NASDAQ$UPWK

Upwork Inc · Q2 2023 earnings

Q2 2023 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Upwork's Q2 2023 performance showed better-than-expected financial results, driven by cost savings and progress in generative AI and Enterprise growth.

Upwork's Q2 2023 saw revenue of $168.6 million, a 7% increase year-over-year, with GSV exceeding $1 billion. The company reported a GAAP net loss of $(4.0) million and adjusted EBITDA of $14.4 million. Upwork is raising its adjusted EBITDA guidance for 2023 to $50 million to $55 million.

  • Upwork achieved better-than-expected results across financial goals, with revenue up 7% year-over-year.
  • The company made significant strides in generative AI, with AI being the fastest-growing category on Upwork.
  • Upwork grew its Enterprise customer base, with Enterprise Revenue increasing 16% year-over-year.
  • Cost savings actions taken earlier in the second quarter, along with additional measures, are expected to yield incremental benefits.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$169M

Previous: $157M+7.5%
EPS (adj)

$0.10

Previous: -$0.04+350.0%
Gross services volume

$1B

Previous: $1B+0.0%
Active clients

822.0K

Previous: 807.0K+1.9%
Capital Expenditures

-$135K

Previous: -$602K+77.6%
Free Cash Flow

-$4.13M

Previous: -$24.4M+83.1%
Net Income

-$3.99M

Previous: -$23.8M+83.2%
Operating Income

-$6.12M

Previous: -$23M+73.5%
Gross Profit

$128M

Previous: $116M+10.1%
Cash & Equivalents

$154M

Previous: $135M+13.8%
Total Assets

$931M

Previous: $1.09B-14.9%
Stock-Based Comp

$18.4M

Previous: $19M-2.9%

Revenue & EPS history

Upwork · Revenue · Quarterly

$169M

Q2 2023+7.5%vs Q2 2022
Beat estimate in 13 of 15 quarters(87%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Upwork · $171M total across 2 segments · Q2 2023

  • Marketplace
    $157M+8.5%
  • Enterprise
    $14.3M+16.3%

Forward guidance

Upwork is guiding for third-quarter 2023 revenue to be between $165 million and $170 million, and raising full-year 2023 revenue guidance to between $665 million and $675 million. Third-quarter adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $14 million and $17 million, and full-year 2023 adjusted EBITDA guidance is increased to between $50 million and $55 million.

Tailwinds

  • Revenue guidance for Q3 2023 is set between $165 million and $170 million, indicating a 6% year-over-year increase at the midpoint.
  • Full-year 2023 revenue guidance has been raised to between $665 million and $675 million, reflecting an 8% year-over-year growth at the midpoint.
  • Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2023 is projected to be between $14 million and $17 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 8.5% to 10.0%.
  • Full-year 2023 adjusted EBITDA guidance has been increased to between $50 million and $55 million, representing an adjusted EBITDA margin of 7.5% to 8.1%.
  • The company expects to generate positive free cash flow going forward.

Headwinds

  • The guidance does not reconcile adjusted EBITDA to GAAP net income (loss).
  • The guidance does not reconcile adjusted EBITDA margin guidance to GAAP net income (loss) margin.
  • The guidance does not reconcile non-GAAP diluted EPS to GAAP diluted EPS.
  • Stock-based compensation expense is impacted by the future fair market value of our common stock and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict.
  • The actual amount of these expenses during 2023 will have a significant impact on our future GAAP financial results.

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q2 2023

Historical avgQ2 2023

+1.3%

Avg return

Earnings day

+0.3%

Avg return

5 days after

-5.1%

Avg return

30 days after

47%

14 / 30 earnings

Positive

+48.0%

Q3 2020

Best reaction

-19.1%

Q4 2025

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q1 2026-2.1%-20.7%-17.2%
Q4 2025-19.1%-29.6%-36.9%
Q3 2025+13.2%+11.6%+25.3%
Q1 2025+18.0%+26.7%+13.3%
Q4 2024+6.6%+8.6%-18.9%
Q3 2024+12.9%+10.4%+17.9%
Q2 2024-13.2%-16.5%-11.9%
Q1 2024+11.0%+7.9%-9.7%
Q4 2023-0.3%-1.4%-14.1%
Q3 2023+17.3%+21.8%+21.4%
Q2 2023+43.5%+44.6%+49.3%
Q1 2023-9.2%-8.6%-0.2%
Q4 2022-10.3%-11.0%-23.8%
Q3 2022+1.4%+5.0%-8.0%
Q2 2022-14.2%-16.5%-20.8%
Q1 2022+10.0%+15.8%-3.5%
Q4 2021-6.0%-8.7%-16.7%
Q3 2021-15.5%-15.4%-35.1%
Q2 2021-10.8%-10.5%-23.8%
Q1 2021-6.5%-4.1%+3.8%
Q4 2020+3.8%+4.8%-15.5%
Q3 2020+48.0%+42.7%+63.0%
Q2 2020-10.3%-11.7%-13.0%
Q1 2020+4.3%+19.3%+40.0%
Q4 2019+5.0%+1.4%-21.9%
Q3 2019-15.9%-19.5%-26.0%
Q2 2019+10.0%-3.0%-9.0%
Q1 2019-18.6%-20.3%-30.5%
Q4 2018-6.1%-4.1%-19.9%
Q3 2018-6.9%-8.8%-11.9%
Q2 2018
Q1 2018
Q4 2017
Q3 2017
Q2 2017
Q1 2017

Discussion

Share your read of this quarter. Sign-in carries your eToro identity.

Join the conversation

Sign in with eToro to post your read of this quarter and vote on others'.

Sign in with eToro