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Archer Investment Corp purchased a new stake in Linde PLC (NASDAQ:LIN – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 1,289 shares of the basic materials company’s stock, valued at approximately $669,000.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in LIN. State Street Corp raised its position in shares of Linde by 0.9% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 19,319,583 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $9,176,828,000 after acquiring an additional 172,162 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Linde by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 11,353,011 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $4,820,533,000 after buying an additional 35,945 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors raised its position in shares of Linde by 8.6% during the fourth quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,127,594 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $4,318,325,000 after purchasing an additional 797,866 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its holdings in shares of Linde by 7.7% during the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 9,784,371 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $4,171,959,000 after buying an additional 695,771 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Linde during the fourth quarter valued at about $3,246,750,000. 82.80% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Linde from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. Evercore reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $525.00 target price on shares of Linde in a research report on Friday, July 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Linde from $576.00 to $553.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Linde from $525.00 to $530.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, May 4th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein raised their price objective on shares of Linde from $559.00 to $564.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $545.38.

View Our Latest Stock Report on LIN Linde Trading Up 0.9% Linde stock opened at $489.51 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 0.88 and a quick ratio of 0.75. Linde PLC has a one year low of $387.78 and a one year high of $548.20. The stock has a market capitalization of $225.65 billion, a PE ratio of 31.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 0.72. The business’s fifty day moving average is $505.33 and its 200 day moving average is $501.23.

Linde (NASDAQ:LIN – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, July 31st. The basic materials company reported $4.50 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.49 by $0.01. Linde had a return on equity of 20.09% and a net margin of 20.43%.The company had revenue of $9.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $9.02 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $4.09 EPS. Linde’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Linde has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.700-17.900 EPS and its Q3 2026 guidance at 4.450-4.550 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Linde PLC will post 17.85 EPS for the current year.

Linde Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 3rd will be given a $1.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 3rd. This represents a $6.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.3%. Linde’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 41.34%.

Linde Company Profile (Free Report)

Linde (NASDAQ: LIN) is a multinational industrial gases and engineering company that supplies gases, related technologies and services to a wide range of industries. The company traces its current form to the 2018 combination of Germany’s Linde AG and U.S.-based Praxair, creating one of the largest global providers of industrial, specialty and medical gases. Linde’s business model centers on production, processing and distribution of gases as well as the design and construction of the plants and equipment needed to produce them.

Core products and services include atmospheric and process gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and argon; hydrogen and helium; carbon dioxide; and a portfolio of higher‑value specialty and electronic gases.

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On August 17, 2026, we delve into the DCF analysis for Linde PLC (LIN), a company currently trading at $482.74. The stock has experienced a mixed performance la

Linde plc remains a 'Hold' due to excessive valuation, despite its world-class fundamentals and robust profitability. LIN trades at a 27x-30x P/E, requiring unrealistic growth or sector re-rating to justify current levels and deliver meaningful upside. Recent results show strong margins, cash generation, and backlog, but capital allocation—especially buybacks at high multiples—raises concerns.

Release Date: July 31, 2026For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Positive Points Record sales and

Linde (LIN - Free Report) reported $9.29 billion in revenue for the quarter ended June 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 9.4%. EPS of $4.50 for the same period compares to $4.09 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.96 billion, representing a surprise of +3.62%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +0.22%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $4.49.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Linde performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Sales- Americas: $4.08 billion versus the four-analyst average estimate of $4.04 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +7.1%.Sales- EMEA: $2.3 billion compared to the $2.23 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +6.5% year over year.Sales- Other: $408 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $336.2 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +29.5%.Sales- Engineering: $625 million versus $546.11 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +13.4% change.Sales- APAC: $1.87 billion versus $1.78 billion estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +13% change.View all Key Company Metrics for Linde here>>>

Shares of Linde have returned -7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Buy, Hold, or Wait: 3 Small-Cap Stocks Telling Different StoriesLinde NASDAQ: LIN reported record second-quarter sales and earnings per share, while expanding its sale-of-gas project backlog to a record $8.1 billion following a new U.S. electronics contract. The industrial-gases company also said it expects to start more than 20 projects during the remainder of 2026, representing approximately $1.3 billion of investment.

Chief Executive Officer Sanjiv Lamba said sales and EPS both increased at near-double-digit rates during the quarter. However, he said the company was not satisfied with its margin performance, citing pressure in its U.S. home care business and a sales mix that included higher volumes of lower-margin equipment and hard goods.

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Second-Quarter Results and Outlook China's Helium Ban Could Reshape the AI Supply ChainSecond-quarter sales totaled $9.3 billion, up 9% from a year earlier and 6% sequentially, Chief Financial Officer Matt White said. Foreign exchange added 2 percentage points to year-over-year sales growth, while acquisitions and engineering each contributed 1 percentage point. Higher cost pass-through added another 1 percentage point.

Excluding those items, underlying sales increased 4%, split between higher volume and pricing. Nearly half of the volume increase came from project startups in Asia-Pacific and the Americas, while the balance reflected organic growth in the U.S., China, Korea, India and the company’s advanced materials business. Pricing rose 2% from a year earlier, broadly tracking local inflation, White said.

Helium Stocks Soar on Conflict and Chip Demand: 5 Names to KnowOperating margin was 29.5%, down 60 basis points from the prior-year period, or down 30 basis points excluding cost pass-through. Adjusted EPS was $4.50, up 10% from a year earlier, aided by higher net income and a lower share count.

Linde guided for third-quarter EPS of $4.45 to $4.55, representing growth of 6% to 8% from a year earlier. The outlook assumes no year-over-year currency impact but includes a 1% sequential foreign-exchange headwind. The company raised the lower end of its full-year EPS outlook by $0.10, projecting $17.70 to $17.90, or growth of 8% to 9%, excluding an assumed 1% foreign-exchange tailwind.

White said the company is not yet incorporating the second quarter’s improvement in base volumes into its forward outlook. At the midpoint, third-quarter EPS is expected to rise $0.05 sequentially excluding foreign exchange, reflecting actions underway to improve performance.

Margin Pressure Centers on U.S. Home Care Lamba said the Americas segment was the primary source of margin pressure, particularly the U.S. home care business, known as Lincare. He said continued cost inflation and policy changes have outweighed the benefits of portfolio pruning efforts.

According to Lamba, Americas margins excluding the home care business would have risen 20 basis points, excluding cost pass-through. White said the home care profit headwind was higher than an analyst’s estimate of $30 million for the quarter, without providing a specific figure.

The company has installed a new management team at Lincare and is pursuing operational improvements, productivity initiatives and additional portfolio actions. Lamba said Linde is also evaluating the strategic fit of the business, “both in part and as a whole,” while seeking to improve its performance.

Higher sales of hard goods in the U.S. packaged-gases business also reduced margins, though management characterized the trend as a positive sign for manufacturing activity. U.S. hard-goods sales increased by a double-digit percentage from a year earlier. In Asia-Pacific, margins were affected by lower-margin equipment sales to electronics customers, which Linde said can support future gas-sales opportunities.

Electronics Backlog Supports Growth Plans Electronics remained Linde’s fastest-growing end market, supported by project startups and demand tied to artificial-intelligence-related hardware. The company added $1 billion of new U.S. electronics wins to its backlog to support advanced-node semiconductor fabrication investments. Linde has begun building plants under reimbursable letters of intent while final supply contracts are completed.

Lamba said Linde expects electronics to remain its largest backlog contributor and one of its fastest-growing markets. The company is pursuing additional opportunities in the U.S., Taiwan, Korea and China. Separately, Linde’s Taiwan joint venture won projects requiring approximately $800 million of investment in air separation and hydrogen production units for new semiconductor fabrication and advanced-packaging facilities.

The company expects its sale-of-gas backlog to still end 2026 with “an eight handle,” even after approximately $1.3 billion of project startups reduce the current $8.1 billion balance.

Management said manufacturing was the fastest-growing industrial market, particularly in the U.S., where aerospace and data-center-related construction supported activity. Aerospace represented more than one-third of manufacturing growth during the quarter. Manufacturing volumes also increased in Asia-Pacific and the Americas.

Metals and mining and chemicals and energy each grew at low-single-digit rates. Metals and mining was solid in the U.S. and Brazil, while chemicals growth was primarily driven by backlog contributions in Asia-Pacific. Lamba said these markets were otherwise broadly flat across other regions.

Capital Deployment, Helium and Space Opportunity Linde deployed $6 billion of capital year to date, split evenly between business investments and shareholder returns. Of that amount, $1.9 billion was directed to secured growth through acquisitions and project-backlog investments. White said the company expects secured growth to remain a significant use of capital given the record backlog, acquisition opportunities and project pipeline.

The company increased its expected capital spending, with the additional investment tied to backlog wins and base capital expenditures supporting commercial-space customers. White said commercial-space customers may use a combination of sale-of-gas arrangements and customer-owned plants operated and maintained by Linde, particularly for atmospheric gases. He said Linde is not seeing the same dynamic in hydrogen supply.

Lamba said the company remains on track to pursue a billion-dollar-plus space-market opportunity by 2030.

On helium, Lamba said Linde has maintained supply to contracted customers amid disruption related to the Middle East and has signed new long-term customer contracts. He said improved pricing has been partly offset by dislocation costs, which have limited the immediate margin benefit. Linde expects a more normalized helium market next year, though the pace will depend on resolution of issues affecting the Strait of Hormuz and the resumption of production and logistics flows from Qatar.

About Linde (NASDAQ:LIN)Linde NASDAQ: LIN is a multinational industrial gases and engineering company that supplies gases, related technologies and services to a wide range of industries. The company traces its current form to the 2018 combination of Germany's Linde AG and U.S.-based Praxair, creating one of the largest global providers of industrial, specialty and medical gases. Linde's business model centers on production, processing and distribution of gases as well as the design and construction of the plants and equipment needed to produce them.

Core products and services include atmospheric and process gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and argon; hydrogen and helium; carbon dioxide; and a portfolio of higher‑value specialty and electronic gases.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

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Linde (LIN - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $4.5 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.49 per share. This compares to earnings of $4.09 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +0.22%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this gas supplier would post earnings of $4.27 per share when it actually produced earnings of $4.33, delivering a surprise of +1.41%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.

Linde, which belongs to the Zacks Chemical - Specialty industry, posted revenues of $9.29 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.62%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $8.5 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Linde shares have added about 19.3% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 8.7%.

What's Next for Linde?While Linde has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Linde was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $4.53 on $9.07 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $17.89 on $35.97 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Chemical - Specialty is currently in the top 35% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Another stock from the same industry, Neo Performance Materials Inc. (NOPMF - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on August 11.

This company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.50 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +177.8%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 123.7% higher over the last 30 days to the current level.

Neo Performance Materials Inc.'s revenues are expected to be $176.07 million, up 53.5% from the year-ago quarter.

WOKING, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Linde plc (Nasdaq: LIN) today reported second-quarter 2026 net income of $1,928 million and diluted earnings per share of $4.15, up 9% and up 11%, respectively. Excluding Linde AG purchase accounting impacts, adjusted net income was $2,089 million, up 8% versus prior year. Adjusted diluted earnings per share was $4.50, 10% above prior year. Linde's sales for the second quarter were $9,289 million, up 9% versus prior year including 2% favorable currency impact.

WOKING, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Linde (Nasdaq: LIN) today announced that it has been awarded a new long-term agreement to supply ultra-high-purity industrial gases to one of the world's largest semiconductor manufacturers. The agreement will support the expansion of the customer's semiconductor manufacturing complex in Phoenix, Arizona. Linde will invest $1 billion to expand its existing on-site industrial gases complex in Phoenix, making the site one of Linde's largest investments for an ele.

Key Takeaways Linde's Q2 EPS estimate of $4.49 implies 9.8% growth, while revenues are seen rising 5.5%.Long-term contracts, resilient end markets and a strong project backlog may support results.Weak European industry and Middle East conflict may pressure demand and EMEA performance. Linde plc (LIN - Free Report) is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 31, before the opening bell.

Let us delve into the factors that are likely to have influenced the performance of this global industrial gas producer. However, before that, it would be worth reviewing LIN’s performance in the previous quarter.

LIN’s Highlights of Q1 Earnings & Surprise HistoryIn the last reported quarter, Linde’s earnings of $4.33 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.27, driven by stronger pricing and higher volumes from the Americas segment and increased APAC segment volumes. 

Linde’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 1.03%. This is depicted in the graph below: 

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter earnings per share (EPS) is pegged at $4.49, with two upward and no downward revisions over the past seven days. The bottom-line estimate implies an improvement of 9.8% from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter revenues is pegged at $8.96 billion, indicating a year-over-year improvement of 5.5%. 

Factors to Note for LINLinde is a global leader in the production of industrial gases, such as oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and others, which are used across several end markets, including healthcare, manufacturing, chemicals & energy and food & beverage, in multiple geographies.

The company is expected to have sustained a stable performance in the to-be-reported quarter, supported by its long-term, take-or-pay contracts with major on-site clients. Linde is expected to have benefited from its operations across several resilient end markets, such as healthcare and food & beverage. Moreover, LIN’s strong project backlog is also expected to have contributed positively to its earnings.

However, challenges are likely to have persisted, particularly due to weaker industrial activity in Europe, which may have dampened growth across cyclical end markets like Chemicals & Energy and Manufacturing. Moreover, the Middle East conflict may have further weighed on manufacturing activity in the region, resulting in softer demand for Linde's products and affecting the EMEA segment results.

These factors are anticipated to have affected demand and pricing dynamics, potentially hampering Linde’s quarterly performance.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for operating profit in the Americas segment is pegged at $1.3 billion, up from $1.21 billion reported in the second quarter of 2025.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for operating profit from the Engineering business unit is pinned at $94 million for the second quarter, up from $90 million recorded a year ago.

LIN's Earnings WhispersOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Linde this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. That is not the case here, as you will see below.

Earnings ESP: Linde’s Earnings ESP is -0.10%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.

Stocks to ConsiderHere are some other stocks that you may want to consider, as these, too, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this reporting cycle.

The Chemours Company (CC - Free Report) is a major provider of performance chemicals that are used in end-products and processes across a host of industries. The company has an Earnings ESP of +27.17% and a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Chemours Company is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 4. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 43 cents per share, which suggests a 25.9% decline from the prior-year reported figure.

Huntsman Corporation (HUN - Free Report) manufactures diversified organic chemical products and markets them to a wide range of industrial and consumer customers. The company currently has an Earnings ESP of +4.31% and a Zacks Rank #3. 

Huntsman is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HUN’s earnings is pegged at 6 cents per share, indicating a 130% increase from the prior-year reported figure.

Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTX - Free Report) is involved in the production and marketing of a wide range of specialty mineral, mineral-based and synthetic mineral products. The company currently has an Earnings ESP of +5.52% and a Zacks Rank #2.

Minerals Technologies is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MTX’s earnings is pegged at $1.64 per share, indicating a 5.8% increase from the prior-year reported figure.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 27th, 2026

Cypress Capital Group lowered its position in Linde PLC (NASDAQ:LIN – Free Report) by 78.4% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,129 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 4,094 shares during the quarter. Cypress Capital Group’s holdings in Linde were worth $559,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Capital International Investors grew its holdings in Linde by 20.1% during the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 7,610,387 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $3,245,255,000 after acquiring an additional 1,275,477 shares in the last quarter. J. Safra Sarasin Holding AG increased its position in shares of Linde by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. J. Safra Sarasin Holding AG now owns 83,262 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $35,493,000 after purchasing an additional 2,408 shares during the last quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp raised its stake in shares of Linde by 143.4% in the 4th quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp now owns 15,044 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $6,415,000 after purchasing an additional 8,863 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its stake in shares of Linde by 177.2% in the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,263,064 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $538,558,000 after purchasing an additional 807,370 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Trium Capital LLP lifted its position in shares of Linde by 85.3% during the fourth quarter. Trium Capital LLP now owns 5,132 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $2,188,000 after purchasing an additional 2,362 shares during the last quarter. 82.80% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts recently commented on LIN shares. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Linde in a report on Friday, July 17th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $575.00 target price on shares of Linde in a report on Monday, May 4th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $560.00 target price on shares of Linde in a research report on Tuesday, May 5th. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $559.00 price target on Linde in a report on Friday, July 17th. Finally, Seaport Research Partners upped their price target on Linde from $525.00 to $575.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, April 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Linde presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $548.67.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on Linde

Linde Price Performance Shares of LIN opened at $512.28 on Monday. Linde PLC has a 12 month low of $387.78 and a 12 month high of $548.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.69. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $516.05 and a 200 day moving average price of $494.37. The company has a market cap of $236.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.02, a PEG ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.72.

Linde (NASDAQ:LIN – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, May 1st. The basic materials company reported $4.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.27 by $0.06. Linde had a return on equity of 19.80% and a net margin of 20.44%.The company had revenue of $8.78 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $8.60 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $3.95 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 8.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Linde has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.600-17.900 EPS and its Q2 2026 guidance at 4.400-4.500 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Linde PLC will post 17.89 earnings per share for the current year.

Linde Company Profile (Free Report)

Linde (NASDAQ: LIN) is a multinational industrial gases and engineering company that supplies gases, related technologies and services to a wide range of industries. The company traces its current form to the 2018 combination of Germany’s Linde AG and U.S.-based Praxair, creating one of the largest global providers of industrial, specialty and medical gases. Linde’s business model centers on production, processing and distribution of gases as well as the design and construction of the plants and equipment needed to produce them.

Core products and services include atmospheric and process gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and argon; hydrogen and helium; carbon dioxide; and a portfolio of higher‑value specialty and electronic gases.

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Linde (LIN - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 31. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis gas supplier is expected to post quarterly earnings of $4.49 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +9.8%.

Revenues are expected to be $8.96 billion, up 5.5% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.55% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Linde?For Linde, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.09%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Linde will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Linde would post earnings of $4.27 per share when it actually produced earnings of $4.33, delivering a surprise of +1.41%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Linde doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

An Industry Player's Expected ResultsAmong the stocks in the Zacks Chemical - Specialty industry, Quaker Chemical (KWR - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $1.68 per share for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -1.8%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $511.83 million, up 5.9% from the year-ago quarter.

Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Quaker Chemical has been revised 1.5% down to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of -0.67%, reflecting a lower Most Accurate Estimate.

This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Quaker Chemical will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed EPS estimates just once.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

WOKING, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Linde (Nasdaq: LIN) has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series for the 11th consecutive year, recognizing its continued leadership in sustainable business practices. “Sustainability is embedded in how we operate—from driving continuous improvement across our operations while supporting our customers' decarbonization goals to robust governance and community engagement,” said Erin Catapano, Vice President Sustainability, Linde. “Our continued inclusion in th.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 21st, 2026

Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced its position in shares of Linde PLC (NASDAQ:LIN – Free Report) by 6.8% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 86,873 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 6,353 shares during the period. Linde accounts for about 3.3% of Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft’s portfolio, making the stock its 4th largest holding. Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft’s holdings in Linde were worth $43,043,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in LIN. Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Linde in the second quarter worth approximately $25,000. Legacy Wealth Managment LLC ID increased its position in shares of Linde by 96.6% during the first quarter. Legacy Wealth Managment LLC ID now owns 57 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 28 shares in the last quarter. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC raised its stake in Linde by 1,450.0% in the 1st quarter. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC now owns 62 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares during the last quarter. Triumph Capital Management raised its stake in Linde by 69.2% in the 4th quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 66 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Strengthening Families & Communities LLC lifted its holdings in Linde by 134.5% in the 4th quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 68 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.80% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes LIN has been the topic of several recent research reports. Evercore reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $525.00 target price on shares of Linde in a research note on Friday, July 10th. UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $600.00 price target on shares of Linde in a research note on Tuesday, June 2nd. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Linde from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Linde from $525.00 to $530.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, May 4th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Linde in a research note on Friday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $548.67.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Linde

Linde Stock Performance NASDAQ LIN opened at $512.05 on Tuesday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $516.10 and its two-hundred day moving average is $492.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $236.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.22 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.83. Linde PLC has a fifty-two week low of $387.78 and a fifty-two week high of $548.20.

Linde (NASDAQ:LIN – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, May 1st. The basic materials company reported $4.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.27 by $0.06. Linde had a return on equity of 19.80% and a net margin of 20.44%.The company had revenue of $8.78 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $8.60 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $3.95 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 8.2% on a year-over-year basis. Linde has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.600-17.900 EPS and its Q2 2026 guidance at 4.400-4.500 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Linde PLC will post 17.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Linde Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 18th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 4th were issued a $1.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 4th. This represents a $6.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.2%. Linde’s dividend payout ratio is currently 42.50%.

About Linde (Free Report)

Linde (NASDAQ: LIN) is a multinational industrial gases and engineering company that supplies gases, related technologies and services to a wide range of industries. The company traces its current form to the 2018 combination of Germany’s Linde AG and U.S.-based Praxair, creating one of the largest global providers of industrial, specialty and medical gases. Linde’s business model centers on production, processing and distribution of gases as well as the design and construction of the plants and equipment needed to produce them.

Core products and services include atmospheric and process gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and argon; hydrogen and helium; carbon dioxide; and a portfolio of higher‑value specialty and electronic gases.

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Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 20th, 2026

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in shares of Linde PLC (NASDAQ:LIN – Free Report) by 2.4% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,740,541 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after purchasing an additional 64,078 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned about 0.59% of Linde worth $1,358,712,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Linde in the 2nd quarter worth about $25,000. Triumph Capital Management grew its stake in Linde by 69.2% in the 4th quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 66 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 27 shares in the last quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC raised its stake in shares of Linde by 134.5% during the 4th quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 68 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares during the period. High Note Wealth LLC increased its position in shares of Linde by 108.6% during the fourth quarter. High Note Wealth LLC now owns 73 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 38 shares during the period. Finally, Manning & Napier Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Linde by 1,450.0% during the 1st quarter. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC now owns 62 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares during the period. 82.80% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have weighed in on LIN. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $559.00 target price on Linde in a research note on Friday. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Linde in a report on Friday. Evercore reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $525.00 price target on shares of Linde in a report on Friday, July 10th. Seaport Research Partners increased their price objective on Linde from $525.00 to $575.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 17th. Finally, Citigroup started coverage on shares of Linde in a research note on Wednesday, June 24th. They set an “overweight” rating on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $548.67.

Read Our Latest Report on Linde

Linde Price Performance NASDAQ:LIN opened at $513.22 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.83. The firm has a market cap of $237.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.08, a P/E/G ratio of 3.22 and a beta of 0.72. Linde PLC has a fifty-two week low of $387.78 and a fifty-two week high of $548.20. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $515.95 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $491.54.

Linde (NASDAQ:LIN – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, May 1st. The basic materials company reported $4.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.27 by $0.06. Linde had a net margin of 20.44% and a return on equity of 19.80%. The firm had revenue of $8.78 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.60 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.95 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 8.2% on a year-over-year basis. Linde has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.600-17.900 EPS and its Q2 2026 guidance at 4.400-4.500 EPS. Analysts predict that Linde PLC will post 17.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Linde Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 18th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 4th were issued a $1.60 dividend. This represents a $6.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 4th. Linde’s payout ratio is presently 42.50%.

Linde Profile (Free Report)

Linde (NASDAQ: LIN) is a multinational industrial gases and engineering company that supplies gases, related technologies and services to a wide range of industries. The company traces its current form to the 2018 combination of Germany’s Linde AG and U.S.-based Praxair, creating one of the largest global providers of industrial, specialty and medical gases. Linde’s business model centers on production, processing and distribution of gases as well as the design and construction of the plants and equipment needed to produce them.

Core products and services include atmospheric and process gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and argon; hydrogen and helium; carbon dioxide; and a portfolio of higher‑value specialty and electronic gases.

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WOKING, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Linde (Nasdaq: LIN) will release its second quarter 2026 financial results by 06:00 EDT/midday CEST on Friday, July 31, 2026. The Company will host and webcast its conference call at 09:00 EDT/15:00 CEST, which will be available to the public and the media in listen-only mode. Live conference call US Toll-Free Dial-In Number: 1 888 770 7292 UK Toll-Free Dial-In Number: 0800 358 0970 Access code: 6877110   Live webcast (listen-only)   https://www.linde.com/inves.

The Fidelity High Dividend ETF (FDVV) and the ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) both focus on dividend-paying U.S. stocks, but their portfolios are built very differently. That difference can shape not just how much income investors receive, but how reliable that income may be over time.

Linde (LIN) came out with quarterly earnings of $4.33 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.27 per share. This compares to earnings of $3.95 per share a year ago.

On May 1, 2026, Linde PLC LIN released its 8-K filing detailing first-quarter 2026 results. The company reported sales of $8.78 billion, operating profit of $2.44 billion, adjusted operating profit of $2.63 billion, GAAP diluted EPS of $3.98, and adjusted EPS of $4.33. Linde is the largest industrial gas supplier in the world, operating in over 100 countries. Its core offerings include atmospheric gases (oxygen, nitrogen, argon), process gases (hydrogen, carbon dioxide, helium), and related equipment, serving end markets such as chemicals, manufacturing, healthcare, and steelmaking. Linde generated approximately $34 billion in revenue in 2025.

Quarterly recap and estimates check Adjusted EPS was $4.33, which is higher than the estimated EPS of $4.23. GAAP diluted EPS was $3.98, which is below the estimated EPS of $4.23.

Sales were $8,781 million, which is below the estimated revenue of $8,893.50 million.

Year over year, sales increased 8% with a 5% favorable currency impact. Underlying sales rose 3% from 2% price attainment and 1% volume, primarily from project start-ups. Acquisitions added 1% to sales. Adjusted operating margin was 30.0%, down 10 basis points year over year, reflecting resilient pricing and productivity gains offset by mix and regional margin pressure.

Management commentaryLinde employees delivered another solid quarter with 10% EPS growth, 30% operating margin and 24% return on capital under increasingly challenging global conditions. These results underscore the resiliency of our operating model, discipline of capital allocation and perseverance of management actions.What drove the quarter: performance and emerging challenges Price discipline and productivity initiatives supported profit growth, with adjusted operating profit up 8% year over year. Currency provided a notable tailwind to reported sales growth. However, volume growth was modest at 1%, indicating uneven demand across end markets.

Regional dynamics were mixed. The Americas benefited from pricing and higher volumes in electronics, manufacturing, and metals and mining. Asia Pacific delivered strong volume growth tied to electronics and chemicals and energy plus project start-ups, but segment margin contracted. EMEA faced lower volumes in chemicals and energy and manufacturing, pointing to softer industrial activity. Linde Engineering experienced an 8% sales decline, though margin remained healthy.

Segment performance Segment Sales ($M) YoY Change Underlying Sales Operating Profit Margin Notes Americas 4,025 Up 10% Up 6% (4% price, 2% volume) 31.6% Strength in electronics, manufacturing, metals and mining APAC 1,701 Up 11% Up 6% (6% volume) 28.0% Electronics and chemicals and energy; project start-ups; margin down 130 bps YoY EMEA 2,171 Up 7% Down 2% (1% price, 3% lower volume) 36.1% Volume softness in chemicals and energy and manufacturing Linde Engineering 517 Down 8% N/A 19.5% Order intake $640M; third-party sale of equipment backlog $2.8BCash generation and capital allocation Operating cash flow was $2,240 million, up 4% year over year. Capital expenditures were $1,342 million, reflecting ongoing growth and maintenance investments. Free cash flow was $898 million, calculated as operating cash flow less capital expenditures.

Linde returned $1,545 million to shareholders through dividends and stock repurchases, net of issuances. Shareholder returns exceeded free cash flow in the quarter, indicating additional funding beyond period FCF. The company noted a $7.1 billion contractual sale of gas project backlog, highlighting sustained project activity that supports long-duration cash flows typical in the industrial gases model.

Key financial statement highlights and industry context Income statement: Operating profit was $2,439 million, with adjusted operating profit of $2,630 million driven by price realization and productivity. Adjusted EPS grew 10% year over year to $4.33, indicating operating leverage despite modest volumes and slight margin compression.

Balance sheet and liquidity: While detailed balance sheet figures were not disclosed in the press release, the company’s non-GAAP framework and 24% return on capital, referenced by management, point to efficient asset utilization consistent with capital-intensive gases businesses that emphasize on-site contracts and long-term returns.

Cash flow statement: The 4% increase in operating cash flow and nearly $0.9 billion in free cash flow underscore strong cash conversion. This is critical in chemicals and industrial gases, where steady cash flow supports multi-year capex pipelines, engineering backlogs, and shareholder distributions.

Analysis Linde PLC LIN delivered an adjusted EPS beat against consensus alongside an 8% revenue increase aided by currency. The underlying 3% sales growth, consisting of 2% price and 1% volume, suggests a healthy pricing environment but only modest demand growth. Mixed regional performance—APAC margin contraction and EMEA volume declines—highlights macro variability that could weigh on near-term mix and margins.

Even so, the 30.0% adjusted operating margin and 24% return on capital (per management commentary) indicate durable competitive positioning. Cash generation remained solid, funding significant capex while still enabling sizable shareholder returns. The Engineering order intake and backlog, coupled with the broader sale-of-gas project backlog, reinforce visibility into future activity, a hallmark of the industrial gases model.

GuruFocus Valuation Check Based on GuruFocus’s GF Value, Linde PLC LIN appears overvalued at the current price. The GF Value is $473.92, while the current price is $514.20, implying the shares trade about 8.5% above estimated fair value.

The GF Score of 94/100 is strong, supported by a 9/10 Profitability Rank, 9/10 Growth Rank, and 4.5-star Predictability. For investors, this combination typically signals a high-quality compounder with consistent execution and favorable growth characteristics. A Moat Score of 8/10 aligns with the industry’s high switching costs and long-term contracts that can provide earnings durability. Financial Strength at 6/10 is solid but suggests balance-sheet prudence remains important given the sector’s capital intensity.

Insider Activity shows $10.3 million in insider sales over the last three months and no insider buying, which can be a note of caution when shares screen as overvalued. For a deeper dive, visit the Linde PLC stock page on GuruFocus.

Explore the complete 8-K earnings release (here) from Linde PLC for further details.

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Key Takeaways Linde reported Q1 EPS of $4.33, up 10% YoY, beating estimates on strong pricing.Linde's revenue rose 8% to $8.78B, supported by project start-ups and volumes.LIN holds a $10.1B backlog and raised its dividend by 7%, marking 33 straight years of growth. Linde plc (LIN - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $4.33, up 10% from $3.95 a year ago. The figure topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.27 by 1.41%.

Total quarterly revenues of $8.78 billion rose 8% from $8.11 billion recorded in the year-ago period. The top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.51 billion by 3.17%.

The strong quarterly results can be attributed to higher pricing and incremental project start-ups, which supported underlying growth.

LIN Leans on Price Attainment and Project Start-UpsThe top-line beat was driven by a mix of operational factors. Compared with the prior-year quarter, underlying sales increased 3%, supported by 2% price attainment and 1% volume growth, driven by project start-ups. Acquisitions added another 1% to sales growth.

LIN Protects Operating Leverage Despite Macro FrictionLinde reported operating profit of $2.44 billion and adjusted operating profit of $2.63 billion, up from $2.18 billion and $2.44 billion, respectively, recorded in the prior-year quarter.

Net income attributable to Linde increased from the year-ago figure of $1.67 billion to $1.86 billion. The company’s adjusted net income was $2.02 billion, up 7% year over year from $1.88 billion, reflecting stronger operating profit and ongoing productivity initiatives across segments.

LIN’s Segmental HighlightsGeographically, the Americas remained the key growth contributor, with segment sales of $4.03 billion, up 10% year over year from $3.67 billion. The increase was supported by stronger pricing and higher volumes, with electronics and manufacturing highlighted as key end markets. Segment operating profit reached $1.27 billion, up from $1.14 billion recorded in the year-ago quarter.

APAC sales rose to $1.70 billion, reflecting an 11% increase from $1.54 billion a year ago. Volumes were the main driver, aided by project start-ups and demand in electronics, as well as chemicals and energy. Segment operating profit increased from $451 million to $477 million for the quarter.

EMEA sales amounted to $2.17 billion, up 7% from the year-ago quarter’s figure of $2.03 billion. Underlying performance was less favorable, with volume pressure in chemicals, energy and manufacturing offsetting pricing gains. Segment operating profit improved to $784 million from $722 million recorded in the prior-year quarter.

Engineering sales decreased from $565 million in the prior-year quarter to $517 million. Operating profit in the Engineering segment declined to $101 million from $114 million in the prior-year quarter.

LIN’s BacklogsAt the end of the first quarter, the company’s high-quality project backlog amounted to $10.1 billion, comprising a sale-of-gas backlog of $7.1 billion.

Linde’s Cash Generation Supports Shareholder ReturnsCash flow remained supportive of capital returns and investment priorities. First-quarter operating cash flow was $2.24 billion, up 4% from $2.16 billion in the prior-year quarter. Capital expenditures totaled $1.34 billion, resulting in free cash flow of $898 million.

Capital deployment was directed toward returning cash to shareholders alongside continued growth investment. During the quarter, Linde returned $1.55 billion through dividends and stock repurchases, net of issuances. The company has raised its dividend by 7% in 2026, marking 33 consecutive years of dividend increases.

LIN’s 2026 GuidanceManagement’s near-term and full-year guidance remained centered on steady execution rather than a sharp demand rebound. For the second quarter of 2026, Linde expects EPS to be in the range of $4.40-$4.50, implying 8% to 10% growth versus the prior-year quarter, or 7% to 9% excluding an estimated 1% currency benefit.

For full-year 2026, EPS is expected to be in the range of $17.60-$17.90, suggesting 7-9% growth and assuming a 1% favorable currency impact.

Capital expenditures are expected to be between $5.0 billion and $5.5 billion, reflecting both maintenance needs and growth spending tied to the company’s contractual project pipeline.

LIN’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksLIN currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks from the basic materials sector are Dow Inc. (DOW - Free Report) , CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF - Free Report) and Nutrien Ltd. (NTR - Free Report) . Both DOW and CF sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present, while NTR carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Dow reported a first-quarter 2026 loss of 14 cents per share, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 39 cents.

As of March 31, 2026, DOW reported $4.1 billion in cash and cash equivalents. At the quarter's end, its long-term debt amounted to $17.3 billion.

CF Industries is the largest producer of ammonia globally. The company is scheduled to release first-quarter 2026 earnings on May 7. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CF’s earnings is pegged at $2.35 per share, which implies an increase of 27% from the prior-year reported figure.

Nutrien, based in Canada, is a leading integrated provider of crop inputs and services. NTR is scheduled to release first-quarter 2026 earnings on May 6. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NTR’s earnings is pegged at 48 cents per share, which implies an increase of 336.4% from the prior-year reported figure.

WOKING, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Linde (Nasdaq: LIN) today announced it has been included in the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Indices (previously known as Dow Jones Sustainability Indices) for the 23rd consecutive year.

The Dow Jones Best-in-Class World Index comprises global sustainability leaders as identified by S&P Global through the Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). It represents the top 10% of the largest 2,500 companies in the S&P Global BMI based on long-term economic, environmental and social criteria. Linde scored in the 98th percentile in its CSA and was recognized by S&P Global for 25 years of active engagement.

Linde was also included in the S&P 2026 Sustainability Yearbook, following a rigorous assessment of sustainability performance and reporting. Of more than 9,200 companies eligible for inclusion, only 848 qualified for Yearbook membership.

“These distinctions validate Linde's pragmatic approach to sustainability built over more than two decades. They also confirm our strong track record in transparent reporting in alignment with global disclosure standards,” said Erin Catapano, Linde Vice President Sustainability. “Linde’s focus on creating long-term value extends from helping customers to decarbonize and managing Linde’s own environmental footprint to investing in the communities where we live and work.”

“Reaching 25 years of participation in the S&P Global CSA is a testament to Linde’s long-standing commitment to meaningful sustainability action,” said Robert Dornau, S&P Global Senior Director, Head of Corporate Solutions & Engagement.

With its products, technologies and services, Linde helped its customers avoid more than 90 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents in 2025. Linde’s climate goals include its 2035 science-based absolute greenhouse gas emissions reduction target and its 2050 climate neutrality ambition.

About Linde

Linde is a leading global industrial gases and engineering company with 2025 sales of $34 billion. We live our mission of making our world more productive every day by providing high-quality solutions, technologies and services which are making our customers more successful and helping to sustain, decarbonize and protect our planet.

Linde serves a variety of end markets such as chemicals & energy, food & beverage, electronics, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and mining. Linde’s industrial gases and technologies are used in countless applications, enabling space exploration and launch technologies, delivering ultra-high-purity and specialty gases for semiconductor manufacturing, providing life-saving medical oxygen and enabling clean hydrogen production and carbon capture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Linde also delivers state-of-the-art gas processing solutions to support customer growth, efficiency improvements and emissions reductions.

For more information about the company and its products and services, please visit www.linde.com

The conflict in Iran has disrupted the supply of helium, which is crucial to chipmaking and other industries.

As the global financial community eagerly awaits SpaceX's historic initial public offering (IPO) – rumoured to command some $1.7 trillion valuation on June 12 – a wave of capital is flooding into public space stocks. This unprecedented offering promises to shine a “blinding spotlight” on the entire commercial space ecosystem, resetting industry benchmarks and driving institutional demand to a fever pitch.

On June 01, 2026, we delve into the DCF analysis for Linde PLC LIN , a company currently trading at $497.69. The stock has experienced a price performance of -3.8% over the past week, -1.4% over the past month, +17.1% year-to-date, and +8.7% over the past year. Here are some key insights:

DCF Earnings-based intrinsic value of $326.62 per share vs current price of $497.69 (margin of safety: -52.4%) DCF FCF-based intrinsic value of $199.62 per share vs current price (second opinion indicates significant overvaluation) GF Score™ of 94/100 suggests high reliability of the DCF inputs What Is LIN Worth? DCF Earnings-Based Model The DCF earnings-based model evaluates Linde PLC's intrinsic value by projecting its future earnings growth over a 10-year period, followed by a terminal growth phase. The model assumes a starting EPS of $16.38 and applies a growth rate of 13.3% for the first decade. The discount rate is set at 11%, which is derived from the risk-free rate and equity risk premium. After the growth phase, the terminal growth rate is assumed to be 4% for the subsequent ten years.

Parameter Value Current EPS (TTM, excl. non-recurring) $16.38 10-Year Growth Rate 13.3% 10-Year Treasury Rate 4.47% Discount Rate (ceil(Treasury) + 6%) 11% Terminal Growth Rate 4% The two-stage model breaks down the valuation into a growth stage and a terminal stage. The growth stage reflects the expected earnings growth over the first ten years, while the terminal stage accounts for the company's value beyond that period.

Stage Description Value Growth Stage (Years 1-10) EPS growing at 13.3%, discounted at 11% $183.64 Terminal Stage (Years 11-20) 4% terminal growth, discounted at 11% $142.98 Intrinsic Value Growth + Terminal $326.62 With the current price at $497.69, the intrinsic value of $326.62 indicates that Linde PLC is modestly overvalued, with a margin of safety of -52.4%. It is important to note that GuruFocus uses EPS without non-recurring items because research shows stock prices correlate more closely with earnings than free cash flow. For further calculations, visit the LIN DCF Calculator.

What Does the Free Cash Flow DCF Say? The Free Cash Flow (FCF) based intrinsic value for Linde PLC is calculated at $199.62 per share. When comparing this to the earnings-based intrinsic value of $326.62, there is a significant disparity. The FCF model indicates that Linde PLC is significantly overvalued, with a margin of safety of -149.3%. This divergence suggests that the two models do not agree on the valuation of the company.

How Does GF Value™ Compare to the DCF Models? The GF Value™ for Linde PLC stands at $490.46, providing a third perspective on the company's valuation. GF Value™ is GuruFocus' proprietary measure calculated from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates. When considering the DCF earnings-based, FCF-based, and GF Value™, all three models indicate that Linde PLC is overvalued. For more details, visit the GF Value™ page.

What Does LIN's GF Score™ Tell Us? The GF Score™ ranks stocks from 0 to 100 based on five key aspects: Financial Strength, Profitability, Growth, Valuation, and Momentum. Stocks with higher GF Score™ values have been found to generate higher long-term returns based on backtested data from 2006 to 2021. Linde PLC has a GF Score™ of 94/100, indicating strong potential. The financial strength is rated 6/10, profitability 9/10, growth 9/10, valuation 9/10, and momentum 10/10. The predictability rank is 2/5 stars, suggesting that the DCF model may be less reliable for this stock. For further insights, visit the LIN stock page.

Metric Rating GF Score™ 94/100 Financial Strength 6/10 Profitability 9/10 Growth 9/10 Valuation 9/10 Momentum 10/10

Key Assumptions and Limitations It is important to note that DCF models are highly sensitive to growth rate and discount rate assumptions. Stocks with low predictability ratings, such as Linde PLC with a rank of 2/5 stars, tend to produce less reliable DCF estimates. Additionally, the terminal growth rate of 4% is a simplifying assumption that may not reflect future market conditions accurately.

What This Means for Investors In summary, the DCF earnings-based model indicates that Linde PLC is modestly overvalued, while the FCF-based model suggests a significant overvaluation. The GF Value™ also supports the conclusion of overvaluation. Therefore, the clear verdict is that Linde PLC is overvalued at its current price.

For the full DCF analysis, visit the LIN DCF Calculator. You can also explore the GF Value™ page, or use the GuruFocus Stock Screener to find undervalued predictable companies.

Frequently Asked Questions What is LIN's intrinsic value based on DCF?

[Answer: earnings-based $326.63, FCF-based $199.62]

Is LIN overvalued or undervalued?

[Answer using DCF + GF Value™ consensus]

How reliable is the DCF model for LIN?

[Answer using predictability rank 2/5]

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].