CICC Initiates Linde (LIN) With Outperform as Earnings Hit New Highs

Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) is included among the 15 Blue Chip Dividend Stocks to Build a Passive Income Porfolio.

CICC Initiates Linde (LIN) With Outperform as Earnings Hit New Highs

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On December 3, CICC initiated coverage on Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) with an Outperform rating and a $510 price target.

The company posted strong earnings for the third quarter of 2025, with revenues coming in at $8.6 billion, which showed a 3% growth from the same period last year. Acquisitions also contributed to a 1% growth in its revenue. The company’s EPS of $4.21 was at an all-time high, which it managed while maintaining industry-leading margins and not compromising on shareholder returns. Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN)’s management highlighted stagnant industrial activity in its earnings report; however, this did not have any impact on the company’s cash generation.

Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) reported an 8% YoY growth in its operating cash flow, which came in at $2.9 billion. Its free cash flow, after capital expenditures, sat at $1.6 billion. This cash was sufficient to cover the company’s dividends and share repurchases worth $1.68 billion. Due to this stable cash position, LIN was able to achieve its 32nd consecutive year of dividend growth in 2025.

Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) is a global multinational chemical company and one of the world’s largest industrial gas suppliers.

While we acknowledge the potential of LIN as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than LIN and that has a 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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