Linde stock advances as Q3 earnings and outlook support focus
Published on 11/02/2026 at 18:34 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSQ3 performance and outlook
- Linde reported record adjusted third-quarter earnings alongside higher sales and operating cash flow.
- Full-year adjusted EPS guidance points to 8% to 9% growth, while the project backlog reached 11 billion US dollars.
- Statutory earnings declined because of purchase accounting, cost-reduction and other charges excluded from adjusted results.
Linde stock traded at 463.80 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 18:31 CET on Monday, November 2, 2026, 0.13 percent below the Xetra close of Monday, November 2. Compared with the 457.90-euro quote in the previous report at 09:48 CET, the latest price is 1.29 percent higher. Investors can follow the real-time quote of Linde stock during the European session.
Record adjusted earnings in Q3
On October 29, Linde reported third-quarter sales of 9.404 billion US dollars, up 9 percent from the prior-year period, according to the Nasdaq release. Underlying sales increased 5 percent, supported by 3 percent price attainment and 2 percent volume growth, with electronics, chemicals and energy, and manufacturing among the main end markets.
Adjusted diluted earnings per share rose 9 percent year over year to 4.59 US dollars. Adjusted operating profit increased 8 percent to 2.763 billion US dollars, producing an adjusted operating margin of 29.4 percent. Operating cash flow rose 8 percent to 3.169 billion US dollars.
Reported figures remain weaker
The statutory comparison was less favorable. Diluted earnings per share fell 11 percent to 3.66 US dollars and net income declined 12 percent to 1.692 billion US dollars. Linde said its adjusted figures exclude Linde AG purchase accounting impacts, cost-reduction program charges and other items, making the distinction important when assessing the quality of earnings growth.
Guidance keeps growth in focus
Linde expects fourth-quarter adjusted diluted earnings per share of 4.40 to 4.50 US dollars, representing growth of 5 to 7 percent from the year-earlier quarter. Full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance stands at 17.82 to 17.92 US dollars, implying 8 to 9 percent growth assuming a 2 percent favorable currency effect.
The project backlog totaled 11 billion US dollars, including 7.9 billion US dollars of contractual sale-of-gas projects. Full-year capital expenditure is expected at 5.5 billion to 6.0 billion US dollars, while the company returned 1.685 billion US dollars through dividends and share repurchases during the quarter.
Linde plc stock facts
- Company: Linde plc
- ISIN: IE000S9YS762
- Xetra ticker: LIN.DE
- Lang & Schwarz price: 463.80 euros at 18:31 CET on November 2, 2026
- Xetra comparison: 0.13 percent below the Xetra close of 464.40 euros on November 2, 2026
Broader sentiment for Linde stock also reflects the S&P 500 market environment.
More news and analyses on Linde stock cover earnings, capital allocation and demand trends in its key end markets.
