5 Reliable Dividend Stocks to Buy for Long-Term Investors

2. Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 104

Dividend Yield as of June 24: 1.24%

On June 24, Citi raised its price recommendation on Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) to $600 from $585. It reiterated a Buy rating on the stock. The revision came as part of the firm’s second-quarter earnings preview for the specialty chemicals sector.

Discussing the company’s performance and outlook, Linde CEO Sanjiv Lamba said the company delivered another strong quarter despite increasingly challenging global conditions. He pointed to 10% EPS growth, a 30% operating margin, and a 24% return on capital. According to Lamba, these results reflected the resilience of Linde’s operating model, disciplined capital allocation, and the effectiveness of management’s actions.

Lamba also said he remained confident in the company’s ability to continue creating value for shareholders regardless of the operating environment. For the second quarter of 2026, Linde expects adjusted diluted earnings per share to range between $4.40 and $4.50. The guidance implies growth of 8% to 10% compared with the same period last year, or 7% to 9% excluding an estimated 1% benefit from favorable currency movements.

Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) is a United Kingdom-based industrial gases and engineering company. It operates through four segments: Americas, EMEA, APAC, and Engineering.