The Wise share price is climbing. How much further will it go?

A graph made of neon tubes in a room

Since the company’s direct listing at the beginning of July, the Wise (LSE: WISE) share price has surpassed all expectations. The stock is up around 21% from its listing price of 800p.

Some analysts had speculated the stock would underperform, just as its peer Deliveroo had in the days and weeks after its IPO. But it seems as if the demand for Wise shares has been much higher than expected. 

Initially, I was planning to buy shares in the company. However, I’ve been caught out by the rapid appreciation of the Wise share price. As such, I’m now starting to wonder if I’ve missed the boat, or if the stock is still undervalued compared to its potential. 

Market potential

The last time I covered the company, I noted it processed around £54bn of currency transactions for its 2021 financial year. While this might seem like a significant sum, I also pointed out the global foreign exchange market is worth £4.7trn a day. These numbers suggest Wise hasn’t even scratched the market’s surface.

Moreover, unlike many other technology companies, the firm isn’t spending huge sums on marketing to generate sales. Spending on marketing isn’t necessarily bad, but some tech groups, such as Deliveroo, are spending so much here that they’re struggling to turn a profit. 

That’s not the case with Wise. In its 2021 financial year, the company reported a profit after tax of £31m, up more than 100% year-on-year.

So, the group isn’t only growing rapidly, but it’s also still a tiny fish in a massive pond with cash to spend on capturing additional market share. 

Risk versus reward

These are all desirable qualities, and I think the company deserves a premium valuation for these reasons. However, at the time of writing, the Wise share price is selling at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 173. This valuation leaves no room for error at all. 

By comparison, US peer PayPal is trading at a forward P/E of 59. I’d argue this US giant has a much stronger brand and more extended global reach than Wise. Therefore, it deserves a higher valuation. 

PayPal could also become a significant challenger to Wise if it wanted to. The company has the headroom to slash the fees on its foreign exchange transactions, which may decimate the London-based business. 

Considering these factors, I think the Wise share price may struggle to head higher. Personally, I think the stock is now overvalued, and I’d rather buy PayPal at a lower multiple. Other investors may have the same opinion, which could put the stock under pressure. 

If shares in the money transfer business fall to a more acceptable valuation, I’d be happy to buy the stock. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t pay the current price. 

The post The Wise share price is climbing. How much further will it go? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

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More reading

  • Should I buy Wise shares in August?
  • Should I buy Wise shares for the explosive potential of the business?
  • What’s happening with the Wise share price?
  • Is now a good time to buy UK shares?
  • The Wise share price is up 20%. Am I a buyer?

Rupert Hargreaves has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK owns shares of and has recommended PayPal Holdings. The Motley Fool UK has recommended the following options: long January 2022 $75 calls on PayPal Holdings. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.