Ashland [ASH] vs Linde plc [LIN] Detailed Stock Comparison
TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary
Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: Ashland Inc. wins in 8 metrics, Linde plc wins in 13 metrics, with 0 ties. Linde plc appears stronger overall.
View Metrics Details
Vital Metrics Comparison
| Metric | Ashland Inc. | Linde plc | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 18.02 | 34.73 | Ashland Inc. |
| Price-to-Book Ratio | 1.40 | 6.16 | Ashland Inc. |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio | 79.29 | 70.63 | Linde plc |
| PEG Ratio | -0.19 | 26.03 | Linde plc |
| EV/EBITDA | 10.80 | 19.48 | Ashland Inc. |
| Profit Margin (TTM) | -38.34% | 20.30% | Linde plc |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 1.04% | 28.17% | Linde plc |
| EBITDA Margin (TTM) | 1.04% | 28.17% | Linde plc |
| Return on Equity | -29.98% | 17.82% | Linde plc |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 2.09% | 7.17% | Linde plc |
| Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $-4.00M | $5.09B | Linde plc |
| Dividend Yield | 2.63% | 1.49% | Ashland Inc. |
| 1-Year Return | 16.95% | 6.44% | Ashland Inc. |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 1.46 | 6.93 | Ashland Inc. |
| Enterprise Value | $3.81B | $259.94B | Linde plc |
| EV/Revenue Ratio | 2.11 | 7.65 | Ashland Inc. |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 27.20% | 48.12% | Linde plc |
| Revenue per Share (TTM) | $39 | $72 | Linde plc |
| Earnings per Share (Diluted) | $-14.53 | $14.63 | Linde plc |
| Beta (Stock Volatility) | 0.44 | 0.79 | Ashland Inc. |
| Short % of Float | 13.46% | 1.53% | Linde plc |
Ashland Inc. vs Linde plc Stock Performance Analysis
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Performance Comparison
Short-term Returns
| Stock | 1D | 1W | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland Inc. | -1.01% | -0.54% | 8.49% | -4.39% | -2.20% | -4.76% |
| Linde plc | 2.35% | -0.06% | 2.84% | 1.17% | 24.05% | 18.28% |
Long-term Returns
| Stock | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | 15Y | 20Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland Inc. | 16.95% | -35.22% | -38.59% | 3.58% | 82.82% | 87.02% |
| Linde plc | 6.44% | 38.07% | 65.97% | 351.46% | 393.45% | 799.17% |
Performance & Financial Health Analysis: Ashland Inc. vs Linde plc
| Metric | ASH | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Market Information | ||
| Market Cap | $2.63B | $236.47B |
| Market Cap Category | Mid cap | Mega cap |
| 10 Day Avg. Volume | 535,620 | 1,804,155 |
| 90 Day Avg. Volume | 643,087 | 2,343,675 |
| Last Close | $57.00 | $507.57 |
| 52 Week Range | $46.30 - $65.65 | $387.78 - $521.28 |
| % from 52W High | -13.18% | -2.63% |
| All-Time High | $114.36 (Nov 28, 2022) | $521.28 (May 01, 2026) |
| % from All-Time High | -50.16% | -2.63% |
| Growth Metrics | ||
| Quarterly Revenue Growth | -0.05% | 0.06% |
| Quarterly Earnings Growth | -0.05% | -0.11% |
| Financial Health | ||
| Profit Margin (TTM) | -0.38% | 0.20% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 0.01% | 0.28% |
| Return on Equity (TTM) | -0.30% | 0.18% |
| Debt to Equity (MRQ) | 79.29 | 70.63 |
| Cash & Liquidity | ||
| Book Value per Share (MRQ) | $41.04 | $82.48 |
| Cash per Share (MRQ) | $6.64 | $10.91 |
| Operating Cash Flow (TTM) | $243.00M | $10.35B |
| Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $135.25M | $4.79B |
| Dividends | ||
| Last 12-Month Dividend Yield | 2.63% | 1.49% |
| Last 12-Month Dividend | $1.64 | $7.60 |
Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: Ashland Inc. vs Linde plc
| Metric | ASH (Apr 26, 2026) | LIN (Apr 26, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Price Ratios | ||
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 18.02 | 34.73 |
| Forward P/E | 12.09 | 26.03 |
| PEG Ratio | -0.19 | 26.03 |
| Price to Sales (TTM) | 1.46 | 6.93 |
| Price to Book (MRQ) | 1.40 | 6.16 |
| Market Capitalization | ||
| Market Capitalization | $2.63B | $236.47B |
| Enterprise Value | $3.81B | $259.94B |
| Enterprise Value Metrics | ||
| Enterprise to Revenue | 2.11 | 7.65 |
| Enterprise to EBITDA | 10.80 | 19.48 |
| Risk & Other Metrics | ||
| Beta | 0.44 | 0.79 |
| Book Value per Share (MRQ) | $41.04 | $82.48 |
Financial Statements Comparison: Ashland Inc. vs Linde plc
Financial Metrics
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Revenue
Operating Margin
Profit Margin
Long Term Debt
Income Flow Analysis
Financial Statements Comparison
Income Statement
| Metric | ASH (2025) | LIN (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue/Sales | 1.82B | 33.99B |
| Cost of Goods Sold | 1.28B | 17.39B |
| COGS % of Revenue | 69.9% | 51.2% |
| Gross Profit | 549.00M | 16.60B |
| Gross Margin | 30.1% | 48.8% |
| Research & Development | 54.00M | 147.00M |
| Operating Income (EBIT) | 88.00M | 9.25B |
| Operating Margin | 4.8% | 27.2% |
| EBITDA | 323.00M | 13.55B |
| EBITDA Margin | 17.7% | 39.9% |
| Pre-Tax Income | -809.00M | 8.90B |
| Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue | -44.4% | 26.2% |
| Income Tax | 13.00M | 1.99B |
| Income Tax % of Revenue | 0.7% | 5.9% |
| Net Income (Profit) | -845.00M | 7.06B |
| Profit Margin | -46.3% | 20.8% |
Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics
| Metric | ASH (2025) | LIN (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Cash & Equivalents | 215.00M | 5.06B |
| Total Current Assets | 1.21B | 13.33B |
| Total Current Assets % of Revenue | 66.1% | 39.2% |
| Total Current Liabilities | 423.00M | 15.20B |
| Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue | 23.2% | 44.7% |
| Long-Term Debt | 1.47B | 21.50B |
| Long-Term Debt % of Revenue | 80.5% | 63.3% |
| Total Shareholders Equity | 1.90B | 39.74B |
| Retained Earnings | 2.30B | 16.61B |
| Retained Earnings % of Revenue | 126.0% | 48.9% |
| Property, Plant & Equipment | 103.00M | 12.84B |
Cash Flow Statement Comparison
| Metric | ASH (2025) | LIN (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash Flow | -631.00M | 10.44B |
| Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue | -34.6% | 30.7% |
| Capital Expenditures | -82.00M | N/A |
| Free Cash Flow | -4.00M | 5.09B |
| FCF Margin | -0.2% | 15.0% |
| Debt Repayment | N/A | -2.28B |
| Common Stock Repurchase | -100.00M | -4.60B |
Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis
| Metric | ASH | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Shares Short | 5.47M | 7.08M |
| Short Ratio | 8.28 | 2.61 |
| Short % of Float | 13.46% | 1.53% |
| Shares Outstanding | 45.76M | 463.68M |
| Float Shares | 42.49M | 461.73M |
| % Held by Insiders | 1.15% | 0.26% |
| % Held by Institutions | 108.27% | 87.78% |
| % Held by Public | -9.42% | 11.96% |
Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: Ashland Inc. vs Linde plc
| Metric | ASH | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Last 12-Month Dividend | $1.64 | $7.60 |
| Last 12-Month Dividend Yield | 2.63% | 1.49% |
| 3-Year Avg Annual Dividend | $1.61 | $6.08 |
| 3-Year Avg Dividend Yield | 0.57% | 0.33% |
| 3-Year Total Dividends | $4.84 | $18.24 |
| Ex-Dividend Date | Feb 27, 2026 | Mar 11, 2026 |