UPWK vs. DOCN

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

UPWK (Upwork Inc.) and DOCN (DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc.) are both stocks. UPWK operates in Staffing & Employment Services (Industrials), while DOCN operates in Software - Infrastructure (Technology). Over the past 5 years, UPWK returned -30.02%/yr vs 32.73%/yr for DOCN. At a 0.46 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

UPWK vs. DOCN - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Upwork Inc. (UPWK) and DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (DOCN). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, UPWK achieves a -57.16% return, which is significantly lower than DOCN's 254.20% return.

UPWK

• 1D: 0.35%
• 1M: 5.07%
• YTD: -57.16%
• 6M: -61.32%
• 1Y: -38.61%
• 3Y*: -3.10%
• 5Y*: -30.02%
• 10Y*: —

DOCN

• 1D: -2.47%
• 1M: 10.05%
• YTD: 254.20%
• 6M: 257.62%
• 1Y: 536.45%
• 3Y*: 53.92%
• 5Y*: 32.73%
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

UPWK vs. DOCN - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
UPWK Upwork Inc.	-57.16%	21.22%	9.95%	42.43%	-69.44%	-24.06%
DOCN DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc.	254.20%	41.24%	-7.14%	44.05%	-68.29%	93.57%

Correlation

The correlation between UPWK and DOCN is 0.11, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.11
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.31
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.47
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 24, 2021	0.46

Over the past year, the correlation between UPWK and DOCN has dropped to 0.11 - well below their long-term average of 0.46, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Fundamentals

Market Cap UPWK : $1.15B DOCN : $19.07B
EPS UPWK : $0.79 DOCN : $2.42
PE Ratio UPWK : 10.79 DOCN : 70.53
PEG Ratio UPWK : 0.07 DOCN : 0.27
PS Ratio UPWK : 1.98 DOCN : 18.91
PB Ratio UPWK : 2.02 DOCN : 21.50
Total Revenue (TTM) UPWK : $595.10M DOCN : $948.63M
Gross Profit (TTM) UPWK : $612.97M DOCN : $554.86M
EBITDA (TTM) UPWK : $152.42M DOCN : $373.00M

Return for Risk

UPWK vs. DOCN — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

UPWK

UPWK Risk / Return Rank: 15
UPWK Sharpe Ratio Rank: 13
UPWK Sortino Ratio Rank: 15
UPWK Omega Ratio Rank: 16
UPWK Calmar Ratio Rank: 19
UPWK Martin Ratio Rank: 11

DOCN

DOCN Risk / Return Rank: 99
DOCN Sharpe Ratio Rank: 99
DOCN Sortino Ratio Rank: 98
DOCN Omega Ratio Rank: 97
DOCN Calmar Ratio Rank: 99
DOCN Martin Ratio Rank: 100

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

UPWK vs. DOCN - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Upwork Inc. (UPWK) and DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (DOCN). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	UPWK	DOCN	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.70	6.24	-6.94
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	-0.82	5.41	-6.24
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	0.90	1.66	-0.76
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.65	21.10	-21.76
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-1.33	63.88	-65.22

UPWK vs. DOCN - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current UPWK Sharpe Ratio is -0.70, which is lower than the DOCN Sharpe Ratio of 6.24. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of UPWK and DOCN, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

UPWK vs. DOCN - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum UPWK drawdown since its inception was -87.48%, roughly equal to the maximum DOCN drawdown of -84.78%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for UPWK and DOCN.

Drawdown Indicators

	UPWK	DOCN	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-87.48%	-84.78%	-2.70%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-63.46%	-24.11%	-39.35%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-63.46%	-60.28%	-3.18%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-87.48%	-84.78%	-2.70%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-86.01%	-5.57%	-80.44%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-56.45%	-58.89%	+2.44%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	31.15%	7.95%	+23.20%

Volatility

UPWK vs. DOCN - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Upwork Inc. (UPWK) is 14.92%, while DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (DOCN) has a volatility of 17.94%. This indicates that UPWK experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than DOCN based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	UPWK	DOCN	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	14.92%	17.94%	-3.02%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	46.56%	61.13%	-14.57%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	58.92%	81.58%	-22.66%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	63.38%	71.32%	-7.94%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	64.76%	70.58%	-5.82%

Dividends

UPWK vs. DOCN - Dividend Comparison

Neither UPWK nor DOCN has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Financials

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both UPWK and DOCN in my portfolio?

UPWK and DOCN have a correlation of 0.11, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, UPWK or DOCN?

DOCN has higher volatility (17.94%) compared to UPWK (14.92%). In terms of maximum drawdown, UPWK dropped -87.48% vs DOCN's -84.78%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

DOCN currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (6.24 vs -0.70), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.