Linde (LIN) Receives Price Target Increase Ahead of 2026 Outlook
Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) has been recognized among the 16 Best Dividend Stocks with Rising Payouts.
On February 10, analyst John McNulty from BMO Capital raised his price target for Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) to $507 from $501, maintaining an Outperform rating on the shares. He highlighted that the company's solid project backlog and pricing strength position it well as it heads into 2026, despite ongoing macroeconomic headwinds and a slower-than-expected ramp in the OCI and Woodside project.
During Linde’s Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO Sanjiv Lamba described the economic environment as uneven, noting strong investment in AI and digital infrastructure as key growth drivers. However, traditional industrial sectors such as manufacturing, metals, chemicals, and energy continue to face challenges. Nonetheless, Linde achieved record results in critical areas for shareholders, reporting record annual EPS, operating cash flow, and margins, along with a remarkable 24.2% return on capital and more than $7 billion returned to shareholders.
Lamba also revealed that Linde’s project backlog has reached an unprecedented $10 billion, excluding over $0.5 billion in additional investments for rocket propellant projects linked to contracted space launch customers. He emphasized that the company anticipates continued investments to support the rising demand associated with the space industry.
Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) is a leading industrial gases and engineering company headquartered in the United Kingdom, serving diverse industries including chemicals, energy, food and beverage, electronics, healthcare, manufacturing, metals, and mining.
While Linde (LIN) presents an attractive investment opportunity, some analysts suggest that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential with reduced downside risk. For those interested, check out our free report on the best short-term AI stock.