Business Context
Wisetech is a leader in freight logistical solutions via it’s CargoWise product which is expanding it’s services and value to customers with additional features (modules) and across the supply chain via the E2 acquisition. In doing so it faces technical and market changes for the new products and services offered, integration challenges with the addition of E2 and a disruptive threat with AI that may provide bespoke and lower cost solutions for customers. In addition, it faces an increased polarization of global trade which threatens to reduce trade levels.
Investment Thesis
Wisetech will remain at the cutting edge or ahead of solutions for freight solutions due to it’s founder drive and focus on software engineering and customer value. The adaption in pricing model will enhance margins and align it to it’s customer value proposition to keep it focused on finding solutions to customer problems rather than customers for it’s solutions.
Deglobalisation of trade is yet another challenge for Wisetech’s customers, with increased complexity over trade rules and supply chain shifts. While trade levels may be in threat, the demand for supply chain solutions capable of handling such complexity will grow and Wisetech is well places to lead in providing customer solutions.
The current price at around and EV/M Cap of ~40 and PE ~34 on FY26 earnings requires the bottom line to grow at 15%+ for at least the next 5 years, which is reasonable given history but still challenging. In addition to customer growth it requires the revenue per customer to grow through the role out of CTO, new modules and the “sharing of the savings” approach to pricing with AI automation and workflows which offer revenue growth that can scale with value rather than diminish with efficiencies like the seat based model.
Like most long-term high growth compounders, it requires the company to adapt and change hence it’s the DNA of the company and management to meet and excel through periods of change that matter. This can not be modelled, only monitored to ensure the company continues to innovate and is prepared to make hard decisions that impact the short term for long term benefit.
Hence the thesis rests on the continued drive and innovation shown by Wisetech to date. This has been most attributed by Richard White directly, but is also part of the company DNA, I see CEO Zubin as a sign of this. If this is shown to not be the case then the thesis breaks down more than any other AI or competitive factor that may pose a threat.
Position
I have been building a position since late October and reached a full position allocation last week and am down 27% to this point. Which is small given the drop and not an issue given the long-term intention to hold and I am considering increasing it to an overweight position at current price levels. I last held WTC in 2019 and have been watching ever since (not finding value at much higher multiples), seeing this as an opportune value to get back in as well as having a favourable view of the companies direction grow and adapt. I see issues with Richards personal life, governance and control as part of the territory for such an innovative and leading company, but would obviously prefer them to not be the issues they are. I have no solid view or idea on near term price moves and will continue to monitor in context to it’s long term value.
Disc: I own RL+SM