New York time check: It is 8:55 a.m. ET on Friday, December 26, 2025 in New York.
With U.S. markets reopening after the Christmas holiday, UiPath Inc. (NYSE: PATH) is back in the spotlight—thanks to a fresh index-inclusion catalyst, a sharper profitability narrative from its most recent quarter, and a market backdrop that’s setting up for thin, post-holiday trading.
Stock market status in New York right now
As of 8:55 a.m. ET, the regular NYSE/Nasdaq session has not opened yet (the core session runs 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET). [1]
Pre-market trading is active (typically 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET), but liquidity can be patchy and price moves can look “bigger than they are.” [2]
Also worth noting: U.S. markets closed early at 1:00 p.m. ET on December 24 and were closed on December 25 for Christmas—so the last official closing prints many investors see are from the shortened Christmas Eve session. [3]
UiPath stock price today: where PATH stands before the open
UiPath shares were last indicated around $17.16 in early trading (last reported trade time around 8:39 a.m. ET).
That level matters because it matches the $17.16 close from the Dec. 24 shortened session, when PATH surged on index-related headlines. [4]
The broader tape: a quiet open is the consensus
Heading into the Dec. 26 session, Wall Street futures were pointing to a subdued open in light, post-Christmas trading, with investors balancing year-end positioning against expectations for 2026 profit growth. [5]
Seasonally, Dec. 26 is often discussed as a historically strong day for U.S. equities, though seasonality is never a guarantee—especially in low-volume conditions. [6]
What’s driving UiPath: the S&P MidCap 400 catalyst (and why it can move a stock)
The most immediate “why now” for UiPath is simple: UiPath is set to join the S&P MidCap 400.
S&P Dow Jones Indices announced that UiPath will be added to the S&P MidCap 400 effective prior to the open on January 2, 2026 (replacing Synovus Financial). [7]
Investopedia summarized the market impact succinctly: index inclusion can expand a stock’s exposure and may prompt purchases by funds that track the index. [8]
Why index inclusion can push shares higher
When a company enters a major index, passive index funds and many benchmark-aware institutional managers must buy the stock (or rebalance to include it). That “forced demand” can create a short-term tailwind, especially in smaller or mid-cap names. Barron’s highlighted this forced-buying dynamic in its coverage of the UiPath move. [9]
The key nuance for investors: index addition is a flow event, not automatically a change in underlying fundamentals. The market often tries to “price in” that flow ahead of the effective date—so the calendar matters.
Fundamentals check: UiPath’s latest earnings, growth signals, and guidance
While the index catalyst grabbed headlines, earnings and guidance are the foundation that determines whether flow-driven strength sticks.
Q3 fiscal 2026 results: revenue up, ARR growing, profitability turning
UiPath reported results for its third quarter fiscal 2026 (ended Oct. 31, 2025) with:
- Revenue: $411 million, up 16% year over year
- ARR (annual recurring revenue): $1.782 billion, up 11% year over year
- GAAP operating income: $13 million
- Non-GAAP operating income: $88 million
- Dollar-based net retention: 107%
- Net new ARR: $59 million [10]
In the company’s earnings release, CEO Daniel Dines pointed to customers scaling “agentic automation” and emphasized ARR momentum. [11]
Guidance: what UiPath told the market to expect next
According to an earnings-call transcript summary published by Investing.com, UiPath guided to (among other items):
- Q4 revenue: $462M to $467M
- Q4 ARR: $1.844B to $1.849B
- Q4 non-GAAP operating income target: $140M
- Full-year non-GAAP adjusted free cash flow target: $370M [12]
That guidance matters because it frames whether UiPath’s recent narrative—stabilizing growth + improving profitability—continues into year-end and into FY2027 expectations.
Balance sheet context: cash cushion still substantial
From UiPath’s quarterly filing, the company reported cash and cash equivalents of ~$744M and marketable securities of ~$655M as of Oct. 31, 2025 (roughly $1.4B combined), giving it meaningful flexibility while it invests in product and go-to-market execution. [13]
Analyst forecasts and price targets: “more constructive,” but still mostly cautious
In the days following UiPath’s Q3 report, several firms raised price targets—a sign sentiment improved—but the overall stance remains mixed (many variants of “neutral/hold”).
Notable recent analyst actions
- RBC Capital (Matthew Hedberg) raised its UiPath price target to $19 from $16 while keeping a Sector Perform rating, citing a solid Q3 and improved confidence in continued trend stability—while stressing execution. [14]
- Morgan Stanley (Sanjit Singh) raised its target to $19 from $15 and maintained Equal Weight, referencing a strong earnings report in broader software coverage adjustments. [15]
- UBS reiterated Neutral with a $17 target after Q3 FY2026 results, reflecting a balanced view on upside versus what’s already priced in. [16]
- DA Davidson raised its target to $15 from $12 and maintained Neutral. [17]
Where consensus sits
A widely cited snapshot of Street expectations shows a “Hold” consensus with an average price target in the mid-$15s (with targets spanning roughly $10 to $19 depending on the analyst set). [18]
Takeaway: analysts have gotten less gloomy than earlier in 2025, but the Street still wants proof of durable re-acceleration (not just a quarter or two of better profitability).
The strategic narrative: UiPath’s “agentic automation” push (and what investors should watch)
UiPath is increasingly positioning itself not just as classic RPA (robotic process automation), but as a broader platform for agentic automation and orchestration—a buzzy way of saying: AI-assisted “digital workers” that can plan, act, and coordinate across workflows.
- UiPath’s FUSION 2025 product announcements emphasized an “agentic automation vision” and ROI stories from customers experimenting with these capabilities. [19]
- The company has also promoted expanded platform capabilities for agentic automation and orchestration in its newsroom updates. [20]
- UiPath noted governance improvements around AI usage—such as an AI Trust Layer governance policy referenced in its Automation Ops release notes—an increasingly important issue for regulated enterprises. [21]
- In October, UiPath announced its Platform for Agentic Automation and Orchestration was named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025, quoting CEO Daniel Dines on enabling professionals to automate more and focus on higher-value work. [22]
The monetization question (the one that actually moves long-term valuations)
Multiple analysts and market commentators have echoed a similar theme: agentic automation is promising, but revenue impact may arrive gradually rather than instantly. Seeking Alpha’s coverage of the Q3 print highlighted that adoption is early and not expected to materially boost FY2026 topline yet (even if it helps pipeline). [23]
For investors, the practical watch-items are:
- Are new AI/agentic features driving net new ARR?
- Does retention stay healthy (107% most recently)?
- Do margins and free cash flow improve without sacrificing growth?
Risks and “what could go wrong” (because stocks are allergic to optimism without receipts)
UiPath is not new to sharp sentiment swings. Earlier in 2025, the company faced heavy pressure after pointing to public-sector and macro uncertainty in its outlook, with reporting tying weakness to federal spending dynamics and broader caution. [24]
Other ongoing risks investors commonly track in PATH include:
- Execution risk: UiPath’s story increasingly depends on expanding from RPA into orchestration + agentic AI—ambitious transitions can stumble.
- Competitive pressure: enterprise automation is crowded, with large platform players and specialists competing for workflow ownership.
- Holiday/low-liquidity volatility: the day after Christmas can be thinly traded; price moves may overshoot in either direction.
If you’re watching PATH before the next session: what to know before the opening bell
Because the regular session is still ahead (it opens 9:30 a.m. ET), here are the most relevant near-term factors going into today’s tape:
- Expect lower liquidity and wider spreads early. Post-holiday sessions often see lighter participation; Reuters described today’s environment as “thin post-Christmas trading.” [25]
- Separate “flow” from “fundamentals.” The S&P MidCap 400 inclusion is real and dated (effective before the open Jan. 2, 2026), but the market may keep repricing that event between now and then. [26]
- Watch for follow-through (or fade) after the gap. UiPath’s Dec. 24 close reflected a sharp move tied to the index news. [27]
- Keep an eye on the next earnings window. UiPath’s IR page currently lists no upcoming events scheduled, suggesting the next earnings date is not officially posted yet. [28] Tracking sites commonly estimate early-to-mid March 2026 based on historical cadence, but treat those as provisional until UiPath confirms. [29]
- For technical traders: Investor’s Business Daily recently noted strengthening technical ratings for UiPath, reflecting momentum—but technical setups can be less reliable in holiday trade. [30]
Bottom line
UiPath stock enters the Dec. 26 session with two big forces in play:
- A near-term catalyst: the run-up and positioning around its S&P MidCap 400 addition on Jan. 2, 2026. [31]
- A medium-term fundamental debate: whether improving profitability and ARR trends can persist while the company turns “agentic automation” from narrative into measurable, monetized growth. [32]
In a market that’s trying to open quietly after the holiday—with many investors already looking ahead to 2026—PATH is the kind of stock that can move fast on headlines. The trick is separating temporary flows from durable business momentum.
References
1. www.nyse.com, 2. www.nyse.com, 3. www.nyse.com, 4. finance.yahoo.com, 5. www.reuters.com, 6. www.marketwatch.com, 7. press.spglobal.com, 8. www.investopedia.com, 9. www.barrons.com, 10. ir.uipath.com, 11. d1io3yog0oux5.cloudfront.net, 12. www.investing.com, 13. ir.uipath.com, 14. www.tipranks.com, 15. www.tipranks.com, 16. www.investing.com, 17. www.investing.com, 18. stockanalysis.com, 19. www.uipath.com, 20. www.uipath.com, 21. docs.uipath.com, 22. ir.uipath.com, 23. seekingalpha.com, 24. www.investopedia.com, 25. www.reuters.com, 26. press.spglobal.com, 27. finance.yahoo.com, 28. ir.uipath.com, 29. www.marketbeat.com, 30. www.investors.com, 31. press.spglobal.com, 32. ir.uipath.com
