Who is UiPath? The automation giant that just acquired Manchester’s Peak – but saw its share price tank

UiPath, the $424m-turnover business automation giant, has made headlines this today with its acquisition of Manchester-based AI specialist Peak. But as it looks to expand its AI capabilities, the company is facing questions about its own future after its share price plummeted after a disappointing earnings report.

After a topsy turvy week on US stock markets, no doubt fuelled by President Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada and questions over the state of wider US economy, UiPath has taken a battering after it posted mixed results in its latest earnings report and offered guidance for the year ahead that trailed Wall Street’s expectations.

It comes as the company announced the acquisition of Manchester AI specialist Peak this morning. But the news doesn’t see to have stemmed the bad news for investors in UiPath as its stock is down a whopping 19% in pre market trading.

READ MORE – From pub napkin to $119m funding: How AI company Peak is thinking globally as it moves to new Manchester HQ

But who exactly are UiPath and what can we expect for the future of Peak?

The rise of UiPath

Founded in Romania in 2005, UiPath has grown into one of the biggest names in robotic process automation (RPA), a technology designed to automate repetitive business tasks. Headquartered in New York, the company has offices in 50 locations worldwide and was one of the early pioneers in using AI to streamline workflows and reduce human error in data-heavy industries.

UiPath went public in 2021 with a blockbuster IPO that saw its valuation soar to $35bn, cementing its reputation as a leader in automation technology. But like many tech companies riding the AI wave, it has struggled to sustain its early momentum. The company has been pushing into the emerging field of ‘agentic AI’ – AI-powered digital workers that can make decisions with minimal human intervention – to stay competitive against giants like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Salesforce.

Why did UiPath buy Peak?

Peak, founded in Manchester in 2015, has made a name for itself in decision intelligence – AI that helps businesses optimise inventory, pricing, and other key operations. The company has raised $119m from investors including SoftBank Vision Fund II, Praetura Ventures, and Octopus Ventures.

READ MORE: My Startup: Peak, Manchester

The acquisition is part of UiPath’s strategy to strengthen its AI capabilities and expand into industry-specific automation. CEO Daniel Dines said Peak’s AI applications would help UiPath “enhance our ability to provide solutions that optimise industry-specific use cases and deliver incredible value to customers.”

But the timing of the deal is noteworthy – just as UiPath is facing significant investor anxiety.

UiPath’s share price takes a nosedive

While UiPath remains a leader in AI-driven automation, its latest earnings report has raised concerns about its growth prospects. The company posted fourth-quarter earnings of 26 cents per share, beating Wall Street’s 20-cent estimate. But revenue was just $424m – slightly below the $425.1m forecast – and growth slowed to 5% year-over-year.

Worrying for investors was UiPath’s guidance for the year ahead. It warned of “increasing global macroeconomic uncertainty” and set revenue projections of $1.525bn to $1.53bn for fiscal 2026 – well below analyst expectations of $1.58bn. The short-term outlook was just as grim, with first-quarter revenue projected at $330m to $335m, missing the $367.5m forecast.

The market reaction was brutal. UiPath’s stock plunged and is down more than 19% in pre-market trading at the time of writing, as investors questioned whether the company can reignite its growth in an increasingly competitive AI landscape.

What’s next for UiPath – and Peak?

Despite the share price crash, UiPath is betting big on AI agents as the future of automation. The company recently launched a suite of AI-driven tools, including Autopilot, Agent Builder, and Agentic Orchestration. But analysts warn that competitors are advancing quickly, and the transition from traditional RPA to AI-powered digital workers is not guaranteed to deliver rapid growth.

For Peak, joining UiPath could provide the global scale and resources needed to expand its decision intelligence technology into new markets. However, the acquisition also comes at a time of uncertainty, with UiPath under pressure to prove that its AI strategy can deliver tangible financial results.

As the AI race heats up, UiPath’s gamble on Peak – and on its broader automation vision – will be closely watched in the months ahead.