These three ASX shares have taken a beating over the past year, but their market leadership and long-term growth potential could make them worth a closer look.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) and NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT) are down 60%, 39% and 5%, respectively, at the time of writing.

While Buffett typically favours predictable, cash-generative businesses with durable competitive advantages, these three companies offer some of those qualities, albeit with varying degrees of risk.

WiseTech Global: logistics software at a crossroads

WiseTech’s CargoWise platform powers critical operations across the global freight and logistics industry. Its deep integration into customers’ workflows creates switching costs and a network effect that can be difficult for competitors to replicate.

However, the ASX tech share has endured a messy period, with governance concerns and controversies surrounding founder leadership damaging investor confidence.

Now, WiseTech is making a dramatic transformation, including cutting roughly one-third of its workforce as it integrates AI into its core offerings. That’s a significant execution risk, but it could ultimately create a leaner and more efficient business.

TradingView data shows most analysts rate WiseTech shares a buy or strong buy, with an average price target of $60.63, implying around 33% upside.

It’s more speculative than Buffett’s typical compounders, but the company’s platform remains a potentially valuable asset.

Pro Medicus: a powerful healthcare moat

This $20 billion ASX share provides medical imaging software, with its Visage platform helping hospitals and healthcare systems view and analyse medical images.

What makes it difficult to copy is the combination of sophisticated technology, deep integration into hospital workflows and the significant switching costs involved in replacing critical clinical software.

Importantly, Pro Medicus estimates it has captured only around 11% of the US market, leaving a substantial runway for expansion.

During FY26, the company signed 10 new contracts worth at least $407 million and renewed all six existing contracts, worth $141 million over five years. Customers are also increasingly adopting its cardiology offering.

Nine of 15 TradingView analysts rate the shares a buy or strong buy. The average price target of $212.65 implies roughly 12% upside, while Bell Potter retains a buy rating and $226 target.

NextDC: betting on the AI boom

NextDC operates data centres, increasingly vital infrastructure for the digital economy. As AI, cloud computing, streaming and other data-intensive applications expand, demand for secure data centre capacity should keep rising.

This ASX share is expanding its footprint, including its first AI-ready facility in Kuala Lumpur and facilities designed specifically for AI workloads, such as its S6 Sydney data centre.

The opportunity has attracted strong broker support. Nine of 10 TradingView analysts rate NextDC shares a buy or strong buy.

The average price target is $21.60, implying around 59% upside, while UBS maintains a buy rating with a $22.55 target.

Foolish takeaway

None of these ASX shares is a pure textbook Warren Buffett investment. But all three possess qualities Buffett appreciates: market leadership, competitive advantages and potentially significant long-term cash-generation opportunities.

For investors prepared to accept the risks, these beaten-down ASX shares could offer significant upside if their growth stories remain intact.

The post Warren Buffett’s playbook: 3 cheap ASX shares that could soar up to 60% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• Would I buy NEXTDC shares after its strong FY26 results?
• 2 ASX data centre stocks rated a buy
• 3 ASX 200 shares to buy post-results: broker
• 9 ASX 200 shares with strengthened buy ratings this week

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It was a busy week for Australia’s top brokers. This has led to a number of broker notes being released. 

Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here’s why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone:

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts have retained their buy rating on this counter-drone technology company’s shares with a trimmed price target of $2.40. The broker highlights that DroneShield’s first-half underlying EBITDA was a material miss. However, Bell Potter points out that its first-half revenue was in line with expectations and its updated committed revenue for FY 2026 now stands at $240 million. It believes that this means DroneShield is likely to achieve the top-end of its guidance range for the year. This is especially the case given the new proprietary RfAI-3 software engine and flagship next-generation RfRecon hardware are generating strong early customer interest. It expects the high-moat next gen products to drive continued contract wins, particularly from Europe. The DroneShield share price ended the week at $1.75.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)

A note out of Morgans reveals that its analysts have upgraded this pharmacy chain operator’s shares to a buy rating with a trimmed price target of $3.19. This follows the release of its FY 2026 result, which was in line with expectations. Morgans was also pleased with Sigma’s guidance for FY 2027, noting that it is targeting double-digit revenue and earnings growth. In light of this, the broker feels that recent share price weakness is overdone and provides investors with an opportunity to buy shares at an attractive price. The Sigma Healthcare share price was fetching $2.68 at Friday’s close.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

Another note out of Morgans reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating on this logistics technology company’s shares with a slightly reduced price target of $62.50. It highlights that WiseTech Global delivered a result that was largely in line with its expectations in FY 2026. And while CargoWise revenue growth was softer than expected, it was pleased with the annualised run-rate savings of ~US$115 million. The broker was also pleased to see management guiding to improving margins in FY 2027, which has led to an upgrade to its estimates for the year. The WiseTech Global share price ended the week at $40.61.

The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 4 ASX shares scoring upgrades in the final week of earnings season
• Buy, hold, sell: Netwealth, Sigma Healthcare, and Wesfarmers shares
• 3 ASX 200 shares to buy post-results: broker
• 9 ASX 200 shares with strengthened buy ratings this week
• WiseTech shares are bouncing back. Is it time to buy?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield and 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.

ASX 200 materials and mining shares outperformed the other 10 market sectors last week.

Materials and mining stocks rose by a modest 2.5% over the week, according to CommSec data.

Meanwhile, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) closed out the week up 0.37% to 9,092.3 points on Friday.

Only four sectors finished in the green last week.

Let’s review.

ASX materials and mining shares led the market

As earnings season continued last week, several ASX mining shares reached new record highs.

Among them was BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), which reset its historical high at $68.77 per share on Wednesday.

BHP is not only the largest miner on the market, it’s also the most valuable company of the entire ASX 200.

The BHP share price finished the week 3.28% higher at $67.30 per share.

The Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price increased 1.8% to $18.07.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares lifted 1.52% to $178.04.

Diversified ASX 200 miner, Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN), fell 1.25% to $65.46 per share.

The South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) share price leapt 7.36% to $5.25 on Friday.

Pure-play ASX copper share Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) surged 7.81% to $23.34 per share.

ASX gold share Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) ascended 3.38% to $24.78.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares rose 1.64% to $182.80.

The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price closed at $15.67, up 2.08%.

ASX 200 lithium stock PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) jumped 5.72% to $5.36 per share.

The IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) share price rose 2.63% to $8.58.

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) shares edged 0.31% higher to $16.26.

Among the non-mining ASX 200 materials shares, BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) rose 1.48% to $30.86.

The James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX) share price fell 3.31% to $41.42.

Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI) shares decreased 0.81% to $21.98.

Several mining shares are among 37 companies going ex-dividend next week.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here’s how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

S&P/ASX 200 market sector	Change last week
Materials (ASX: XMJ)	2.5%
Consumer Staples (ASX: XSJ)	1.82%
Healthcare (ASX: XHJ)	1.11%
Industrials (ASX: XNJ)	0.14%
Financials (ASX: XFJ)	(0.30%)
Utilities (ASX: XUJ)	(0.46%)
Information Technology (ASX: XIJ)	(0.47%)
Energy (ASX: XEJ)	(1.37%)
Consumer Discretionary (ASX: XDJ)	(1.7%)
A-REIT (ASX: XPJ)	(1.94%)
Communication (ASX: XTJ)	(2.23%)

The post ASX 200 mining shares outperform in final week of earnings season appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• If I invest $15,000 in Fortescue shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2027?
• Why gold stocks have regained their shine: Expert
• Could ASX shares crash? 5 questions every investor should ask now
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Northern Star shares are closing in on $25. Can the rally keep going?

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.