Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) Shares Acquired by UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC

UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its holdings in Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN - Free Report) by 2.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 3,360,400 shares of the basic materials company's stock after purchasing an additional 72,312 shares during the period. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC owned about 0.71% of Linde worth $1,406,899,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Synergy Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Linde during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Rakuten Securities Inc. lifted its position in Linde by 1,160.0% during the fourth quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 63 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC purchased a new stake in Linde during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Dunhill Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Linde during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, New Age Alpha Advisors LLC lifted its position in Linde by 34.9% during the fourth quarter. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC now owns 85 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.80% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein raised shares of Linde to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 3rd. Argus raised shares of Linde to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $503.11.

Linde Stock Performance

Linde stock traded down $0.10 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $458.90. 1,627,024 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,948,584. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.76. Linde plc has a fifty-two week low of $408.65 and a fifty-two week high of $487.49. The company has a market capitalization of $216.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.08 and a beta of 1.00. The firm's fifty day moving average is $451.27 and its two-hundred day moving average is $447.63.

Linde (NASDAQ:LIN - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The basic materials company reported $3.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $3.92 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $8.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.24 billion. Linde had a net margin of 19.89% and a return on equity of 18.71%. Linde's revenue for the quarter was up .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $3.75 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Linde plc will post 16.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Linde Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, June 4th will be paid a $1.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 4th. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.31%. Linde's payout ratio is currently 43.57%.

Insider Transactions at Linde

In related news, VP David P. Strauss sold 2,477 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $469.74, for a total transaction of $1,163,545.98. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 1,300 shares in the company, valued at approximately $610,662. This trade represents a 65.58% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.70% of the company's stock.

Linde Profile

Linde plc operates as an industrial gas company in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and South Pacific. It offers atmospheric gases, including oxygen, nitrogen, argon, and rare gases; and process gases, such as carbon dioxide, helium, hydrogen, electronic gases, specialty gases, and acetylene.