Linde PLC $LIN Position Boosted by Weaver Capital Management LLC

Key Points

• Weaver Capital Management increased its Linde position by 173.3% in the third quarter, bringing its holdings to 7,786 shares valued at approximately $3.7 million. Institutional investors collectively own 82.8% of Linde’s stock.
• Linde exceeded quarterly expectations with $4.50 in EPS and $9.29 billion in revenue, while revenue rose 9.3% year over year. The company pays a $1.60 quarterly dividend, equal to a 1.3% yield.
• Analysts maintain a broadly positive view, with Linde holding a consensus “Buy” rating and a $547.10 price target. However, valuation concerns remain, as the stock trades near 32 times forward earnings.

Weaver Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Linde PLC (NASDAQ:LIN - Free Report) by 173.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 7,786 shares of the basic materials company's stock after purchasing an additional 4,937 shares during the quarter. Weaver Capital Management LLC's holdings in Linde were worth $3,695,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its position in Linde by 67.5% in the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 330,986 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $157,103,000 after acquiring an additional 133,430 shares in the last quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd bought a new position in shares of Linde during the 3rd quarter valued at about $36,301,000. State of Alaska Department of Revenue bought a new position in shares of Linde during the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,948,000. Mainsail Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Linde during the 3rd quarter valued at about $308,000. Finally, Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH acquired a new position in shares of Linde in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $57,186,000. Institutional investors own 82.80% of the company's stock.

Linde Stock Performance

LIN stock opened at $493.22 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $478.35 and a 200 day simple moving average of $498.15. Linde PLC has a 52 week low of $387.78 and a 52 week high of $548.20. The stock has a market cap of $227.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.86, a P/E/G ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.88.

Linde (NASDAQ:LIN - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data 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 net margin of 20.43% and a return on equity of 20.09%. The firm had revenue of $9.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.02 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $4.09 EPS. The company'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. Research analysts anticipate that Linde PLC will post 17.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Linde Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 17th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, September 3rd were issued a dividend of $1.60 per share. This represents a $6.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 3rd. Linde's payout ratio is currently 41.34%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

LIN has been the topic of a number of research reports. Evercore boosted their target price on shares of Linde from $515.00 to $525.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. KeyCorp started coverage on shares of Linde in a research note on Thursday, September 10th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $542.00 target price for the company. Argus reduced their target price on shares of Linde from $563.00 to $538.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, September 28th. Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Linde from $532.00 to $550.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets restated an "outperform" rating on shares of Linde in a research report on Thursday, October 8th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Linde currently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $547.10.

Trending Headlines about Linde

Here are the key news stories impacting Linde this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Barclays upgraded Linde to “strong buy,” signaling increased confidence in the industrial-gases producer’s earnings outlook and business durability. Barclays upgrade report
• Positive Sentiment: Royal Bank of Canada retained an “outperform” rating and its revised $549 target still implies meaningful upside from the current share price, despite the modest target reduction. RBC analyst action
• Positive Sentiment: A recent article highlighted Linde’s exposure to industrial gases and long-term secular growth trends, reinforcing the company’s positioning in essential industrial markets. Linde adds exposure to industrial gases and secular growth trends
• Positive Sentiment: Linde was featured among dividend companies viewed as capable of raising prices without materially damaging demand, supporting its defensive appeal and potential for continued cash-flow growth. Five boring dividend stocks that could keep growing
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst-rating coverage remains an important focus for investors, but the available report provides no specific new earnings or valuation forecast. What investment firms are saying about Linde
• Negative Sentiment: One valuation-focused analysis argued that Linde appears fully valued on current earnings. With a reported forward-looking valuation near 32 times earnings, this could limit upside and make the stock sensitive to weaker growth or disappointing guidance. Linde stock looks fully valued on current earnings

Linde Company Profile

Linde plc NASDAQ: LIN is a global industrial gases and engineering company that supplies gases, related equipment and process technologies to customers in healthcare, manufacturing, chemicals, energy, food and beverage, electronics, and other industries. Its products include oxygen, nitrogen, argon, hydrogen, helium, carbon dioxide and specialty gases.

The company provides gases through on-site production facilities, pipelines, bulk deliveries and packaged cylinders. It also designs and builds industrial gas plants and offers technologies and services for applications such as hydrogen production, carbon capture, clean energy, semiconductor manufacturing, metal fabrication and medical care.

Linde traces its history to 1879, when German engineer Carl von Linde developed refrigeration and gas-related technologies.

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