Upstart Holdings, Inc. (UPST) AI Stock Analysis
UPST AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchUpstart Holdings, Inc. (UPST) operates a cloud-based artificial intelligence lending platform connecting consumers with bank partners. The company generated $1.08B in FY2025 revenue, up 58.9%, and returned to positive net income of $53.6M. However, its total debt stood at $2.03B as of June 30, 2026, while the stock declined 50.7% over the past year.
- Market cap
- $2.29B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $1.29B
- P/E
- 47.1x fwd 13.6x
- 1Y return
- -50.7% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $38.38 62.9% vs last close
Bull case
- Quarterly revenue expanded 42.3% year-over-year in the quarter ended June 30, 2026, while quarterly earnings grew 211.2%.
- Gross margin rose to 95.2% in FY2025 as the company produced positive net income of $53.6M.
- Analysts project next fiscal year revenue to reach $1.86B, representing 31.1% revenue growth and 56.0% EPS growth.
Bear case
- The company carries total debt of $2.03B against cash and short-term investments of $456.0M as of June 30, 2026.
- Free cash flow remained negative at -$166.1M in FY2025 following operating cash flow of -$147.7M.
- The stock dropped 50.7% over the past year and remains down 94.0% over five years.
What Upstart does
Upstart Holdings, Inc. operates at the intersection of finance and technology, utilizing a cloud-based artificial intelligence lending platform in the United States. Founded in 2012 and based in San Mateo, California, the platform aggregates consumer demand for loans and connects borrowers with bank partners. Upstart assesses creditworthiness beyond traditional credit scores by analyzing multiple data points through machine learning models. This approach enables the company to offer competitive rates to a wider variety of borrowers, including those with limited credit histories, with the goal of improving financial inclusion and lending efficiency.
Growth and profitability
Upstart delivered a five-year revenue compound annual growth rate of 35.7% from FY2020 to FY2025. Annual revenue fluctuated, falling 35.0% to $547.7M in FY2023 with a net income of -$240.1M, before rebounding 23.6% to $677.0M in FY2024 and 58.9% to $1.08B in FY2025. Net income reached $53.6M in FY2025, alongside a gross margin of 95.2% and an operating margin of 5.1%. For the trailing twelve months, revenue reached $1.29B with a profit margin of 4.7%. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 42.3% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings expanded 211.2%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, Upstart held $456.0M in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $2.03B, resulting in net debt of $1.57B. Total assets stood at $3.17B and shareholders' equity was $797.5M, yielding a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.54 and a current ratio of 14.10. Operating cash flow was -$147.7M in FY2025, with free cash flow at -$166.1M after capital expenditures of $18.4M. Its share count increased 11.0% over five years.
Valuation and performance
At a last close of $23.56, Upstart carries a market cap of $2.29B and an enterprise value of $3.89B. It trades at a trailing P/E of 47.1x and a forward P/E of 13.6x, compared to medians of 12.1x and 10.8x for its US-listed Financial Services peers. Its price-to-sales ratio of 1.8x is below the peer median of 3.2x. Over the past year, the stock declined 50.7%, trailing the S&P 500 (SPY) gain of 16.8%. Over five years, the shares fell 94.0% while SPY gained 83.0%.
What analysts expect
Wall Street analysts maintain 6 Strong Buy, 2 Buy, 7 Hold, and 1 Sell ratings on UPST. The mean price target of $38.38 implies a 62.9% upside from the last close of $23.56. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project revenue of $1.42B and EPS of $2.29, representing 21.4% EPS growth. Upstart beat EPS estimates in 2 of the past 4 quarters. The next earnings report is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- Short interest is elevated, with short percent of float standing at 33.6%.
- Stock price volatility is high, indicated by a beta of 2.43.
- The debt-to-equity ratio of 2.54 reflects significant financial leverage on $797.5M of shareholders' equity.
- Trailing operating margin of 7.2% is considerably lower than the US-listed Financial Services peer median of 37.7%.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this UPST AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Upstart Holdings, Inc. (UPST). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: UPST income statement, UPST balance sheet, UPST key metrics, UPST analyst forecast, UPST chart. See the UPST stock overview for the latest quote and news.
UPST AI stock analysis FAQ
When is Upstart's next earnings date?
Upstart is scheduled to release its next earnings on November 3, 2026.
Does Upstart pay a dividend?
Upstart does not pay a dividend, and no dividend data is reported.
What is Upstart's debt position?
As of June 30, 2026, Upstart held $456.0M in cash and short-term investments compared to $2.03B in total debt, creating a net debt balance of $1.57B.
What are analysts' price targets for UPST?
Analysts set a mean price target of $38.38, which implies a 62.9% premium over the last close of $23.56.
What is Upstart's valuation relative to peers?
Upstart trades at a trailing P/E of 47.1x compared to the US-listed Financial Services peer median of 12.1x, and at a price-to-sales ratio of 1.8x versus the peer median of 3.2x.