Starter Stock Portfolio: 14 Safe Stocks to Buy Now

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6. Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN)

Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) ranks among the 14 safe stocks to buy now for a starter stock portfolio. Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) ranks among the 14 safe stocks to buy now for a starter stock portfolio. Bernstein SocGen Group retained its Outperform rating and $537 price target for Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) on February 19, citing the company’s 28th straight quarter of adjusted EPS beats, as well as Linde’s potential for growth in the electronics, healthcare, and space sectors.

Bernstein’s 2026 adjusted EPS estimate of $17.89 is at the upper end of Linde’s projection range of $17.40 to $17.90. That said, the firm sees significant upside volatility to estimates and guidance, independent of macroeconomic factors.

BMO Capital also boosted Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN)’s price target from $501 to $507, while keeping an Outperform rating on the company’s shares. The firm cited Linde’s robust backlog and price momentum as variables that could offset larger macroeconomic headwinds and a slower-than-expected rollout in a particular project.

Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) is an industrial gases and engineering company based in the United Kingdom. It serves a wide range of industries, including chemicals and energy, food and beverage, electronics, healthcare, manufacturing, metals, and mining.

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