Here's how some of the top ASX SaaS shares performed in FY21

How did ASX SaaS companies do over the financial year just gone?

person touching digital screen featuring array of icons and the word saas

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 Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) shares have become an area of intense and red hot interest over the past few years. And fair enough too. Scaling a business through a SaaS earnings model can be a very lucrative exercise indeed. We have seen this in action with some of the performances of the ASX's most well known SaaS shares.

Take Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) for instance. Investors can largely thank Xero's SaaS model, which allows Xero to develop its cloud-based accounting software as almost a 'one-off cost' and then on-sell it via a cloud subscription at almost no extra cost per additional customer. It's this model which has largely allowed the Xero share price to rise from around $17 five years ago to the $132 it's going for today.

So even though we now know the potential of a successful SaaS model, it's worth a look to see how this sub-sector of the ASX fared over the 2021 financial year that has just ended. As your about to see, just having a SaaS model isn't necessarily a ticket to instant success:

How some of the most popular ASX SaaS shares have performed in FY21:

ASX SaaS share FY2021 share price performance Market capitalisation
Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME) 125.7% $5.85 billion
Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) 65% $19.7 billion
WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) 65% $9.8 billion
Whispir Ltd (ASX: WSP) 21.4% $319.2 million
Altium Limited (ASX: ALU) 13.8% $4.88 billion
TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) 5.8% $2.92 billion
Nearmap Ltd (ASX: NEA) (17.3%) $965.5 million
Pushpay Holdings Ltd (ASX: PPH) (19.2%) $1.71billion
ELMO Software Ltd (ASX: ELO) (40.5%) $395.3 million

As you can see, healthcare SaaS company Pro Medicus was one of the best performing SaaS companies on the ASX over FY21, managing to put on a 125.7% gain over FY2021. Pro Medicus is a company that sells medical diagnostic imaging software. It has benefited from several developments over FY21.

In mid-May, Pro Medicus announced a The University of Vermont Health Network contract that is scheduled to last for 8 years. This contract will see Pro Medicus' Visage 7 Enterprise Imaging Platform deployed across 6 hospitals operated by the University, locking in a lucrative revenue stream. Additionally, the company also announced in June that it had signed another long-term contract, this one with the US healthcare provider Mayo Clinic.

Xero and WiseTech SaaS their way to growth

The aforementioned Xero is also close to the top of this list, with a FY21 performance of 65%. It was raw growth numbers that seemed to be working in Xero's favour last financial year.

Xero gave investors its full-year earnings for the 12 months to 31 March a few months ago. The company reported that revenues grew by 18%, subscriber numbers were up by 20% and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 39%. As you might expect, investors were clearly impressed by this SaaS company's model continuing to execute well.

The same could be said for SaaS logistics solutions company WiseTech Global. WiseTech also managed a 65% gain for FY21. This was spurred by the company's half-year earnings report for FY21 that WiseTech divulged back in February. This highlighted revenue growth of 16% and EBITDA rising by a very pleasing 43%.

Communications platform provider Whispir was another SaaS share that had a relatively successful FY21. Again, it was strong growth that seemed to encourage Whispir investors. The company's April quarterly update was emblematic of this. Whispir reported that annualised recurring revenues grew by 20.3% over the 3 months to 31 March 2021, compared to the previous year's quarter.

SaaS doesn't always equal success

However, it's worth noting that not all SaaS shares soared over FY21. Some clear losers are obvious in the table above, namely Nearmap, Pushpay and ELMO Software.

Pushpay was an interesting case. Even though it delivered seemingly impressive numbers in its annual earnings report back in May, investors have not given it a very nice run at all in FY21. That was despite revenues jumping by 40% and earnings by a whopping 133%.

Turning to Nearmap, and revelations last month that it would be facing legal proceedings for alleged patent infringement really seemed to derail this company's share price performance for FY21. It's worth noting that Nearmap has assured investors that the company's business remains unaffected and that it is defending these allegations vigorously.

And finally, let's take a look at the SaaS FY21 wooden spooner in ELMO Software. ELMO did deliver some impressive numbers with its half-year earnings back in February. The company told investors that its revenues grew by almost 30% in the 6 months to 31 December 2020, helped by user numbers climbing 95.7% over the prior corresponding period.

However, as my Fool colleague Frank covered last month, ELMO has also been heavily diluting its share count over FY21, with a $90 million capital raise program that was held over May. This might at least be partially behind its poor share price performance over FY21.

Foolish takeaway

As we've seen with some of these ASX SaaS companies, a software-as-a-Service model can be a very efficient path for companies to grow their revenues and earnings. However, it doesn't always work out as planned. SaaS companies can succeed, but they usually need more than just the SaaS model to do so.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Altium, Elmo Software, Nearmap Ltd., PUSHPAY FPO NZX, Pro Medicus Ltd., Whispir Ltd, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Altium, Elmo Software, Nearmap Ltd., PUSHPAY FPO NZX, Pro Medicus Ltd., WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Whispir Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

More on Technology Shares

A man sits thoughtfully on the couch with a laptop on his lap.
Technology Shares

This ASX tech stock rocketed 60% in March! Can it keep on delivering?

After soaring in March, the ASX tech stock is now up 169% since this time last year.

Read more »

Five happy friends on their phones.
Share Market News

Goldman Sachs says these ASX tech stocks can rise 18% to 30%

The broker sees big returns on offer from these shares.

Read more »

A guy helps a girl lift a couch, both are laughing.
Technology Shares

3 of the best ASX tech shares to buy and hold until 2030

I think these stocks have exciting futures.

Read more »

A young woman uses a laptop and calculator while working from home.
Technology Shares

If I'd put $5,000 in Block shares 5 months ago, here's what I'd have now

Was it a good idea to invest in this payments stock five months ago?

Read more »

Close up of a sad young woman reading about declining share price on her phone.
Technology Shares

Why is the Brainchip share price sinking over 7% today?

What's going on with this tech stock on Wednesday?

Read more »

woman working on tablet
Technology Shares

Missed out on Nvidia? My best ASX tech stock to buy and hold

Do you have FOMO after the US chip maker's share price rocketed? Here's an Aussie company worth backing instead.

Read more »

Three businesspeople leap high with the CBD in the background.
Technology Shares

Guess which ASX small-cap stock is rocketing 45% on 'pivotal moment'

Investors have responded very positively to an announcement.

Read more »

A man looking at his laptop and thinking.
Technology Shares

Why are these ASX tech shares getting smashed today?

Owners of these two stocks are missing out today.

Read more »