Upwork Inc. (UPWK) AI Stock Analysis

NASDAQ: UPWKAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

UPWK AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Upwork Inc. (UPWK) operates an online marketplace connecting businesses with independent professionals and agencies globally. The company generated $787.8M in revenue and $242.5M in free cash flow in FY2025, supported by a net cash position of $239.2M as of June 30, 2026. However, growth has cooled, with quarterly revenue contracting 1.7% year-over-year in the latest quarter ending June 30, 2026.

Market cap
$1.05B
Revenue (TTM)
$787.3M
P/E
10.9x
fwd 5.5x
1Y return
-49.6%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$9.88
17.1% vs last close

Bull case

  • Upwork generated $242.5M in free cash flow in FY2025, backed by a strong cash and short-term investments balance of $614.2M as of June 30, 2026.
  • The stock trades at a forward P/E of 5.5x and an EV/EBITDA of 5.1x, well below its US-listed Communication Services peer medians of 14.1x and 10.0x.
  • Gross margin has widened steadily from 73.0% in FY2021 to 77.8% in FY2025.

Bear case

  • Revenue momentum has turned negative, with quarterly revenue falling 1.7% year-over-year in the quarter ended June 30, 2026.
  • Consensus estimates expect revenue to decline to $742.1M in FY2026 and further down to $736.7M in the following fiscal year.
  • The stock has dropped 57.5% year-to-date and trades 24.5% below its 200-day moving average as of October 16, 2026.

What Upwork does

Upwork Inc. operates an online work marketplace that connects businesses with independent professionals and agencies across regions including the United States, India, and the Philippines. The platform covers diverse talent categories such as sales and marketing, customer service, data science and analytics, design and creative, and web, mobile, and software development. Upwork provides tools for talent sourcing, contracting, communication, and invoicing, alongside payment protection and internet escrow solutions. Its service offerings include Upwork Basic, Upwork Plus, Upwork Enterprise, Upwork Payroll, and managed services. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, the company was established in 2013 and formerly known as Elance-oDesk, Inc.

Growth and profitability

Upwork grew annual revenue from $502.8M in FY2021 to $787.8M in FY2025, delivering a 5-year revenue compound annual growth rate of 16.1% from FY2020 to FY2025. Annual top-line growth decelerated from 34.6% in FY2021 to 2.4% in FY2025. Gross margin expanded over the period from 73.0% in FY2021 to 77.8% in FY2025. Profitability shifted positive in FY2023 with net income of $46.9M, followed by $215.6M in FY2024 and $115.4M in FY2025, yielding an operating margin of 16.4%. For the trailing twelve months, revenue was $787.3M with an operating margin of 21.8%. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue fell 1.7% and quarterly earnings fell 15.9% year-over-year.

UPWK income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Upwork held $614.2M in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $375.1M, resulting in net cash of $239.2M. Total assets stood at $1.27B with shareholders' equity of $611.3M, yielding a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. In FY2025, the company generated $248.3M in operating cash flow and invested $5.8M in capital expenditures. Upwork directed $136.0M toward share buybacks during FY2025, while its 5-year share count change was 1.9%.

UPWK balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

At a last close of $8.43 on October 16, 2026, Upwork had a market capitalization of $1.05B and an enterprise value of $784.3M. UPWK traded at a trailing P/E of 10.9x and a forward P/E of 5.5x, compared to medians of 16.2x and 14.1x, respectively, for its US-listed Communication Services peers. Its EV/EBITDA of 5.1x sits below the peer median of 10.0x, while its price-to-sales multiple of 1.3x is above the peer median of 0.8x. Over the 1-year period, UPWK shares dropped 49.6%, trailing the S&P 500 (SPY) return of 16.8%.

UPWK key metrics →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage consists of 2 Strong Buy, 1 Buy, and 7 Hold ratings, with no Sell or Strong Sell ratings. The mean price target of $9.88 implies upside of 17.1% over the last close of $8.43. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project revenue of $742.1M and EPS of $1.39, reflecting an EPS decline of 1.4%. For the following fiscal year, 8 analysts project revenue of $736.7M and EPS of $1.36. Upwork beat EPS estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings date is November 2, 2026.

UPWK forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Short interest is elevated, with short percent of float standing at 21.5%.
  • Quarterly earnings fell 15.9% year-over-year in the quarter ended June 30, 2026, signaling near-term margin pressure.
  • Total debt stands at $375.1M against shareholders' equity of $611.3M, representing a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61.
  • The company's 1-year return of -49.6% significantly lags the S&P 500 (SPY) return of 16.8%.

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 UPWK AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Upwork Inc. (UPWK). 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: UPWK income statement, UPWK balance sheet, UPWK key metrics, UPWK analyst forecast, UPWK chart. See the UPWK stock overview for the latest quote and news.

UPWK AI stock analysis FAQ

What was Upwork's revenue and net income in FY2025?

In FY2025, Upwork reported annual revenue of $787.8M, representing 2.4% year-over-year growth, and net income of $115.4M.

Does Upwork pay a dividend?

Upwork does not pay a dividend. The company used $136.0M of cash for share buybacks and $5.8M for capital expenditures in FY2025.

What is Upwork's net cash position?

As of June 30, 2026, Upwork held $614.2M in cash and short-term investments and $375.1M in total debt, giving it a net cash balance of $239.2M.

What are analysts forecasting for Upwork's earnings?

For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate EPS of $1.39 on revenue of $742.1M. For the next fiscal year, 8 analysts estimate EPS of $1.36 on revenue of $736.7M.

When does Upwork report its next quarterly results?

Upwork's next earnings report is scheduled for November 2, 2026.

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