Shares of online work marketplace Upwork (NASDAQ:UPWK)
fell 16.6% in the afternoon session after the company issued disappointing financial guidance for the upcoming quarter and reported a drop in a key user activity metric. The company's revenue forecast for the first quarter of 2026 was $194.5 million at the midpoint, falling 3.1% short of Wall Street's estimates. Adding to investor concerns, Upwork's Gross Services Volume, a measure of activity on the platform, declined by 5.6% year-over-year to 785,000. This weak outlook overshadowed the company's fourth-quarter results, which had beaten analysts' expectations. For the quarter, Upwork reported sales of $198.4 million and an adjusted profit of $0.36 per share, which was 15.5% above consensus estimates.
As of February 10, 2026, the landscape of work has fundamentally shifted. The "gig economy," once a buzzword for side hustles, has matured into a sophisticated global marketplace for high-end digital talent. At the epicenter of this transformation is Upwork Inc. (NASDAQ: UPWK). Once viewed as a simple platform for connecting small businesses with freelance [...]
Online work marketplace Upwork (NASDAQ:UPWK) met Wall Street’s revenue expectations in Q4 CY2025, with sales up 3.6% year on year to $198.4 million. On the other hand, next quarter’s revenue guidance of $194.5 million was less impressive, coming in 3.1% below analysts’ estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.36 per share was 15.5% above analysts’ consensus estimates.
The company said it expects adjusted diluted EPS in the range of $0.26 to $0.28 for the first quarter of 2026, below analysts’ estimates of $0.32 per share, according to data from Fiscal.ai.
Online work marketplace Upwork (NASDAQ:UPWK) met Wall Street’s revenue expectations in Q4 CY2025, with sales up 3.6% year on year to $198.4 million. On the other hand, next quarter’s revenue guidance of $194.5 million was less impressive, coming in 3.1% below analysts’ estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.36 per share was 15.5% above analysts’ consensus estimates.
Whether it be online shopping or social media, secular forces are propelling consumer internet businesses forward. Despite the tailwinds, their demand largely hinges on consumer spending habits, which investors believe are weakening.
As a result, the industry has pulled back by 17.8% over the past six months. This drawdown is a far cry from the S&P 500’s 8.4% ascent.
A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after software stocks continued to pull back as investors assessed the potential for new AI automation tools to compete with established software platforms.
Volatility cuts both ways - while it creates opportunities, it also increases risk, making sharp declines just as likely as big gains.
This unpredictability can shake out even the most experienced investors.
A number of stocks jumped in the afternoon session after President Trump cooled fears of a transatlantic trade war by calling off scheduled tariffs on European allies.
The creator economy has officially transitioned from a fragmented frontier of independent influencers into a high-stakes industrial asset class. As of January 12, 2026, the market is witnessing a massive surge in merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, marking what analysts are calling the "sophomore year" of a sustained rebound.
Many small-cap stocks have limited Wall Street coverage, giving savvy investors the chance to act before everyone else catches on.
But the flip side is that these businesses have increased downside risk because they lack the scale and staying power of their larger competitors.
Shares of online work marketplace Upwork (NASDAQ:UPWK)
jumped 3.2% in the morning session after Jefferies named the company one of its preferred small-cap stocks.
Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages.
Just because a business is in the green today doesn’t mean it will thrive tomorrow.
The stocks in this article are all trading near their 52-week highs.
This strength often reflects positive developments such as new product launches, favorable industry trends, or improved financial performance.
