CSL led the ASX healthcare shares rebound. Can it continue?

For years, ASX healthcare shares have been the market’s rotten apple. Once viewed as a defensive safe haven, the sector became one of the ASX’s biggest laggards.

The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) is still down 33% over five years and 18% over the past 12 months. Between January 2025 and June 2026, the index lost more than half its value.

Then August happened. The ASX 200 Health Care index surged 13% over a month and now sits 44% above its June low, comfortably beating the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which gained 3% over the same period.

So, have ASX healthcare shares finally turned the corner?

CSL leads the charge

The sector entered August with expectations firmly beaten down. That proved to be a blessing.

Companies largely cleared the low bar, with cost control doing much of the heavy lifting. Healthcare was also the only sector where more companies upgraded their outlooks for the year ahead than downgraded them.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) was the standout. Its shares jumped 40% in August after plasma product sales for the June half came in ahead of expectations.

More importantly, management pointed to improving gross margins at CSL Behring, the plasma business that has caused plenty of headaches in recent years. UBS now believes the worst could be behind CSL ahead of its CEO transition in 2027.

Other healthcare heavyweights also delivered. Ansell Ltd (ASX: ANN) jumped 23% after beating expectations, with its FY27 guidance implying double-digit earnings-per-share growth at the midpoint.

Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC) gained 16% after a better-than-expected FY26 result. Its new management team expects further margin expansion in FY27, helped by more predictable private health insurance agreements, better operating theatre utilisation and procurement savings.

The rally wasn’t limited to those three names. Eight of the sector’s 10 largest ASX healthcare shares finished August higher. Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) climbed 13%, Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) rose 10%, and ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD) gained close to 10%.

Can the rebound continue?

This is where things get interesting. August was impressive, but FY27 will be the real test.

Management teams are generally optimistic, yet analysts aren’t quite as convinced. According to a recent Macquarie note, consensus FY27 earnings forecasts for the sector were actually cut by more than 2% during August.

There’s another problem: valuations have rebounded alongside share prices. The bargain-basement appeal that existed at June’s lows has largely disappeared. Investors are now paying more for the turnaround they hope is coming.

The August reporting season suggests CSL and several of its peers may finally be back on firmer ground. But after such a powerful rebound, the easy part may already be over.

Now, ASX healthcare shares need to deliver.

The post CSL led the ASX healthcare shares rebound. Can it continue? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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, Cochlear, ResMed, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Ansell, CSL, Cochlear, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.