Buy, hold, sell: CSL, Magellan, and Woodside shares

The Australian share market is home to a large number of quality companies.

But not all of them are necessarily buys today. So, let’s see what analysts are saying about three popular ASX shares this week.

Here’s what you need to know:

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

Despite CSL shares falling materially from their highs, the team at Bell Potter is not in a rush to invest. The broker has retained its hold rating on the biotech giant with a reduced price target of $155.00.

Bell Potter highlights that its shares are trading in line with peers, but estimates that its growth outlook is weaker than average. It said:

The current share price reflects a materially de-rated PE multiple of ~15x our FY27 NPAT forecast, bringing CSL in line with the global biopharma peer set which also trades at an avg PE of 15x. While CSL doesn’t face the same extent of generic/biosimilar competition as these biopharma peers, it does have a lower growth outlook of ~2.5% revenue CAGR (3yr) per our forecast compared to >4% avg for global peers.

Considering the low-growth outlook in the near-term, risk to FY26 guidance, and our below-consensus FY27 forecasts, we maintain our HOLD recommendation notwithstanding the historically low trading multiple. We don’t think CSL is out of the woods just yet. PT is lowered to $155.

Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG)

Over at Morgans, its analysts are positive on this fund manager ahead of its proposed merger with Barrenjoey.

This week, the broker has retained its buy rating on Magellan’s shares with a trimmed price target of $11.99. It said:

MFG has given an end-to-March 2026 quarterly FUM update. FUM (A$37.5bn) was down 6% for the quarter due to a combination of outflows across most funds and market movements. Overall this was a softer quarter at the headline level, albeit some impacts from market volatility are unsurprising. We downgrade our MFG FY26F/FY27F EPS by -1%/-8% due to slightly weaker FUM assumptions and also applying more conservatism to our future Barrenjoey earnings forecasts. Our PT falls to A$11.99 (from A$12.43).

Whilst MFG’s Investment Management performance remains patchy, we think the Barrenjoey merger fundamentally changes MFG’s overall outlook, strengthening the business and providing additional pathways for growth. MFG also retains a strong balance sheet (~A$650m of liquidity, post deal). BUY maintained.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

Lastly, Morgans thinks that this energy giant’s shares are a hold (with a $33.40) price target.

It believes its shares are fairly valued following a strong gain in response to the war in the Middle East. It said:

We downgrade our rating on WDS to HOLD (from ACCUMULATE). Owning WDS has been powerful insurance (as a hedge against supply disruption) but now trading above A$35/share and above our NAV, it has crossed over into an active wager that the crisis is more permanent than we estimate, which sadly is possible, but should this be our base case steering our strategy? No. We remove our 10% conflict premium and apply our upgraded oil/LNG deck, for a small net change in our target price, now at A$33.40 (was A$33.55).

The post Buy, hold, sell: CSL, Magellan, and Woodside shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX 200 energy shares whipsaw amid fragile ceasefire
• Why Bendigo Bank, EBR Systems, Strickland, and Woodside shares are rising today
• What is this broker’s view on Magellan Financial Group after yesterday’s disappointing results
• What’s Bell Potter’s updated view on CSL shares?
• Why are CSL shares struggling to regain momentum?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL and Woodside Energy Group Ltd. 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.