CSL's profit growth forecast disappoints

Vaccine giant CSL has lifted annual profit to and $US1.38 billion and forecast similar growth in the year ahead.

Vaccine giant CSL's forecast of five per cent profit growth in the year ahead has disappointed investors.

But the company's outlook does not include its recently purchased business that will make it the world's second largest flu vaccine maker.

CSL made a net profit of $US1.38 billion ($A1.89 billion) in the year to June 30, up 5.5 per cent from a year earlier, as sales rose two per cent.

The biotechnology firm expects similar sales growth in the year ahead, and stronger earnings per share growth than profit growth.

Chief executive Paul Perreault says healthy demand for CSL's vaccines and plasma products will drive growth and lift net profit about five per cent.

"Robust demand for our therapies continues to drive the underlying performance of our business," he said.

"Our underlying growth is strong and the fundamentals, our ability to generate profit and to grow the business, have not changed."

However CSL's share price, which briefly hit $100 a share last week, fell more than two per cent.

The company's profit forecast fell well short of market expectations of a 10 per cent rise, IG Markets market strategist Evan Lucas said.

"CSL is so well priced, so any suggestion their guidance will be lower than market expectations is going to add some pressure," he said.

"The advantage however is that they haven't been slammed, and given the broader market falls they are weathering the storm better than expected."

CSL recently acquired a flu vaccine business from Novartis which will be integrated into its existing vaccine division and renamed Seqirus.

It said it will provide outlook on Seqirus in the coming months.

CSL's board is also considering a further on-market share buyback, similar to its recent $950 million buyback.

The group also plans to raise about $US500 million from US investors as part of the company's debt management program.

CSL shares dropped $2.11 to $93.00.

STEADY GROWTH FOR CSL'S PROFIT

* Full year profit up 5.5pct to $US1.38b

* Total revenue up 1.9pct to $US5.63b

* Fully franked final dividend up 6 US cents to 60 US cents


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Source: AAP


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