XMTR vs UPWK

For growth investors, Xometry, Inc.

(XMTR) is the stronger pick with 25. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 4% for Upwork Inc. (UPWK). Upwork Inc. (UPWK) offers the better valuation at 12. 8x trailing P/E (7. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Xometry, Inc. (XMTR) a "Buy" — based on 14 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On forward P/E, Upwork Inc.

is actually cheaper at 7. 4x.

Over the past 5 years, Xometry, Inc.

(XMTR) delivered a total return of -10. 2%, compared to -74. 8% for Upwork Inc. (UPWK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: XMTR returned -10. 2% versus UPWK's -49. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Upwork Inc.

(UPWK) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 16β versus Xometry, Inc. 's 1. 94β — meaning XMTR is approximately 67% more volatile than UPWK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Upwork Inc. (UPWK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 60% versus 126% for Xometry, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Xometry, Inc.

(XMTR) is pulling ahead at 25. 9% versus 2. 4% for Upwork Inc. (UPWK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Xometry, Inc. grew EPS -18. 4% year-over-year, compared to -45. 4% for Upwork Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, XMTR leads at 21. 7% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Upwork Inc.

(UPWK) is the more profitable company, earning 14. 7% net margin versus -9. 0% for Xometry, Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UPWK leads at 16. 4% versus -6. 6% for XMTR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UPWK leads at 77. 8%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Upwork Inc.

(UPWK) trades at 7. 4x forward P/E versus 117. 0x for Xometry, Inc. — 109. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UPWK: 118. 1% to $23. 14.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Upwork Inc.

(UPWK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 16)). Xometry, Inc. (XMTR) carries a higher beta of 1. 94 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (UPWK: -49. 9%, XMTR: -10. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: XMTR is a small-cap high-growth stock; UPWK is a small-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.