Skip to navigationSkip to main contentSkip to right columnADVERTISEMENTKritika SarmahTue, August 11, 2026 at 1:51 PM GMT+2 2 min readlettering of The Linde Group, a global leader in industrial gases and engineering By Christian BungeWoking, United Kingdom-based Linde plc (LIN) is a global industrial gases and engineering company and the world's largest industrial gas company. With a market cap of $225.9 billion, the company produces and distributes essential gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, argon, hydrogen, helium, carbon dioxide and specialty gases, while also designing and building plants and equipment used to produce and process industrial gases.Linde has struggled to keep pace with the broader market over the past year, climbing 4.2% compared to the S&P 500 Index ($SPX) 21.3% surge. However, the picture has brightened considerably in 2026, with the stock climbing 15.5% YTD and outperforming the S&P 500's 13.3% advance.More News from BarchartShaq Says His Dad Treated Him to White Castle, But When He Saw Homeless Man With a Sign, He Gave 3 of His Burgers to the Guy — 'Always Look Out for the Little Man'Micron vs. SK hynix: One Stock Rules AI Memory. The Other Has More Room to Run.Rocket Lab Investors Have Plenty to Cheer Ahead of Q2 Earnings TodayStop Missing Market Moves: Get the FREE Barchart Brief – your midday dose of stock movers, trending sectors, and actionable trade ideas, delivered right to your inbox. Sign Up Now!Yet, LIN has trailed the State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB), which has risen 20.4% over the past year and 17.3% in 2026. www.barchart.comLinde shares tumbled 6% on July 31 after the company released its second-quarter results, as investors focused on margin pressure and a relatively modest increase in its full-year outlook despite a solid quarter. Sales rose 9.3% year over year to $9.29 billion, while adjusted EPS climbed 10% to $4.50, ahead of analysts' expectations driven by strong demand in its electronics business. However, the adjusted operating margin declined 60 basis points to 29.5%, as cost inflation offset pricing and productivity gains. Linde raised the lower end of its FY2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $17.70-$17.90 from $17.60-$17.90, but the modest upgrade fell short of investor expectations.For the current year, which ends in December, analysts expect LIN's EPS to rise 8.4% to $17.85 on a diluted basis. The company surpassed the consensus estimate in each of the last four quarters.Among the 24 analysts covering LIN stock, the consensus is a "Strong Buy." That's based on 17 "Strong Buy" ratings, two "Moderate Buys," and five "Holds."www.barchart.comThis configuration is more bearish than a month ago when the stock had 18 "Strong Buy" suggestions.On Aug. 3, RBC Capital lowered its price target for Linde to $553 from $576 while maintaining an "Outperform" rating. The firm viewed Linde's Q2 results as solid and noted that the company raised its FY2026 guidance. Terms and Privacy PolicyEU DSA contactPrivacy & Cookie SettingsMore Info