Upstart Personal Loan Originations Grow 83% Year Over Year

Core Insights - Upstart experienced significant growth in loan originations, with a year-over-year increase of 89% to $2.1 billion, primarily driven by personal loans which grew 83% [1][3] - The company is expanding into the super-prime borrower segment, which now represents 32% of total originations [1][3] - Despite positive growth metrics and management's commentary on improved borrower health, shares fell over 18% in after-hours trading due to a slight decrease in contribution margins [1][4] Loan Originations - Total platform originations reached $2.1 billion, with personal loans accounting for $2 billion, reflecting an 83% increase year-over-year [3] - Automated processes contributed to nearly 92% of loans being originated without human intervention [3] Financial Performance - Revenue increased by 67% due to higher conversion rates on lending, as stated by CEO Dave Girouard [4] - Average loan size increased to approximately $8,865 from $8,580 in the previous quarter, influenced by a higher proportion of loans to super-prime borrowers [8] Automation and Technology - The company introduced embedding algorithms to enhance its personal loan underwriting model, improving accuracy and credit decision-making [5] - Upstart automated 90% of hardship applications in Q1, streamlining processes for borrowers [7] Other Lending Segments - Car loan originations grew 42% sequentially, while home equity line of credit (HELOC) originations surged 52% quarter-over-quarter and more than 6 times year-over-year [6] - Short-term lending accounted for 16% of new borrowers in the quarter [6] Future Outlook - The company projects revenues of $225 million for the current quarter, representing a 75% increase compared to the same period last year [10] - CFO Sanjay Datta noted that while macroeconomic factors have not significantly impacted credit performance, there is increased uncertainty with potential upside and downside scenarios [9][10]