BTIG cuts Upwork stock rating to Neutral, sees fair valuation

BTIG analysts downgraded Upwork (NASDAQ:) stock to Neutral from Buy as they believe the valuation is now more balanced.

The move comes after BTIG identified UPWK “as one of our top picks entering 2023 as we believed shares had overshot to the downside after a very tough 2022.”

“We saw underappreciated catalysts in take-rate growth and margin expansion from tighter expense management. Those catalysts have played out with UPWK making a take rate-accretive changes to the commission structure earlier this year as well slashing its FY23 brand marketing spend,” the analysts wrote in a client note.

However, they have made a rating revision after the stock rose more than 40% year-to-date.

“While there are arguments for why we think UPWK should enjoy a premium valuation such as its number one position in the space and longer runway for take-rate expansion, we believe UPWK’s valuation adequately reflects those positives and risk-reward is now balanced,” they concluded.

Shares are down over 2% in pre-open trading.