Stepan Company [SCL] vs Linde plc [LIN] Detailed Stock Comparison
TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary
Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: Stepan Company wins in 9 metrics, Linde plc wins in 12 metrics, with 0 ties. Linde plc appears stronger overall.
View Metrics Details
Vital Metrics Comparison
| Metric | Stepan Company | Linde plc | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 19.21 | 34.73 | Stepan Company |
| Price-to-Book Ratio | 0.89 | 6.16 | Stepan Company |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio | 58.20 | 70.63 | Stepan Company |
| PEG Ratio | 1.01 | 26.03 | Stepan Company |
| EV/EBITDA | 8.89 | 19.48 | Stepan Company |
| Profit Margin (TTM) | 2.57% | 20.30% | Linde plc |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 3.06% | 28.17% | Linde plc |
| EBITDA Margin (TTM) | 3.06% | 28.17% | Linde plc |
| Return on Equity | 4.77% | 17.82% | Linde plc |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 2.05% | 7.17% | Linde plc |
| Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $39.28M | $5.09B | Linde plc |
| Dividend Yield | 3.20% | 1.49% | Stepan Company |
| 1-Year Return | -2.65% | 6.44% | Linde plc |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 0.49 | 6.93 | Stepan Company |
| Enterprise Value | $1.74B | $259.94B | Linde plc |
| EV/Revenue Ratio | 0.77 | 7.65 | Stepan Company |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 12.09% | 48.12% | Linde plc |
| Revenue per Share (TTM) | $99 | $72 | Stepan Company |
| Earnings per Share (Diluted) | $2.54 | $14.63 | Linde plc |
| Beta (Stock Volatility) | 0.96 | 0.79 | Linde plc |
| Short % of Float | 2.65% | 1.53% | Linde plc |
Stepan Company vs Linde plc Stock Performance Analysis
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Performance Comparison
Short-term Returns
| Stock | 1D | 1W | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stepan Company | -1.26% | -1.75% | 2.91% | 3.48% | 15.03% | 10.84% |
| Linde plc | 2.39% | -3.63% | 0.55% | -2.57% | 21.40% | 15.65% |
Long-term Returns
| Stock | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | 15Y | 20Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stepan Company | -2.65% | -46.03% | -60.60% | -9.80% | 63.12% | 235.56% |
| Linde plc | 6.44% | 38.07% | 65.97% | 351.46% | 393.45% | 799.17% |
Performance & Financial Health Analysis: Stepan Company vs Linde plc
| Metric | SCL | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Market Information | ||
| Market Cap | $1.11B | $236.47B |
| Market Cap Category | Small cap | Mega cap |
| 10 Day Avg. Volume | 166,590 | 1,804,155 |
| 90 Day Avg. Volume | 190,690 | 2,343,675 |
| Last Close | $51.61 | $507.74 |
| 52 Week Range | $41.82 - $68.00 | $387.78 - $521.28 |
| % from 52W High | -24.10% | -2.60% |
| All-Time High | $139.30 (May 10, 2021) | $521.28 (May 01, 2026) |
| % from All-Time High | -62.95% | -2.60% |
| Growth Metrics | ||
| Quarterly Revenue Growth | 0.07% | 0.06% |
| Quarterly Earnings Growth | 0.19% | -0.11% |
| Financial Health | ||
| Profit Margin (TTM) | 0.03% | 0.20% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 0.03% | 0.28% |
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 0.05% | 0.18% |
| Debt to Equity (MRQ) | 58.20 | 70.63 |
| Cash & Liquidity | ||
| Book Value per Share (MRQ) | $54.90 | $82.48 |
| Cash per Share (MRQ) | $3.93 | $10.91 |
| Operating Cash Flow (TTM) | $109.13M | $10.35B |
| Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $-18,496,500 | $4.79B |
| Dividends | ||
| Last 12-Month Dividend Yield | 3.20% | 1.49% |
| Last 12-Month Dividend | $1.58 | $7.60 |
Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: Stepan Company vs Linde plc
| Metric | SCL (Oct 04, 2025) | LIN (Apr 26, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Price Ratios | ||
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 19.21 | 34.73 |
| Forward P/E | 11.99 | 26.03 |
| PEG Ratio | 1.01 | 26.03 |
| Price to Sales (TTM) | 0.49 | 6.93 |
| Price to Book (MRQ) | 0.89 | 6.16 |
| Market Capitalization | ||
| Market Capitalization | $1.11B | $236.47B |
| Enterprise Value | $1.74B | $259.94B |
| Enterprise Value Metrics | ||
| Enterprise to Revenue | 0.77 | 7.65 |
| Enterprise to EBITDA | 8.89 | 19.48 |
| Risk & Other Metrics | ||
| Beta | 0.96 | 0.79 |
| Book Value per Share (MRQ) | $54.90 | $82.48 |
Financial Statements Comparison: Stepan Company 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 | SCL (2024) | LIN (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue/Sales | 2.18B | 33.99B |
| Cost of Goods Sold | 1.91B | 17.39B |
| COGS % of Revenue | 87.5% | 51.2% |
| Gross Profit | 272.21M | 16.60B |
| Gross Margin | 12.5% | 48.8% |
| Research & Development | 55.67M | 147.00M |
| Operating Income (EBIT) | 70.83M | 9.25B |
| Operating Margin | 3.2% | 27.2% |
| EBITDA | 188.92M | 13.55B |
| EBITDA Margin | 8.7% | 39.9% |
| Pre-Tax Income | 60.44M | 8.90B |
| Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue | 2.8% | 26.2% |
| Income Tax | 10.07M | 1.99B |
| Income Tax % of Revenue | 0.5% | 5.9% |
| Net Income (Profit) | 50.37M | 7.06B |
| Profit Margin | 2.3% | 20.8% |
Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics
| Metric | SCL (2024) | LIN (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Cash & Equivalents | 99.67M | 5.06B |
| Total Current Assets | 810.43M | 13.33B |
| Total Current Assets % of Revenue | 37.2% | 39.2% |
| Total Current Liabilities | 669.03M | 15.20B |
| Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue | 30.7% | 44.7% |
| Long-Term Debt | 390.02M | 21.50B |
| Long-Term Debt % of Revenue | 17.9% | 63.3% |
| Total Shareholders Equity | 1.17B | 39.74B |
| Retained Earnings | 1.27B | 16.61B |
| Retained Earnings % of Revenue | 58.4% | 48.9% |
| Property, Plant & Equipment | 71.48M | 12.84B |
Cash Flow Statement Comparison
| Metric | SCL (2024) | LIN (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash Flow | 129.25M | 10.44B |
| Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue | 5.9% | 30.7% |
| Capital Expenditures | N/A | N/A |
| Free Cash Flow | 39.28M | 5.09B |
| FCF Margin | 1.8% | 15.0% |
| Debt Repayment | -48.57M | -2.28B |
| Common Stock Repurchase | 0 | -4.60B |
Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis
| Metric | SCL | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Shares Short | 398,886 | 7.08M |
| Short Ratio | 2.08 | 2.61 |
| Short % of Float | 2.65% | 1.53% |
| Shares Outstanding | 22.50M | 463.68M |
| Float Shares | 21.44M | 461.73M |
| % Held by Insiders | 4.61% | 0.26% |
| % Held by Institutions | 85.74% | 87.78% |
| % Held by Public | 9.65% | 11.96% |
Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: Stepan Company vs Linde plc
| Metric | SCL | LIN |
|---|---|---|
| Last 12-Month Dividend | $1.58 | $7.60 |
| Last 12-Month Dividend Yield | 3.20% | 1.49% |
| 3-Year Avg Annual Dividend | $1.53 | $6.08 |
| 3-Year Avg Dividend Yield | 0.58% | 0.33% |
| 3-Year Total Dividends | $4.60 | $18.24 |
| Ex-Dividend Date | Mar 02, 2026 | Mar 11, 2026 |