Three of the ASX 200's most recognisable names on the ASX are currently hovering around 52-week lows following a soft start to 2026.
- CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) are down 57% in the past 12 months and are trading at $101
- Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN) have fallen 17% to $4.46
- Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) have dropped 9% to $72.56.
When well-known equities fall to yearly lows, many investors may consider buying in at the discount.
However there's no guarantee that these stocks won't fall even further.
Here is the latest commentary from experts on these ASX 200 shares hitting fresh 52-week lows.
Image source: Getty Images
CSL endures historical crash
CSL shares were making headlines yesterday as the company opened the week by crashing 16%.
As Aaron Teboneras reported yesterday, the crash flirted with the company's biggest one-day loss on record.
The drop came after CSL lowered its FY26 outlook, now expecting FY26 revenue of about US$15.2 billion.
The company also expects NPATA of about US$3.1 billion, excluding restructuring costs and impairments.
That is a drop from FY25, when CSL reported revenue of US$15.6 billion and profit of US$3.3 billion on a constant currency basis.
Following yesterday's crash, CSL shares have now hit a new 52-week low, and are down 57% from a year ago.
Ambitious investors may want to buy the dip, but continued guidance cuts have proven there is no guarantee the ASX 200 company has hit rock bottom.
UBS recently placed a price target of $205 on CSL shares, however this was before the most recent guidance cut.
Interest rates weigh on Harvey Norman
As the RBA has ramped up interest rates this year, discretionary shares such as Harvey Norman have struggled.
When mortgage repayments and loan costs rise, households often delay discretionary purchases, which can lower sales growth for the company.
Higher borrowing costs can reduce consumer spending on big-ticket household items like furniture, electronics, and appliances – all key items sold by the retailer.
Harvey Norman shares are now hovering close to 52-week lows, down 36% year to date.
While these headwinds are likely to persist in the short term, investors with a long-term outlook may be considering this stock, especially for its historically strong dividend yield.
Analysts forecasts via TradingView indicate the current price is 28% below fair value, however prospective investors should be aware this likely won't be an overnight turnaround.
Inflation showing up on supermarket shelves
Part of the reason the RBA raised the cash rate for a third consecutive time was due to inflation.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose from 3.7% over the 12 months to February to 4.6% in March, according to the Bureau of Statistics.
This has weighed on retail shares like Wesfarmers, which owns Bunnings, Kmart, Priceline, and Officeworks.
Its share price is now down 18% since February, and sits close to a 52-week low.
However targets from experts indicate it is hovering close to fair value.
14 analyst forecasts via TradingView have an average one year target price of $76.88 on Wesfarmers shares.
This is roughly 5% above current levels.
