Upwork Inc. (Nasdaq: UPWK), the world’s largest work marketplace that connects businesses with independent talent, as measured by gross services volume (“GSV”), today announced its fourth quarter and full year 2020 financial results.
“2020 was a watershed year for Upwork. In the fourth quarter, we achieved our highest year-over-year growth since going public,” said Hayden Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer of Upwork. “Nearly a year into the pandemic, organizations are embracing remote work to unleash the potential of a global workforce of independent talent that gives them the agility, skills and efficiency they need. Our results demonstrate that we are optimally positioned to capture the exciting opportunity ahead by serving customers as the world’s work marketplace.”
Fourth Quarter 2020 Financial Results
- GSV increased by 33% year-over-year to $727.7 million
- Revenue grew 32% year-over-year to $106.2 million
- Marketplace revenue grew 34% year-over-year to $96.9 million
- Marketplace take rate was 13.5%, up from 13.3% a year ago
- Gross margin expanded two percentage points year-over-year to 73%
- Net income was $0.9 million, or $0.01 per share, compared to a net loss of $5.5 million, or $(0.05) per share, in the fourth quarter of 2019
- Non-GAAP net income was $7.8 million, or $0.06 per share, compared to non-GAAP net income of $3.4 million, or $0.03 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2019
- Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, was $9.6 million compared to $3.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2019
Full Year 2020 Financial Results
- GSV increased by 21% year-over-year to $2.5 billion
- Revenue grew 24% to $373.6 million
- Marketplace revenue grew 26% to $338.2 million
- Marketplace take rate was 13.6%, up from 13.1% a year ago
- Gross margin expanded one percentage point year-over-year to 72%
- Net loss was $22.9 million, or $(0.19) per share, compared to a net loss of $16.7 million, or $(0.15) per share, in the prior year
- Non-GAAP net income was $6.1 million, or $0.05 per share, compared to non-GAAP net income of $5.5 million, or $0.05 per share, for full year 2019
- Adjusted EBITDA was $14.0 million compared to $7.4 million in the prior year
Note: Reported figures are rounded; unless otherwise noted, comparisons of the fourth quarter of 2020 are to the fourth quarter of 2019 and comparisons for the full year 2020 are to the full year 2019. All financial measures are GAAP unless cited as non-GAAP. Certain operating metrics used here, including “GSV” and “marketplace take rate,” are defined in our most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and will also be set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 when filed.
A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures has been provided at the end of this press release. An explanation of these measures is also included below under the heading “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
