CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares are down 1.4% in Wednesday afternoon trade. At the time of writing, the beaten-down biotech stock is trading at $139.13 per share.
Today's decline means the shares are now down 19% year to date and 44% over the year.
The company has faced significant headwinds recently, including lacklustre financial results, a shock CEO exit, and a surprise restructure announcement. CSL also downgraded its FY26 revenue and profit growth guidance in October, pushing its share price further south.
While the past 18 months have been filled with doom and gloom, I still see some great potential in CSL going forward.
Here are three reasons why adding CSL shares to your portfolio today could be a great idea.
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1. There is huge and recurring demand for its products
CSL is an Australian-based global biotechnology company that develops and delivers biotherapies and vaccines. At the core of its business are its plasma-derived medicines, including immunoglobulins, albumin, and clotting factors. The company's blood plasma division dominates the market for rare blood disorders and immunoglobulin products.
Demand for plasma therapies is strong and growing, driven by recurring demand, limited competition, and supply constraints. Recent reports indicate that demand for blood plasma derivatives was around 145 million litres in 2025 and is expected to increase significantly in 2026. The market was valued at $52.16 billion in 2025, and by 2033, it is expected to reach $104.30 billion.
2. The business is building momentum
CSL is one of the world's largest biotech companies, and despite short‑term headwinds, earnings momentum is expected to keep building. CSL has experienced periods of double‑digit profit growth, and its forecasts underpin a longer‑term recovery.
Sequoia Wealth Management's Peter Day, who has a buy recommendation on CSL shares, recently pointed out that the company has posted a significant increase in revenue during the past three years and delivered earnings growth that is compounding at double-digit rates.
3. Analysts are very bullish
Analysts are bullish about the outlook for CSL shares over the next 12 months. Many say the investor sell-off was way overdone and unwarranted.
TradingView data shows that 12 out of 18 analysts currently have a buy or strong buy rating on the stock. The average target price is $207.6, which implies a 50% upside at the time of writing. However, some think the share price could storm even higher, by 95% to $270.01 a piece.
