Stock market today: S&P 500 cuts some losses, but Nvidia slip keeps gains in check
Investing.com - BMO Capital has lowered its price target on Linde (NASDAQ:LIN) to $490 from $516 while maintaining an Outperform rating on the stock. Currently trading at $418.20, Linde remains below its 52-week high of $486.38, with analyst targets ranging from $381 to $576, according to InvestingPro data.
The industrial gas company’s shares have experienced a significant decline recently due to concerns about near-term growth falling short of its typical 10% earnings per share algorithm. The stock has posted a 6-month return of -7.05% despite maintaining a solid P/E ratio of 27.84.
BMO Capital noted that softer helium pricing and volumes, combined with muted macro demand, particularly in Europe, are offsetting the positive impact of projects from Linde’s backlog. With a market capitalization of $195.16 billion, Linde maintains a "GOOD" overall financial health score according to InvestingPro’s comprehensive analysis.
Despite these challenges, the research firm highlighted several positive factors that should drive future growth, including Linde’s record-level sale of goods backlog, stabilizing macroeconomic conditions, increasing share buybacks, and continued pricing strength. The company offers a dividend yield of 1.44% with 7.91% dividend growth over the last twelve months.
BMO Capital expects Linde’s earnings per share growth to re-accelerate in 2026 and 2027, which should help drive both the company’s valuation and stock price higher. Investors can access Linde’s Pro Research Report, one of 1,400+ comprehensive analyses available exclusively on InvestingPro, before the next earnings release on February 5, 2026.
In other recent news, Linde reported its third-quarter 2025 earnings, surpassing analysts’ expectations for earnings per share (EPS) with a reported $4.21, slightly above the forecasted $4.18. However, the company’s revenue slightly missed projections, coming in at $8.6 billion compared to the anticipated $8.61 billion. Seaport Global Securities upgraded Linde’s stock rating from Neutral to Buy, citing a solid performance in the third quarter and maintaining the midpoint of its guidance despite challenges in the industrial gas sector. The firm set a price target of $500.00 for Linde. Meanwhile, Bernstein adjusted its price target for Linde from $519.00 to $516.00 while maintaining an Outperform rating, noting the company’s 27th consecutive earnings beat. Bernstein highlighted that Linde’s guidance was narrowed, which was a point of interest for some investors. These developments reflect the latest updates and analyses from financial firms regarding Linde’s performance and future prospects.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.