Upwork Inc. (UPWK): A Bull Case Theory 

We came across a bullish thesis on Upwork Inc. on Value investing subreddit by No3Account. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on UPWK. Upwork Inc.’s share was trading at $18.57 as of September 30th. UPWK’s trailing and forward P/E were 11.13 and 14.39 respectively according to Yahoo Finance.

MeetingUpwork, Inc. (UPWK) has quietly delivered impressive operational performance, despite limited market buzz. The company trades at a relatively low P/E of 11.45, which appears disconnected from its recent margin expansion and strategic initiatives. Over the past three years, revenue has grown at a 22% CAGR, although the most recent quarter showed negligible year-over-year growth.

What stands out, however, is the company’s remarkable improvement in profitability: adjusted EBITDA margins surged from 11% in FY2024 to 22%, and Q2 2025 saw margins reach approximately 29%, with management targeting 35% in the near term. This demonstrates disciplined cost management and operational leverage, making the company increasingly cash-generative.

Upwork’s strategy centers on advertising/monetization, enterprise, and AI-driven solutions, all of which are executing well. The enterprise segment is particularly compelling, with recent acquisitions and a new subsidiary focused on large clients. Leveraging its existing talent pool and platform, Upwork is well-positioned to capture enterprise staffing demand, potentially driving a meaningful acceleration in growth over time. While the recent slowdown in revenue growth may raise some concern, the current valuation already reflects muted growth expectations, implying a favorable risk/reward dynamic.

Even without a significant revenue rebound, Upwork’s margin expansion alone provides a strong investment case, offering a resilient free cash flow profile. Coupled with the strategic opportunity in enterprise, the company has potential upside that is not yet fully recognized by the market. Overall, UPWK presents a compelling opportunity for investors seeking a combination of operational efficiency, undervaluation, and optionality for future growth.

Previously we covered a bullish thesis on Upwork Inc. (NASDAQ:UPWK) by Oliver | MMMT Wealth in December 2024, which highlighted strong revenue growth, record free cash flow, and disciplined cost management driving margin expansion. The stock has appreciated approximately 11% since coverage as operational improvements played out. The thesis still stands as Upwork’s platform scalability remains strong. No3Account shares a similar perspective but emphasizes margin acceleration and enterprise strategy as additional growth drivers.

Upwork Inc. is not on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 32 hedge fund portfolios held UPWK at the end of the second quarter which was 31 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of UPWK as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than UPWK and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None.