2 ASX shares I can’t ignore: CSL and PLS

The CSL Limited (ASX:CSL) share price is lower 11% since the start of the 2023. It's probably worth asking, 'is the CSL share price priced to perfection?'
The CSL Limited (ASX:CSL) share price is lower 11% since the start of the 2023. Meanwhile, the Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX:PLS) share price is 37% away from its 52-week high.

CSL share price

CSL is a global biotechnology company that develops and delivers innovative medicines that save lives, protect public health and help people with life-threatening medical conditions live full lives.

The company is divided into three main business units: CSL Behring, CSL Seqirus and CSL Vifor. Behring, acquired in 2004, manufactures and distributes blood plasma products. Seqirus was formed by a rebranding of BioCSL and the acquired Novartis flu business (bought in 2015) makes flu-related products and performs pandemic-related services for Governments. Finally, Vifor makes products for iron deficiency and nephrology (renal/kidney care).

As previously mentioned, CSL’s plasma collection unit creates life-saving treatments for those will serious illnesses globally. CSL relies on plasma and blood collections to perform its primary businesses; and acquisitions are increasingly part of the CSL business. Investors often use CSL as an indirect play on rising spending on healthcare.

PLS share price

Pilbara Minerals is a leading ASX-listed lithium company, owning 100% of the world’s largest, independent hard-rock lithium operation, Pilgangoora, which it acquired in 2014.

Pilbara’s primary business is to, put simply, find, dig up and sell spodumene concentrate. It sells its concentrate through “offtake” agreements and spot sales on the Battery Material Exchange (BMX) platform. A good example of an offtake partner is Great Wall (the Chinese car company) or POSCO, a South Korean company.

Pilbara has overcome significant hurdles to become a leader in lithium mining in Australia. However, as a commodities producer, its revenue is still at the mercy of (sometimes dramatic) fluctuations in the price of spodumene in the global market. Even still, bulls would say it’s a ‘pure play’ investment on demand for electric vehicles and battery tech.

Share price valuation

As a blue chip, one way to have a ‘quick read’ of where the CSL share price is, is to study something like dividend yield thru time. Remember, the dividend yield is effectively the ‘cash flow’ to a share holder, but it can be influenced by yearly or bi-yearly fluctuations. Currently, CSL Limited shares have a dividend yield of around 1.44%, which compares to its 5-year average of 1.24%. Put simply, CSL shares are trading below their historical average dividend yield.

The PLS share price trades at a price-sales ratio of 2.60x, which compares to its 5-year long-term average of 6.53x. So, PLS shares are trading below their historical average. However, please do more investigating than a simple multiple like this. Our websites explain Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Dividend Discount Models (DDM), and many different ways to value a share, like Pilbara Minerals Ltd.

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