Linde (NASDAQ:LIN) Releases Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.07 EPS

Key Points

• Linde exceeded third-quarter expectations, reporting EPS of $4.59 versus the $4.52 consensus and revenue of $9.40 billion versus $9.16 billion. Revenue rose 9.3% year over year, while EPS increased 9%.
• Electronics demand and backlog support future growth: Electronics sales grew 15%, with approximately $2 billion in projects under construction and about $8 billion in sale-of-gas backlog.
• Near-term risks remain as Linde takes a $425 million restructuring charge, faces continued Lincare weakness, and forecasts fourth-quarter EPS of $4.40–$4.50.

Linde (NASDAQ:LIN - Get Free Report) issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The basic materials company reported $4.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.52 by $0.07, FiscalAI reports. The company had revenue of $9.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.16 billion. Linde had a net margin of 20.43% and a return on equity of 20.09%. Linde's quarterly revenue was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $4.21 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from Linde's conference call:

• Third-quarter results reached records: sales rose 9% to $9.4 billion, operating profit increased 8% to $2.8 billion, and EPS grew 9% to $4.59.
• Electronics grew 15%, supported by strength in Asia-Pacific and the U.S.; approximately $2 billion of electronics projects under construction is expected to support continued double-digit growth.
• Linde continues to hold roughly $8 billion of sale-of-gas backlog, with nearly $3 billion of sale-of-plant backlog, providing visibility for future growth and higher supply density.
• Management recorded a $425 million restructuring charge and said Lincare remains a material earnings headwind; the company is restructuring the business and evaluating strategic alternatives, but does not expect meaningful profit improvement in the fourth quarter.
• Fourth-quarter EPS guidance of $4.40–$4.50 implies 5%–7% year-over-year growth, with management citing currency, seasonality, weaker equity income and continued caution on the economy; Europe remains essentially flat with no near-term industrial recovery catalyst.

Linde Stock Performance

LIN traded down $6.34 on Thursday, hitting $501.81. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,586,735 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,302,237. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $482.43 and its 200-day simple moving average is $491.70. The firm has a market cap of $231.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.71. Linde has a 12 month low of $387.78 and a 12 month high of $548.20. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51.

Linde Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 3rd will be issued a $1.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 3rd. This represents a $6.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.3%. Linde's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 41.34%.

Trending Headlines about Linde

Here are the key news stories impacting Linde this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Quarterly results exceeded expectations. Adjusted EPS was $4.59, above the $4.52 consensus estimate, while sales rose 9.3% year over year to $9.40 billion, topping expectations of $9.16 billion. Linde Reports Third-Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Growth was supported by pricing, volume gains and electronics demand. Management cited strong Americas pricing and volumes, while artificial-intelligence-related demand for semiconductor manufacturing gases provided an additional catalyst. Adjusted EPS increased 9% from the prior year. LIN Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates on Higher Americas Pricing & Volumes
• Positive Sentiment: Linde raised its 2026 earnings outlook. The improved forecast signals continued confidence in pricing power, contract-based revenue and demand from industrial and electronics customers. Linde Q3 Adjusted Earnings, Revenue Rise; Q4, 2026 Adjusted EPS Outlook Updated
• Neutral Sentiment: GAAP results were weaker because of one-time items. Reported net income declined 12% to $1.69 billion, while adjusted net income rose 7%, highlighting the impact of purchase-accounting and restructuring-related charges. Linde Reports Third-Quarter 2026 Results
• Negative Sentiment: Investors may be concerned about near-term costs and guidance. Linde forecast fourth-quarter adjusted EPS of $4.40-$4.50, below the third-quarter result, and expects to record a $425 million restructuring charge while evaluating strategic options for Lincare. Linde Guides Q4 EPS and Takes Restructuring Charge

Analyst Ratings Changes

LIN has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Bank of America upped their price objective on Linde from $532.00 to $550.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, July 17th. KeyCorp started coverage on Linde in a research report on Thursday, September 10th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $542.00 target price for the company. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an "outperform" rating on shares of Linde in a research note on Monday, October 5th. DZ Bank reaffirmed a "neutral" rating on shares of Linde in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, Berenberg Bank reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Linde in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have issued a Buy rating and two have 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 target price of $547.48.

Linde Company Profile

Linde plc NASDAQ: LIN is a global industrial gases and engineering company. It produces and distributes atmospheric gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and argon, as well as hydrogen, helium, carbon dioxide and specialty gases. The company serves customers through packaged gases, bulk deliveries, on-site production and pipeline systems.

Linde's products and services support a broad range of industries, including healthcare, food and beverage, manufacturing, chemicals, energy, refining, electronics and metals.

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