Linde plc [LIN] vs Ecolab [ECL] Detailed Stock Comparison

Linde plc

NASDAQ
Loading...

Ecolab Inc.

NYSE
Loading...

TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary

Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: Linde plc wins in 15 metrics, Ecolab Inc. wins in 6 metrics, with 0 ties. Linde plc appears stronger overall.

View Metrics Details

Vital Metrics Comparison

Metric Linde plc Ecolab Inc. Better
P/E Ratio (TTM) 34.73 37.15 Linde plc
Price-to-Book Ratio 6.16 7.82 Linde plc
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 70.63 91.77 Linde plc
PEG Ratio 26.03 1.88 Ecolab Inc.
EV/EBITDA 19.48 21.58 Linde plc
Profit Margin (TTM) 20.30% 12.91% Linde plc
Operating Margin (TTM) 28.17% 19.05% Linde plc
EBITDA Margin (TTM) 28.17% 19.05% Linde plc
Return on Equity 17.82% 22.52% Ecolab Inc.
Return on Assets (TTM) 7.17% 7.84% Ecolab Inc.
Free Cash Flow (TTM) $5.09B $1.90B Linde plc
Dividend Yield 1.49% 1.07% Linde plc
1-Year Return 12.36% 0.45% Linde plc
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) 6.93 4.76 Ecolab Inc.
Enterprise Value $259.94B $84.75B Linde plc
EV/Revenue Ratio 7.65 5.27 Ecolab Inc.
Gross Profit Margin (TTM) 48.12% 44.03% Linde plc
Revenue per Share (TTM) $72 $57 Linde plc
Earnings per Share (Diluted) $14.63 $7.29 Linde plc
Beta (Stock Volatility) 0.79 1.02 Linde plc
Short % of Float 1.53% 1.20% Ecolab Inc.

Linde plc vs Ecolab Inc. Stock Performance Analysis

Loading Price Chart...

LIN
ECL

Performance Comparison

Short-term Returns

Stock1D1W1M3M6MYTD
Linde plc-0.40%3.90%3.04%4.84%25.06%21.53%
Ecolab Inc.1.19%4.34%8.46%-1.66%2.86%2.26%

Long-term Returns

Stock1Y3Y5Y10Y15Y20Y
Linde plc12.36%39.51%85.65%367.06%418.08%891.80%
Ecolab Inc.0.45%45.80%29.46%123.79%391.96%586.17%

Performance & Financial Health Analysis: Linde plc vs Ecolab Inc.

MetricLINECL
Market Information
Market Cap i$236.47B$76.66B
Market Cap CategoryMega capLarge cap
10 Day Avg. Volume i1,804,1551,378,203
90 Day Avg. Volume i2,343,6751,552,234
Last Close$521.48$268.58
52 Week Range$387.78 - $525.87$243.15 - $309.27
% from 52W High-0.83%-13.16%
All-Time High$525.87 (Jun 15, 2026)$309.27 (Feb 24, 2026)
% from All-Time High-0.83%-13.16%
Growth Metrics
Quarterly Revenue Growth0.06%0.05%
Quarterly Earnings Growth-0.11%0.19%
Financial Health
Profit Margin (TTM) i0.20%0.13%
Operating Margin (TTM) i0.28%0.19%
Return on Equity (TTM) i0.18%0.23%
Debt to Equity (MRQ) i70.6391.77
Cash & Liquidity
Book Value per Share (MRQ)$82.48$34.65
Cash per Share (MRQ)$10.91$2.29
Operating Cash Flow (TTM) i$10.35B$2.95B
Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) i$4.79B$1.64B
Dividends
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i1.49%1.07%
Last 12-Month Dividend i$7.60$2.76

Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: Linde plc vs Ecolab Inc.

MetricLIN (Apr 26, 2026)ECL (Apr 24, 2026)
Price Ratios
P/E Ratio (TTM) i34.7337.15
Forward P/E i26.0328.00
PEG Ratio i26.031.88
Price to Sales (TTM) i6.934.76
Price to Book (MRQ) i6.167.82
Market Capitalization
Market Capitalization i$236.47B$76.66B
Enterprise Value i$259.94B$84.75B
Enterprise Value Metrics
Enterprise to Revenue i7.655.27
Enterprise to EBITDA i19.4821.58
Risk & Other Metrics
Beta i0.791.02
Book Value per Share (MRQ) i$82.48$34.65

Financial Statements Comparison: Linde plc vs Ecolab Inc.

Financial Metrics

Loading Financial Charts...

Revenue

Operating Margin

Profit Margin

Long Term Debt

Income Flow Analysis

Financial Statements Comparison

Income Statement

MetricLIN (2025)ECL (2025)
Revenue/Sales i33.99B16.08B
Cost of Goods Sold i17.39B8.93B
COGS % of Revenue i51.2%55.5%
Gross Profit i16.60B7.15B
Gross Margin i48.8%44.5%
Research & Development i147.00MN/A
Operating Income (EBIT) i9.25B2.89B
Operating Margin i27.2%18.0%
EBITDA i13.55B3.99B
EBITDA Margin i39.9%24.8%
Pre-Tax Income i8.90B2.55B
Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue i26.2%15.8%
Income Tax i1.99B454.60M
Income Tax % of Revenue i5.9%2.8%
Net Income (Profit) i7.06B2.09B
Profit Margin i20.8%13.0%

Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics

MetricLIN (2025)ECL (2025)
Cash & Equivalents i5.06B646.20M
Total Current Assets i13.33B5.96B
Total Current Assets % of Revenue i39.2%37.0%
Total Current Liabilities i15.20B5.53B
Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue i44.7%34.4%
Long-Term Debt i21.50B7.96B
Long-Term Debt % of Revenue i63.3%49.5%
Total Shareholders Equity i39.74B9.80B
Retained Earnings i16.61B12.83B
Retained Earnings % of Revenue i48.9%79.8%
Property, Plant & Equipment i12.84B3.96B

Cash Flow Statement Comparison

MetricLIN (2025)ECL (2025)
Operating Cash Flow i10.44B2.94B
Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue i30.7%18.3%
Capital Expenditures iN/A52.30M
Free Cash Flow i5.09B1.90B
FCF Margin i15.0%11.8%
Debt Repayment i-2.28B-674.20M
Common Stock Repurchase i-4.60B-783.80M

Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis

MetricLINECL
Shares Short i7.08M2.98M
Short Ratio i2.611.73
Short % of Float i1.53%1.20%
Shares Outstanding i463.68M282.02M
Float Shares i461.73M281.38M
% Held by Insiders i0.26%0.15%
% Held by Institutions i87.78%94.35%
% Held by Public i11.96%5.50%

Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: Linde plc vs Ecolab Inc.

MetricLINECL
Last 12-Month Dividend i$7.60$2.76
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i1.49%1.07%
3-Year Avg Annual Dividend i$6.08$2.47
3-Year Avg Dividend Yield i0.33%0.27%
3-Year Total Dividends i$18.24$7.40
Ex-Dividend DateMar 11, 2026Mar 17, 2026