Stock fact sheet · data as of
Linde plc (LIN): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Basic Materials · Chemicals - Specialty · United Kingdom · Blend
Is LIN undervalued?
Linde plc (LIN) closed at 493.22 on 16 Oct 2026, 93% above the GLS average fair value of 255.90. 9 of the 9 models that produced a number value the shares below the current price. A gap this wide usually means the market is paying for growth or a story the trailing numbers do not show yet; the models work from filed results, not forecasts, so they are conservative by design.
There is a wide gap between DDM (92.70) and Graham Growth (454.28). When the models are this far apart the "fair value" is really a range, and the margin of safety above should be read with that range in mind.
The nightly engine files LIN under Blend.
Nine valuation models for LIN
Each model turns the latest filed numbers into a value per share; the GLS fair value is the simple average of the ones that produce a positive number. The last two rows are shown for reference and never enter the average. The Quote page lets you switch any model off and add your own margin of safety.
| Model | Value | vs price | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCF | 448.66 | -9% | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital |
| Graham Number | 172.56 | -65% | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share |
| Graham Growth | 454.28 | -8% | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields |
| Lynch | 165.74 | -66% | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25% |
| GLS Growth | 162.63 | -67% | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year |
| 10 Cap | 374.75 | -24% | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10% |
| Payback Time | 257.78 | -48% | Eight years of compounded free cash flow: the price at which the business pays for itself |
| DDM | 92.70 | -81% | Dividend discount model: next year's dividend ÷ (10% − 3% growth); needs a dividend |
| EPV | 174.02 | -65% | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth |
| Zombie (liquidation) | -73.22 | -115% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 558.55 | +13% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
Linde plc scores 6 of 9 on the Piotroski F-score: a middling result that passes the Sunday Scan's "6 or more" rule. Some of the nine tests on profitability, leverage and efficiency are failed, so the accounts are worth a look before selling a put on the name. A GLS Moat score of 8.3/10 puts LIN among the more durable businesses we track: over ten years the metrics the score watches (revenue, EPS, book value, margins, cash flow, ROIC) have mostly moved the right way, year after year.
Returns on capital are moderate - ROIC 10.6%, ROE 18.0%, ROA 7.9% - with debt at 0.71 times equity and a free-cash-flow yield of 2.2%.
The dividend yield is 1.28% with a payout ratio of 40% - a small yield that leaves most of the earnings in the business. Revenue comes mainly from Americas 46%, EMEA 26%, Asia-Pacific 21% (quarter Q2 FY2026).
Institutional ownership scores 10/10, insider activity 1/10 and Congressional trading 1/10 on the GLS smart-money scales; the last recorded Congressional buy was on 10 Aug 2026.
| Piotroski F-score | 6 / 9 | ROIC | 10.6% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 8.3 / 10 | ROE | 18.0% |
| Debt / equity | 0.71 | ROA | 7.9% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 2.2% | Payout ratio | 40% |
| Institutions | 10 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 1 · 1 / 10 |
Wheel Score 60: Fair
A Wheel Score of 60 puts Linde plc in the Fair band - below the 70 the Sunday Scan requires. Value 0/25, Health 13/20, Moat 12/15, Premium 14/20 and Stability 20/20; the weakest part is Value (0/25).
Implied volatility is 29% on the near-the-money contracts 20-60 days out: some premium, but under the 35-60% range the Wheel Score pays full marks for (14 of 20 points). The option chain is deep: 58,000 contracts of open interest across all expiries, which means tight fills at most strikes.
Volume runs at 2.4M shares a day on a market cap of $227.4B, with a beta of 0.71 - a low beta, so day-to-day moves are smaller than the market's; the Stability part of the Wheel Score gives that 20 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 0 / 25 | -93% margin of safety | |
| Health | 13 / 20 | Piotroski 6/9 | |
| Moat | 12 / 15 | moat 8.3/10 | |
| Premium | 14 / 20 | implied volatility 29% | |
| Stability | 20 / 20 | 2.4M shares/day, $227.4B cap, beta 0.71 |
The Wheel Score ranks ~7,400 US stocks for selling cash-secured puts and covered calls; it is updated nightly and is not a recommendation. The walkthrough lesson shows how the score fits into a trade, start to finish.
Upcoming events
Linde plc reports earnings on 29 Oct 2026 (before the open) - inside the 14-day window the Sunday Scan avoids, because a put sold now would carry the report's gap risk.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
Similar stocks in Chemicals - Specialty
The 12 companies below are the closest to Linde plc by market cap within the Chemicals - Specialty industry, each with its own fact sheet; the Compare page puts up to eight of them side by side.
| Stock | Close | Fair value | MoS | Wheel | Mkt cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECL Ecolab Inc. | 290.81 | 154.81 | -88% | 57Fair | $81.5B |
| SHW The Sherwin-Williams Company | 324.54 | 204.35 | -59% | 63Fair | $78.8B |
| APD Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. | 296.60 | 175.07 | -69% | 45Weak | $66.0B |
| PPG PPG Industries, Inc. | 104.87 | 124.52 | +16% | 84Prime | $23.3B |
| IFF International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. | 90.29 | 32.84 | -175% | 57Fair | $23.0B |
| LYB LyondellBasell Industries N.V. | 62.68 | 95.80 | +35% | 45Weak | $20.2B |
| SQM Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. | 61.64 | 66.44 | +7% | 71Good | $17.6B |
| RPM RPM International Inc. | 97.95 | 92.95 | -5% | 73Good | $12.5B |
| ALB Albemarle Corporation | 98.18 | 69.68 | -41% | 58Fair | $11.6B |
| SOLS Solstice Advanced Materials Inc. | 60.13 | 46.12 | -30% | 60Fair | $9.6B |
| ESI Element Solutions Inc | 35.53 | 11.90 | -199% | 57Fair | $8.7B |
| NEU NewMarket Corporation | 887.82 | 1,257.42 | +29% | 76Good | $8.2B |
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about LIN
Is LIN undervalued right now?
No: at 493.22 the stock trades 93% above the GLS average fair value of 255.90 (data as of 16 Oct 2026), well beyond what trailing earnings, cash flow and book value support.
What is the Wheel Score of LIN and what does it mean?
LIN scores 60 out of 100 (Fair). The Wheel Score blends the margin of safety (25 points), Piotroski health (20), the GLS moat (15), the option premium on offer (20) and trading stability (20) into one number that ranks stocks for the wheel strategy - selling cash-secured puts, then covered calls if assigned. 80 and above is Prime, 65-79 Good, 50-64 Fair, under 50 Weak.
What is the GLS fair value for LIN?
255.90 per share as of 16 Oct 2026 - the simple average of the 9 valuation models (out of nine: DCF, Graham Number, Graham Growth, Lynch, GLS Growth, 10 Cap, Payback Time, DDM and EPV) that produced a positive value. The models run every night on the latest filings; the Quote page lets you switch any of them off and add a margin of safety of your own.
When does Linde plc report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 29 Oct 2026 (before the open), 13 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does LIN have listed options, and how liquid are they?
Yes. The nightly snapshot found 1,000 listed contracts with 58,000 open interest across all expiries and implied volatility of 29% on the near-the-money contracts. The Options scanner lists the cash-secured put and covered call set-ups with premium and annualised yield worked out.