Up 98%: Are CSL shares now a buy, hold or sell?

A leading expert provides his forecast for CSL's rocketing shares.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares have staged a remarkable recovery since plumbing a multi-year closing low of just $92.24 on 3 June.

How remarkable?

Well, in mid-day trade on Tuesday, shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) biotech giant were trading for $180.17 apiece. This sees the CSL share price up 95.3% in less than four months. That compares to a 0.4% loss posted by the ASX 200 over this same period.

And this doesn't include the unfranked $2.244 a share final CSL dividend. While that passive income payout won't be made until 2 October, CSL stock traded ex-dividend on 9 September.

If we add that back into Tuesday's share price, then the accumulated value of CSL shares has soared 97.8% since the 3 June lows.

CSL trades on an unfranked 2.3% trailing dividend yield.

But following this meteoric recovery, and noting that CSL stock remains down more than 43% since August 2024, is the Aussie biotech company still a good buy today?

Buy and sell written on red dice on top of stock market charts.

Image source: Getty Images

CSL shares: Buy, hold or sell?

Catapult Wealth's Dylan Evans recently ran his slide rule over the ASX biotech giant (courtesy of The Bull).

"The CSL share price has partially recovered after the company posted a brighter outlook at its 2026 full year results," he noted.

"A promising sign was profit growth guidance in full year 2027, driven by the core blood plasma business," he added.

Connecting the dots, Evans issued a hold recommendation on CSL shares for now.

He concluded:

This guidance should provide the market with confidence about CSL's brighter future after a difficult period. There's potential value in the stock, particularly if CSL achieves guidance and growth recovers.

What's been sending the ASX 200 biotech stock soaring?

CSL reported its full year FY 2026 results on 18 August.

Although revenue declined 1% from FY 2025, and CSL reported net loss after tax of US$2.6 billion, investors were more focused on the company's profit growth guidance that Evans mentioned above.

For the full year FY 2027, management forecast steady revenue and underlying NPAT growth of approximately 5%.

"FY26 has been a year of reset. We have taken decisive action and created a clear path to return to sustainable growth," CSL interim CEO Gordon Naylor said on the day.

Naylor added:

We have made solid progress on our transformation program and continue to simplify the business. We have also invested in our commercial capabilities and development programs to drive top line growth in the future.

CSL shares closed up 17.3% on the day of the results release.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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