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Are investors running scared of WiseTech shares?

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A couple sits on a sofa, each clutching their heads in horror and disbelief, while looking at a laptop screen.

There is a difference between a business breaking and sentiment turning.

Right now, I think WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) is firmly in the second category.

Its share price has fallen heavily, down over 50% over the past 12 months. That kind of move naturally raises questions. Has the growth story changed? Is the best behind it?

From where I sit, I think investors are becoming cautious at the wrong time.

The market is focusing on the short term

There are a few reasons why WiseTech shares have come under pressure.

The integration of e2open, margin impacts from restructuring, and broader concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) disruption across software stocks have all weighed on sentiment.

On top of that, the company’s reported profit has been affected by amortisation and acquisition-related costs, which can make the numbers look weaker at first glance.

But when I look at the underlying business, I see something different.

Revenue continues to grow strongly, with total revenue up 76% and CargoWise revenue up 12% in the first half. Cash flow is also increasing, highlighting the strength of the underlying model.

That does not look like a business losing relevance.

AI could strengthen, not weaken, its position

One of the more interesting parts of the recent update is how management is thinking about artificial intelligence.

Rather than seeing it as a threat, WiseTech is leaning into it.

The company is embedding AI across its platform to drive automation, improve efficiency, and deepen its integration into customer workflows.

I think that matters. WiseTech’s software sits at the centre of global logistics and supply chains. It is deeply embedded, highly specialised, and supported by decades of industry-specific data.

In my view, that type of position is hard to replicate. If anything, AI could increase the value of that ecosystem by making the platform more powerful and more essential to customers.

Insider confidence is worth noting

Another detail that stood out to me was the CEO buying shares on market. Zubin Appoo recently purchased just over $1 million worth of shares following the company’s trading blackout period.

I always take insider buying as a positive signal.

It does not guarantee anything, but it does suggest confidence from someone with a deep understanding of the business.

This is still a long-term growth story

For me, WiseTech has always been about a very specific idea. Becoming the operating system for global trade.

That is a massive opportunity.

The company already serves thousands of logistics companies across more than 190 countries, and its platform continues to expand in scale and capability.

It is also transitioning its commercial model toward transaction-based pricing, which I think aligns well with long-term growth in global trade volumes.

There will be bumps along the way. Large acquisitions take time to integrate. Margin profiles can shift. And technology cycles can create uncertainty.

But none of that, in my view, changes the long-term direction.

Foolish Takeaway

I think the recent sell-off in WiseTech shares says more about market sentiment than it does about the underlying business.

Yes, there are challenges. Yes, there is execution risk. But the company continues to grow, invest in its platform, and position itself for the next phase of its evolution.

With the share price down significantly, I believe the risk-reward has become more attractive for long-term investors.

The post Are investors running scared of WiseTech shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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