CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares have endured a brutal fall over the past year, with investors watching nearly a decade of gains disappear.

The healthcare giant shares are now trading around levels last seen in March 2017, effectively wiping out nine years of share price appreciation. However, there are early signs sentiment may be improving, with CSL shares rallying an impressive 34% over the past month.

Even after that rebound, the stock remains down around 50% over the past 12 months. That raises the big question for investors: can CSL shares eventually recover to last year’s highs above $275?

What do analysts think?

Broker sentiment remains divided. According to TradingView data, 18 analysts have updated their ratings on CSL shares over the past three months. Eight recommend buying the stock or rate it a strong buy, while the remaining 10 have a hold recommendation.

Despite the mixed views, the average price target sits at $141.53, implying upside of around 16% from current levels. The most bullish analyst has a target price of $201.07, suggesting potential upside of roughly 65%.

Among the more optimistic brokers is Morgans, which recently retained its Buy rating and a price target of $147.59. That implies approximately 20% upside, with the broker continuing to back the company’s long-term fundamentals.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), however, remains more cautious. The broker has a neutral rating and a price target of $114, reflecting uncertainty across CSL’s core plasma and albumin businesses, alongside ongoing competitive pressures.

A quality business facing headwinds

Not long ago, CSL shares were widely regarded as one of the ASX’s most dependable compounders. The company built its reputation on consistent earnings growth, global leadership in plasma-derived therapies, and a long history of delivering strong returns for patient shareholders.

That perception has changed dramatically over the past year. A series of earnings downgrades, leadership changes, and roughly US$5 billion in non-cash impairments linked to the CSL Vifor acquisition have significantly dented investor confidence. Combined, these factors have contributed to the stock’s decline of more than 50%.

Yet despite the sharp sell-off, the underlying business remains highly defensive. CSL is still the world’s second-largest plasma-derived therapies company, operating in an industry with high barriers to entry, stringent regulation, and complex global supply chains. Those competitive advantages are difficult for rivals to replicate.

Can CSL shares recover?

CSL’s latest guidance suggests the business continues to grow, albeit at a slower pace than investors had become accustomed to.

Management expects FY26 revenue of around US$15.2 billion and underlying net profit after tax and amortisation (NPATA) of approximately US$3.1 billion on a constant currency basis.

The biggest challenge remains the US immunoglobulin business within CSL Behring.

While demand continues to grow at a healthy mid-to-high single-digit rate, supply constraints and pricing dynamics have prevented the company from fully capitalising on that demand. That mismatch has weighed on margins and earnings momentum, helping explain why investor sentiment has remained subdued.

Whether CSL shares can eventually reclaim their previous highs will likely depend on management’s ability to improve execution, restore earnings growth, and rebuild market confidence.

For long-term investors, the recent rebound may be encouraging. But with analysts still split and operational challenges yet to fully ease, the path back to $275 is unlikely to be a straight line.

The post After losing half their value, can CSL shares reclaim $275? 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 and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares showed signs of life last week, finishing 2% higher on Friday and gaining around 7% over the past five trading days.

While the recent rebound has lifted investor sentiment, it’s only a small recovery in the context of the stock’s dramatic decline. WiseTech shares remain down around 20% over the past month. They’ve lost roughly 70% over the past year. This makes the stock one of the biggest losers on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) over that period.

The question now is whether this bounce marks the beginning of a sustained recovery, or whether the tech stock is destined to head lower again.

Brokers are overwhelmingly bullish

Despite the steep sell-off, analysts remain surprisingly optimistic. According to TradingView data, 12 of the 15 analysts covering WiseTech rate the stock as either a buy or strong buy. The remaining three recommend holding the shares.

The average 12-month price target stands at $68.37, more than double the current share price of $32.96. The most bullish analyst has a target price of $121.76. This implies potential upside of almost 270% if the company can restore investor confidence.

Bell Potter also remains positive on the outlook for WiseTech shares. Although the broker recently lowered its 12-month price target from $78.75 to $71.75, it retained its buy recommendation. Even after the downgrade, the revised target suggests potential upside of around 118% from current levels.

What caused the sell-off?

Unlike many technology companies that have suffered from slowing revenue growth, WiseTech’s problems haven’t been driven by weakening demand.

Its flagship CargoWise platform remains one of the world’s leading logistics software solutions, serving freight forwarders, customs brokers, and global supply chain operators. The business continues to benefit from long-term trends towards digitalisation and increasingly complex international trade.

Instead, the collapse in WiseTech shares has been driven largely by governance concerns. Questions surrounding founder and executive chairman Richard White first emerged late last year and have continued to overshadow the company’s strong operational performance.

Markets typically place a premium on certainty, particularly when it comes to corporate leadership. As governance concerns dominated headlines, investors became less willing to pay the high valuation that WiseTech had historically commanded.

The result has been a dramatic de-rating, despite the company’s underlying business remaining fundamentally sound.

Did the market overreact?

That is becoming the key debate among investors.

The strength of broker recommendations suggests many believe the sell-off has gone too far. Analysts continue to point to WiseTech’s dominant market position, recurring revenue model and long runway for global growth as reasons to remain optimistic over the long term.

However, governance issues can take time to resolve, and investor confidence is often slow to rebuild. For WiseTech shares to sustain their recent rebound, the market will likely need greater clarity around leadership, governance and execution, alongside continued delivery of strong financial results.

 

The post Can WiseTech shares double from here? Analysts are betting yes appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have become one of the most popular ways for Australians to build long-term wealth.

Few providers have benefited more from that trend than Vanguard. Its low fees, broad diversification and simple buy-and-hold approach have made its ETFs favourites among everyone from first-time investors to retirees.

With FY26 now behind us, here’s a look at how three of Vanguard’s most widely held ASX-listed ETFs performed.

Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)

The top Vanguard ASX ETF aims to track the performance of the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO). This gives investors exposure to around 300 of Australia’s largest listed companies.

Its biggest holdings include Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), reflecting the dominant role financials and mining continue to play in the Australian sharemarket.

At the time of writing, VAS has returned approximately 3% over the past 12 months. Income remains one of its biggest attractions. Investors are set to receive a dividend payout of 48.99 cents per unit, to be paid on 16 July.

For investors seeking diversified exposure to Australian blue chips and a healthy stream of dividend income, VAS remains a popular core holding.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF provides exposure to more than 1,300 large and mid-sized companies across developed markets outside Australia.

Among its largest holdings are Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT) and NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA), two companies that have continued to benefit from strong demand for artificial intelligence technologies.

VGS has been the standout performer of the three flagship Vanguard ETFs, delivering a gain of around 14% over the past year. Investors will also receive an 80.11 cents per unit distribution on 16 July.

The ASX ETF remains a popular choice for Australians looking to diversify beyond the domestic market and gain exposure to many of the world’s highest-quality businesses.

Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY)

Income investors continue to favour the Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF. Rather than tracking the broader market, VHY focuses on Australian companies expected to deliver above-average dividend yields.

Its largest holdings include Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), highlighting the important role banks play in generating dividend income.

The ASX ETF has gained approximately 11% over the past 12 months. Investors are also set to receive a distribution of 40.82 cents per unit, payable on 16 July.

Foolish takeaway

All three ASX ETFs delivered positive returns in FY26, but each appealed to a different type of investor.

VAS continued to offer broad exposure to Australia’s largest companies and dependable income. VGS rewarded investors seeking global growth, producing the strongest capital return of the group. Meanwhile, VHY remained an attractive option for those prioritising dividend income without having to select individual high-yield shares.

Together, they demonstrate why Vanguard ETFs continue to play a central role in many long-term investment portfolios.

The post How Vanguard’s biggest ASX ETFs performed in FY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in BHP Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Microsoft and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, Microsoft, Nvidia, Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF, and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.