxation and Financial Liabilities - The company is subject to risks related to payment processing, including potential increases in operating costs and compliance challenges[140] - The implementation of digital services taxes in various jurisdictions may lead to inconsistent tax regimes, impacting the company's financial condition[201] - The company has established reserves for additional income tax liabilities, but there is no assurance that these reserves will cover future liabilities[196]

EXHIBIT 99.1 Shutterstock Reports Full Year 2025 and Fourth Quarter Financial Results New York, NY - February 17, 2026 - 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 full year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2025. Commenting on the Company's performance, Paul Hennessy, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, said, "I'm thrilled to announce that Shutterstoc ...

compensation$ 14,605$ 12,962$ 15,625$ 17,884$ 15,110$ 15,094$ 14,976$ 11,150Depreciation and Amortization by expense categoryThree Months Ended($ in thousands)12/31/259/30/256/30/253/31/2512/31/249/30/246/30/243/31/24Cost of revenue$ 21,010$ 21,028$ 20,804$ 20,742$ 21,191$ 19,653$ 20,087$ 19,874General and administrative1,7251,8491,8071,9292,0961,9911,3461,389Total depreciation and amortization$ 22,735$ 22,877$ 22,611$ 22,671$ 23,287$ 21,644$ 21,433$ 21,263SOURCE Shutterstock, Inc.## 21%[more press release ...

Core Viewpoint - During turbulent market conditions, investors often seek dividend-yielding stocks, which typically have high free cash flows and provide substantial dividends to shareholders [1]. Group 1: Market Trends - Investors are increasingly turning to dividend-yielding stocks as a strategy during market uncertainty [1]. - High free cash flow companies are favored for their ability to reward shareholders with significant dividend payouts [1]. Group 2: Analyst Insights - The article highlights the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yielding stocks in the communication services sector [2]. - The identified stocks include Shutterstock Inc (NYSE:SSTK), Omnicom Group Inc (NYSE:OMC), and Comcast Corp (NASDAQ:CMCSA) [3].