Upwork announces $300 million share buyback program
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 18 2026
0mins
Source: Benzinga
Upwork's stock rose 7.60% as it crossed above the 5-day SMA, reflecting positive investor sentiment.
The board approved a $300 million share repurchase program, aimed at enhancing shareholder value and demonstrating confidence in future growth. This follows a previous buyback of $136 million in 2025, and the company anticipates revenue growth driven by AI and small to medium-sized businesses. Despite the stock's recent gains, it remains below the 20-day and 100-day simple moving averages, indicating a cautious outlook among some investors.
The announcement of the buyback program is expected to bolster market confidence and support the stock's upward momentum, as Upwork continues to focus on strategic investments and maintaining a strong balance sheet.
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Analyst Views on UPWK
Wall Street analysts forecast UPWK stock price to rise
11 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 8.460
Low
15.00
Averages
22.10
High
27.00
Current: 8.460
Low
15.00
Averages
22.10
High
27.00
About UPWK
Upwork Inc. operates a working marketplace, which connects businesses with independent talent. The Company's independent talent refers to the talent that includes independent professionals and agencies of varying sizes. The Company’s marketplace offerings are designed for clients looking to identify hiring. Its marketplace offerings provide clients with access to independent talent with verified work history and client feedback from the marketplace platform. They also receive perks, such as a verified client badge and highlighted job posts. Upwork Payroll is available to clients when they choose to work with talent that they engage through Upwork as employees. With Upwork Payroll, clients have access to third-party staffing providers to employ talent and meet their talent needs through its work marketplace. It offers two lines of service: managed services and enterprise solutions. Its managed services offer a service-led program management and end-to-end project delivery solution.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Pomerantz LLP Investigates Upwork for Securities Fraud
- Decline in Active Clients: Upwork's Q1 2026 financial results revealed a decrease in active clients and flat gross service volume year-over-year, indicating weak market demand that could hinder future revenue growth.
- AI Impact on Business: The company noted that accelerated AI adoption has degraded client activity at the lower end, particularly affecting contracts of $500 and below, reflecting the industry's shift impacting traditional business models.
- Significant Stock Drop: Following the earnings announcement, Upwork's stock price fell by $1.79, or 16.9%, closing at $8.82 per share on May 8, 2026, signaling investor concerns about the company's outlook.
- Legal Investigation Launched: Pomerantz LLP is investigating whether Upwork and its executives have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices, potentially exposing the company to legal risks and affecting its market reputation.
See More
Upwork Board Changes to Support AI-Driven Strategy
- New Board Members: Following the June 4, 2026, stockholder meeting, Upwork officially welcomed new directors Claire Bramley and David Lissy, who will join the Audit, Risk, and Compliance Committee, enhancing the company's leadership in the AI-driven labor market.
- Executive Background: Claire Bramley brings over 20 years of senior finance leadership experience from global public technology companies, having served as CFO of Xero, and her expertise in financial strategy, risk management, and compliance will provide crucial support for Upwork's transformation.
- Strategic Timing: The addition of new directors comes at a pivotal moment as Upwork redefines work for the AI era, with Thomas Layton noting that Claire and David's judgment will be a significant asset as the company pursues its next growth phase.
- Acknowledgment of Former Directors: Upwork expressed gratitude to Anilu Vazquez-Ubarri and Leela Srinivasan for their contributions during their tenure on the board, which significantly shaped the company into what it is today.
See More
Pomerantz LLP Investigates Upwork for Securities Fraud
- Decline in Active Clients: Upwork's Q1 2026 financial results revealed a decline in active clients, with gross service volume remaining flat year-over-year, indicating weak market demand that could hinder future revenue growth.
- AI Impact on Business: The company noted that accelerated AI adoption has degraded client activity at the lower end, particularly affecting contracts of $500 and below, which may have profound implications for its overall business model.
- Significant Stock Drop: Following the earnings announcement, Upwork's stock price fell by $1.79, or 16.9%, closing at $8.82 per share on May 8, 2026, reflecting investor concerns about the company's outlook.
- Legal Investigation Initiated: Pomerantz LLP is investigating whether Upwork and its executives engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices, potentially exposing the company to legal risks and impacting its market reputation.
See More
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- Financial Performance Decline: Upwork's Q1 2026 earnings report revealed only 4% revenue growth and a 27% adjusted EBITDA margin, indicating weakening fundamentals that led to a 19% stock price drop.
- Severe Investor Losses: Investors faced losses of up to 19% due to Q1 2026 results falling short of expectations, suggesting that prior financial data may have been misleading and impacted investor decisions.
- Legal Investigation Initiated: Levi & Korsinsky is investigating whether Upwork's public statements contained materially inaccurate financial metrics that did not align with regulatory filings, potentially exposing the company to legal risks.
- Shareholder Rights Protection: Affected shareholders are encouraged to submit their information to discuss their legal rights, indicating that the company's potential legal liabilities may further impact its market reputation.
See More
Pomerantz LLP Investigates Securities Fraud Claims Against Upwork Inc.
- Decline in Active Clients: Upwork reported a decrease in active clients in its Q1 2026 earnings, indicating pressure on the company in a competitive market, which could adversely affect future revenue growth.
- Flat Service Volume: While gross service volume remained flat year-over-year, the decline in client activity for contracts of $500 and below suggests challenges in the company's competitiveness in the lower-end market segment.
- Significant Stock Price Drop: Following the earnings announcement on May 8, 2026, Upwork's stock price fell by $1.79, or 16.9%, closing at $8.82 per share, reflecting investor concerns about the company's outlook.
- Legal Investigation Initiated: Pomerantz LLP is investigating whether Upwork and its executives engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices, potentially exposing the company to legal risks and impacting its market reputation.
See More
Upwork Q1 Earnings Misses Estimates, Shares Plunge 19%
- Earnings Decline: Upwork Inc. reported Q1 2026 earnings that fell short of market expectations, resulting in a sharp 19% drop in share price within a single session, highlighting the significant gap between management's prior commitment to 6%-8% revenue growth for 2026 and the actual results.
- Guidance Revision: The company lowered its full-year revenue guidance during the Q1 earnings release, directly impacting investor confidence and prompting analysts to cut price targets on UPWK, which exacerbated the negative market reaction.
- Investor Losses: The substantial decline in share price has left many investors facing significant financial losses, leading Levi & Korsinsky to encourage affected shareholders to submit their information to explore their legal rights, indicating growing concerns about the company's future performance.
- Legal Investigation: An investigation is underway to determine whether Upwork made materially false or misleading statements regarding its revenue growth trajectory and forward guidance, with investors advised to gather relevant trading records to participate in potential legal actions, reflecting increasing market demands for corporate transparency.
See More
Pomerantz LLP Investigates Upwork for Securities Fraud
- Decline in Active Clients: Upwork's Q1 2026 financial results revealed a decrease in active clients and flat gross service volume year-over-year, indicating weak market demand that could hinder future revenue growth.
- AI Impact on Business: The company noted that accelerated AI adoption has degraded client activity at the lower end, particularly affecting contracts of $500 and below, reflecting the industry's shift impacting traditional business models.
- Significant Stock Drop: Following the earnings announcement, Upwork's stock price fell by $1.79, or 16.9%, closing at $8.82 per share on May 8, 2026, signaling investor concerns about the company's outlook.
- Legal Investigation Launched: Pomerantz LLP is investigating whether Upwork and its executives have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices, potentially exposing the company to legal risks and affecting its market reputation.
See More
Upwork Board Changes to Support AI-Driven Strategy
- New Board Members: Following the June 4, 2026, stockholder meeting, Upwork officially welcomed new directors Claire Bramley and David Lissy, who will join the Audit, Risk, and Compliance Committee, enhancing the company's leadership in the AI-driven labor market.
- Executive Background: Claire Bramley brings over 20 years of senior finance leadership experience from global public technology companies, having served as CFO of Xero, and her expertise in financial strategy, risk management, and compliance will provide crucial support for Upwork's transformation.
- Strategic Timing: The addition of new directors comes at a pivotal moment as Upwork redefines work for the AI era, with Thomas Layton noting that Claire and David's judgment will be a significant asset as the company pursues its next growth phase.
- Acknowledgment of Former Directors: Upwork expressed gratitude to Anilu Vazquez-Ubarri and Leela Srinivasan for their contributions during their tenure on the board, which significantly shaped the company into what it is today.
See More
Pomerantz LLP Investigates Upwork for Securities Fraud
- Decline in Active Clients: Upwork's Q1 2026 financial results revealed a decline in active clients, with gross service volume remaining flat year-over-year, indicating weak market demand that could hinder future revenue growth.
- AI Impact on Business: The company noted that accelerated AI adoption has degraded client activity at the lower end, particularly affecting contracts of $500 and below, which may have profound implications for its overall business model.
- Significant Stock Drop: Following the earnings announcement, Upwork's stock price fell by $1.79, or 16.9%, closing at $8.82 per share on May 8, 2026, reflecting investor concerns about the company's outlook.
- Legal Investigation Initiated: Pomerantz LLP is investigating whether Upwork and its executives engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices, potentially exposing the company to legal risks and impacting its market reputation.
See More
Upwork's Q1 2026 Earnings Report Triggers 19% Stock Plunge
- Financial Performance Decline: Upwork's Q1 2026 earnings report revealed only 4% revenue growth and a 27% adjusted EBITDA margin, indicating weakening fundamentals that led to a 19% stock price drop.
- Severe Investor Losses: Investors faced losses of up to 19% due to Q1 2026 results falling short of expectations, suggesting that prior financial data may have been misleading and impacted investor decisions.
- Legal Investigation Initiated: Levi & Korsinsky is investigating whether Upwork's public statements contained materially inaccurate financial metrics that did not align with regulatory filings, potentially exposing the company to legal risks.
- Shareholder Rights Protection: Affected shareholders are encouraged to submit their information to discuss their legal rights, indicating that the company's potential legal liabilities may further impact its market reputation.
See More
Pomerantz LLP Investigates Securities Fraud Claims Against Upwork Inc.
- Decline in Active Clients: Upwork reported a decrease in active clients in its Q1 2026 earnings, indicating pressure on the company in a competitive market, which could adversely affect future revenue growth.
- Flat Service Volume: While gross service volume remained flat year-over-year, the decline in client activity for contracts of $500 and below suggests challenges in the company's competitiveness in the lower-end market segment.
- Significant Stock Price Drop: Following the earnings announcement on May 8, 2026, Upwork's stock price fell by $1.79, or 16.9%, closing at $8.82 per share, reflecting investor concerns about the company's outlook.
- Legal Investigation Initiated: Pomerantz LLP is investigating whether Upwork and its executives engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices, potentially exposing the company to legal risks and impacting its market reputation.
See More
Upwork Q1 Earnings Misses Estimates, Shares Plunge 19%
- Earnings Decline: Upwork Inc. reported Q1 2026 earnings that fell short of market expectations, resulting in a sharp 19% drop in share price within a single session, highlighting the significant gap between management's prior commitment to 6%-8% revenue growth for 2026 and the actual results.
- Guidance Revision: The company lowered its full-year revenue guidance during the Q1 earnings release, directly impacting investor confidence and prompting analysts to cut price targets on UPWK, which exacerbated the negative market reaction.
- Investor Losses: The substantial decline in share price has left many investors facing significant financial losses, leading Levi & Korsinsky to encourage affected shareholders to submit their information to explore their legal rights, indicating growing concerns about the company's future performance.
- Legal Investigation: An investigation is underway to determine whether Upwork made materially false or misleading statements regarding its revenue growth trajectory and forward guidance, with investors advised to gather relevant trading records to participate in potential legal actions, reflecting increasing market demands for corporate transparency.
See More
