TLDRs;
- CSL shares rose 0.95% as licensing and buyback activities drive investor optimism.
- Lilly clazakizumab deal provides upfront payment plus potential milestone royalties for CSL.
- Ongoing buyback program supports share price amid recent profit pressures.
- Interim dividend set for April keeps shareholder attention focused on returns.
CSL Limited (CSL.AX) closed Thursday’s trading session at A$154.19, up 0.95%, marking its second consecutive day of gains. Throughout the session, shares fluctuated between A$152.13 and A$154.45, showing moderate upward momentum after recent volatility. Despite the rebound, the stock remains about 15% below its early-February highs, leaving investors cautious but hopeful.
The broader market also showed strength, with the S&P/ASX 200 finishing 0.9% higher, signaling continued investor appetite for risk as the earnings season winds down. For CSL, the focus remains on whether recent corporate moves can stabilize the stock after a sharp decline earlier this month.
Lilly Clazakizumab Deal Sparks Investor Interest
The key driver of CSL’s modest share gains is a fresh licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company. Under the deal, Lilly gains rights to develop and market clazakizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-6 (IL-6), for an upfront payment of US$100 million. CSL retains exclusive rights for the drug’s use in preventing cardiovascular events among end-stage kidney disease patients, while Lilly is free to explore other therapeutic areas.
The agreement also includes potential milestone payments and royalties, offering CSL a long-term revenue stream. Bill Mezzanotte, head of CSL’s research and development, described clazakizumab as a “promising therapeutic candidate,” reflecting optimism for the drug’s future. CSL continues to advance the POSIBIL6ESKD Phase 3 trial, focusing on dialysis patients, with regulatory approvals still pending.
Buyback Program Supports Share Price
CSL’s ongoing share buyback has also played a role in boosting investor confidence. The company purchased 51,191 shares on Wednesday at a total cost of roughly A$7.85 million, with prices ranging from A$152.19 to A$154.84. To date, CSL has repurchased 3.27 million shares, with the buyback program scheduled to continue until June 30, 2026.
Non-executive director Alison Watkins also increased her stake by exercising director equity plan rights, purchasing 214 shares. These moves signal management’s commitment to supporting shareholder value, even as the company navigates recent profit challenges stemming from one-off restructuring charges and impairments.
Interim Dividend and Leadership Changes
Looking ahead, CSL shareholders are anticipating the interim dividend, with the ex-dividend date set for March 10, the record date on March 11, and payout scheduled for April 9. The dividend, combined with buyback activity, keeps investor attention focused on potential returns.
Meanwhile, the company is managing a leadership transition. CEO and managing director Paul McKenzie announced his departure earlier this month, with CSL veteran Gordon Naylor stepping in as interim CEO. The board is actively searching for a permanent replacement, a move that adds some uncertainty to near-term investor sentiment.
CSL’s modest share rise reflects a combination of strategic licensing, aggressive buybacks, and an upcoming dividend, which together have offset some concerns from recent profit pressures.
However, market watchers caution that pipeline deals like clazakizumab can offer only short-term boosts if regulatory hurdles or clinical trial delays arise. Investors will closely monitor the completion of the Lilly deal and ongoing buyback filings to gauge whether CSL can maintain momentum through the coming months.
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