Linde plc (LIN.NYSE) AI OPINIONS & ADVISOR ANALYSIS
Read and compare the 14 individual AI Advisor deep-dive reports, including their forecast paths, ratings, price targets, and reasoning.
Updated on 20 September 2026Deep analysis 20 September 2026
Universal Investor AI
The Polymath FrameworkModel rating
Neutral
5-Year Return Est.
+52.1%
Includes 0.94% annual net dividend contribution
1. Investment Thesis — Base Case
Linde is a toll road on industrial oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen, where fifteen-year onsite contracts make volume someone else's problem. The central tension is not whether earnings compound - price plus productivity plus buybacks deliver roughly 8% almost regardless of the cycle - but what investors pay for that compounding when Treasuries yield 5%. Over five years I expect the earnings engine to hold and the multiple to drift lower, from roughly 26x forward toward 23x. That combination produces respectable, unspectacular returns: growth delivered, premium partially surrendered. Investors are buying certainty at a fair, not generous, price.
- FY26 adjusted EPS midpoint of $17.80 compounding near 8% annually reaches roughly $26 by 2031.
- At 23-24x forward earningsforward earningsEstimated future profitability used to calculate valuation multiples for investment analysis.View full glossary entry, that implies a share price near $650 against $460 today.
- Cross-check: $214B market cap, 17.6x EV/EBITDAearnings before interest taxes depreciation and amortizationEarnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) measures operating performance before financing, tax, and certain accounting charges.View full glossary entry, with buybacks retiring about 2% of shares yearly.
Historical prices and published forecast
- Observed price
- Published advisor forecast
View chart values
| Series | Date | Value (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Observed price | 2021-09-14 | 312 |
| Observed price | 2021-09-30 | 293 |
| Observed price | 2021-10-12 | 296 |
| Observed price | 2021-10-28 | 318 |
| Observed price | 2021-11-01 | 323 |
| Observed price | 2021-11-09 | 339 |
| Observed price | 2021-11-29 | 319 |
| Observed price | 2021-12-15 | 337 |
| Observed price | 2021-12-19 | 333 |
| Observed price | 2021-12-31 | 346 |
| Observed price | 2022-01-12 | 341 |
| Observed price | 2022-01-28 | 313 |
| Observed price | 2022-02-09 | 304 |
| Observed price | 2022-02-21 | 296 |
| Observed price | 2022-03-05 | 279 |
| Observed price | 2022-03-21 | 311 |
| Observed price | 2022-03-29 | 326 |
| Observed price | 2022-04-06 | 315 |
| Observed price | 2022-04-22 | 322 |
| Observed price | 2022-05-08 | 303 |
| Observed price | 2022-05-12 | 305 |
| Observed price | 2022-05-28 | 328 |
| Observed price | 2022-06-05 | 334 |
| Observed price | 2022-06-17 | 291 |
| Observed price | 2022-06-29 | 290 |
| Observed price | 2022-07-07 | 274 |
| Observed price | 2022-07-23 | 288 |
| Observed price | 2022-08-12 | 312 |
| Observed price | 2022-08-16 | 312 |
| Observed price | 2022-09-05 | 277 |
| Observed price | 2022-09-13 | 291 |
| Observed price | 2022-09-25 | 267 |
| Observed price | 2022-10-11 | 272 |
| Observed price | 2022-10-19 | 283 |
| Observed price | 2022-10-27 | 298 |
| Observed price | 2022-11-16 | 331 |
| Observed price | 2022-11-24 | 342 |
| Observed price | 2022-12-06 | 332 |
| Observed price | 2022-12-14 | 342 |
| Observed price | 2023-01-03 | 318 |
| Observed price | 2023-01-07 | 314 |
| Observed price | 2023-01-15 | 330 |
| Observed price | 2023-02-08 | 335 |
| Observed price | 2023-02-20 | 327 |
| Observed price | 2023-03-08 | 355 |
| Observed price | 2023-03-16 | 338 |
| Observed price | 2023-03-20 | 339 |
| Observed price | 2023-04-09 | 358 |
| Observed price | 2023-04-13 | 360 |
| Observed price | 2023-04-29 | 370 |
| Observed price | 2023-05-11 | 370 |
| Observed price | 2023-05-27 | 356 |
| Observed price | 2023-05-31 | 354 |
| Observed price | 2023-06-16 | 375 |
| Observed price | 2023-07-06 | 365 |
| Observed price | 2023-07-14 | 379 |
| Observed price | 2023-07-30 | 389 |
| Observed price | 2023-08-03 | 381 |
| Observed price | 2023-08-19 | 377 |
| Observed price | 2023-08-31 | 387 |
| Observed price | 2023-09-16 | 388 |
| Observed price | 2023-09-24 | 376 |
| Observed price | 2023-10-06 | 371 |
| Observed price | 2023-10-14 | 379 |
| Observed price | 2023-10-22 | 367 |
| Observed price | 2023-11-11 | 401 |
| Observed price | 2023-11-27 | 413 |
| Observed price | 2023-12-05 | 404 |
| Observed price | 2023-12-09 | 403 |
| Observed price | 2023-12-25 | 410 |
| Observed price | 2024-01-02 | 410 |
| Observed price | 2024-01-10 | 406 |
| Observed price | 2024-01-26 | 404 |
| Observed price | 2024-02-15 | 425 |
| Observed price | 2024-02-19 | 436 |
| Observed price | 2024-03-10 | 467 |
| Observed price | 2024-03-14 | 474 |
| Observed price | 2024-04-03 | 459 |
| Observed price | 2024-04-07 | 461 |
| Observed price | 2024-04-27 | 443 |
| Observed price | 2024-05-05 | 425 |
| Observed price | 2024-05-21 | 434 |
| Observed price | 2024-05-29 | 426 |
| Observed price | 2024-06-14 | 437 |
| Observed price | 2024-06-22 | 442 |
| Observed price | 2024-06-30 | 432 |
| Observed price | 2024-07-12 | 441 |
| Observed price | 2024-08-01 | 453 |
| Observed price | 2024-08-05 | 444 |
| Observed price | 2024-08-25 | 469 |
| Observed price | 2024-09-02 | 474 |
| Observed price | 2024-09-10 | 464 |
| Observed price | 2024-09-26 | 478 |
| Observed price | 2024-10-08 | 466 |
| Observed price | 2024-10-20 | 484 |
| Observed price | 2024-11-01 | 457 |
| Observed price | 2024-11-17 | 450 |
| Observed price | 2024-11-29 | 461 |
| Observed price | 2024-12-03 | 458 |
| Observed price | 2024-12-19 | 420 |
| Observed price | 2025-01-04 | 414 |
| Observed price | 2025-01-16 | 432 |
| Observed price | 2025-01-28 | 436 |
| Observed price | 2025-02-09 | 458 |
| Observed price | 2025-02-25 | 460 |
| Observed price | 2025-03-01 | 466 |
| Observed price | 2025-03-09 | 463 |
| Observed price | 2025-03-13 | 453 |
| Observed price | 2025-04-02 | 467 |
| Observed price | 2025-04-06 | 436 |
| Observed price | 2025-04-26 | 449 |
| Observed price | 2025-05-16 | 458 |
| Observed price | 2025-05-20 | 460 |
| Observed price | 2025-06-09 | 475 |
| Observed price | 2025-06-21 | 459 |
| Observed price | 2025-07-03 | 476 |
| Observed price | 2025-07-15 | 464 |
| Observed price | 2025-07-23 | 472 |
| Observed price | 2025-07-31 | 463 |
| Observed price | 2025-08-20 | 480 |
| Observed price | 2025-08-28 | 481 |
| Observed price | 2025-09-05 | 470 |
| Observed price | 2025-09-17 | 480 |
| Observed price | 2025-10-03 | 467 |
| Observed price | 2025-10-11 | 457 |
| Observed price | 2025-10-31 | 418 |
| Observed price | 2025-11-12 | 429 |
| Observed price | 2025-11-24 | 408 |
| Observed price | 2025-12-10 | 397 |
| Observed price | 2025-12-18 | 422 |
| Observed price | 2025-12-22 | 424 |
| Observed price | 2026-01-11 | 443 |
| Observed price | 2026-01-19 | 439 |
| Observed price | 2026-02-04 | 473 |
| Observed price | 2026-02-08 | 454 |
| Observed price | 2026-02-28 | 506 |
| Observed price | 2026-03-04 | 496 |
| Observed price | 2026-03-24 | 485 |
| Observed price | 2026-04-13 | 509 |
| Observed price | 2026-04-17 | 492 |
| Observed price | 2026-04-25 | 509 |
| Observed price | 2026-05-07 | 494 |
| Observed price | 2026-05-23 | 515 |
| Observed price | 2026-05-31 | 499 |
| Observed price | 2026-06-08 | 514 |
| Observed price | 2026-06-28 | 519 |
| Observed price | 2026-07-02 | 547 |
| Observed price | 2026-07-22 | 509 |
| Observed price | 2026-07-26 | 509 |
| Observed price | 2026-08-15 | 480 |
| Observed price | 2026-08-31 | 490 |
| Observed price | 2026-09-08 | 468 |
| Observed price | 2026-09-21 | 458 |
| Observed price | 2026-09-23 | 470 |
| Observed price | 2026-09-25 | 470 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2026-09-18 | 460 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2026-12-18 | 470 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2027-03-18 | 484 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2027-06-18 | 474 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2027-09-18 | 493 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2027-12-18 | 503 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2028-03-18 | 518 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2028-06-18 | 528 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2028-09-18 | 512 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2028-12-18 | 533 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2029-03-18 | 549 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2029-06-18 | 560 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2029-09-18 | 571 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2029-12-18 | 588 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2030-03-18 | 600 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2030-06-18 | 612 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2030-09-18 | 600 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2030-12-18 | 624 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2031-03-18 | 636 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2031-06-18 | 649 |
| Published advisor forecast | 2031-09-18 | 668 |
2. Scenarios & Signals
Bull case
The bull case activates when disinflation and a Lincare exit arrive together. Falling policy rates lift the multiple that a 2.3% free-cash-flow-yield compoundercompounderA business or asset that can reinvest earnings or cash flows at attractive returns over an extended period.View full glossary entry commands, while divesting homecare removes the identified margin leak and funds accelerated repurchases. Electronics backlog conversionbacklog conversionThe process of turning booked orders into delivered revenue and cash flow over time.View full glossary entry then proves the growth is higher-quality than chemicals-heavy history implies, and margins resume their 100-bps annual climb. Earnings compound at the top of the 8-12% range against a re-expanding 28x multiple, delivering total returns well above 60%.
Bear case
The bear case activates when sticky inflation meets a chemical downturn. A funds rate near 4.5% through 2028 pushes capital toward yield-bearing alternatives, de-rating Linde toward 20x forward, while recession stalls the chemicals 56% of backlogbacklogThe total value of signed contracts yet to be fulfilled, representing future revenue visibility.View full glossary entry and defers start-ups. Rising capexcapital expenditureCapital expenditure (CAPEX) is spending on long-lived assets or major improvements expected to support operations over multiple periods.View full glossary entry commitments then collide with softer cash generation, forcing buybacks down just as the multiple contracts. Clean-energy cancellations echoing Louisiana and Baytown compound the narrative damage, leaving the shares below today's price despite positive earnings growth.
Current crowd narrative
The consensus treats Linde as the industrial-gas annuity that always delivers: 27 analysts rate it Buy with an average target of $544.54, KeyBanc initiating Overweight at $542 [12][1]. The anchoring bias is the 8-12% algorithm, assumed near-mechanical. Priced in: record $11B backlogThe total value of signed contracts yet to be fulfilled, representing future revenue visibility., 8-9% FY26 EPS growtheps growthThe percentage increase in earnings per share over a specified period.View full glossary entry, Lincare fixed. Barely priced in: that the multiple, not the earnings, is what moved.
Alpha-gap assessment
No convincing gap exists in either direction - the shares are close to fairly priced, which is itself the finding. The crowd correctly values the earnings engine but conflates two things: 8-9% eps growthThe percentage increase in earnings per share over a specified period. is durable, while 26x forward is not a constant. The overlooked evidence cuts both ways - electronics backlogThe total value of signed contracts yet to be fulfilled, representing future revenue visibility. quality is underappreciated, while the 57% "clean energy" label masks blue-hydrogen offtake fragility after Louisiana and Baytown [14][15]. Expect earnings-driven returns, not multiple-driven ones.
Convergence catalyst
A Lincare resolution is the cleanest trigger: a 2027 announcement removes the identified 30-bps margin leak and redeploys proceeds into buybacks. The first observable sign is Americas adjusted margin returning above 31.5% in a quarterly print, which would restore the clean compounding narrative the market pays a premium for.
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