With FY 2026 profits forecast to grow 4% to 7%, are CSL shares a good buy today?

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares are slipping today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) biotech stock closed yesterday trading for $152.17. In late morning trade on Tuesday, shares are changing hands for $151.07 apiece, down 0.7%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.5% at this same time.

Unfortunately, today’s underperformance is something stockholders have been dealing with for some time now. With today’s intraday moves factored in, CSL shares are down 41.5% over 12 months, compared to the 5.2% one-year gains posted by the benchmark index.

And those losses will have only been very modestly pared by the company’s dividends. CSL currently trades on a 2.8% unfranked dividend yield, partly trailing, partly pending.

The pending part of that CSL dividend is the $1.838 per share interim payout, declared when the company reported its half year results on 11 February.

If you want to bank that passive income payout, you’ll need to own shares at market close on 9 March. CSL stock trades ex-dividend on 10 March.

Which brings us back to our headline question.

Should you buy CSL shares today?

Bell Potter Securities’ Christopher Watt recently analysed the company’s half year results and outlook (courtesy of The Bull).

“This plasma and vaccines giant reported revenue of US$8.3 billion in the first half of 2026, down 4% on the prior corresponding period,” he noted.

“Underlying net profit after tax and amortisation (NPATA) of US$1.9 billion, excluding restructuring costs and impairments, was down 7%,” Watt added.

But Watt pointed out that CSL shares could have a stronger second half ahead of them, according to the company’s FY 2026 guidance, with management flagging full year potential profit growth of 7%.

Watt said:

The company has maintained full year guidance, with revenue forecast to increase between 2% and 3% and NPATA between 4% and 7% at constant currency.

While marking the ASX 200 healthcare stock as potentially ‘attractive’ longer-term, Watt currently has a hold rating on CSL shares.

“CSL trades below its historical price/earnings ratio and peers. Longer term product pipelines remain attractive,” he concluded.

What’s the latest from the ASX 200 healthcare share?

CSL’s chief financial officer Ken Lim commented on the outlook for CSL shares last week, following the abrupt departure of former CEO Paul McKenzie.

Acknowledging the first half results were disappointing, he said over the six months the company was “adversely impacted by a number of factors including government policy changes, one-off restructuring costs and impairments”.

As for the potentially stronger second half, McKenzie said:

In the second half we have an ambitious growth plan, driven by immunoglobulin (Ig), albumin and our newly launched products. We continued to advance our broader transformation strategy, making strong progress on our cost‑efficiency initiatives and strengthening the foundations of the business.

We invested in growth opportunities including our strategic collaboration with VarmX. This will deliver enhanced growth, profitability and shareholder returns.

The post With FY 2026 profits forecast to grow 4% to 7%, are CSL shares a good buy today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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.