CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) has given investors plenty to think about this year.

The biotechnology giant has been through a difficult period, but the outlook now suggests earnings could move steadily higher over the next few years.

So, would I buy the shares before August is over?

The earnings outlook catches my attention

CSL shares are currently trading around $172.79.

According to CommSec, consensus earnings per share forecasts now stand at $9.08 in FY27, $9.53 in FY28, and $10.15 in FY29.

That implies earnings growth of around 5% in FY28 followed by another 7% in FY29.

For me, the direction is encouraging.

CSL has spent the past few years dealing with higher costs, operational challenges, and weaker investor confidence. A sustained return to earnings growth would suggest the business is moving beyond some of those problems.

At the current share price, CSL trades on a PE ratio of roughly 19 times forecast FY27 earnings, falling to around 17 times FY29 earnings.

I think that looks reasonable if the company can deliver the growth analysts currently expect.

There are still good businesses underneath

The long-term investment case still rests heavily on CSL Behring.

Its plasma-derived therapies are used to treat serious and often chronic conditions, creating demand that can continue regardless of what is happening in the wider economy.

CSL has spent decades building the plasma collection, manufacturing, and distribution network needed to compete at global scale. That is not something a new competitor could reproduce quickly.

There are also newer products that could contribute more over time, while continued investment in manufacturing should help CSL serve growing demand for immunoglobulin and other plasma therapies.

I think that combination gives CSL a credible path to increasing earnings for years rather than relying on a short-term rebound.

I would still expect some bumps

CSL has hardly provided investors with a smooth ride recently.

The company has gone through restructuring, impairments, changing expectations, and periods when parts of the business have disappointed.

There are still risks to consider. The recovery could take longer than expected, costs could remain elevated, new products may not grow as quickly as hoped, and currency movements can affect a business earning revenue around the world.

That makes the consensus forecasts important to monitor rather than something I would simply assume will happen.

I would also expect the share price to remain sensitive to any change in the recovery story.

Foolish takeaway

Yes, I would buy CSL shares before the end of August.

The business still has work to do, and recent performance is a reminder that even high-quality companies can go through difficult periods.

But I think the expected earnings trajectory is moving in the right direction, while the current valuation leaves room for that recovery to create value for shareholders.

If CSL can rebuild momentum over the next few years, I think buying at around $172.79 could prove worthwhile for patient investors.

The post Should I buy CSL shares before the end of August? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in CSL. 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.

Aussie mortgage holders and investors may be facing another interest rate rise, with expectations shifting quickly after the latest inflation figures.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left the cash rate unchanged at 4.35% earlier this month after 3 hikes in 2026. But the chances of another increase are growing.

Attention is turning to the next RBA decision on 29 September, with several major banks changing their forecasts and financial markets also increasing the odds of another hike.

So, could interest rates really rise again next month?

Inflation keeps the pressure on

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data showed annual inflation easing from 3.8% in June to 3.5% in July.

That sounds like a move in the right direction, but inflation was still higher than the 3.3% economists had expected. Trimmed mean inflation also stayed at 3.6%, which is still above the RBA’s 2% to 3% target range.

On a monthly basis, trimmed mean inflation rose 0.5%, ahead of expectations for a 0.3% increase.

The RBA was already keeping a close eye on inflation. Minutes from its August meeting showed board members discussed another 25-basis point hike before deciding to wait for more data.

And the RBA also got another strong economic reading, with household spending rising faster than expected.

Household spending rose 1.1% in July and was 7% higher than a year ago, with spending increasing across all 9 categories. It’s the strongest annual growth since June 2023.

What are the big banks predicting?

Three of Australia’s four major banks now expect another RBA rate hike before the end of 2026.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) has the most aggressive forecast, predicting a 25-basis point increase in September, which would take the cash rate to 4.6%.

It also sees a risk of another hike in November if the economy continues to hold up.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) are both forecasting a rate rise in November, although CBA believes there is also a risk the RBA moves earlier in September.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) is taking a different view and still expects rates to stay unchanged for the rest of the year, pointing to a softer labour market and weaker housing conditions.

According to Reuters, markets are now pricing around a 50% chance of a September rate hike, up from 17% before the inflation data.

What happens next?

The next RBA decision is due on 29 September, so there are still a few weeks of economic data to come before the board makes its call.

Keep an eye on the September and November meetings, as they will now be the ones to watch.

The post Another RBA interest rate hike could be just weeks away. Here’s what the big banks think appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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.

September is almost here, and I think there are still plenty of ASX shares worth buying with a long-term view.

If I had $10,000 ready to invest, I would spread this particular amount evenly across four companies that I believe can keep becoming more valuable over the years ahead.

Here’s what I’d buy.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

I would start with Goodman because I like the assets it controls and where demand is heading.

The company develops and owns industrial property in major cities around the world. Increasingly, that includes sites suitable for data centres.

That is important because computing infrastructure needs more than servers. It needs land, buildings, reliable electricity, and access to major population and business centres.

Goodman has spent years assembling property in locations where those ingredients can be difficult to secure.

Artificial intelligence (AI) should increase the amount of computing capacity required, but I would not make this investment purely as an AI bet. Ecommerce, cloud computing, logistics, and the wider digital economy all require modern infrastructure.

I think that gives Goodman several reasons to keep finding development opportunities over the next decade.

ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

I would also put $2,500 into ResMed.

Sleep apnoea affects a huge number of people, and many remain undiagnosed or untreated. That gives ResMed a long-term opportunity to reach more patients rather than relying solely on taking market share from competitors.

I also like what happens after a patient begins treatment. ResMed can sell the initial device, but masks and other components need replacing over time.

That creates an ongoing relationship around a genuine healthcare need.

Over the next several years, I think better diagnosis and greater awareness of sleep health could bring more people into treatment. ResMed already has the scale, products, and healthcare relationships to benefit if that happens.

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

My third investment would be Hub24.

The company provides technology used by financial advisers to manage client investments and superannuation.

What I like most is the chance for Hub24 to become increasingly important to those advice businesses.

It has expanded beyond the investment platform itself into technology covering administration, reporting, and client engagement. If advisers can complete more of their work through Hub24’s ecosystem, the relationship becomes more valuable.

The Australian superannuation system also gives the company an attractive backdrop.

Money continues flowing into retirement savings as people work and make compulsory contributions, while investment returns can increase the assets already accumulated.

This ASX share therefore has an opportunity to take a larger share of a market that should itself keep expanding for many years.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)

I would put the final $2,500 into Sigma Healthcare, which now gives investors exposure to Chemist Warehouse following the combination of the businesses.

Chemist Warehouse has built a powerful retail brand in Australia around pharmacy, health, beauty, and everyday products.

The part I find most interesting for the years ahead is how far that model can travel. The business is expanding in New Zealand and has begun exploring opportunities in the UK. Successful international expansion could open a much larger market than Australia alone.

There is still room to grow closer to home as well through new stores, online sales, and the wider pharmacy network.

I think that combination gives Sigma several avenues to become a substantially larger business over time.

Foolish takeaway

If I had $10,000 to invest in September, I would be comfortable putting it to work across these four shares.

I like the long-term opportunities behind each business, and I would be happy to give them years rather than months to play out.

The post Where I’d invest $10,000 in ASX shares in September appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Hub24. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group, Hub24, and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group and Hub24. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.