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APD vs LIN
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. Linde (LIN) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both APD and LIN operate in the industrial gases sector, with LIN maintaining a significantly larger scale through nearly triple the annual revenue of APD.
- APD delivered stronger year-to-date total returns of approximately 23% compared to LIN’s roughly 21%, both outperforming the S&P 500’s 8.28% over the same period.
- LIN reports superior operating margins near 30% versus APD’s lower profile, reflecting greater pricing power and operational efficiency at scale.
- Recent quarterly results showed APD raising full-year adjusted earnings per share guidance after a strong second-quarter beat, while LIN raised the lower end of its 2026 outlook following its first-quarter performance.
- LIN exhibits greater earnings stability and a broader global footprint, whereas APD benefits from recent dividend increases and project-specific catalysts in electronics and energy markets.
- Market sentiment remains constructive for both stocks amid steady industrial demand, though LIN’s larger market capitalization of approximately $237 billion versus APD’s $66 billion underscores differing risk-return profiles.
Introduction
Air Products and Chemicals (APD) and Linde (LIN) represent two leading players in the industrial gases industry, offering investors and traders a direct comparison of companies with overlapping exposure to energy, chemicals, healthcare, and manufacturing end-markets. This analysis examines their relative performance, business models, and recent developments to assist market participants evaluating positioning within the sector. The comparison is particularly relevant for those focused on dividend growth, margin expansion, and earnings consistency amid evolving macroeconomic conditions.
APD Overview and Recent Performance
Air Products and Chemicals (APD) supplies industrial gases and related equipment to diverse industries including electronics, energy, and chemicals. In recent weeks, the stock has shown resilience, trading near $298 after posting fiscal 2026 second-quarter results that included GAAP EPS of $3.19, more than doubling year-over-year, alongside an 9% sales increase. Management raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $13.00–$13.25 while maintaining capital expenditure plans around $4.0 billion. Year-to-date returns reached approximately 23%, outpacing broader market benchmarks, supported by project wins such as expanded supply agreements in electronics and helium supply-chain initiatives. Recent dividend increases to $1.81 per share further reinforced shareholder returns.
LIN Overview and Recent Performance
Linde (LIN) is the world’s largest industrial gases company, serving similar end-markets with a broader global footprint. The stock has traded around $512 in recent market activity, delivering year-to-date returns of roughly 21%. First-quarter results featured adjusted EPS of $4.33, exceeding estimates, with revenue growth of 8% and subsequent raising of the lower end of 2026 earnings guidance. The company maintains a record project backlog and continues to emphasize pricing discipline and productivity gains. Upcoming second-quarter earnings, scheduled for late July, are expected to provide further insight into momentum amid steady industrial activity.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
LIN operates at substantially greater scale, generating annual revenue near $34–35 billion compared with APD’s approximately $12–13 billion, enabling superior operating margins around 30% versus APD’s more modest levels. Both companies benefit from secular demand in electronics and clean energy, yet LIN’s diversified international presence provides broader earnings stability. Recent momentum has favored APD on a year-to-date total return basis, driven by earnings beats and project catalysts, while LIN has demonstrated consistent guidance raises and dividend growth over multiple years. Risk factors include execution on large capital projects for both, though APD faces a more pronounced reset phase following prior strategic shifts. Sector exposure remains aligned, with market sentiment reflecting cautious optimism tied to industrial production trends.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as trend consistency, earnings stability, margin leadership, and relative positioning, Tickeron’s AI analysis would currently assign a higher probabilistic preference to LIN over APD in the prevailing environment. Linde’s larger scale, superior margins, and established track record of steady EPS compounding provide a more consistent profile across multiple timeframes, while APD’s recent momentum offers potential but carries greater near-term execution variability.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
Both APD and LIN have recently benefited from renewed consumer interest in hydrogen as a fuel and energy storage medium, but both are involved with the production, storage, and transport of multiple kinds of gasses. While both companies are large, APD is approximately half the size of its counterpart. APD’s margins have outdone LIN’s, and they also appear to be more solid in terms of their current ratio, and yet LIN has enjoyed consistent stock price growth over the past years while APD is about where it was a year ago in terms of stock price at the time of this writing. The previous sentence also might be misleading, because just prior to one year ago, the company experienced a significant price jump in a short span of time, and the following months seem to confirm that a floor is present. Evaluating these companies on their other merits, outside of participation in the hydrogen market, is beneficial of course.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
APD’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green whileLIN’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- APD’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- LIN’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
APD’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while LIN’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- APD’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 3 bearish.
- LIN’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
Price Growth
APD (@Chemicals: Specialty) experienced а +2.90% price change this week, while LIN (@Chemicals: Specialty) price change was +2.42% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Chemicals: Specialty industry was +5.53%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +5.92%, and the average quarterly price growth was +5.37%.
Reported Earning Dates
APD is expected to report earnings on Nov 05, 2026.
LIN is expected to report earnings on Oct 22, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Chemicals: Specialty (+5.53% weekly)The specialty chemicals sector includes companies that produce chemicals and industrial gases, which are of relatively high-value, often made to customer specifications. Examples of specialty chemicals are electronic chemicals, industrial gases, coatings, adhesives and sealants, industrial and institutional cleaning chemicals. The products are often valued on the basis of their purposes/performances rather than for their composition. Linde Plc, Ecolab Inc., Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., and Dow, Inc. are some of the largest companies making specialty chemicals.
| APD | LIN | APD / LIN | |
| Capitalization | 67.6B | 226B | 30% |
| EBITDA | 1.68B | 13.4B | 13% |
| Gain YTD | 25.286 | 15.664 | 161% |
| P/E Ratio | 31.01 | 31.61 | 98% |
| Revenue | 12.6B | 34.7B | 36% |
| Total Cash | 980M | 3.96B | 25% |
| Total Debt | 18.2B | 26.3B | 69% |
APD | LIN | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 22 | 50 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 59 Fair valued | 77 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 72 | 17 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 92 | 48 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 41 | 58 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 81 | 58 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
APD's Valuation (59) in the Chemicals Specialty industry is in the same range as LIN (77). This means that APD’s stock grew similarly to LIN’s over the last 12 months.
LIN's Profit vs Risk Rating (17) in the Chemicals Specialty industry is somewhat better than the same rating for APD (72). This means that LIN’s stock grew somewhat faster than APD’s over the last 12 months.
LIN's SMR Rating (48) in the Chemicals Specialty industry is somewhat better than the same rating for APD (92). This means that LIN’s stock grew somewhat faster than APD’s over the last 12 months.
APD's Price Growth Rating (41) in the Chemicals Specialty industry is in the same range as LIN (58). This means that APD’s stock grew similarly to LIN’s over the last 12 months.
LIN's P/E Growth Rating (58) in the Chemicals Specialty industry is in the same range as APD (81). This means that LIN’s stock grew similarly to APD’s over the last 12 months.
| APD | LIN | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 66% | 4 days ago 52% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 60% | 4 days ago 49% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 55% | 4 days ago 40% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 69% | 4 days ago 40% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 53% | 4 days ago 48% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 47% | 4 days ago 48% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 55% | 6 days ago 48% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 8 days ago 58% | 4 days ago 45% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 57% | 4 days ago 50% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | N/A | 4 days ago 45% |
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APD and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, APD has been loosely correlated with FUL. These tickers have moved in lockstep 52% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if APD jumps, then FUL could also see price increases.
LIN and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, LIN has been loosely correlated with DD. These tickers have moved in lockstep 59% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if LIN jumps, then DD could also see price increases.