Five years ago, back in the dinosaur age of 2019, the ASX 200 share market was roaring. We were still "pre-Covid" so to speak, and the world seemed like an entirely different place.
Let's go back to the week ending August 23 2019.
If you had perfect foresight and invested $10,000 in two top performers back then – WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) or Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) – you'd be looking at impressive gains today.
Both ASX 200 stocks have delivered strong returns, outperforming many of their peers. But which one has been the better investment? Let's see.
Solid performer
WiseTech Global is in the logistics software business. It has been a top performer in the ASX 200 over many cycles.
Five years ago, on the week ending 23 August 2019, the ASX 200 tech share's price was $33.25. A $10,000 investment would have nabbed you 300 shares.
At the time of writing, the ASX 200 share is trading at $94.66. Those same 300 shares in WiseTech would now be worth around $28,400.
This equates to an 184% total return or a compounding return of 30% per annum.
Despite the momentum, Goldman Sachs rates the ASX 200 stock as neutral with a price target of $91. The broker acknowledges its growth potential but says it trades at a premium compared to its tech peers.
Consensus also rates it a hold, according to CommSec.
A wealth-generating ASX 200 share
Pro Medicus has been an outstanding performer in the ASX 200 – especially for its early investors.
It posted its FY24 results this week, scoring a 36% jump in net profit, and paying a dividend of 22 cents per share.
Five years ago, the ASX 200 share traded at just $30.
At the time of writing, they're at $146.88. A $10,000 investment in the ASX 200 share five years ago would now be worth a remarkable $478,960.
That's nearly 4.9x total growth (or 390%) in the value of this ASX 200 share, or an eye-popping 48.7% compounding growth rate each year.
Unlike WisteTech, Goldman Sachs is bullish on Pro Medicus. It rates the ASX 200 share a buy with a price target of $148.
It sees significant growth potential for Pro Medicus, not just in its core market of radiology but also in areas like artificial intelligence (AI) and cardiology.
Pro Medicus, too, is rated a hold by consensus.
Foolish takeaway
ASX 200 shares WiseTech and Pro Medicus have delivered exceptional returns over the past five years. This reinforces the importance of taking a long-term view.
In my opinion, both of these shares might be worth a closer look for investors looking to add a high-performing ASX 200 share to their portfolio.
