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UPSTUpstart Holdings, Inc.Sell5.8·$29.64-8.15%
UPST · Why this verdict

Why Upstart Holdings (UPST) is rated SELL

Updated

Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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Methodology · Editorial policy & full disclaimer

VerdictSELL
Overall score5.8/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroNEUTRAL

Per-dimension breakdown

Value

6.7/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
P/E1.4
P/S8.7
EV/EBITDA0.0
Fwd P/E9.5
PEG10.0
Analyst target7.5
  • Forward P/E: 8.7x
  • PEG: 0.01

Quality

3.7/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
ROE2.3
ROA1.2
Gross margin10.0
Op margin0.4
Net margin2.1
Current ratio5.0
FCF quality0.0
Moat6.4
Rule of 403.0
Piotroski F6.7
  • Earnings quality RED FLAG: -633% FCF/NI
  • Rule of 40: 18 (fail)

Growth

10.0/10data confidence 33%
ComponentSub-score
Rev growth10.0
  • Strong growth: 45% YoY

Momentum

3.7/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
RSI4.5
MACD8.5
OBV1.0
MA position1.0
Volume3.4
  • Volume distribution (falling OBV)
  • Below 200-MA, MA slope -13.7%/30d — confirmed downtrend

Sentiment

7.2/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
Analyst rating7.3
Price target8.9
erm sentiment5.0
  • Analyst upside: 35%

Insider

5.5/10data confidence 75%
ComponentSub-score
materiality8.0
insider conviction3.3
holder change5.3
  • Notable insider buying — $5,626,699 (0.198% of mkt cap)

Peer rank

4.4/10data confidence 80%
ComponentSub-score
value rank2.5
quality rank1.1
growth rank9.0
  • Industry growth leader

Technical

4.3/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
bollinger5.3
support resistance5.8
52w position0.0
gap6.0

Risk (lower is worse)

1.9/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
short interest0.0
days to cover5.2
volatility0.0
put call3.3
implied vol0.0
beta2.4
debt equity2.3
  • High short interest: 32%
  • Elevated put/call: 1.51
  • High IV: 91%
  • Concentration risks: 1 HIGH (10-K Item 1A — sized via position_sizing, validated via buy_confidence)

Catalyst

6.7/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
erm5.0
earnings history6.7
earnings timing5.0
surprise avg10.0
  • Strong earnings: 3B/1M

How the verdict was assembled

Engine trigger

Quality below minimum threshold.

Engine technical detail
verdict_path: L1:HARD_BLOCK
Passed (6)
  • ASYMMETRY:1.6>=1.5
  • INSIDER:OK
  • NEWS_EVENTS:NONE_RECENT
  • EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:58d clear
  • SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
  • MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (2)
  • MOMENTUM:3.7<4.5
  • DEATH_CROSS:HARD_BLOCK
Warning (1)
  • 8K_CSUITE_CHANGE:5.02 (officer departure/appointment)
Reward-to-Risk
1.55
Upside
+21.7%
Downside
14.0%
Sizing output
AVOID

SetupRECOVERY Death cross but MACD improving, RSI 51

EdgeNO_EDGE No clear edge identified

SuitabilityAGGRESSIVE Beta 2.28>1.3, MCap $2.8B<$5B

Investment implication

The L1 gate blocked the positive-verdict path: a hard-floor threshold was breached, so dimensional pillars — including Growth at 10.0 could not lift the engine output above the verdict floor. Failed gate signal: MOMENTUM:3.7<4.5.

The strongest dimensions are Growth at 10.0, Sentiment at 7.2, and Value at 6.7; the weakest are Risk (lower is worse) at 1.9, Momentum at 3.7, and Quality at 3.7. The V9 engine flagged 2 failed gates with 1 warning, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of 1.55 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.

Engine reasoning is mechanically derived from pipeline gate outputs. See decision view.

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