Guess which beaten-up ASX 300 tech stock is rocketing 15% today

This once much-loved tech company has lost 98% of its value over the past three years.

| More on:
Man pointing at a blue rising share price graph.

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

The S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) is down 0.29% on Tuesday, but one particular tech stock is outperforming its peers.

Battered ASX 300 tech share Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) is up 15.71% to 41 cents in late afternoon trading.

This is despite no official news from the company, which provides data solutions for machine learning.

What's the latest with this ASX 300 tech stock?

The last time we heard price-sensitive news for this ASX 300 tech stock was on 12 February.

As we reported, Appen released a cost management update that revealed measures to save $13.5 million per annum in costs to offset the loss of its Google contract.

Appen advised the market on 22 January that Google, owned by Alphabet Inc, was terminating its global inbound services contract, with all projects to cease by 19 March.

While cost savings are always good for businesses, that $13.5 million per annum is a drop in the bucket compared to the revenue loss. In FY23, the ASX 300 company's revenue from Google was $82.8 million.

Appen points out that the $13.5 million in cost savings will come on top of other initiatives that resulted in a $60 million per annum saving over the course of FY23.

The ASX 300 tech company expects to complete 80% of these additional cost-cutting initiatives by next month. The rest will be completed by June.

Appen expects the first full-year benefit of these cost savings to be realised in FY25.

It will cost Appen between $1.5 million and $2.5 million in one-off total expenses to implement the measures to save $13.5 million per year.

Appen is hoping to return to cash EBITDA profitability in FY24. However, it says this "will largely depend on revenue growth from our non-global customers, the timing of which remains uncertain".

The ASX 300 tech company is due to report its FY23 full-year results on 27 February.

Appen share price snapshot

The Appen share price has fallen 98% over the past three years.

By comparison, the ASX 300 has risen 12.1% over the same period.

Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Appen. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet and Appen. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet. 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

a woman stares ahead with a serious expression on her face while half of her face is covered by computer coding, indicative of artificial intelligence and machine learning technology.
AI Stocks

Buying NextDC shares? Here's Moody's 5-year data centre growth forecast

Can NextDC expect to see ongoing data centre demand growth?

Read more »

Happy man and woman looking at the share price on a tablet.
Technology Shares

2 excellent ASX 200 tech stocks to buy after the selloff

What are brokers saying about these buy-rated stocks?

Read more »

Young woman using computer laptop with hand on chin thinking about question, pensive expression.
Technology Shares

Down 43% in 8 days, is the DroneShield share price a bargain buy?

Despite plunging 43% in eight trading days, DroneShield shares remain up 338% in a year.

Read more »

A group of people gathered around a laptop computer with various expressions of interest, concern and surprise on their faces. All are wearing glasses.
Technology Shares

ASX 200 tech shares tumble following Nasdaq stock market crash

ASX 200 tech stocks are taking a beating after the Nasdaq plunged 3.6% overnight.

Read more »

Man pointing at a blue rising share price graph.
Technology Shares

Why this high-flying ASX defence stock is surging again today

The ASX defence stock is on another tear today. But why?

Read more »

two computer geeks sit across from each other with their laptop computers touching as they look confused and confounded by what they are seeing on their screens.
Technology Shares

'Signs of rotation' from ASX tech shares to value stocks and cyclicals: expert

Tech shares shone brightly in FY24 but will this trend continue in FY25?

Read more »

man on his phone in front of all his computer screens checking the market and the ASX 200
Technology Shares

Can WiseTech shares crack the $100 mark again?

This ASX broker expects WiseTech to return to a three-digit share price...

Read more »

A man slumps crankily over his morning coffee as it pours with rain outside.
Technology Shares

DroneShield share price sinks 13% on half year update

How did DroneShield perform during the first half? Let's find out.

Read more »