As Christmas approaches, plenty of investors start thinking about where to put fresh money to work before the new year. I am no different. With markets still a bit choppy and sentiment mixed across sectors, I have been focusing on quality businesses where the risk-reward balance looks attractive heading into 2026.
Two ASX shares are standing out to me right now, despite sitting at opposite ends of the market. For different reasons, both are worth a closer look.
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CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)
The CSL share price has had a tough run over the past year and is trading around $175, well below the levels investors had become used to. Softer profit guidance, higher costs, and a slower-than-expected recovery in plasma collections weighed on sentiment, and the market did not take kindly to that.
That being said, the long-term story has not broken. Plasma collections have been improving, Seqirus continues to perform solidly, and CSL Vifor is starting to settle after a challenging integration period. Cost discipline is also coming into focus, which is usually the first step toward margin recovery.
Several brokers continue to describe CSL as oversold, with price targets well above current levels. For a global healthcare leader with a long track record of growth, a strong balance sheet, and solid demand for immunoglobulin and vaccines, the current share price is starting to look far more appealing than it did a year ago.
If CSL can show steadier execution across FY26, the share price could start to find support.
Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)
At the other end of the spectrum sits Accent, with its share price trading around 90 cents. The footwear retailer owns well-known brands such as Platypus, Hype DC and The Athlete's Foot, and it has built a strong omnichannel business across Australia and New Zealand.
What really stands out here is income. Accent paid 10 cents per share in fully franked dividends over the past year, which puts the trailing yield at roughly 11% at current prices. That is a big number for an ASX 200 stock.
While retail always carries some risk, Accent has performed better than many of its peers, with resilient margins and solid digital sales. Management continues to invest in store rollouts and owned brands, which support earnings over time.
For income-focused investors who are comfortable with some volatility, Accent offers a level of yield that is hard to ignore.
Foolish Takeaway
CSL and Accent Group are very different businesses, but both stand out to me as we head into Christmas. CSL offers quality and long-term growth at a much lower price than usual, while Accent provides immediate income at an attractive yield.
For investors looking to add ideas before the year ends, these two ASX shares are well worth having on the watchlist.
