Key Takeaways
- Upstart Holdings reported an unexpected fourth-quarter adjusted profit, and shares soared.
- Revenue also exceeded estimates as transaction loan revenue and volume both jumped.
- The artificial intelligence lending platform’s current-quarter outlook was better than anticipated.
Shares of Upstart Holdings (UPST) skyrocketed 30% Wednesday, a day after the artificial intelligence (AI) lending marketplace posted a surprise adjusted profit and gave strong guidance as transactions soared.
Upstart reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.26, while analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha were looking for an adjusted loss per share of $0.03. Revenue jumped 56% year-over-year to $219.0 million, also above forecasts.
Transaction revenue was 68% higher to $2.11 billion, and the number of loans soared 89% to 245,663.
Co-founder and CEO Dave Girouard said Upstart’s “business grew dramatically across all product categories” during Q4. Girouard added that Upstart enters 2025 with “unparalleled energy and optimism for the future of Upstart AI lending and the mission we’re on together.”
The company sees a current-quarter GAAP net loss of about $20 million, and revenue of around $200 million. The Visible Alpha estimates were for a loss of $31.3 million and revenue of $180.5 million.
Upstart Holdings shares traded at their highest level since April 2022.
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