Upwork (NASDAQ:UPWK) Given New $23.00 Price Target at UBS Group

Upwork (NASDAQ:UPWK) had its price objective decreased by UBS Group from $26.00 to $23.00 in a report released on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a “buy” rating on the stock. UBS Group’s price target points to a potential upside of 43.71% from the stock’s current price.

Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on UPWK. Zacks Research lowered Upwork from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Roth Mkm upped their price target on Upwork from $22.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday. Scotiabank decreased their target price on Upwork from $17.00 to $15.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Upwork in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Upwork from $25.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Upwork has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $23.09.

Upwork Price Performance

UPWK traded down $2.79 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $16.01. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 14,626,966 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,119,146. The stock has a market cap of $2.09 billion, a PE ratio of 9.15 and a beta of 1.06. Upwork has a fifty-two week low of $11.13 and a fifty-two week high of $22.84. The business’s 50-day moving average is $20.29 and its 200-day moving average is $17.72.

Insider Activity at Upwork

In related news, CFO Erica Gessert sold 18,493 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.70, for a total value of $308,833.10. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 237,612 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,968,120.40. This trade represents a 7.22% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Hayden Brown sold 275,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $19.43, for a total value of $5,343,250.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 697,894 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $13,560,080.42. This trade represents a 28.27% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 523,248 shares of company stock valued at $10,029,741. Insiders own 7.60% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of UPWK. Accredited Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Upwork by 5,280.0% during the 3rd quarter. Accredited Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,345 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 1,320 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Upwork by 594.4% during the 4th quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,361 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 1,165 shares during the last quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Upwork by 998.4% during the 3rd quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 1,406 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 1,278 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp grew its holdings in Upwork by 2,405.7% during the 3rd quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 1,754 shares of the company’s stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 1,684 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in shares of Upwork by 379.2% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,840 shares of the company’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 1,456 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.71% of the company’s stock.

Upwork News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Upwork this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Record full‑year performance and margins: Upwork reported record 2025 revenue of $787.8M and record adjusted EBITDA of $225.6M, showing profitable operating leverage that supports a constructive long‑term story. GlobeNewswire: Upwork Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results
• Positive Sentiment: Longer‑term guidance and AI traction: Management’s FY‑2026 EPS range was slightly above street consensus, and management highlighted AI revenue growth (AI‑driven GSV +50% YoY) as a growth lever — points that buyers/positive analysts are citing. Seeking Alpha: Upwork: Down But Not Knocked Out (Rating Upgrade)
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst buy support: Needham reaffirmed a Buy with a $25 price target, signaling some broker optimism on valuation and the multi‑year opportunity. Benzinga: Needham Reaffirmed
• Neutral Sentiment: Mixed analyst reactions and model updates: Several shops revised forecasts after the release — some trimming near‑term numbers while others reiterate longer‑term targets; that created divergent street views. Benzinga: These Analysts Revise Their Forecasts On Upwork Following Q4 Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Earnings materials available: The earnings deck and call transcript provide more detail for investors sorting through the mixed metrics. Seeking Alpha: Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: After‑hours selloff: The stock plunged markedly after the print as market participants focused on the weak near‑term guide and uneven quarterly metrics, triggering a steep price drop and higher trading volume. MSN: Upwork stock plummets 23% after-hours
• Negative Sentiment: Weak Q1 guidance: Upwork issued Q1 2026 EPS and revenue guidance below consensus (Q1 EPS range ~0.26–0.28 vs. street ~0.36; Q1 revenue guidance also below consensus), which drove the bulk of the near‑term investor concern. Yahoo Finance: Q4 2025 Earnings Call Highlights
• Negative Sentiment: Mixed/soft quarterly beat claims and misses: Several outlets reported misses on revenue or EPS depending on the metric and adjustments (some data providers flagged EPS misses), creating confusion and selling pressure. Zacks: Upwork Misses Q4 Earnings Estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst target cut and insider selling: Scotiabank trimmed its target to $15 and several reports note elevated insider sales, both of which add short‑term downside pressure. Benzinga: Scotiabank Price Target Cut

Upwork Company Profile

Upwork Inc operates a leading online talent marketplace that connects businesses with independent professionals worldwide. Through its digital platform, the company enables clients across industries—including technology, marketing, creative services and customer support—to source, hire and manage freelance talent on demand. Key features of the Upwork platform include streamlined job posting, proposal evaluation, time-tracking tools, invoicing and secure payment processing, all designed to simplify collaboration between clients and remote workers.

The company traces its roots to the merger of two pioneering freelance marketplaces, Elance (founded in 1998) and oDesk (founded in 2003), which combined in 2015 to form a unified entity.