CSL (ASX:CSL) share price history: The major highlights (and low points)

We take a deep dive into CSL's share price history…

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Of all the ASX 200 blue chip shares, none arguably has a more interesting share price history than that of CSL Limited (ASX: CSL), the giant healthcare company that dominates the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). CSL is presently the second-largest company on the ASX boards, just behind Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA).

But it's had quite the history over the past 10 years. CSL used to be regarded as something of a perfect ASX blue chip growth share. It could seemingly do no wrong, rising in value year after year, and often by double-digits.

But the company's fortunes have looked a whole lot different over the past 2 years or so. But enough with the words, let's put this in some visual context:

CSL share price history visualised

CSL share price
CSL 10-year share price and data | Source: fool.com.au

As you can clearly see above, we can see three different growth phases playing out: virtually uninterrupted share price growth from 2012 to late 2018. Share price growth resuming from early 2019 to early 2020. And a now-long period of stagnation stretching from the onset of the coronavirus pandemic until today.

Yes, CSL shares did have some major pullbacks, most notably in late 2016, mid-2017 and late 2018. Some of these pullbacks were rather dramatic too. For example, between August and December 2018, CSL shares lost more than 20% of their value. But the shares went on to recover every time.

Well, at least until the pandemic. As is evident above, CSL has unequivocally been stuck in something of a funk for the past 18 months or so. The company remains roughly 12% below its all-time high of $$336 a share that we saw back in February 2020. That's on the CSL share price of $297.02 at the time of writing.

Even so, the raw data shows CSL has given its shareholders a capital return of roughly 894% over the past decade (not including dividend returns). That represents a compound annual growth rate of 25.8% per annum over the decade. Nothing to complain about there!

At the current CSL share price of $297.02, this company has a market capitalisation of $134.7 billion, a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 42.6 and a dividend yield of 0.99%.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended CSL Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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