CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares have staged a remarkable recovery since plumbing a multi-year closing low of just $92.24 on 3 June.

How remarkable?

Well, in mid-day trade on Tuesday, shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) biotech giant were trading for $180.17 apiece. This sees the CSL share price up 95.3% in less than four months. That compares to a 0.4% loss posted by the ASX 200 over this same period.

And this doesn’t include the unfranked $2.244 a share final CSL dividend. While that passive income payout won’t be made until 2 October, CSL stock traded ex-dividend on 9 September.

If we add that back into Tuesday’s share price, then the accumulated value of CSL shares has soared 97.8% since the 3 June lows.

CSL trades on an unfranked 2.3% trailing dividend yield.

But following this meteoric recovery, and noting that CSL stock remains down more than 43% since August 2024, is the Aussie biotech company still a good buy today?

CSL shares: Buy, hold or sell?

Catapult Wealth’s Dylan Evans recently ran his slide rule over the ASX biotech giant (courtesy of The Bull).

“The CSL share price has partially recovered after the company posted a brighter outlook at its 2026 full year results,” he noted.

“A promising sign was profit growth guidance in full year 2027, driven by the core blood plasma business,” he added.

Connecting the dots, Evans issued a hold recommendation on CSL shares for now.

He concluded:

This guidance should provide the market with confidence about CSL’s brighter future after a difficult period. There’s potential value in the stock, particularly if CSL achieves guidance and growth recovers.

What’s been sending the ASX 200 biotech stock soaring?

CSL reported its full year FY 2026 results on 18 August.

Although revenue declined 1% from FY 2025, and CSL reported net loss after tax of US$2.6 billion, investors were more focused on the company’s profit growth guidance that Evans mentioned above.

For the full year FY 2027, management forecast steady revenue and underlying NPAT growth of approximately 5%.

“FY26 has been a year of reset. We have taken decisive action and created a clear path to return to sustainable growth,” CSL interim CEO Gordon Naylor said on the day.

Naylor added:

We have made solid progress on our transformation program and continue to simplify the business. We have also invested in our commercial capabilities and development programs to drive top line growth in the future.

CSL shares closed up 17.3% on the day of the results release.

The post Up 98%: Are CSL shares now a buy, hold or sell? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much could the CSL share price rise in the next year?
• CSL shares are back near $180. Here’s the level I’m watching
• Why brokers think CSL shares could be on track for $200
• Buy, hold, sell: Coles, NAB, CSL shares
• ASX 200 healthcare shares lead a weaker market amid 82% chance of a rate hike

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.

Insurance Australia Group vs QBE Insurance Group shares

When it comes to hunting for passive income from the ASX, investors often weigh up Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) and QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE). Both are heavyweight insurers, but their investment case, size, and income prospects do show some key differences. If you’re deciding between IAG and QBE shares, especially with income in mind, here’s how I see the strengths and weaknesses stack up.

The case for Insurance Australia Group

IAG is the largest general insurer in Australia and New Zealand, with a long history rooted in NRMA Insurance and an impressive portfolio focused on home and motor cover. In FY26, IAG underwrote over $18.4 billion in premiums across well-known brands.

Some highlights that stand out for me:

• Dividend Yield: The latest reported yield is 4.00%.
• Dividend History: IAG has reliably paid dividends for decades, although franking levels have fluctuated dramatically over time. In recent years, franking has become partial, with 25% franking for the most recent payout.
• Market Cap and Stability: Backed by a substantial $18.73 billion market cap, IAG offers size and proven market leadership.

However, I have noticed IAG’s dividend per share (0.32) trails QBE’s, and the relatively modest franking may reduce its tax effectiveness for some Australian income seekers.

The case for QBE Insurance Group

QBE Insurance Group is a genuinely global insurer and re-insurer, with a much broader international footprint than IAG. Established in the late 19th century, QBE now serves institutions, corporates, and individuals in over two dozen countries.

Here’s what jumps out from QBE’s numbers:

• Dividend Yield: QBE’s current yield is 4.75% – a solid edge over IAG.
• Dividend Per Share: QBE’s annual dividend per share (1.11) is well above IAG’s (0.32).
• Recent Momentum: A standout 23.2% year-to-date return signals strong recent market support.
• P/E Ratio: At 11.66, QBE’s P/E sits comfortably lower than IAG’s, which may hint at relative value – both operate in the same sector so this is a fair, like-for-like comparison.
• Franking: Recent QBE dividends have seen only partial franking, generally in the 10%–30% range, which remains low compared to historical fully-franked periods.

QBE’s ability to generate much higher earnings per share (1.422) also underpins its more generous payouts.

Valuation comparison

Since both companies sit squarely in the insurance sector, their fundamentals can be sensibly compared. Here’s how a few critical numbers stack up:

Metric	IAG	QBE
Market Cap	$18.73bn	$34.95bn
P/E Ratio	18.71	11.66
Dividend Yield	4.00%	4.75%
Dividend per Share	0.32	1.11
Franking % (recent dividend)	25%	30%
Earnings per Share	0.428	1.422

Note: Both companies’ P/E ratios and EPS appear mathematically consistent in the data provided.

The gap in P/E is particularly interesting: QBE looks relatively lower-valued, while offering a higher income payout. Both are only partially franked, which is worth considering if tax efficiency is a priority.

Recent share price performance

Comparing 21 August 2026 to 18 September 2026:

• IAG: Over this span, IAG dropped from $7.87 on 21 August to $8.01 on 18 September, with some volatility, including a notable one-day 5.46% jump on 2 September. The year to date return is a modest 4.4%.
• QBE: QBE climbed from $22.40 on 21 August to $23.39 on 18 September. Over this short window, the share price mostly edged higher, echoing QBE’s strong 23.2% year-to-date return.

In short, QBE’s shares have outperformed IAG not only year to date, but also over the most recent one-month stretch in the data.

Which is the better buy?

Chasing passive income, my pick would be QBE Insurance Group. QBE edges out IAG on yield (4.75% vs 4.00%), has a noticeably higher dividend per share, and sports a lower P/E ratio paired with much higher earnings per share – all positive signs for income-oriented investors. While both offer only partial franking, QBE’s slightly higher franking on the last declared dividends doesn’t close the gap, but the sheer scale of QBE’s distribution makes it more attractive to me.

Add to this QBE’s far stronger share price performance both in the short term and year to date, and I think it tips the balance for those focused on total returns as well as cash flow. IAG remains a quality, defensive blue-chip, but for pure passive income, QBE looks a step ahead in the current climate.

The post Insurance Australia Group vs QBE Insurance: Which is best for income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Down 6%: What is going on with the IAG share price?
• ASX 200 bank shares led a financial sector rebound last week
• Top 3 ASX shares built for higher-for-longer rates

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial draft. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) enjoyed a pleasant Tuesday session today, lifting the value of many ASX shares. After yesterday’s volatile start to the trading week, investors were still a little nervous today, but still pushed the markets higher. By the time the markets shut up shop, the ASX 200 had banked a 0.3% rise. That leaves the index at 8,757.8 points.

This happy Tuesday for ASX investors follows a very rosy start indeed for the American trading week overnight.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in fine form, jumping 0.71%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) did even better, gaining 2.26%.

But let’s get back to the local markets now and take stock of how the different ASX sectors fared amid this session’s pleasant trading conditions.

Winners and losers

There were far more green sectors than red ones this Tuesday. But red ones there still were.

Leading the losses were utilities stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) had a rough one, tanking by 2.03%.

Energy shares were left out in the cold as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) sinking 1.16%.

Consumer staples stocks fared a lot better by comparison. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) drifted 0.17% lower today.

Financial shares were in the same boat, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)’s 0.13% slide.

That’s it for the red sectors, so let’s turn to the green ones now.

At the front of the winners were tech stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) was on fire today, shooting 2.67% higher.

Consumer discretionary shares also ran hot, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) surging 1.29%.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were in demand as well. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) lifted 0.79% this session.

Healthcare stocks were close behind REITs, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)’s 0.76% leap.

Next came mining shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) put on 0.58% this Tuesday.

Industrial stocks were a dead heat with miners, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) also getting bumped 0.58% higher.

Communications shares didn’t miss out. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) added 0.32% to its total today.

Finally, gold stocks scraped home unscathed, illustrated by the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD)’s 0.11% edge higher.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Resource and services stock Sunrise Energy Metals Ltd (ASX: SRL) was our best performer this session. Sunrise shares roared 12.71% higher over today’s session to close at $20.48 each.

This big jump came despite no news or announcements out from the company itself.

Here’s how the other top stocks tied up at the dock:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Sunrise Energy Metals Ltd (ASX: SRL)	$20.48	12.71%
Ingenia Communities Group (ASX: INA)	$4.60	5.75%
FireFly Metals Ltd (ASX: FFM)	$1.78	5.65%
Silex Systems Ltd (ASX: SLX)	$4.66	5.43%
Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)	$11.32	5.27%
Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL)	$1.63	4.84%
Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS)	$3.98	4.74%
GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG)	$1.14	4.61%
Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)	$24.37	4.50%
Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)	$16.79	4.17%

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Lovisa vs Universal Store shares: Which ASX retail stock is the better buy today?
• 4 ASX shares tipped by brokers to return 63% to 125%
• What is this broker’s view on Telix shares after yesterday’s crash?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Telix shares just crashed 12% on merger news. Time to buy the dip?

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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 Electro Optic Systems, Lovisa, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Gqg Partners, Lovisa, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.