CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) shares, strong long-term performers, have faced unexpected tailwinds over the past few years, with the global pandemic impacting some of the company's operations.

While COVID disruptions appear to be easing for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) biotech company, shakeups in the market have seen the CSL share price drop 7.2% this year, while the ASX 200 itself has slipped 6.4%.

However, looking ahead, Jun Bei Liu, portfolio manager at Tribeca Investment Partners, says investment in CSL shares could help "future-proof your portfolio".

Fully funded and generating great cash flow

Speaking to Livewire, Liu said CSL shares top the list of ASX healthcare growth stocks she's been buying.

She said CSL shares have "been hit early in this calendar year on the basis that everyone else was buying resources, and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) became such a big part of the index".

Liu continued:

 Its earnings were hurt by the pandemic, simply because the blood collection was quite tough over the last few years. Now in its most recent update, CSL actually talked to that – it's actually picking up quite quickly, which means earnings will grow quite significantly after that short term disruption.

To me, that business is trading on a very reasonable multiple for the growth it is going to deliver. And very similarly, the company is fully funded, generating really great cash flow. It's really helping you to future-proof your portfolio.

Investors concerned about the impacts of rising interest rates and bond yields may also wish to investigate CSL shares.

According to Liu:

The bond yield, whether it's peaked now or whether it's in a month's time or whether it's further down the track, it doesn't really matter. This is a quality growth company. Soon the market will come back to those companies and realise that everywhere else growth is going to be hard to deliver.

CSL shares also pay a 1.1% trailing dividend yield, unfranked.

How have CSL shares performed longer-term?

As long-term investors, it can pay to take a step back and study long-term performance.

With that in mind, CSL shares have gained 109% over the past five years, handily outpacing the 24% gains posted by the ASX 200 over that same period.