Groupe la Francaise Cuts Position in Linde PLC $LIN

Key Points

• Groupe la Francaise reduced its Linde stake by 3.5% in the second quarter, selling 4,315 shares and retaining 119,122 shares valued at approximately $61.5 million. Institutional investors collectively own 82.8% of Linde.
• Linde reported quarterly revenue of $9.29 billion and earnings of $4.50 per share, narrowly beating estimates; revenue rose 9.3% year over year. The company maintained fiscal 2026 EPS guidance of $17.70–$17.90.
• Linde declared a quarterly dividend of $1.60 per share, representing a $6.40 annualized payout and a 1.3% yield. Analysts remain bullish, with a consensus “Buy” rating and an average price target of $545.38.

Groupe la Francaise lowered its stake in Linde PLC (NASDAQ:LIN - Free Report) by 3.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 119,122 shares of the basic materials company's stock after selling 4,315 shares during the period. Groupe la Francaise's holdings in Linde were worth $61,528,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in LIN. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Linde in the second quarter worth $25,000. Triumph Capital Management raised its position in shares of Linde by 69.2% in the 4th quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 66 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Wealth Managment LLC ID boosted its stake in Linde by 96.6% in the 1st 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. High Note Wealth LLC boosted its stake in Linde by 108.6% in the 4th quarter. High Note Wealth LLC now owns 73 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Manning & Napier Advisors LLC grew its position 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 valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.80% of the company's stock.

Linde Stock Performance

Shares of LIN stock opened at $477.57 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. Linde PLC has a 12-month low of $387.78 and a 12-month high of $548.20. The stock has a market capitalization of $220.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.85, a P/E/G ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.72. The firm's 50 day moving average is $502.05 and its 200 day moving average is $501.97.

Linde (NASDAQ:LIN - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 31st. The basic materials company reported $4.50 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.49 by $0.01. Linde had a return on equity of 20.09% and a net margin of 20.43%.The firm had revenue of $9.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $9.02 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $4.09 EPS. The company's revenue 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. Research analysts expect that Linde PLC will post 17.85 earnings per share for the current year.

Linde Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 3rd will be given a dividend of $1.60 per share. This represents a $6.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 3rd. Linde's payout ratio is 41.34%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

LIN has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. UBS Group restated a "buy" rating on shares of Linde in a research note on Friday. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of Linde from $576.00 to $553.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Evercore reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $525.00 target price on shares of Linde in a research note on Friday, July 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $580.00 price target on Linde in a research note on Monday, August 10th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price target on Linde from $559.00 to $564.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a 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 stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $545.38.

About Linde

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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