WTC.AX Stock Today: February 26 – AI Cuts Drive 11% ASX Surge
WTC ASX rallied about 11% today after WiseTech confirmed 2,000 role reductions over 18 months to speed its shift to AI agents. The move aims to cut client labour and scale the CargoWise platform, lifting sentiment despite a 36% drop in statutory profit. The WiseTech Global share price traded as high as A$50.99, with volumes well above average. Investors are weighing productivity gains, margin expansion, and execution risks. First look at WTC.AX suggests a premium name where WiseTech job cuts sharpen a longer-term AI thesis across ASX tech stocks.
Why WiseTech jumped today
WiseTech will remove 2,000 roles, about 29% of staff, across 18 months as coding tasks shift to AI agents. Management argues automation will speed delivery and cut client support costs. The announcement reframed the story toward productivity and margins, which the market rewarded. Details were reported by ABC News, including the pivot away from manual coding source.
Statutory profit fell 36%, yet the share price rose as investors focused on operating leverage from AI. Management says agents will materially reduce client labour and improve scalability. That supports a margin expansion view for WTC ASX. Today’s reaction suggests the market prefers predictable cash flows and higher margins over near-term earnings noise, provided execution stays on track.
Valuation and fundamentals
WTC ASX trades on rich metrics by local standards: about 51x TTM earnings, 13.0x sales, and 6.17x book. The dividend yield sits near 0.46%. These multiples price in strong execution of the AI roadmap and sustained growth in CargoWise. Any slip in cost-out timing or slower adoption could compress the WiseTech Global share price multiples quickly.
The balance sheet looks sound. Debt-to-equity is about 0.07 with interest coverage near 47.6x, and net debt sits around neutral to net cash. Operating cash flow per share is A$1.71 and free cash flow A$1.61. R&D investment is sizable at roughly 24% of revenue, which aligns with the AI agent rollout and should support product velocity if savings land as planned.
Technical picture and key levels
RSI near 41.5 remains neutral, while MACD’s positive histogram hints at early momentum. ADX around 43 signals a strong trend, and ATR of 2.97 points to elevated daily swings. Price sits near the Bollinger middle band around A$49.80. For WTC ASX, sustaining closes above that band would support a base-building case after a tough year.
Today’s range touched A$50.99. The lower Bollinger band and 52-week low cluster near A$40.59 offer initial support. Resistance sits around A$59.01 at the upper band. The 50-day average near A$61.14 and 200-day near A$87.16 remain overhead, showing the longer trend is still down even as the WiseTech Global share price rebounds.
Sector context and what’s next
AI efficiency stories have supported select ASX tech stocks, with investors rewarding clear cost-out and product velocity signals. Morningstar notes AI as a positive force for beaten-down names when execution is credible source. WiseTech’s plan fits that pattern, provided AI agents cut client labour, reduce support tickets, and expand margins without hurting service quality.
Key watch items: progress updates on the 18-month reductions, measurable AI agent outcomes for customers, gross and operating margin trends, and retention metrics. The next scheduled earnings date is 26 August 2026. For WTC ASX, signs of faster delivery cycles, lower unit costs, and steady revenue growth would validate today’s repricing; slippage could reverse it.
Final Thoughts
WiseTech’s sharp move shows how quickly sentiment can change when a cost base and product roadmap shift together. The company plans to cut 2,000 roles across 18 months while leaning into AI agents to lower client labour and lift scalability. That narrative, not the 36% statutory profit drop, drove today’s gains. Valuation is full, so delivery matters. We would track margin progression, customer automation metrics, ticket volumes, and cadence of feature releases. Technically, holds above the mid-Bollinger band and any retests of A$50 will be telling, while A$40.59 remains key support. This article is informational and not financial advice. Always do your own research.
FAQs
Why did the WiseTech Global share price jump today?
Investors rewarded a clearer path to productivity and margins. WiseTech plans to cut 2,000 roles, about 29% of staff, over 18 months as AI agents replace manual coding and reduce client support needs. Despite a 36% statutory profit drop, the market focused on operating leverage, pushing WTC ASX up about 11% on strong volume.
What do the WiseTech job cuts mean for margins?
Management says AI agents will lower client labour and shrink support costs, which should lift gross and operating margins over time. If the 18‑month reductions land as guided and service quality holds, margin expansion can support cash flows. Any disruption to delivery cadence could delay benefits and weigh on the WiseTech Global share price.
Is WTC ASX expensive compared with other ASX tech stocks?
WTC ASX trades on about 51x TTM earnings, 13.0x sales, and 6.17x book, with a 0.46% dividend yield. Those are premium levels by local standards and imply high execution confidence. If growth and margins improve as planned, they may be sustained; if not, multiples could compress quickly.
What levels should traders watch on WTC ASX?
Initial support sits near A$40.59, the 52‑week low and lower Bollinger band. The middle band around A$49.80 is a pivot, and A$59.01 marks upper-band resistance. The 50‑day average near A$61 and 200‑day near A$87 remain overhead, suggesting the longer trend is down despite today’s rebound.
Disclaimer:
The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.