** Shares of freelancing platform Upwork UPWK.O fall 5.5% to $11.85
** Brokerage BTIG downgrades UPWK to "neutral" from "buy"; maintains PT of $18
** Says "fundamentals look primed to take another leg down"
** Brokerage says UPWK relies heavily on international markets, which drove 81% of its 2024 revenue growth
** Says co's 2025 sales could fall 6-7% post tariffs; says co will still maintain "healthy EBITDA levels"
** Economic downturn could accelerate AI replacing freelancers as "nearly 90% of automation-related job losses occur in the first year of a recession" - BTIG
** As of last close, stock down 23.4% YTD
(Reporting by Kamal Choudhury in Bengaluru)
((Kamal.Choudhury@thomsonreuters.com;))
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