The CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) share price has fallen by a third over the past year, as the chart below shows. After such a difficult period for the ASX healthcare share, it's good to look at what the company's prospects are.
The blood plasma product and vaccine business has seen a sell-off amid lower growth prospects, including a less positive market in the US with healthcare changes by the administration.
We're going to look at the expectations for the CSL share price. This is called the share price target, which is where analysts expect the share price to trade in 12 months from the time of the investment call.
The projections may surprise you.
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Analyst views on the CSL share price
According to a CMC Markets collation of analyst views on the ASX healthcare share, there are currently eight buy ratings, three hold ratings and no sell ratings.
Of those 11 ratings that have come within the last three months, the average price target on CSL shares is $234.08, according to CMC Markets. That suggests a possible rise of around 30% within the next year from where it is at the time of writing.
However, that's just the average price target.
The most pessimistic of those price targets is $189.41, implying a rise of more than 5%. That's not bad.
At the other end, the most optimistic CSL share price target is $285.12, suggesting a possible increase of close to 60% within the next year.
Why are experts still positive?
Despite the difficult trading environment, brokers such as UBS still think the business can deliver growth for shareholders.
UBS currently estimates that in FY26 the business could achieve US$3.46 billion of net profit, US$7.13 of earnings per share (EPS) and US$3.27 of an annual dividend per share.
The broker thinks the ASX healthcare share can achieve a net profit margin expansion of at least 1.00% in FY27/FY28, meaning net profit growth in the high single digits (in percentage terms).
UBS also points out that CSL is targeting cost savings in the hundreds of millions of dollars, as well as reducing addressable manufacturing costs.
The broker still sees global demand for CSL's products and there's potential upside if US flu doses recover towards a similar rate seen in other large markets. In the short-term, there has been a significant drop in UBS vaccination rates, which has been partly offset by market share gains in the age bracket of 65+ in Europe.
UBS is expecting the business to steadily grow its net profit in the coming years after FY26, which is a positive outlook for the CSL share price.
