Let’s dig into the relative performance of Shutterstock (NYSE: SSTK) and its peers as we unravel the now-completed Q1 online marketplace earnings season.

Marketplaces have existed for centuries. Where once it was a main street in a small town or a mall in the suburbs, sellers benefitted from proximity to one another because they could draw customers by offering convenience and selection. Today, a myriad of online marketplaces fulfill that same role, aggregating large customer bases, which attracts commission-paying sellers, generating flywheel scale effects that feed back into further customer acquisition.

The 12 online marketplace stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.7% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

While some online marketplace stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 2.7% since the latest earnings results.

Weakest Q1: Shutterstock (NYSE: SSTK)

Originally featuring a library that included many of founder Jon Oringer’s photos, Shutterstock (NYSE: SSTK) is now a digital platform where customers can license and use hundreds of millions of pieces of content.

Shutterstock reported revenues of $199.2 million, down 17.9% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 10.2%. Overall, it was a disappointing quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ revenue and EBITDA estimates.

Commenting on the Company's performance, Paul Hennessy, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, said, "During the first quarter, we maintained a strong focus on operational discipline and cost management, delivering $43 million in Adjusted EBITDA in the face of ongoing industry headwinds. While first quarter revenue was impacted by a slower start in our Content business than expected and the timing of revenue recognition associated with data licensing deals, we continue to invest in areas that will drive long-term growth and remain committed to simplifying our product offerings to better meet our customers' needs."

Shutterstock delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth of the whole group. The market seems disappointed with the results as the stock is down 26.5% since reporting and currently trades at $12.95.

Read our full report on Shutterstock here, it’s free.

Best Q1: Sea (NYSE: SE)

Founded in 2009 and a publicly traded company since 2017, Sea (NYSE: SE) started as a gaming platform and has since expanded to offer a variety of services such as e-commerce, digital payments, and financial services across Southeast Asia.

Sea reported revenues of $7.33 billion, up 43.2% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 9.9%. The business had a stunning quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA and revenue estimates.

Sea scored the biggest analyst estimate beat among its peers. The company reported 72.6 million users, up 12.4% year on year. The market seems content with the results as the stock is up 1.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $86.37.

Is now the time to buy Sea? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

LegalZoom (NASDAQ: LZ)

Founded by famous lawyer Robert Shapiro, LegalZoom (NASDAQ: LZ) offers online legal services and documentation assistance for individuals and businesses.

LegalZoom reported revenues of $206.8 million, up 12.9% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 2.5%. Still, it was a slower quarter as it posted revenue guidance for next quarter slightly missing analysts’ expectations.

LegalZoom delivered the weakest full-year guidance update in the group. The company reported 1.92 million users, down 0.2% year on year. As expected, the stock is down 7.8% since the results and currently trades at $5.79.

Read our full analysis of LegalZoom’s results here.

Cars.com (NYSE: CARS)

Originally started as a joint venture between several media companies including The Washington Post and The New York Times, Cars.com (NYSE: CARS) is a digital marketplace that connects new and used car buyers and sellers.

Cars.com reported revenues of $180.2 million, flat year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and revenue in line with analysts’ estimates.

The company reported 19,390 active buyers, up 0.7% year on year. The stock is down 17.7% since reporting and currently trades at $9.21.

Read our full, actionable report on Cars.com here, it’s free.

EverQuote (NASDAQ: EVER)

Aiming to simplify a once complicated process, EverQuote (NASDAQ: EVER) is an online insurance marketplace where consumers can compare and purchase various types of insurance from different providers

EverQuote reported revenues of $190.9 million, up 14.5% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 5.7%. It was a stunning quarter as it also produced EBITDA guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The stock is up 32.3% since reporting and currently trades at $19.33.

Read our full, actionable report on EverQuote here, it’s free.

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand-wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Growth Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.