Down 55% in a year: Do brokers still rate CSL shares as a buy?

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares closed in the red again on Wednesday afternoon. The shares ended the day down around 3% at $117.94 a piece.

The shares started rebounding in late-June and early-July but after peaking at $125.53 last week, the selloff resumed. 

The latest slide means the ASX biotech shares are now down around 31% over the year-to-date, and 55% lower than trading levels this time last year.

Why are investors selling off their CSL shares again?

There hasn’t been any price sensitive news out of CSL recently, but there has been a clear shift in sentiment towards a more cautious outlook.

It’s likely that the latest share price softening is the result of investors taking their gains off the table after the latest rally.

It looks like many investors are now looking forward to the company’s FY26 results announcement due next month. And are eager to see if there is any sign that management has improved operations since its latest disappointing update.

In May, CSL announced FY26 revenue guidance of around US$15.2 billion and NPAT of around US$3.1 billion. Both of these figures came in below market expectations.

The company also flagged expectations of another US$5 billion of non-cash impairments across FY26 and FY27.

My view on CSL‘s future

I think there is a lot of potential for CSL going forward. The business operates in a high-growth biotech market and its blood plasma division dominates the market for rare blood disorders and immunoglobulin products. 

Global demand for plasma therapies is expanding quickly, too. There is recurring demand for pharmaceutical therapies and limited competition, which means CSL can easily carve out a significant portion of the market.

I think that once CSL is able to turn around its financials, investor confidence will quickly follow. As for the immediate outlook, the share price increase over the remainder of 2026 will hinge on the company’s FY26 results, and whether the final figures meet or exceed expectations.

Do brokers still rate the biotech shares as a buy?

A few months ago, brokers were incredibly optimistic about the outlook for CSL shares, with the majority forecasting significant upside.

But now there has been a turnaround in expectations

Market Index data shows that the majority of brokers have now downgraded their rating on CSL to a hold. But the $131.15 average target price implies a potential 11% upside at the time of writing.

TradingView data also shows some analyst sentiment shifts. Out of 18 analysts, 10 now have a hold stance on the biotech company’s shares, and another eight have a hold or strong hold rating.

The average target price is a little higher at $138.88, which implies a potential 18% upside at the time of writing. 

The more bullish of the bunch think CSL shares could climb 68% to $197.85 over the next 12 months. Whereas more bearish brokers think there is potential for the shares to fall another 12% to $103.58 a piece, at the time of writing.

The post Down 55% in a year: Do brokers still rate CSL shares as a buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.