If you're looking to boost your portfolio with some quality shares, then you might want to look at the ASX 50 index. This index is home to some of the largest and highest quality shares on the Australian share market.
One ASX 50 share that could be worth considering is CSL Limited (ASX: CSL).
Why CSL?
CSL is one of the world's leading biotechnology companies. It comprises two businesses, CSL Behring and Seqirus. The former is a specialist in plasma-based products, whereas the latter business specialises in vaccines.
Combined, the two businesses have been underpinning solid sales and profit growth for CSL in recent years. And while plasma collection headwinds could subdue CSL's near term growth, its long term outlook appears very positive. This is thanks to increasing demand for its core therapies and vaccines, and its lucrative research and development (R&D) pipeline.
In respect to the latter, thanks to its consistent investment in R&D (~11% of sales each year), CSL has a pipeline filled to the brim with products that have the potential to generate millions and potentially even billions of dollars in sales each year.
One of these is CSL112, which is a novel apolipoprotein A-I infusion therapy that has been shown to have an immediate and significant impact on the ability to remove cholesterol from arteries. Its phase 3 trial is enrolling more than 17,000 patients from approximately 1,000 medical centres across the world, with the results due at the end of the year.
Another is is clazakizumab, which is being developed to treat kidney transplant rejection. This product alone could generate peak sales of US$5.4 billion.
Is the CSL share price in the buy zone?
While opinion is admittedly divided on whether the CSL share price is in the buy zone right now, one broker that is bullish is UBS.
It currently has a buy rating and $330.00 price target on the company's shares. Based on the latest CSL share price, this implies potential upside of almost 15% over the next 12 months.
