3 ASX tech shares to buy now for long-term returns

These 3 ASX tech shares have shown promising form through the coronavirus pandemic and have the potential to provide long-term rewards.

| More on:
Female Archer Materials staffer standing in front of computerised images

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

ASX tech shares took a beating in March and many are yet to recover previous highs. This means many ASX tech shares are trading at lower multiples than we've seen in some time.

For those with a long-term horizon, market dips are often a good time to add to the portfolio. These 3 ASX tech shares have shown promising form through the pandemic and have the potential to provide long-term rewards. 

Altium Limited (ASX: ALU)

Altium is well-positioned in the current environment, with electronic design anticipated to be relatively resilient to unfolding market conditions. Management remains firmly committed to its aspirational market leadership target of US$200 million revenue in FY20. 

Altium's model is robust and well-diversified across industry segments and regions worldwide. Marketing and direct selling are conducted via the internet and telephone. The roll-out of new cloud platform Altium 365 is being accelerated as worldwide demand for cloud-based collaborative tools grows rapidly.

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

Appen reiterated its full-year guidance for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $125 million to $130 million last month. The company maintains a healthy balance sheet with cash resources in excess of $100 million. Its global crowd workers are ideally situated, working from home as usual. 

Appen has delivered annual compound growth in revenue of 60% over the past 5 years. A pandemic-led increase in the use of search, social media and e-commerce platforms could enhance Appen's performance, as could the weaker Australian dollar and greater availability of crowd workers.

Arguably the largest global provider of data for machine learning, Appen is strengthening its revenue base by extending the range of customers and expanding into new geographies.

Whispir Ltd (ASX: WSP)

Whispir has shown resilience in the current downturn. A record 49 net new customers were added in the March quarter. This was thanks to increased demand for communications software due to the coronavirus pandemic. Many Whispir customers are utilising the platform to activate and coordinate their COVID-19 business continuity plans. 

Whisper provides a software-as-a-service (SaaS) communications workflow platform that is used by the government for COVID-19 communications. The platform automates interactions between businesses and people, and boasts more than 500 enterprise clients. 

Whispir added 8 international brands as customers during the quarter, demonstrating how the platform can expand into multiple use cases for customers. The company is well funded and on track to achieve its FY20 prospectus forecast of revenue of $37.84 million. Revenues increased by 20% in the most recent half while annualised recurring revenue increased 22% to $36.7 million.

Motley Fool contributor Kate O'Brien owns shares of Altium and Appen Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of Altium and Appen Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Whispir Ltd. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

More on Technology Shares

Cheerful businessman with a mining hat on the table sitting back with his arms behind his head while looking at his laptop's screen.
Technology Shares

What's the latest update on takeover target RPM Global?

An extraordinary 99.88% of votes cast were in favour of the takeover.

Read more »

A woman jumps for joy with a rocket drawn on the wall behind her.
Technology Shares

Why is this ASX tech stock jumping 14% on Friday?

This tech stock is ending the week in style.

Read more »

Man ponders a receipt as he looks at his laptop.
Technology Shares

Why experts think the Xero share price could rise 70% in 2026!

This business is one of the most impressive businesses on the ASX.

Read more »

A male ASX investor sits cross-legged with a laptop computer in his lap with a slightly crazed, happy, excited look on his face while next to him a graphic of a rocket shoots upwards with graphics of stars scattered around it
Technology Shares

Rocketboots rockets 80% on blockbuster global deal. Is this ASX small cap just getting started?

Rocketboots shares have jumped 80% after landing a major global contract that could transform its growth outlook.

Read more »

Military engineer works on drone
Technology Shares

2026 will be the 'Year of the Drone': Buy DroneShield shares

Bell Potter believes that this growing company could have a very big year.

Read more »

A woman in a red dress holding up a red graph.
Technology Shares

Shares in this small-cap education company have hit a fresh 12-month high on a lucrative contract win

A lucrative contract with the New Zealand Government has sent this company's shares sharply higher.

Read more »

Two IT professionals walk along a wall of mainframes in a data centre discussing various things
Technology Shares

This ASX 200 share is being labelled one of the market's most undervalued by brokers

NextDC shares have pulled back sharply, but brokers believe the long-term growth story remains firmly on track.

Read more »

A silhouette of a soldier flying a drone at sunset.
Technology Shares

This 10-bagger drone technology company has just won a lucrative new defence contract

This drone technology company's shares are up more than 10x for the year and are trading higher on a new…

Read more »