3 Reasons UPLD is Risky and 1 Stock to Buy Instead

Over the last six months, Upland Software’s shares have sunk to $1.86, producing a disappointing 13.8% loss - a stark contrast to the S&P 500’s 13.1% gain. This was partly driven by its softer quarterly results and may have investors wondering how to approach the situation.

Is there a buying opportunity in Upland Software, or does it present a risk to your portfolio? Check out our in-depth research report to see what our analysts have to say, it’s free for active Edge members.

Why Is Upland Software Not Exciting?

Despite the more favorable entry price, we're swiping left on Upland Software for now. Here are three reasons there are better opportunities than UPLD and a stock we'd rather own.

1. Revenue Spiraling Downwards

Examining a company’s long-term performance can provide clues about its quality. Any business can put up a good quarter or two, but many enduring ones grow for years. Over the last five years, Upland Software’s demand was weak and its revenue declined by 3.4% per year. This wasn’t a great result and signals it’s a lower quality business.

2. Revenue Projections Show Stormy Skies Ahead

Forecasted revenues by Wall Street analysts signal a company’s potential. Predictions may not always be accurate, but accelerating growth typically boosts valuation multiples and stock prices while slowing growth does the opposite.

Over the next 12 months, sell-side analysts expect Upland Software’s revenue to drop by 11.1%, close to its 3.4% annualized declines for the past five years. This projection is underwhelming and suggests its newer products and services will not accelerate its top-line performance yet.

3. Mediocre Free Cash Flow Margin Limits Reinvestment Potential

Free cash flow isn't a prominently featured metric in company financials and earnings releases, but we think it's telling because it accounts for all operating and capital expenses, making it tough to manipulate. Cash is king.

Upland Software has shown mediocre cash profitability over the last year, giving the company limited opportunities to return capital to shareholders. Its free cash flow margin averaged 11.1%, subpar for a software business.

Final Judgment

Upland Software isn’t a terrible business, but it isn’t one of our picks. Following the recent decline, the stock trades at 0.2× forward price-to-sales (or $1.86 per share). While this valuation is optically cheap, the potential downside is big given its shaky fundamentals. We're pretty confident there are superior stocks to buy right now. We’d suggest looking at one of Charlie Munger’s all-time favorite businesses.

Stocks We Like More Than Upland Software

The market’s up big this year - but there’s a catch. Just 4 stocks account for half the S&P 500’s entire gain. That kind of concentration makes investors nervous, and for good reason. While everyone piles into the same crowded names, smart investors are hunting quality where no one’s looking - and paying a fraction of the price. Check out the high-quality names we’ve flagged in our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 244% over the last five years (as of June 30, 2025).

Stocks that have made our list include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,326% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.

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